Tag: san benito county

While San Benito County officials prepare for an influx of visitors for the Pinnacles National Park redesignation ceremony on Feb. 11 at the east entrance visitors center, officials in a community along the west entrance are making plans to promote their own community as a Gateway to the new national park.

In past years, the budget hearing process in San Benito County has taken up to six days, allowing for department heads, members of the public and supervisors to discuss the details of every budget unit in the county. But this year, supervisors are considering a different process.

Local residents and other stakeholders share their thoughts on changes to the oil and gas ordinance in San Benito County. Some of the speakers include local residents Jim Paxton, Pat Lerman, along with others. Representatives from the California Independent Petroleum Association, the Center for Biological Diversity and Monterey Coast Keepers also shared their thoughts.

The San Benito County supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, with the regular agenda including several items to be brought back for discussion from previous meetings.

Since Don Belt moved to San Benito County in 1980, he turned a landscape that is known for row crops and cattle grazing into a forest of pine trees. He has planted 9,000 trees, including emerald pines, cherry trees and several other varieties.

Despite a year with half the average rainfall, the San Benito County Water District estimates the current groundwater levels and stored water are sufficient to “accommodate several successive dry years with negative water budgets,” according to the annual groundwater report available on the district’s website.

Even though San Benito County’s Public Health department waited until January to hold a free seasonal flu vaccination clinic, there was a line of about 50 people when they opened the doors of the Veterans Memorial Building at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, with a line forming again in the afternoon.

Seven suspects arrested in connection with a November raid at a local cockfighting event are due in court Tuesday.

At the first meeting of 2013, San Benito County supervisors are expected to make a decision on the temporary appointment of a management budget analyst III after receiving a short notice vacancy on Dec. 28. The meeting will be Tuesday at 9 a.m., in the supervisors’ chamber on Fourth Street.

In October, the Council of San Benito County Governments, along with two other regional agencies, sponsored a Rideshare Week to encourage residents to find alternatives to work beside driving solo. Those who carpooled, rode a bike or the bus, or walked to work had a chance to enter a drawing for prices.