The September meeting of the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council was rich with public comment, presentations, public safety reports, and community reports. Reporter Dan Stork hits some highlights…
Monday night, Morongo Basin MAC members heard the anguished concerns of residents over a cellular tower at a Joshua Tree church, dirt road conditions all over the Basin, and systematic burglaries in Wonder Valley. District Fire Chief John Chamberlain and Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Joling told how their agencies cooperated in dealing with an arson fire at Walmart. Frazier Haney, of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, and Morongo Basin Transit Authority General Manager Mark Goodale gave overviews of the history and operations of their organizations. In addition to news of fundraisers, shows, and speaker programs, community reports included head-ups about financial viability concerns in Morongo Valley and County attention to hauled-water restrictions.
Joshua Tree cell tower
Joshua Tree residents complained about the cellular communications tower approved by the San Bernardino County Planning Commission on the grounds of Sky View Chapel on Sunny Vista Road. They fear radiation, aesthetic blight, and lowered property values.
Residents from several areas within the MAC jurisdiction described very bad road conditions in the wake of the summer monsoon rains six weeks ago. They asked for the attention of a road commission to their plight, and asked for return of road maintenance funds to local control.
Criminal menace in Wonder Valley
A Wonder Valley resident claimed inadequate Sheriff’s response to detailed reports of systematic local burglaries. She said that local miscreants scout properties during the day, and return at night to steal from them, and that 911 calls to Sheriff’s dispatch have resulted in no help.
County Fire
County Fire District Chief John Chamberlain described flood responses, including swift water rescues and sandbag deployment. He talked up an emergency medical technician training program at Copper Mountain College. He said that 80 county firefighters have been deployed to fires in northern California and the northwest for extended periods of time, himself included.
Sheriff’s Department
Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Joling described the joint fire and Sheriff’s response to an arson fire at the propane storage area at Walmart in Yucca Valley, including the containment of exploding propane cylinders by the steel cage they are stored in. In response to a question about patrol coverage, he said that at any given time six deputies, one in each of six cars, will be on patrol in the Morongo Basin: two in Yucca Valley, two in Twentynine Palms, and two in the unincorporated area of the Basin.
California Highway Patrol
CHP Officer Joan Griffin talked up the Start Smart class she gives for teen drivers, one of which will be offered this Thursday. In response to a question, she said that the CHP and the Sheriff’s Department cooperate regularly with each other, although communication is hampered by the two agencies operating on different radio systems.
Mojave Desert Land Trust activities
Mojave Desert Land Trust Conservation Director Frazier Haney described the organization’s efforts in acquisition, restoration, conveyance and management of land. He said that the Trust has been instrumental in greatly reducing private landholdings within Joshua Tree National Park, and turning them to public ownership. He said the Trust has gone through 1,800 escrows in its 10 years of existence, up to the recent acquisition of 700 acres in Quail Wash, in the Monument Manor area of Joshua Tree.
Morongo Basin Transit Authority overview
MBTA General Manager Mark Goodale gave an overview of the history and operations of the Transit Authority. It operates six fixed routes within the Basin, five Ready Ride on-demand operations, and two commuter routes that go down below. The fleet operates on compressed natural gas. The MBTA is a Joint Powers Authority, whose governing board is drawn from the Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley elected council, and from the unincorporated areas. Ridership peaked in 2012, and fluctuates with the economy, gas prices, and fares. The authority draws 10 percent to 16 percent of its revenue from rider fares, with the rest coming from grants. It holds an annual “un-met needs” public forum, coming up soon at the Helen Gray Center. Goodale said that talks about running service into Joshua Tree National Park during peak seasons are starting.
Wonder Valley
Teresa Sitz researched the history of an underground pipeline through the area, currently used by Southern California Gas, but coveted by another company for movement of crude oil.
Yucca Mesa
Thomas Ziegert detailed a slate of speakers and fund-raising events at the Yucca Mesa Improvement Association, and described progress towards making the YMIA a 501(c)3 organization. He said that the over-the-air television outage was remedied more quickly than expected, given the condition of the roads.
Flamingo Heights
Flamingo Heights residents have been told that Caltrans work on SR 247 will continue for another two months, but are skeptical of the estimate.
Joshua Tree
MAC Chairman Mark Lundquist, who is also now the Morongo Basin field representative for Supervisor James Ramos, said there will be a lunch with the supervisor at 11:30 on September 29 at the County Government Center in Joshua Tree. He listed several cultural events in Joshua Tree: jazz band, film festival, Harrison House concert, Copper Mountain College Foundation gala. He also noted that the issue of hauled water for new residential construction has made it to the Board of Supervisors attention, and urged citizens to use the teleconferencing setup to make their voices heard.
Copper Mountain Mesa
Mary Helen Tuttle cited the success of e-waste and tire collections, and of a recent community breakfast. She urged turning up the pressure on the County with regard to road conditions.
Morongo Valley
Gayle Swarat noted an Art Colony event on September 26, and a pancake breakfast and firefighters’ union car show on October 3. She also said that there will be a LAFCO meeting on September 30, at which the financial sustainability—especially that of the fire department—of the Morongo Valley Community Services District will be discussed.
Desert Heights
Pat Flanagan decried the state of roads in her area. She requested that meetings of the Land Use Subcommittee be moved to 5:30 pm
Landers
…Representative Richard Lutringer was absent.
Pioneertown
…still has no representative on the MAC.
