Board approves bridge contract, indigent defense agreements and a planning code change; confirms assistant CAO appointment

Kings County's Board of Supervisors approved multiple formal actions during its July 1 regular meeting, including a bridge replacement contract, a set of indigent defense contracts, confirmation of an assistant county administrative officer, and a planning code change introduced following a public hearing.

Votes at a glance - Sixteenth Avenue bridge replacement (Tulare Lake Canal): Approved. The Board approved a construction agreement with AG Construction Corporation for the replacement of the timber bridge at Sixteenth Avenue over the Tulare Lake Canal. The contract award followed a staff report that the low bid was $2,250,000 and that construction is anticipated to begin in September 2025 with 66 working days for completion. Roll-call vote: Joe Neves — yes; Richard Veil — yes; Deb Verboom — yes; Rusty Robinson — yes; Robert Thayer — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Indigent defense contracts (19 independent attorneys, FY 2025–2026): Approved. County staff requested approval of 19 contracts with individual private attorneys to provide indigent defense services for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025. Staff said the county is one of 24 California counties that use contracted private attorneys rather than a county-run public defender office, and the recommended budget includes $2,610,500 to fund these agreements. Roll-call vote: Joe Neves — yes; Richard Veil — yes; Deb Verboom — yes; Rusty Robinson — yes; Robert Thayer — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Appointment: Assistant County Administrative Officer (Michelle Spear): Confirmed. The board confirmed the appointment of Michelle Spear as assistant county administrative officer, with compensation set in the recommended budget. Roll-call vote: Joe Neves — yes; Richard Veil —…