By Patric Hedlund

Kern County Supervisor Ray Watson heard many questions about taxes and county services Thursday, March 1 at a meeting held to discuss paving Frazier Park’s dirt trails.

Over 75 homeowners filled Cuddy Hall. Many who were there own multiple parcels of the 2,500 parcels in Frazier Park, according to Watson aide Blair Knox. A lively dialogue with the owners followed presentations by Watson and Roads Commissioner Craig Pope.

In June 2006 a survey was sent to parcel owners with five options suggested by Watson’s office for paving the roads. A second mailing was sent last month inviting owners to the meeting. Knox said that the county is ready to help groups of owners to work together to find solutions for road issues.

In his presentation, Watson said "I know the first question you want to ask me, ‘We pay our taxes, why don’t you take care of our roads?’ The answer is ‘Because they are not dedicated to the County."

He added that "Frazier Park uses more tax dollars than it pays, most of the county lives off of oil revenues…."

Later, several members of the audience challenged the figures that were presented in regard to cost of services provided by the county versus tax revenues collected.

Craig Pope, the County Roads Commissioner, said "The county doesn’t build roads, developers build roads." Pope added that if developers do not want to build roads to county standards, they can retain the roads as privately owned. The county refuses to maintain private roads, however, he said.

Questions arise because the roads in Frazier Park were designated when the subdivision was approved by the county in 1926. Since then, Watson and Pope said, there have been numerous departures from the original maps in the path which the roads take, "around trees and buildings, changes from the original map."

He said that the 1926 charter states that the roads are not to be within the county system, but he did not state what the standards for Kern County roads were in 1926.

Pope said, "You pay for roads when you pay for your house; you folks didn’t pay for the cost of roads when you bought up here."

He also said that Kern County maintains 65 miles of roadways from the Lebec station, with nine staff and a night shift in the winter to keep the roads clear.

"You have a lot of people now commuting out of here at 4:00 in the morning," he explained, mentioning that the winter night shift is unique in the county. During the summer, road maintenance is accomplished with a staff of three. "This was intended originally to be a summer community," he added.

The service area extends from Tejon Industrial Complex up to Mt. Pinos, according to Andrew Richter Maintenance Engineering Manager.

In the original mailing, one suggested option mentioned that the Frazier Park Public Utilities District might be called upon to maintain the roads. Residents said that "years ago, when everybody knew everybody else up here, just to be nice, the FPPUD would grade the roads." Former board member Joy Oldright said that concern about liability had caused the water company to discontinue that practice.

Current FPPUD board president Malinda Chadwick rose with a statement prepared by the board, outlining their conditions for assuming responsibility of the roads. It began with demand for a one million dollar deposit with FPPUD and assurance that the county would maintain liability.

Afterward, Watson said that he did not consult with FPPUD prior to presenting the options, and that there are ways to "pre-finance" the improvements, such as a bond which could be paid back over 20 to 30 years.

Don Eubank said that the main access roads to residences should be paved so that public safety vehicles such as fire engines and ambulances can reach homes.

Engineering and Survey Department Supervisor Chuck Lackey said "You can pave certain roads, but who pays for that?"

Andrew Richter observed that some historic trails were paved following a 1947 statewide organization of regional road systems. Among those which were taken into the county maintenance system in 1947 were Park Drive, East End, Los Padres Drive, San Carlos Trail and Mt. Pinos Way. "Historically they were maintained, and so the county accepted them," he said.

Jan de Leeuw asked what would happen if a state or federal agency "says there is a health issue associated with the roads?" Craig Pope said, "The Roads Department cannot do it, that is against the law [for use of county funds]."

Eric Anderson asked about the funding mechanism being established with the $600,000 "beautification grant" for Monterey Trail. Watson replied, "That is federal money. Maintenance will have to be provided by downtown business district property owners; if they won’t agree to do that, the project will not be done."

Watson showed three sheets of signatures from people who said they would like to work with their neighbors to improve their roads.

Ted Finigan suggested that a representative from each trail be elected to confer with the county further.

Joseph Reescha distributed copies of his proposal that Frazier Park become a State Historical District.

This is part of the March 09, 2007 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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