Last night’s Morongo Valley CSD meeting included an unscheduled presentation from a CalTrans representative on changes being made to the Morongo Valley median. According to the representative, the changes will be made over the next two to three weeks and will include the addition of new 4-foot spacers over the entire length of the median to correct existing drainage problems and correcting confusing pavement markings in select areas. The representative also stated that CalTrans is discussing adding delineators in turn lanes to discourage drivers from making illegal turns across the median. Shortly after the presentation, the meeting became heated as Covington Park volunteers confronted the board regarding the distribution of funds. Reporter Andrew Dieleman was there and files this report…
Shortly after the CalTrans presentation at last night’s Morongo Valley Community Service District board meeting, frustrated Covington Park volunteers voiced their concerns on funding, arguing that CSD funds were being inappropriately distributed between the fire department and the CSD’s park and recreations programs. As the meeting progressed, some volunteers began shouting and using obscenities, prompting director Johnny Tolbert to threaten to call the Sheriff’s department and have people forcibly removed. Despite the board’s repeated assurance to volunteers that funds were being distributed necessarily and appropriately, some volunteers remained clearly unconvinced.
Board members adjourned to a closed session meeting to conduct an employee performance evaluation with the general manager; there were no public reports.
The board also adopted the 2018-2019 fiscal year preliminary operating budget and approved the switch from a private live-scan provider for employee background checks to live scans provided by the California Department of Justice.
