[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6576221,"mediaKeyId","3156679-c84fe68d2e15bb06b039ee224a179c34","parentId",3156679,"title","Kern County board issues proclamations, refers catalytic‑converter ordinance to counsel and sheriff, hears staff‑shortage complaints","audioSeconds",5000,"startMs",1223000,"endMs",6223000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3156679-c84fe68d2e15bb06b039ee224a179c34&start=1223&end=6223","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3156679-c84fe68d2e15bb06b039ee224a179c34/thumbnail_1223000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576221/Kern-County/California/Kern-County-board-issues-proclamations-refers-catalyticconverter-ordinance-to-counsel-and-sheriff-hears-staffshortage-complaints","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576221-c9a230191a2ce99d42bc536d43936a89/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169867&Signature=H~MRVAQ-dpX92B4usOKSFfocjI-xlCwv5IFlActOV6Q3~6aoV7TPAr8EbgoCUG9c~MiIsJIfp7wX~BzbxlwmzU3WY4l-C0THXmZQgbLNTRBPzTkX1dyyl4uObrqlyWaeV7LEwag1bHxe~Ah5diQuq9wdJ9hIhIPo~Uq-RJEVNuuhcaWzS4IqOo6tRy8Sa99wY0Nt5C9dXsfhVNC2Ez~-i1c8Ok3RgQilyrE4h5GCStjB9eQ4gqzWLFjttMegedbCPfPfgRar7sP-Ev52avhAX4R3Wcjqpc48fBLc7TTQ0o8id71GoJAzI1wHZaGINzJfPf8K6fA1qw2y88H0gU5puw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-30T15:53:02.687Z","article","The Kern County Board of Supervisors on April 29 approved a set of proclamations recognizing local service and awareness observances, referred a proposed catalytic‑converter ordinance to County Counsel and the Sheriff’s Department for review, and directed staff to prepare letters of support for two state bills.

Proclamations approved by the board included a retirement resolution honoring Pamela Townsend of the Department of Human Services for 34 years of service; a National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day proclamation; designation of May 6 as Give Big Kern giving day; May as Older Americans Month; May as Mental Health Awareness Month; and a certificate honoring Dr. Thomas Martinez for 42 years of service at California State University, Bakersfield. Each proclamation was presented by the sponsoring supervisor and approved by the board without recorded opposition.

Supervisor Peters read the retirement resolution for Pamela Townsend, outlining her career progression from Eligibility Worker I in 1990 through roles including Assistant Program Director and foster‑care eligibility work. Assistant Director Maria Bermudez of the Department of Human Services praised Townsend’s “extraordinary ability to connect with others” and said the department had relied on her expertise in foster‑care eligibility.

On the business side of the agenda, Supervisor Couch moved and the board approved a referral to County Counsel and the Sheriff’s Department to review a proposed ordinance addressing catalytic‑converter thefts and related enforcement. The clerk announced the motion carried and the vote was recorded as approved, with four ayes and one absence.

Supervisor Peters also moved that the county prepare letters of support for Assembly Bills AB1413 and AB1466; the board voted to refer those bills to staff and requested the letters be brought back at the next meeting. That motion was approved with all supervisors voting in favor.

The meeting’s public‑comment period included multiple speakers employed by county departments, several of whom identified themselves as members of SEIU Local 521 and raised staffing and compensation concerns. Human Services and behavioral health employees described short staffing, continued vacancies among seasonal and extra‑help workers, and difficulty retaining trained staff. “Walk a day in our shoes,” urged one front‑line employee; another said, “I am strike ready,” describing financial strain and long hours.

Joshua Armstrong, a senior appraiser in the Assessor’s Office, told the board he had requested a meeting to discuss staffing and noted the county’s property tax roll had increased substantially in recent years. Armstrong said assessed value on the roll had grown roughly 25% over five years, from about $100 billion to $125 billion, and urged officials to reconcile rising county revenue with workforce needs.

Chairwoman Leticia Perez said staff had reached out to union leadership about scheduling meetings; board members encouraged continued engagement. No formal board action on labor or compensation was taken at the meeting, though supervisors said a meeting with union representatives was scheduled.

