It was standing room only at the Joshua Tree Community Center last night as the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council rebooted itself. Supervisor Dawn Rowe of Yucca Valley swore in regional representatives: Gayle Swarat of Morongo Valley, Pat Flanagan of Desert Heights, Mary Helen Tuttle of Copper Mountain Mesa, Ellen Jackman of Joshua Tree, Steve Reyes of Wonder Valley, Tom Ziegert of Yucca Mesa, and Steve Bardwell of Pioneertown.
It was a full two-hour meeting that included a moment of silence for Art Munoz, followed by detailed reports from County Fire, Morongo Valley Fire Department, CAL Fire and the Sheriff’s Department. Covered topics included crime rates, fire permits, emergency preparedness, and a new utility vehicle patrol car recently obtained by a state grant. General Manager Curt Sauer of the Joshua Basin Water District gave an entertaining presentation on current water conditions for the area. Sauer reported that water conservation has improved aquifer depletion significantly and reminded the public about an assistance program for low-income customers. Each MAC board member gave a brief report on events and concerns in their area. At the meeting’s end, members of the public came forward to address issues or make statements. Recurring issues of concern were illegal off-road vehicles, vacation rentals, new developments, and the Dollar General being built on Sunburst at Highway 62.
