Photo by Catherine Stachowiak
During a meeting of the cemetery board, Tuesday November 12, a number of things occurred including the announcement of the chair of the board of trustees resigning.
During directors comments period on the agenda, Harry Schustz, who has been the board’s Chairperson/President for the Kern River Valley Cemetery
District, resigned his position as trustee. Schustz has been a board trustee since November 2019, and was voted into the position of Board Chairperson/President in 2020.
Schustz stated, “This is my official last board meeting with you as a board. This is my fifth year. I decided that my term ends November 24th and I’ll be resigning at that point. But from today until the 24th I am available, for your support and the district’s support, whatever I can do to help. And then of course after that I’ll be a member of the public but I’ll be more than happy to help wherever I can. I do feel connected and committed still.”
Buffering the unexpectedness of his announcement Schustz said, “It’s been an honor and a privilege to have served with each one of you. Your dedication, and your perspective, and your insight has really moved the district forward especially in the hard times. And I want to thank you all, each one of you, for that. And I wish this board success moving forward. I know in January, that you will all make the best decisions, that moves this district forward. So I just want to thank you all.”
Mike Ryan chimed in and said, “I am amazed where this board, I started on this board a year ago, from where it started, and where it is today, and under your direction. And the tough times that this board went through with harassment and etc. The way the board supported one another, and especially your support, was overwhelming. We kind of didn’t know much about one another, and everything, and then all of the sudden had come together, and put up a united front, and stick with it. And I think it’s truly amazing.”
Schustz said in response to Ryan’s comment, ” I agree with that.”
Trustee Esteban Olivares said, “I feel like you’ve been quite the juggernaut of direction and logic. And not just that, but being able to calculate what we could do, to better this district. And I guarantee that, without you, none of this would have been possible. So thank you.”
Schustz responded, saying, “Thank you for saying that”
Trustee Kathy Agapiou said, “It’s been an honor to serve along side you as well. And it’s amazing what we’ve all gone through in the last year. Like Michael, I’ve only been here, August was a year. And it was nothing that I expected. I didn’t think we were going to have such rocky roads. But with everybody joining forces, and under your guidance, I think we persevered rather well. And thank you for keeping us sane.”
Schustz said, “You’re all very welcome.”
Teresa Barnum, who only recently signed on as trustee said, “You guys know how new I am to the board. And so I’m just appreciating this experience and learning so much. And I am looking forward to the time that I will be serving and to learn a lot more. I’m sad to see Harry go. But I’m glad that I have 12 more days, to have an opportunity work with you, with any questions that I might have. It’s just an honor to be part of this process ” She also thanked everyone at the district for working so hard and the opportunity to be part of the process.
