Tulare cemetery district hires experienced cemetery manager for short-term oversight

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors, sitting as the Tulare Public Cemetery District, approved an agreement with Trilby Barton to provide management oversight and consulting services in an amount not to exceed $45,000, retroactive to Oct. 29, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The board also waived the district's purchasing-policy bidding requirements for the contract.

County Administrative Officer Jason Brett introduced Barton and said the interim arrangement will allow the district to keep operations moving while the county and trustees pursue longer-term solutions. Brett described the agreement as an amendment to the administrative-services contract the county has with the district and thanked Barton for stepping in to assist.

Barton introduced herself as a fourth-generation Tulare County resident and the current district manager for Woodlake Public Cemetery. She said she brings 14 years of work with special districts and cemetery experience and expressed commitment to working with staff and the community to 'get us back on track.'

Supervisors commended Barton’s past work in Woodlake and Exeter and welcomed her to the Tulare district. The motion to approve Barton's agreement passed 4-0 with Supervisor Dennis Townsend not in attendance.

The agreement allows county staff to designee operational tasks as needed; the CAO noted this is an interim measure while a permanent district manager is identified.