The new manager at the Kern River Valley Public Cemetery District (KRVPCD,) Orion Sanders recently made efforts toward getting the county to assist with some of the cemetery issues. One issue Sanders has been particularly concerned about was the fact the Historic Cemetery needs a retaining wall built. This is an issue, which the Kern County Grand Jury addressed in their investigation of the district. https://www.kerncounty.com/home/showpublisheddocument/14881/638520604973000000
Sanders told the Kern Valley Sun, last week, that upon Sanders’ request, on Friday July 12, following the opening at the George and Darlene Randall Skate Park in Lake Isabella, Supervisor Phillip Peters visited the cemetery to hear about district concerns, which included this wall, as well as the water issues.
The Historic Cemetery is part of the district. Last year when the river was high the US Forest Service put sandbags there. However the biggest concern was the need for a retaining wall to prevent the grounds from weakening or becoming unstable.
When Sanders was first hired at the district he said he saw no paperwork for that issue at the district. He now believes the former manager, Randy Kyt, may have sought help from FEMA to attain funding for this issue. He has since worked on getting the county supervisors involved.
Sanders recently told the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce, “Building a retaining wall is not cheap. And it’s not in the cemetery budget to do that. But it’s got to be done. And the county’s got to be aware that its’ got to be done.”
Following up, Sanders said, “We took him (Peters) out there for a visit of the cemetery and we portrayed to him the need to get it completed. I want people to know that the county is aware of it.”
Sanders said he got the impression that the county is helping the district to pursue a solution to the need for funding. Sanders said, “He (Peters) did say that he would bring this to the county board and would assist in any way they possibly could to make sure that the cemetery is secure and the project is completed.”
How much Peters can assist the district remains to be seen.
