Pine Mountain resident Nancy Rogers has been monitoring the lack of progress on the growing crop of large potholes near the Lebec boundary between Los Angeles and Kern Counties. On April 1 we reported that buck-passing between the counties about who should maintain the roadway has been going on for 19 months. A closer look shows the appeals to Kern County Supervisor David Couch began back in 2013, and is now approaching the three-year mark.

Rogers called Ryan Shultz of Couch’s office this week. She said the conversation got a little heated, and she was advised “not to talk to the newspaper.” But then things got more constructive. The Mountain Enterprise has extended several invitations to the supervisor to reply to the most recent report from L.A. County, saying  that jurisdiction for the roads was given to Kern County back in 1977.

Here is Supervisor Couch’s reply:

Maintaining Kern County’s road system is very important to me and I know it is important to the Mountain Communities. Over the last three years my office has received several phone calls from residents with concerns regarding the condition of Frazier Mountain Park Road near the Flying J. Both Los Angeles and Kern County road crews have responded to these concerns.

My office has initiated conversations with Los Angeles County and the responsibility for road maintenance is still in question. I have directed Kern County Road and Legal staff to research this and I am told they are examining documents dating back to the 1950s. I will be meeting with Kern County staff next week and we have reached out to Los Angeles County staff as well. We will report back to you when we have more information. This will take time.

I am committed to resolving this matter once and for all. It is important for Los Angeles County and Kern County to come to a clear understanding of each agency’s responsibilities and hopefully how we can cooperate to better serve the people that live and work in each county. If anyone has any knowledge of this issue, please contact my office. I appreciate everyone who has called about this issue and I appreciate your continued patience.

Some doubted our ability to improve the Mt. Pinos and Frazier Mountain Park Road intersection, but we got that done. We will get this done too.

David Couch
Kern County Supervisor, Dist. 4
couchd@co.kern.ca.us

This is part of the April 15, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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