Mariposa County 2011 Year in Review - December

Last Updated on Sunday, 01 January 2012 07:18

A month by month look back at the top stories for 2011. December 2011.

Other months:
January 2011 - February 2011 - March 2011 - April 2011 - May 2011 - June 2011

July 2011 - August 2011 - October 2011 - November 2011 - December 2011

Kiwanis Preschool Welcomes New Director And Receives A Visit From A Dental Hygienist

Body Of Missing Man Recovered In Yosemite National Park, Ninos Yacoub was one of three hikers witnessed plunging over Vernal Fall on July 19, 2011, Hormiz David, Ramina Badal

Yosemite National Park Rangers find third body in Merced River on December 3, 2011

Mariposa’s Belle the Balloon-a-Twister

December 6, 2011 Mariposa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Meeting (With Audio)
Ruth Catalan mentioned the old Human Services Building on Stroming Road and the $12,500 a month rent on the empty building and asked what the supervisors are going do about it. Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding Amerigas’ Offer of their “Family and Friends” Program to the County. Amerigas offers propane to the county residents at a reduced rate to the residents at what the county pays plus .80 cents a gallon. First year free tank rental fee then $49 a year. Approve the Establishment of a Program Integrity Unit in the Social Services Budget. This unit will be responsible in looking into integrity and public accountability in the administration in the Human Services Programs and suspected fraud cases. Supervisor Bibby mentions one of her concerns was that positions were combined or phased out to make the payment for the new Human Services Building and the need of an investigative unit at the time was considered unnecessary so some people took retirements. Originally he came before the BOS to reduce the fraud investigator to a half time position, the chairman of the BOS asked that the proposal be withdrawn so it was withdrawn and he had not come back before the BOS until the retirement had taken place. Cindy Gordo retired fraud investigator mentions that for the past 15 years she requested this fraud integrity unit, when she retired there was over $200,000 in outstanding collections because their was no assigned account clerk to help her. She was continually denied to have an account clerk. She said now this is overkill to have this many people assigned to one unit with a half time investigator. She said there is full time fraud going on in the county. Supervisor Cann makes a motion to approve this item. Supervisor Turpin seconds the motion. Supervisor Bibby said she is cautious about adding all these positions. The Director said the part time fraud investigator was brought in on November 28, 2011. Retired Sheriff Brian Muller will be the fraud investigator.

Santa at the Sugar Pine Cafe in Mariposa, California

Toni & Lyle Killpatrick's Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 'Roy' Is Again Proving To Be A Winner: Part 2

Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Meeting for December 13, 2011, Stroming Road, Mariposa County Tourism, Ferguson Slide
At the December 13, 2011 Mariposa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Meeting the BOS discussed the Tourism Bureau reporting where they spend the $500,000 of taxpayers dollars as requested by the Auditor. Supervisor Cann steps in the Tourism Bureau's shoes and Mariposa County CAO Rick Benson say's he is seriously confused over this issue. Supervisor Cann also mentions the Stroming Road Building and the CAO say's the Ferguson Slide Bridge replacement has reached a dead end.

2010 Mariposa County Wages Chart

Mariposa County Unified School District Trigger Cuts and Transportation in the School District
After the trigger cuts were announced by the governor the school district assembled the power point with several different busing scenarios on how the approximately $600,000 reduction in transportation costs will affect the district.