By Gary Meyer

Kern County Supervisor Ray Watson brought a surprise proposal to the Frazier Park Park Public Utility District (FPPUD), Thursday, Jan. 31.

During the special meeting, called by the water board to finalize a draft agreement for replacement of the district’s water main lines on Mt. Pinos Way, Watson interrupted the proceedings to inform the board that the $275,000 loan he had promised should be given to FPPUD as a grant rather than a loan.

Watson explained that he can request approval from the county Board of Supervisors to utilize federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for FPPUD’s water line replacement in the Frazier Park Beautification (Streetscape) project area.

The CDBG program helps strengthen cities, towns, and villages throughout the nation. Authorized in 1974 by an act of Congress, the program grants states and local communities funds to create jobs and infrastructure primarily in low and moderate income areas.

The water district was seeking loan/grant financing from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA representative Stephanie Burgeis said at the meeting that the grant would increase FPPUD’s priority score for securing additional federal funding.

"Anytime a project receives other sources of funding, [it makes] it easier to fund the project," she told the board.

Mark Evans, from Kern County Roads Department, said he hopes to see approval for the Kern County grant at the February 19 [changed to Feb. 26] Board of Supervisors meeting,

He wants to have work begin on the street beautification and safety project in late April and have much of the heavy work completed by Fiesta Days.

MountainEnterprise.com subscribers can find background stories online about what led to these events by clicking "Archive" and using keyword, "beautification."

This is part of the February 08, 2008 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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