Tulare County supervisors declare intent to appoint themselves trustees of Tulare Public Cemetery District

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on a motion passed 4-0 declared its intent to appoint itself as the board of trustees for the Tulare Public Cemetery District and directed staff to begin a public hearing process after three of the district's five trustees resigned and the district's insurer warned it may terminate coverage.

County staff attorney Israel Sotelo, speaking to the board, said the action would be taken under state law and is intended to restore stable governance. "California health and safety code section 90 26 authorizes the board of supervisors of the principal county to appoint itself as the board of trustees for a public cemetery district," Sotelo told the supervisors, and he summarized three components of the requested action: declare intent to appoint the board of supervisors as trustees, hold a public hearing within 60 days, and publish and mail notice of the hearing pursuant to "government code section 60 61."

The item was prompted, Sotelo said, after three of the five Tulare Public Cemetery District trustees submitted resignations, leaving the district without a quorum. He also told the board the district's insurer, the Golden State Risk Management Authority (GSRMA), had notified the district that it intended to terminate coverage because of the board instability.

The pro…