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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE KERN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS A public hearing will be held before the Board of Supervisors of the County of Kern on September 7, 2004, at 2:00 p.m., at the Chambers of the Board of Supervisors, First Floor, Kern County Administrative Center, 1115 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, California, to consider the following request: 1. The application and proceedings are designated as: Streets and Highways Nonsummary Vacation - Map Nos. 166-32, 166-33, 166-34, 181-31, and 182-36 2.The name of the applicant is: Mountain Meadows Community Services District by Craig Beardsley 3.The approximate location of the property subject to said proposal is: South of Highline Road and east of Tucker Road, Tehachapi area 4.The request to be considered is: Nonsummary vacation of all roads within Tract 3116 and Tract 3117, commonly known as Mountain Meadows The Planning Department has determined that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment and that, therefore, under the provisions of Section 15061 (b )(3), State CEQA Guidelines, such activity is not covered by the requirements set forth in the California Environmental Quality Act. Persons seeking additional information on this matter should contact Kris Cardoza, Planner 3 (661) 862-8607) with the Planning Department. Written comments received by August 18, 2004, in support or opposition of this request will be incorporated into the Staff Report presented at the hearing. Written comments may be sent to the Kern County Planning Department at 2700 "M" Street, Suite 100, Bakersfield, CA 9330l. If you challenge the action taken on this request in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Board of Supervisors at, or prior to, the public hearing. By order of the Board of Supervisors. 08/2004 We plan to have a fun-filled afternoon with great food and great neighbors and friends. There will-be volley ball and horse shoes too. We have ordered wonderful-T-shirt and will have ranch resident decals and keys available for sale as well. Also, don't forget you can pay your $100 POA dues so we can continue to maintain our roads between now and next Spring. Our annual newsletter will be sent out right after the picnic but we wanted
to update you on a few items before then (then the picnic can remain politics-free!).
The most important is the status of the Mountain Meadows gate issue. The
Kern County Planning. Thank you so much to those property owners who have cleared flammable vegetation and cleaned up visible trash from public viewing areas. Some of you have really gone above and beyond the call of duty. Those of you who haven't been to the ranch yet this summer will be very pleasantly surprised at how clean and clear our roads are-thanks to our wonderful fire department! The fire crew from Engine Company 81 have been invited to the picnic so be sure to thank them for their hard work clearing our road easements. They will be continuing this work throughout the rest of this year and then the chipper will be through to shred the remains, so get your piles ready! You can ask me more about this at the picnic. Merrle Carnes, President (661) 822-3361 June 04 An Open Letter to All Property Owners: Fire Season is upon us here in the ranch! We all need to do our part to clean up our own property as well as cooperate with the fire department to make our ranch as safe as possible during a wildfire emergency. The County Fire Department, with the support and approval of your Board of Directors, recently started brushing the road right-of-way along several major ranch roads. Brushing involves removal of flammable underbrush (Sagebrush and leaf litter) and trimming of low-lying tree limbs to reduce the fuel during a fire. This work is being conducted as County Fire hand crews are available and will continue the rest of this year. Work has already been completed along stretches of Summers and Blackburn Canyon Roads and a fire safe demonstration area can be viewed on the left side of Summers Road in front of 17700 Summers Drive property. It is the property owner's responsibility (and duty!) to continue this brushing work throughout their property. Pay special attention to the required 100-foot safe zone around your dwelling and other structures that could be destroyed in a wildfire. This work could very possibly save you and your property in case of a fire. You also need to have an evacuation plan, know what you are taking with you and have an escape route that takes you all of the way out of the ranch. Designate a place to meet your family members and plan an out-of-the-area contact point. ' The Fire Department is working with your board to establish a map of possible fire survival safe zones. In the event of a fast-moving wildfire we could potentially lose our escape route. These areas are designated around the ranch and would serve as emergency evacuation areas IF such an emergency occurred. The Fire Department always urges safe evacuation as the primary option before a fire becomes an emergency and the department is forced to use critical resources on evacuations instead of halting the progress of a fire. This is also a good time to remind owners that it is your responsibility to clean UP and remove trash and other unsightly materials from your property, especially if such materials are visible from the roadways. We need to keep our ranch beautiful for everyone. We hope to see you at the Annual Picnic on Saturday, August 19th (see flyer included in this mailing for details). We will be mailing out a newsletter after the picnic. (Occasional Newsletter of Old West Ranch POA) P.O. Box 294 Tehachapi, CA 93581 July 1,2003 Board Of Directors Merle Carnes, Pres. (661) 822-3361 Mary Van Ve1zer, Sec. (714) 969-6327 George Wright, Road Commissioner Randy Robey, Director - William Raus, Director John Gruber, Director - Iris Smaus, Direc\.or Chuck Barnett, Director 2003 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING & PICNIC ON SEPT. 20th UNDER THE OAKS AT AT DAVE PERKINS. 