[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6202898,"mediaKeyId","3785152-052e112dacd6a44ae017746ab535e65f","parentId",3785152,"title","Rural County group presents broadband, housing and forest-resiliency priorities to Merced supervisors","audioSeconds",839,"startMs",2548000,"endMs",3387000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3785152-052e112dacd6a44ae017746ab535e65f&start=2548&end=3387","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3785152-052e112dacd6a44ae017746ab535e65f/thumbnail_2548000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6202898/Merced-County/California/Rural-County-group-presents-broadband-housing-and-forest-resiliency-priorities-to-Merced-supervisors","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202898-558d8f06d088a19af2943e29f8f994a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773578728&Signature=crw1~-7mTnKbpPjj8CNg1EUjdfJOXvS1THPkhoTKflbZnPq3uAnr26Ye1dg-U4jaA6ZD28-mkVd~2ucE1Zx~jfMA5Uj6HcTVc5bvt3W5eIZSzVYC5iOq7RNiCBoKH19~uJW5J1l~fdTJUnaxVaOtoRBzML4W~WdwwcbwZrPkReiMDUwQnU2bVaO9vuGnhlfX9bfSc21jHEk5iG-FuxcXNsE~BaZX2ZPCB54KYJvi6ws1l6RN4pmH~T9ivYRzBRh0wMc9F2Ogi7zfbj0odQuwmZlHdSfhQE~e-KJY6XDpaccBTiaIb3BDmUdGPQEXYwARqYcdjGhIN1rcn6opJ9-Rng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Merced County, CA","date","2025-06-10T00:00:00Z","article","Craig Focarson, senior vice president of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), presented the organization’s annual strategic-plan update to the Merced County Board of Supervisors on June 10, outlining RCRC priorities across broadband, housing, wildfire resiliency and rural economic development.

\"RCRC's main objective and goals is government affairs, economic development, business development, administration of finance,\" Focarson told the board, summarizing the organization's focus on member services for California's rural counties. He said RCRC helps rural jurisdictions access financing and programs private markets and larger associations may overlook.

Focarson described several affiliated programs. He said the Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) has helped provide mortgage financing and down-payment assistance for many households; he cited figures of more than $17 billion in mortgage financing and more than $14 million in down-payment assistance. He also described a GSFA program that uses 0% financing to help member-county employees buy homes and said the GSFA board approved $3 million for that program, with roughly $2 million already used in participating counties.

On broadband, Focarson said Golden State Connect Authority is pursuing an open-access, fiber-based model in partnership with Utopia Fiber, using state and federal grants plus a planned bond-backed financing structure. He said RCRC had secured roughly $185 million in grant funding and an additional $50 million for project development, and that the initiative aims to deliver gigabit-capable service to rural communities that currently have limited provider choice.

Focarson also described Golden State Natural Resources, an RCRC affiliate that works with the U.S. Forest Service to remove dead wood and other fuel from national forest lands and to develop local wood-processing facilities. He said the goal is to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk while generating usable product and revenue to sustain ongoing forest-resiliency work.

Why it matters: the RCRC represents rural counties’ collective interests before state and federal agencies. The programs Focarson described aim to increase housing affordability for county employees, expand broadband competition in underserved areas and fund forest-management projects that proponents say reduce fire risk.

What the board did: the presentation was informational. No county action, vote or funding decision was recorded during this meeting segment.

Ending: supervisors heard the RCRC strategic priorities and said they would review materials and consider coordination opportunities through existing county channels.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors Meeting - June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Craig Focarson, senior vice president of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), briefed Merced County supervisors on the association’s strategic priorities, including broadband buildout, down-payment assistance programs and forest-fuels projects.","taxTitle","Merced County, California","taxId",12479,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6202903,"County hauler says SB 1383 organics carts will be delivered next week; service begins July 1",82,1029000,1111000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3785152-052e112dacd6a44ae017746ab535e65f&start=1029&end=1111","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3785152-052e112dacd6a44ae017746ab535e65f/thumbnail_1029000.jpg","/articles/6202903/Merced-County/California/County-hauler-says-SB-1383-organics-carts-will-be-delivered-next-week-service-begins-July-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202903-d5f05b1b7a3f93621ef2f88b20050e90/orig.mp4?Expires=1773578728&Signature=Kj~AjqusNF3GALCSV8IKO-0lMAHGl1qyA~gfTCUFVxCYGcvZVTac5UbUhyZghk1Xf3Fr8pd3hrODp7GeSvjo6k~gngX1khTOSyM14jAz9mmeEI4qwGvf8kO35FbS4rx5AGwfVTJYl9S3fAy3PsLnAp53AlIH4wK5G6iAWdObkiN69BPFwRuyX6CUrREJ1RTEbNWqsmW~VnCxpQfgF-LwjHiHniecYo41ZcPoj2b0bnOsQIGRtGKFdUfGnlIWBTgkzs4kLdkE~T~ssL6wbfiZUrDpXWl7G1Fkf5bWbSorvHpBRCjmK2f2n2VykfOH3wIX4jqNjYA7-YzKYYbkcWNboQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","WM Winton Disposal told the Merced County Board of Supervisors on June 10 that it will begin delivering blue and green recycling and organics carts next week in mandatory service areas and will begin weekly organics collection on July 1, 2025, to comply with California's SB 1383 organics requirements.

\"Our amended collection contract includes weekly recycling and organics collection for businesses and residents in the mandatory service areas,\" said Vanessa Barberis, representing WM Winton Disposal. Barberis described SB 1383 as an \"unfunded state mandate\" and said the company is preparing outreach materials and a supervisor resource guide to help county officials answer constituent questions during the transition.

