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As is usually the case, this was another very very interesting meeting. To start off the meeting Ed took us all out side to show us a new vehicle mounted auger that was built for the FOJ to use to install and maintain trail markers in the area. The auger will drill a 6 inch hole 3 feet deep in 30 seconds! The auger is mounted on a heavy duty truck that the FOJ purchased for $4500. For this specific purpose. Of course they are offering to loan the truck to the BLM and State Parks in exchange for keeping it supplied with diesel fuel!
The representative from Senator Ashburn’s office explained the new proposal floating around in Sacramento to tag $15 onto all vehicle registrations to help fund the state parks. In exchange for this new fee, park users will no longer be asked to pay any day use fees! This could be interesting.
One proposal also floating around in Sacramento will force all counties receiving state aid [which I think is EVERYBODY} to implement a program mandating that all government employees document that they have taken steps to take 6 miles/day off of their drive, or lose state funding!
The Kern County Board of Trade has commissioned an electronic kiosk to be placed on the south side of the visitor center at the Jawbone Station. The kiosk will be online 24/7, providing information on recreational opportunities in the high desert. The kiosk was due to be put into place and operation later on today!
The Inyokern Chamber of Commerce indicated that they will be having a 100 year anniversary celebration on September 26th.
The representative from Red Rock Canyon State Park indicated that the new proposal in Sacramento to cut off the State Parks from the General Fund will result in Red Rock losing 2/3rds of it’s funding. All non-essential operations have been put on hold pending outcome of the budget debates.
Three representatives from the State Off Highway Vehicle Commission came down for the meeting, including our liason, Martha Ibarra. She indicated that all the grant proposals have been reviewed, and that the state’s formal Intent to Award notices have been posted to the website. Interestingly enough, the Ridgecrest office of the BLM received the largest total grant awards in the state, with over 2.4 million in STATE grants to help this FEDERAL agency. A substantial amount of that money will be used to build a BLM maintenance building adjacent to the Jawbone Station.
Johnson Valley- Harry Baker from Cal 4 Wheel reported that the Marines have lowered their acreage request to 32k, with the areas of interest all laying to the south and east, not in the Johnson Valley open area. They will release a new formal proposal in a few weeks.
In the meantime Senator Fienstein has also indicated that they will formally release their proposal for the Mother Road National Monument in mid-July, which is now scaled back by almost 40 percent from it’s original acreage. Unfortunately, Johnson Valley is still in their sights, and they are using it for leverage to get the off road community to get in line on dropping resistance to the other areas in exchange for leaving JV alone.
The representative from Senator Ashburn’s office explained the new proposal floating around in Sacramento to tag $15 onto all vehicle registrations to help fund the state parks. In exchange for this new fee, park users will no longer be asked to pay any day use fees! This could be interesting.
One proposal also floating around in Sacramento will force all counties receiving state aid [which I think is EVERYBODY} to implement a program mandating that all government employees document that they have taken steps to take 6 miles/day off of their drive, or lose state funding!
The Kern County Board of Trade has commissioned an electronic kiosk to be placed on the south side of the visitor center at the Jawbone Station. The kiosk will be online 24/7, providing information on recreational opportunities in the high desert. The kiosk was due to be put into place and operation later on today!
The Inyokern Chamber of Commerce indicated that they will be having a 100 year anniversary celebration on September 26th.
The representative from Red Rock Canyon State Park indicated that the new proposal in Sacramento to cut off the State Parks from the General Fund will result in Red Rock losing 2/3rds of it’s funding. All non-essential operations have been put on hold pending outcome of the budget debates.
Three representatives from the State Off Highway Vehicle Commission came down for the meeting, including our liason, Martha Ibarra. She indicated that all the grant proposals have been reviewed, and that the state’s formal Intent to Award notices have been posted to the website. Interestingly enough, the Ridgecrest office of the BLM received the largest total grant awards in the state, with over 2.4 million in STATE grants to help this FEDERAL agency. A substantial amount of that money will be used to build a BLM maintenance building adjacent to the Jawbone Station.
Johnson Valley- Harry Baker from Cal 4 Wheel reported that the Marines have lowered their acreage request to 32k, with the areas of interest all laying to the south and east, not in the Johnson Valley open area. They will release a new formal proposal in a few weeks.
In the meantime Senator Fienstein has also indicated that they will formally release their proposal for the Mother Road National Monument in mid-July, which is now scaled back by almost 40 percent from it’s original acreage. Unfortunately, Johnson Valley is still in their sights, and they are using it for leverage to get the off road community to get in line on dropping resistance to the other areas in exchange for leaving JV alone.
