In San Bernardino, tomorrow (Aug. 6, 2024) County Supervisors hold their regular twice-monthly meeting at 10 o’clock.  Among the many agenda items are several that are good news for our Morongo Basin. The board is expected to extend a contract with Morongo Basin Healthcare District to provide dental services to children enrolled in a number of preschool programs through August 2026. Turning to the decrepit Morongo Valley Water Tank, Supervisors are expected to restart the bidding process in an…

Hi-Desert Water District’s recent legally required “Prop 218 Notice of Proposed Rate Adjustment” can mean only one thing for Yucca Valley water users – rates are going up. In theory, the public can stop the increase in water and wastewater rates. But for that to take place, a terrifically high hurdle must be crossed in a Protest Vote which concludes at 4 p.m. August 21 at a public hearing at the Water District Office. To kill the proposed increases, 50% plus one of Hi-Desert Water…

In San Bernardino, tomorrow (July 23, 2024) County Supervisors hold their regular twice-monthly meeting at 10 o’clock.  Among other actions, the five-member board is expected to approve an increase in the unpopular FP-5 fire tax. Count on County Supervisors to approve a $5.16 increase in the special fire tax for 2024-25 raising it to $177.01 per parcel. In other business, the Morongo Basin Sheriff Station will accept two donated Polaris Pro off-highway vehicles, one from Twentynine Palms…

At last week’s meeting of the Landers Homestead Valley Association guest speaker Marina West, General Manager at the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency, gave the audience of nearly 50 people an overview of what the little water agency is doing with the more than $12 million in state grant funds that have come into the district in the last three years. West said that ultimately, the grants will allow the water agency to realize some long-time goals by creating a number of efficiencies and securing…

The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act (WJTCA ) was enacted with the aim of protecting the culturally and ecologically important tree while supporting the state’s renewable energy and housing development priorities. Part of this effort is preparation of a conservation plan for the iconic tree. When the California Department of Fish and Wildlife holds its virtual meeting on Thursday, July 11 from 2 to 4 p.m., they will have an update on the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan strategies…

Two public hearings will be on tap when the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency’s Board of Directors meets at 6 p.m. tonight (July 9, 2024). The first public hearing aims to confirm a number of seriously delinquent accounts and allow the board to hear from the public in connection with those delinquencies after which the board will likely authorize placement of property liens on the County Tax Roles. The second public hearing seeks comment on the placement of standby assessments on undeveloped…