Barberis said cart deliveries will take about two weeks and that service will start July 1. She also introduced Javier Sanchez, the company’s new recycling education representative based in Atwater. Sanchez said he and the outreach team have already been in the community, including at the Merced County Fair, where he said they spoke with about 800 people in a weekend.

Why it matters: SB 1383 requires expanded organic-waste collection to reduce methane emissions; local implementation often changes collection frequency, cart types and recycling workflows for residents and businesses. Barberis told the board that WM Winton Disposal's amended contract covers both recycling and organics and that the company will provide a supervisor resource guide and contacts for escalated customer concerns.

What the board did: the remarks were delivered during the public comment portion; no board motion or vote on the contract terms was recorded during the June 10 session.

Ending: residents and supervisors are due to see cart deliveries and outreach communications in the coming weeks ahead of the July 1 service start date.","WM Winton Disposal told the Merced County Board of Supervisors on June 10 it will begin delivering blue and green recycling and organics carts next week for mandatory service areas and start weekly organics collection on July 1 in compliance with SB 1383.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6202908,"Merced County residents urge supervisors to keep Dos Palos Station 75 open",1725,677000,2402000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3785152-052e112dacd6a44ae017746ab535e65f&start=677&end=2402","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3785152-052e112dacd6a44ae017746ab535e65f/thumbnail_677000.jpg","/articles/6202908/Merced-County/California/Merced-County-residents-urge-supervisors-to-keep-Dos-Palos-Station-75-open","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202908-f708e9824754c57a63cab5f9ddae7e34/orig.mp4?Expires=1773578728&Signature=iVI66iiX6PBtwIhz-dc8ax9mnYEpMWSo7JZjM5uCsoeYNlKguIu~EnJhYfP3ni4wsHtFJ2i9YP67T-7e9dvNCCxUUp0Y4Fklq8uufOjHtI83~MDJr-LibEYdISD2y98-SnTGjSEl4-VqOskElloG4Yztek86dLq~Q~eeLru~yUG4hb9epsLjdLb8d5xhfHfGiijib~yjSanmiCxptyMhbhdfGVHKOcLfqRv0WejyirofU6ZLelB-kwEfJI3S~Ojr3W7oEGoMB0WUwLHgm0G1iNv4Y8dSNLdm4raoWBVwzzg-P5~micSgbKWbOZZsDnZ3Vc3sUIwOGWQ-OpB7B7Vr-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents, farmers and local officials addressed the Merced County Board of Supervisors on June 10 urging the board to keep Fire Station 75 at the Dos Palos Y open and to reconsider a plan that would consolidate emergency services with the city’s Station 76.

Speakers said the county’s May discussions about station consolidation put rural public safety at risk for a broad agricultural area north of Highway 152. \"Station 75 ... provides essential fire and medical related services to an area that encompasses residences, businesses, and over 80,000 acres of farmland,\" said William Pruitt, a Dos Palos resident and business owner, who estimated some portions of the area could face first-responder travel times of \"more than 30 minutes\" if Station 75 is closed.

The call to keep Station 75 open recurred throughout the public comment period. The speakers included the mayor of Dos Palos and the city council member, the Merced County Farm Bureau, local service-club leaders and retired and active firefighters, all describing long travel distances, heavy agricultural traffic and limited crossing points over the San Joaquin River as compounding response-time concerns.

Why it matters: residents and business owners said the Dos Palos Y station covers a long stretch of Highway 152 and adjacent farmland, where workers frequently operate heavy equipment, handle hazardous materials and commute from other communities. \"A worker injured far from town doesn't have time to wait 15, 20, or even 30 extra minutes,\" said Holly Crivelli, identifying herself as a concerned Dos Palos resident.

Speakers described multiple local impacts if Station 75 were closed: increased ambulance and engine travel times, higher insurance premiums for city residents if fire protection distances increase, and operational strain on nearby stations. Claudia Bautista, a Dos Palos council member, reminded the board of the May 27 vote she described as keeping Station 76 open and consolidating Station 75 into 76; she also raised concerns about off-agenda discussions, saying, \"I hope that there hasn't been any Brown Act violations in discussions amongst each other outside of the public.\" Bautista said she had heard of a donor contribution only after the last meeting and asked for transparency so the public could consider new information.

Several speakers urged a collaborative solution involving the city and county. Brianne Vandenberg, executive director of the Merced County Farm Bureau, said the bureau is \"not here to advocate for one closure over the other, but rather stress our organization's belief that emergency services are critical\" and asked the city and county to return to the table to explore alternatives.

The mayor of Dos Palos, Katie Reid, said the city had identified local funding measures and impact fees to help support station operations and said the city would prefer any consolidated station be located within city limits. Other residents described petitions circulated in the Dos Palos Y area and requested the supervisors to allow further public input.

What the board did: during this meeting the public comment period closed after residents spoke. No formal board motion, vote or decision to close or reopen any station was recorded in the June 10 public comments portion of the meeting.

Context and next steps: multiple speakers referred to prior board discussion on May 27 about station consolidation and to ongoing conversations about funding, sales-tax measures and intergovernmental coordination. Residents asked the board to delay any closure and said they want a public re-evaluation that includes the city of Dos Palos and affected rural stakeholders.

Ending: speakers emphasized risks to families, farmworkers and commuters along Highway 152 and asked supervisors to prioritize response times and transparency in any final decisions.","Dozens of Dos Palos-area residents, elected officials and farm representatives told the Merced County Board of Supervisors on June 10 that closing Fire Station 75 at the Dos Palos Y would increase response times for farms, commuters and rural residents and asked the board to reverse or revisit the consolidation plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rural County group presents broadband, housing and forest-resiliency priorities to Merced supervisors

County hauler says SB 1383 organics carts will be delivered next week; service begins July 1

Merced County residents urge supervisors to keep Dos Palos Station 75 open