Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 9-5-19 E-edition

Thursday, September 5, 2019
Vol. 1, No. 10
Dinuba secures flood grant
50 cents
Reedley
housing
project
advances
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
A housing development in north Reedley is one step clos- er to breaking dirt on construc- tion.
On Aug. 27, the Reedley City Council on Aug. 27 unanimously approved a subdivision map im- provement agreement and final map for phase one of the proj- ect, which will build 161 single- family residential units on 31.02 gross acres of land on a portion of the northeast corner of North Reed Avenue and West Aspen Drive.
In addition, the city is autho- rized to make non-siubstantive changes and sign a final agree- ment with Self-Help Enterpris- es regarding the subdivision map.
Self-Help Enterprises is a nationally recognized commu- nity development organization to develop quality housing op- portunities for working families in the San Joaquin Valley.
Rob Terry, community de- velopment director for Reedley, said there was solum concern from neighboring residents about the project, but nothing he would call opposition.
"There certainly were some misunderstandings about what Self-Help does and how they op- erate," Terry said. "In particular, what affordable housing does or does not mean."
See PROJECT on page A6
$3 million CDGB funds Kern Street Storm Drain improvement
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
After decades of trying to secure funding to alleviate the flooding problem in downtown Dinuba, the city announced on Aug. 29, that it was awarded a $3 million Community Devel- opment Block Grant (CDBG) for the Kern Street Storm Drain Improvement Project.
The awarded grant, ac- cording to City of Dinuba Public Works Director Ismael Hernandez, was the result of city staff taking a great appli- cation and making it better.
“We’re really the fourth runner in a relay race,” said Hernandez about receiving the funding. “We were handed a good baton.”
Hernandez explained that the last attempt at acquiring the state funding fell just shy of the award. That application, submitted by city of Dinuba’s Blanca Beltran and Ron Yam- abe, was just 12 points shy of qualifying for the grant.
“We took what they pre- sented, asked the state how we could improve the application and ran with it,” Hernandez shared about the application. “I’m very happy and proud of our staff.”
In November 2018, the Cali- fornia Department of Housing and Community Development announced the availability of $29.6 million in federal CDBG funding. Cities could apply for
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
For years now, many merchants in Dinuba’s downtown district have dreaded the pouring rain, as many parts would end up flooding due to inadequate drainage. That will soon be remedied after the city of Dinuba was awarded $3 million in CDBG funding to begin the Kern Street Storm Drain Improvement Project, increasing the drainage size from 18 inches to 60 inches. The photo above was taking this past May when a recent downpour once again caused flooding in downtown Dinuba.
By Dick Sheppard
Mid Valley Times
It was pretty much the usual as far as town hall meetings go until a crime statistic sparked the interest of the crowd and an animated discus- sion took the meeting into overtime — and no one seemed to mind.
Councilmember Esmeralda Hurtado who represents council dis- trict No. 1, in northeast Sanger, held her first town hall meeting since be- ing appointed in January to replace her sister Melissa, who resigned from the council in December after winning a state Senate seat.
About three dozen residents at- tended the Aug. 27 meeting in the Wilson Elementary School multipur- pose room on Faller Avenue. They listened and made notes as Hurtado and city manager Tim Chapa re- viewed what the council has done, is doing and will be doing.
Charts and other graphics pro- jected onto a wall cited the recent
completion of the Blossom Trail Commons housing project, progress on Veterans Park, the Academy wid- ening project, Bethel Avenue re wid- ening, groundbreaking for a 750,000 gallon water storage tank, O Street and P Street reconstruction and the upcoming reconstruction of N Street and of Greenwood Avenue from Jen- sen Avenue to Canal Drive.
Chapa handled the heavy lifting when it came to explaining statis- tics showing the increased calls for service of the fire and police depart- ments.
The statistic that seemed to catch everyone's attention and resulted in a round of questions fielded by Chapa, showed that 47 percent of all police calls for service in the city originate in district No. 1.
"It's because of the socioeconomic conditions of the district," said Chapa. When questions and the discussion turned to the impact of the influx of
SeeTOWNHALLonpage A13
Sanger City Councilmem- ber Esmer-
alda Hurtado welcomed everyone to her first town hall meeting on Aug. 27 at the Wilson Elemen- tary School multipurpose room.
Dick Sheppard / Mid Valley Times
as much as $3 million in fund- ing for local projects.
Following a public hearing in December 2018, the Dinuba City Council directed staff to move forward with the ap- plication for the Kern Street Storm Drain Improvement Project.
Dinuba’s downtown district has suffered from flooding over the years during severe
down pours, most recently this past May when downtown merchants again brought out the sand bags to help keep the water out of their shops.
According to Hernandez, the drainage pipes currently in downtown Dinuba are 18 inches in diameter. He added that, though that size diam- eter may have worked when Dinuba was much smaller,
the city’s increase in popula- tion over the years has placed a demand for larger infra- structure.
“This will solve the capac- ity issue,” Hernandez added.
The Kern Street Storm Drain Improvement Project will expand the current drain- age pipes from 18 inches to
See GRAN T on page A2
Homeless discussion dominates Sanger town hall
Classifieds - B6-7 Directory - A12 Legals - B8-11 Sports - B1-2, B10 Lifestyle - A7-10
Health & Fitness - B4-5
Lights & Sirens - A3
Obituaries - A2
Opinion - A4