About 15 residents packed the conference room of the Kern River Valley Cemetery District
Photo and story by Catherine Stachowiak
About 15 residents packed the audience of the conference room, at the Kern River Valley Cemetery District, where the board of trustees held its meeting Tuesday Jun 11, to discuss the position the district was in, without the management, administration, or any grave digger whom the district opted to terminate in May, without replacements.
The termination of three of the district’s four part-time staff members, left John Blythe, a former trustee, the only employee to pick up where other staff were forced to leave.
The board trustees mostly blame former employees for the poor shape the district was left in, by the time the Grand Jury report, on its investigation of the district, came out. The report can be read at the link below
www.kerncounty.com/home/showpublisheddocument/14881/638520604973000000
The majority of people packed into the tiny district headquarters were residents voicing support for Randy and Laura Kyt, the former employees who friends say would have been happy to stay and train any new incoming staff, though they were let go without the opportunity.
At a former town meeting, Blythe told a group of locals that the district gave Randy and Laura Kyt the choice between resigning and termination. The district previously sent Laura Kyt a letter indicating the board was considering her performance, in a closed session, before she was terminated. Friends of Laura and Randy Kyt say that Laura went through a great deal of stress before the review, including loss of family members, an accident, and resulting health issues.
At the district meeting residents had a three-minute statement period to introduce themselves and their purpose for their presence.
The majority of people at the meeting said that Randy Kyt should be hired back at the district, at least for long enough to train a new manager, or possibly hired as a consultant to assist whatever new district manager would be hired.
Mike Brownell from the American Legion Post 711 said, “The actions by the board, the day after Memorial Day, and not accepting any more business until you guys rectify the situation… I did read the Grand Jury report and I think that’s more of a reflection on the board than it is on Randy and the other employees.”
Local funeral businessman Rob Guidry asked the board of trustees to resign their positions. “You’ve failed in every way possible,” he said.
Jerry Moffatt former school board member said, “I tried calling the cemetery numerous times. And I get nothing. There’s not even a spot on there to leave a message. That’s disturbing for anyone that is in need. The firing of Randy and Laura has to be bad. You look around here and the memorials and everything that was done, and that’s Randy.” He also claimed that Randy and Laura Kyt’s last paychecks were not signed and couldn’t be cashed, as he dramatically dropped the envelopes containing their checks on the conference table before the seated trustees.
John Newman, president of the Kern River Valley Historical Society, said the history of the valley was tied to the cemetery. If locals could solve these problems among locals, it would be better than allowing someone else decide everything for the community.
Residents agreed that the district was understaffed, before the terminations, and was operating on too small a budget.
Blythe stated that Danny Brown, an employee of the South Kern Cemetery District, was willing to train the new employees to streamline things within the office internally. Blythe got the impression that Brown thought the district could function with just a District Manager, Office Administrator, and Grounds Person. However Brown was not at the meeting.
Kernville Chamber of Commerce president, and business owner, Orion Sanders asked how the public could apply to the positions open at the cemetery.
Board chair Harry Schutstz claimed he’s reaching out to other entities to obtain the right people to keep the district flourishing. The board was working with Kat Barnum at America’s Job Center to fill the positions.
The board did not know how soon the district could be up and running for internments of the dead.
Guidry asked, “Who’s going to pay for the difference in (cost for) holding the person that paid for their service? If I have to hold them at my place with a permit, who is going to pay for the extra cost to keep them? They paid in good faith, to you people, to do the internment. And what I’m seeing is a failure.”
Schutstz dismissively said, “I’m sorry sir. At this point I don’t have a comment.”
Sanders said he thought County Supervisor Phillip Peters ought to make sure internments are done and would contact him personally.
Blythe said the district suffered from a lack of transparency due to falling behind on the public posting of minutes. He claimed he was under utilized for a year during his employ with the district. Blythe said, the board couldn’t comment on a personnel issue regarding former employees. He hoped they could get things up and running as soon as possible and stated that board members are not on salary, but receive a $50 stipend per meeting.
The Grand Jury report indicated that the district was behind on audits, with seven years outstanding, to be completed within one year. The district has been working with a CPA to update its records and updating its accounting system. The general ledger is a roadmap to what happens during the year, which was why the CPA had been working to bring them back, so the records could be audited. The years 2016 through 2019 ought to be completed by next month.
Board vice chair Kathy Agapiou and board trustee Esteban Olivares both said they wanted to address the water issue and grounds-keeping issue. Olivares said he wanted the board to consider a combination of zero water grounds keeping and the use of Cal Water to address the water concerns of the district. Agapiou thought the district might be able to get a grant to assist.
The board determined to hold monthly meetings the second Tuesday of every month at 1pm, rather than the alternate monthly meeting schedule they held previously.
