The Yucca Valley Town Council started its meeting last night by awarding Scot McKone the Yucca Valley Spirit Award.
Councilmember Jim Schooler said McKone was an unsung hero who volunteered with the Tri-Valley Little League, the Center for Healthy Generations, and with the Yucca Valley High School golf team.
The town’s attorney, Thomas Jex, was also honored for a presentation on the Brown Act that he gave to the students and staff at Copper Mountain College.
The council heard an update on the town’s new sewer project, which has an estimated start-up date between November 4 and 14.
Managing editor Tami Roleff says the council also approved an amendment to the town manager’s $200,040 employment contract…
Yucca Valley Town councilmembers were effusive in their praise of the job that Town Manager Curtis Yakimow is doing for the town, and showed it by approving an amendment to his contract.
Mayor Robert Lombardo said, “We’re getting a heck of a bargain.” Councilmember Jim Schooler said, “The town is well served with town manager. He does a good job keeping us organized, keeping morale u. He’s underpaid for people in his position.” Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Drozd said Yakimow communicates well. Councilmember Merl Abel said changes to Yakimow’s contract now puts his position in line with other department heads. And Councilmember Rick Denison agreed with the others.
The amendment extends Yakimow’s contract to the year 2025. He will be given 12 months’ severance pay if he is terminated without cause, and he will also be allowed to receive paid time off.
In other business, the council heard about changes coming to the California building code, the biggest of which is the state requirement that all new houses be built with solar panels, which is estimated to add an additional $15,000-$20,000 per house.
And the council was briefed on the problems facing the recycling industry, since China refuses to accept much of the recycled items the United States had been sending it. Many recycling centers have closed down. There are still two recycling centers for CRV items in Yucca Valley: Venture Recycling, 7308 Hopi Trail (Venture also accepts scrap metal), and CalGreen Recycling Center, 282 Old Woman Springs Road in Yucca Mesa, by the $5 Pizza Place. A list of recyclable items can be found on the town’s website.
http://www.yucca-valley.org/townhall/solidwaste.html
http://www.yucca-valley.org/pdf/admin/Acceptable_Recycling_Items_List.pdf
