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Kern County proclaims National Public Works Week, highlights decade of department integration and projects
Summary
The Kern County Board of Supervisors proclaimed May 18–24, 2025, as National Public Works Week and heard a presentation from Public Works Director Josh Champlin reviewing 10 years since a departmental consolidation, large capital projects, transit and landfill operations, and grants totaling roughly $310 million.
The Kern County Board of Supervisors on May 20 proclaimed May 18–24, 2025, as National Public Works Week and heard a detailed 10‑year progress report from Public Works Director Josh Champlin.
The presentation summarized the department’s consolidation — combining engineering survey services, roads and waste divisions — and listed workload and project metrics. "Kern County Public Works is the foundation of Kern's thriving communities," Public Works Director Josh Champlin told the board, noting cross‑training, combined administrative systems and expanded grant activity.
Champlin said the building inspection division performed more than 420,000 inspections and issued over 96,000 permits in the last decade. He told the board county code enforcement has averaged about 2,600 cases per year, and the engineering division has reviewed roughly 195,000 plan checks. He also described the county sanitation authority's operation of six treatment plants treating an estimated 5.2 million gallons of sewage each day, serving about 60,000 residents.
On transportation, Champlin said Kern Transit operates 12 fixed routes across 30 communities and provides on‑demand curb‑to‑curb rides; he said transit ridership totals about 235,000 annually. In public works' roadway portfolio, he said the department maintains more than 3,300 miles of roads, 325 street lights, 150 bridges and about 120 traffic signals, and currently oversees more than $175 million in active projects.
Champlin listed capital investments and grant totals: roughly $31o million in grants over the past decade, including funding for sidewalks, bike paths, shoulder and road repairs, safety projects and emergency flood work. He highlighted several recent capital projects, including a $5.5 million crosswalk and accessibility upgrade program and a $4.5 million bike‑lane connection to the Buena Vista Aquatic Center. He also described a $6.8 million drainage project in Rexland Acres and ongoing work to repair Sierra Way after 2023 storm damage.
On solid waste, Champlin said the county manages seven landfills and multiple transfer stations; over 10 years the county processed more than 10 million tons of material and diverted roughly 2 million tons for recycling. He noted a state‑of‑the‑art compost facility at the Shafter‑Wasco landfill and an upcoming special waste facility near Downing in Bakersfield, planned to begin construction in 2026.
The board formally approved the proclamation. Supervisor Peters moved the proclamation; the motion received a second and passed by unanimous vote. Several supervisors praised Champlin and the department for their work during subsequent remarks on the dais.
The presentation and proclamation were ceremonial but provided the board and public with an account of staffing, capital commitments and grant fundraising that county leaders said will shape service levels going forward.
