Photo by Patrick Ray
Karen Northcutt currently volunteers as the Secretary/Treasurer at the Kern River Valley Senior Citizens, Inc. The KRV SCI is a non-profit resources and referral entity helping address the needs of seniors in the KRV. Ms.Northcutt has been a valuable asset to our community in ways many may not realize.
Where were you prior to residing in the Kern River Valley
Grew up in a small town in Tennessee and from a very early age worked in the family’s cattle, commercial poultry, timber and retail businesses. Graduated with a B.S. degree in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University.
What brought you to the Kern River Valley?
After working at the Council of Governments in Chattanooga, the Tennessee Department of Labor as a statistician, and a housing specialist at the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, I moved to Newport Beach as a planning specialist. The company had a contract with Kern County, the City of Bakersfield and the 10 incorporated cities to prepare Housing Elements of the General Plan for all those entities. During the citizen participation component of the Plan development, at a meeting here in the KRV, I met and eventually married my husband, Michael Henstra . He didn’t want to relocate to Newport Beach, so I moved to the Kern River Valley and started my own land use and environmental planning consulting company, Northcutt & Associates, in 1980. I still have both my husband and business.
What are some projects you have been involved with over the years that have helped or made an impact on our community?
Since my husband was involved in KRV organizations (particularly Rotary and various wildlife improvement groups), I jumped in to assist wherever I could. We coordinated many Rotary Invitational Art Shows and other Rotary fundraisers to raise money for community projects and scholarships.
I’m an unapologetic advocate for the KRV, including spending 12 years on the Kern County Board of Trade representing the 1st Supervisorial District. When money for Board of Trade tourism grants was tight, it was my job to fight for funding for local groups and organizations. For many years, the KRV received much more funding than their “equitable” share of the funding available for each of the 5 Supervisorial Districts. I have testified before Congress to encourage local tourism by establishing the Kern River as a Wild and Scenic River, and served on the Committee to form the KRV Community Services District so the area would have a greater voice when dealing with the County, and as a mechanism to secure funding for infrastructure projects for the KRV. With many local volunteers,I helped with the planning and hosting of the Wildwater World Cup Competition in the KRV. This event attracted kayakers from all over the world.
What is the Kern River Valley Specific Plan and what was your role in its development?
Prior to Kern County Planning deciding that it was time to create a planning document to guide development in the KRV, I worked with the Kern Valley Revitalization Committee to develop a “Vision Plan for the Kern River Valley” in conjunction with CalPoly Pomona. I was on the consultant team that prepared the Master Plan for the Bob Powers Gateway Preserve for the Heritage Foundation, which eventually led to participation on the committee to locate the new Visitor’s Center now being designed and funded by the Army Corps of Engineers and USFS.
Do you have any shout outs?
I thank and appreciate every community organization and the volunteers who work tirelessly to make the KRV a better place to live, work and play. The Chambers of Commerce, our local library staff, the multitude of folks who help secure and distribute food and clothing to those in need. The Historical Society, the Art Association, the Nuuni Cunni Center, Audubon, Keepers of the Kern and the Kern River Conservancy.
Thank you Karen Northcutt for working behind the scenes to help maintain our community.
