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Tulare County cancels Cross Valley Canal subcontract for defunct operator, will seek new consultant
Summary
The board terminated a defaulted Cross Valley Canal subcontract with Frazeneto Farms LLC (about $14,000 owed and roughly 400 acre‑feet of water) and directed staff to pursue an RFP for consulting services to renegotiate the water subcontract.
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted to terminate a defaulted Cross Valley Canal subcontract with Frazeneto Farms LLC and directed staff to pursue a request for proposals for new consulting services related to the canal's subcontractors.
Denise England, groundwater resources manager for the county's Resource Management Agency, told the board that RMA had sent default notices beginning in 2018 and that the contract holder did not cure the balance. "They currently owe about $14,000," England said, and staff described Frazeneto Farms as defunct. The affected allotment is roughly 400 acre‑feet of water.
Supervisors questioned why contract reconciliations and consultant oversight had lagged; staff said Dennis Keller Engineering provides consultant information and county staff maintain a spreadsheet to track subcontracts but that not all accounts have been reconciled in recent years. Supervisor (speaker 4) moved to approve termination and directed staff to issue an RFP for consulting services to ensure better oversight; Supervisor Townsend seconded. The motion passed 4‑0 with Supervisor Valero absent.
County staff said terminating the agreement will allow the county to negotiate with other interested entities, including Strathmore PUD, to reassign the water allotment and to reconcile outstanding expenses.