12 NOON Come join us for our annual picnic and meeting on Saturday, Sept. 20111 at 12 noon. Meet your new Board of Directors. Join in the camaraderie. Meet your neighbors - new and old. Share ideas on how to improve ranch life, like the best way to skin and preserve rattlesnake skins, canning techniques, laying road base, starting a quilting bee, cutting dead wood & disposing of the slash, etc.Bring chairs & your lunch. Drinks win be furnished. CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Since the last newsletter there are new faces on our Board Of Directors. Our current Board consists of Merle Carnes, Pres.; Mary Van Velzer, Sec. George Wright, Road Commissioner; and Directors Bill Raus, Chuck Barnett, Iris Smaaus, Randy Robey, and John Gruber making eight members. We hope to add another member very soon. Our Board Meetings are now held every 4 months, unless we need to call an emergency meeting. Our next meeting will be held June 21st, which will be devoted to planning the Annual Picnic and Annual Membership Meeting. ROAD BASE CAPER A HUGE SUCCESS The week of April 7th found much flurry' and action on the ranch. Under the very professional direction of Road Commissioner, George Wright, with extremely capable assistance nom Randy Robey, Brent Scheibel, George Plesko, Bill Revelle, Bob Porter, Annie Anderdson, Tim Shiree, and moral support from Merle, and Ban Carnes, Mary and Vince Van Velzer, and Dave Perkins, the final result of months of research, planning, and coordinating came to a highly successful road improvement for the ranch.There's only one way to describe George Wright's dedicated effort on behalf of all those traveling in and out of the ranch at the North Gate. George lived, breathed, ate, slept with this humongous task for many months. We have received many kudos on the tremendous improvement on Summers Drive at the North Gate of the ranch. This job could not have been done without the willing, cooperative effort of those involved Many, many thanks to the whole team. MEMBERS & OWNERS SUPPORT NEEDED It's that time of year again when we ask for your financial support to enable us to keep OWR roads in good, passable condition. For members, (and owners who want to become members) the dues are $100.00 per year due July 1. For all others, we encourage you to join OWRPOA and become a voting member of the Association. We, of course, welcome any financial donation from anyone. It's appropriate at this time for the Board Of Directors to express on behalf of the OWRPOA , sincere appreciation for all the financial contributions received. It goes without saying, OWR roads will be as good as our Treasury is capable of supporting. The Board is considering several road problems which are in dire need of attention this coming year. We desperately need your help to bring this about To join or make a donation, please make your check or money order out to Old West Ranch Property Owners' Association, and indicate if the check is for membership dues, or donation. Mail the check to D.R Moats & Company,212 West “F” Street.,Tehachapi, CA 93561. MOUNTAIN MEADOWS REPORT First, THANKS, THANKS & MORE THANKS to all those who wrote letters to Ms. Kris Cardoza. Asst; Planner, Kern Co. Planning Dept., 2700 M St. Ste 100, Bakersfield, CA 93301 in protest over MM's attempt to privatize roads on their property, thereby cutting off OWR property owners' ingress and egress to our North Gate. This situation is ongoing, as we speak_ however there is no new information to report on at this time. Please keep the above address handy in case we may have to call upon you to write letters again. We want to also express our sincere thanks to Ed Eversole for consistently monitoring this situation. As many of us know, Ed is a wealth of information due to his diligent, professional pursuit of the facts. FIRE EMERGENCY INFORMATION As you know, the Fire department has listed OWR as an extreme fire hazard area, along with other areas in the Tehachapi Mountains. Due to the many dead mature trees in our area, the chances are GREAT for a devastating fire. (See article on Cutting Dead Trees.) In OWRPOA's previous Newsletter, an article appeared listing the Fire Department's recommended precautions in case of a forest fire. They are: Owners need to have their street addresses listed with the local Fire Department, and have those addresses clearly posted on the road at their land. If you see a fire or smoke, call 911, but be ready to give your name, phone number, address, and to describe exactly where the fire is. Don't try to put out a large fire, just take what you can and get to a safe place. If you have sufficiently cleared debris and foliage from around your home stay inside. (For the rationale of this, see more recent Kern Co. Fire Department recommendations and information listed below.) If your car breaks down on the road, push it out of the way so a fire truck can get through. All roads need to be kept open for emergency vehicles. To enable the Fire Department to use water from your water tank, a 2 1/2 inch Fire Department National Standard thread is needed. Also, having property in an area such as OWR, it's necessary to store gasoline. The Fire Dept recommends storing gas in plastic containers, not metal containers. The legal limit for stored gas is 50 gallons. Several weeks ago, the Fire Department posted at the entrance to OWR, as well as other Tehachapi Mountain developments, an official notice to all owners to c1ear their property of all grass and inflammable debri from at least 50 feet from around any