The board adjourned its morning session and recessed to closed session, with an afternoon session planned to resume regular business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kern County Board of Supervisors 9:00 a.m. meeting for Tuesday, April 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 29 meeting the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved multiple proclamations, referred a proposed catalytic‑converter ordinance to County Counsel and the Sheriff’s Department, and asked staff to prepare letters of support for two state bills.","taxTitle","Kern County, California","taxId",2913,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6576224,"Kern County upholds 30‑day suspension, $500 fine for Niles Market after underage tobacco sale",972,6518000,7490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3156679-c84fe68d2e15bb06b039ee224a179c34&start=6518&end=7490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3156679-c84fe68d2e15bb06b039ee224a179c34/thumbnail_6518000.jpg","/articles/6576224/Kern-County/California/Kern-County-upholds-30day-suspension-500-fine-for-Niles-Market-after-underage-tobacco-sale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576224-9155c8d4da7c8dbf7a42ff0a57d0fc6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169867&Signature=Ou853-zY-Nitx-Rx9tmNHcBKi6QQNnuayKeJfWbkNFvYTDjVG3mHCEgiNRRVa1xzIHvX~Rd5px1~a0z0G6E0HW~q4NktuOAP14-dxyR5QwADyoqfkwCAuoaChenmZ1xo4kOI~DPUg45rBDwfceKZ8tIrSuZtEWwiU1V4PsbJ70P5DeYhMdrdWRyUZM-m5WZcNZdSTMgMNPN9Hes5eWkwMOohTocZVPWSUZyiV-KCfwDdYwalBSSMOfwwILZRmSSsJdsOvmOYxDm~E3gFeWOu~pHHf0h8EN9HWnGEXAutCHyccJr25YY~y5E8JobkhfQO4KIVeYrJAZ2ofVkwlgLisw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kern County Board of Supervisors on April 29 denied an appeal from Niles Market and upheld a 30‑day suspension of the business’s tobacco retailer permit and a $500 administrative penalty for selling tobacco to an underage decoy.

The board action followed a summary from Brynn Kerrigan, director of Kern County Public Health, who described the county’s risk‑based retail tobacco program and the ordinance that sets escalating penalties for repeated violations. Kerrigan told the board the facility’s second documented violation within five years led the Administrative Review Board to sustain the penalty and suspension.

Kerrigan said county staff use an underage decoy—an extra‑help employee younger than the legal purchasing age—who attempts purchases while accompanied for safety by an older staffer who remains outside. “If a facility sells to our underage employee, the facility is in violation of the law and Kern County ordinance code and is subject to penalties,” Kerrigan said during her presentation.

County records presented to the board show an initial violation at Niles Market on Sept. 6, 2023, that resulted in a $250 penalty paid on Nov. 2, 2023. A second violation occurred on Nov. 27, 2024; the Administrative Review Board issued a notice on Feb. 13, 2025, assessing a $500 penalty and 30‑day suspension under the county code’s schedule for second offenses within five years.

At the Administrative Review Board hearing, the owner, Nilama Rani, said the clerk involved did not accept responsibility and that the store’s video retention is limited to seven days, preventing verification from the recording. The owner also told the board the store uses an ID scanner and posts visual aids to help clerks determine legal purchasing age.

At the supervisors’ public hearing the store’s representative, Rajendra Lal Kapoor, told the board that employees “do not sell” to those under 21 and suggested an adult intermediary may have been involved. “My employee say, they don't sell for the, like, under 80 and 21… he say they sale for the somebody else, the under, like, is that 30, 30 maybe like he's, he's older,” Kapoor said through an interpreter.

Public‑health staff replied that the underage decoy was the only person who entered the store during the purchase attempts and that the county’s protocols require decoys to carry valid California IDs and to present them if asked.

Supervisor Parlier moved to deny the appeal; the motion was seconded and carried. The board recorded the appeal denial and the penalties as sustained.

The board’s action preserves the Administrative Review Board’s finding that, because this was a second violation within five years and the store’s existing safeguards did not prevent the sale, the statutory penalty and suspension were appropriate.

The board did not direct additional remedies or modifications to the county program at the hearing. Niles Market may pursue any further administrative remedies allowed by the ordinance.","The Kern County Board of Supervisors denied an appeal by Niles Market owners and upheld a 30‑day suspension of the store's tobacco retailer permit plus a $500 administrative penalty after county public‑health underage purchase surveys found two violations within five years.","actionData","errors"]

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Kern County board issues proclamations, refers catalytic‑converter ordinance to counsel and sheriff, hears staff‑shortage complaints

Kern County upholds 30‑day suspension, $500 fine for Niles Market after underage tobacco sale