dwel1ings. This includes dead trees. Live trees should be trimmed up 8' off ground. We have one of the most professional, efficient, dedicated and quick responding Fire Departments anywhere. If there is a fire in our area, they'll need all the help they can get. One of the ways we can help is for each land owner to cut down the dead. trees on their land. A fallen dead tree is better than a standing dead tree when fighting a fire. After cutting down dead trees, it's recommended that all debris not used for firewood be hauled away. GINGERY GINGERSNAPS 3/4 C shortening 2 C flour 1 C sugar 2 tsp. baking soda 4 tbs. Molasses 1 egg 1 tsp. ea. salt, cloves, cinnamon, ginger. Cream shortening, add sugar gradually, cream well Add molasses. Mix well. Add egg. Beat. Measure flour before sifting. Add soda, salt & spices to flour. Sift together. Stir into shortening mixture. Mix well. Roll into 1 Ih" balls. Roll ball around in sugar. Place balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350" or 375c; depending on your oven. Bake 10 to 12 min. don't let burn on bottom. Anytime we can, we need to show our appreciation to that great crew at the Fire Department. I think they love homemade cookes. * UP TO DATE FIRE DEPT. BULLETIN * On May 30, 2003, Kern Co. Fire Dept. Capt Tom Franchere accompanied by another government official, as well as Merle Carnes and George Wright toured all of OWR. After observing the-highly hazardous fire environment on OWR, the Fire Department representatives had further information and recommendations to make. A forest fire anywhere on the OWR wil1 move very, very quickly. Those owners on the east side of the ranch (other than on Wildhorse) wiIl not be in as much danger as those owners on the west side of OWR. (There is not the amount of fuel to to burn on the east side.) They reminded that most fires travel uphill. The following recommendations are for a11 those who are not close to any of OWR exits. If you can, evacuate IMMEDIATELY. If the fire has spread too fast for you to evacuate, the safest place on OWR's WEST SIDE is under the oaks at Dave Perkins' place on Blackburn Cyn. Road. Try to get there. Fire wil1 skip oak trees. If you can't make it to Perkins', the best choice is to stay where you are, either in your house, hosing down your house or in a clearing. Remember any black spot on the ground has already burned. The Fire Dept. emphatically stated Ste-fen and Wild. horse Roads ARE NOT recommended for use as fire escape roads. Too many low hanging branches. A fire bums at a minimum temperature of 1500c: If you try to drive your vehicle through the fire to get to the other side, or drive close to the fire, your vehicle will choke and quit running. It's been reported there are some owners on OWR who are still burning debris, at this time of year. This is (1) against the law; (2) extremely hazardous to life and limb of everyone in the Tehachapi Mountains; (3) puts unnecessary demands on our Fire Fighters. REMEMBER, until it's legal to again have open fires, NO BURNING TRASH NO OPEN FIRE PITS NO USING BARBEQUE GRILLS NO BURNING CAMPFIRES CUTTING DOWN DEAD TREES OWRPOA's position is the removal of dead trees or debris on an individual's land is solely the. responsibility of each owner. As of the present, many owners have gradually removed dead trees and foliage from their property. It is highly recommended by the Fire Department and the OWRPOA Board of Directors that all owners take this severe fire hazard problem seriously. We suggest owners talk with their ranch neighbors thereby networking on names of dependable, reliable tree cutters who will do the job the way the owner wants it done, remembering to keep the roads passable at all times. Let's preserve as much of the beauty of OWR as possible. COUNTRY LIVIN'..AT ITS BEST What is it that's so great about Old West Ranch, you ask. Well-just look at it. No street lights, no sidewalks or curbs, In fact, there aren't even any paved roads. Oh, one or two of the driveways are paved, but that's all. Why, one of our previous newsletters was even named "Muddy Roads", and if we're not careful some cityfied newcomer won't be able to understand why the roads aren't paved and find a way to pave them. Another tIllng, everybody knows you. The proof of this is every time you meet someone on the road, you're greeted with a wave, or they downright stop to pass the time of day!! The range of topics goes something like this - what're you usin' to patch your roof; who's the best barber in town; we need rain. How many deer did you bag this fall; how far down did you have to go to find water; what's your formula for hummingbird food; we need rain. Did you see that cougar 1 saw last evening; how are your daffodils blooming; what're you doin' about the gophers (ground squirrels) who are eating your tulips; we need rain. How about those beautiful fireworks in town; how many colts did you get this spring; did that errant bull find your vegetable garden; how many of your chickens did that coyote get; we need rain. I could use some help fixing my tractor; I need a new generator 'cause I have to whomp mine to keep it running; we got four foot of snow up top-how much did you get; we need rain. Have you met the new neighbors yet; how's the performance on your ATV? My kids want one. I heard just one shot over...the hill east of me.., poacher, I bet…it sure ain't target practice. You gettin' someone to cut down your dead trees-they did that great job, huh-what's their phone number; .AND we need rain. MILLER TIME - (Saw Mill ???) A woodcutter has a chain saw that operates at 2700 rpm. The density of the pine trees in a plot to be harvested is 470 per acre. The plot is 2.3 acres in size. The average tree diameter is 14 inches. How many six packs will it take to cut the trees?
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