Kings County Grand Jury

2022-2023

7 reports

Findings & Recommendations 4 findings
F1: There is a great need for a navigation center in Hanford.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1: Use part or all of the soon to be vacated juvenile hall building for a temporary navigation center (first step).
F2: The South Hanford Courtyard Community project is not complete or being occupied as of the date of this report.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2: Make the South Hanford Courtyard Community project an imminent priority.
F3: The Behavioral Health grants have been awarded but have yet to be implemented.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3: Behavioral Health should follow through as soon as possible with the implementation of their mobile unit programs.
F4: There is a need in our community for a low barrier shelter in Kings County. 8
Related Recommendations (1)
R4: Continue to look for land that is appropriate for a low barrier shelter. Institute the KCAO plan for such a low barrier shelter soon.
Findings & Recommendations 3 findings
F1: Issue #1 Just because “this type of fraud is a common occurrence, and the perpetrator was experienced and had stolen from seven other counties, three of which were other municipalities” it should not be acceptable or occurring in the Finance Department.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1: Issue #1 Ongoing training and auditing of processing payments and identifying scams should be made a priority in the Finance Department.
F2: Issue #2 Kings County Department Heads approve the expenditures of their departments without independent review from the Finance Department.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2: Issue #2 The Finance Department should have an employee or system in place to review expenditures which were previously approved by all Department Heads.
F3: Issue #3 The Finance Department sent out incorrect 1099’s that were received later than the January 31st postmark deadline required by IRS Title 26 CFR 1.6041-6.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3: Issue #3 The Finance Department should continue training on the process of issuing form 1099 in the proper time frame as stated in IRS Title 26 CFR 1.6041-6.
Findings & Recommendations 3 findings
F1: The Grand Jury has found a need for more basketball courts in Hanford. Three of Hanford’s major parks, Freedom Park, Hidden Valley Park, and Earl F. Johnson Park do not contain basketball courts. The four major parks that do offer basketball courts are all on the south side of Grangeville Boulevard leaving the north side of Hanford in a deficit.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1: The Grand Jury believes that the City of Hanford should make it a priority to invest in the development of quality parks and sports facilities in each quarter section of the City of Hanford. The Grand Jury concludes that there is a need for more basketball courts in the north side of Hanford. A full court is needed in Freedom Park, and Hidden Valley Park. The Grand Jury recommends that in the future, plans be made to add a basketball court to other parks that do not currently have one, such as Earl F. Johnson Park.
F2: While there are many basketball courts located in Hanford schools, they are unavailable for use to the public due to insurance and vandalism concerns. The lack of access to school basketball courts has contributed to the need for additional courts in the City of Hanford Parks.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2: The Grand Jury believes that a discussion should take place between the City of Hanford and its schools. An analysis should be done by the City of Hanford to see if it might be more cost effective to cover some of the insurance costs in lieu of adding basketball courts in multiple City parks. The City of Hanford should consider working with school districts to make the basketball courts that have been fenced off available to Hanford residents.
F3: The Grand Jury found that there are many portable basketball hoops in residential neighborhoods of Hanford. The City of Hanford is currently issuing warnings and citations to homeowners that have the portable courts on the street and sidewalks in front of their homes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3: The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Hanford consider relaxing its enforcement of its encroachment code dealing with the City’s Right of Way, specifically Title 12 of the City’s Municipal Code, Chapter 12.04. The residents that have basketball hoops should move them on garbage days/street sweeping days but be allowed to keep them by their curb the rest of the week. One member of the Local Government Committee recused themselves from this report due to possible conflict of interest.
Findings & Recommendations 7 findings
F1: The Grand Jury has found a need for more basketball courts in Hanford. Three of Hanford’s major parks, Freedom Park, Hidden Valley Park, and Earl F. Johnson Park do not contain basketball courts. The four major parks that do offer basketball courts are all on the south side of Grangeville Boulevard leaving the north side of Hanford in a deficit.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1: The Grand Jury believes that the City of Hanford should make it a priority to invest in the development of quality parks and sports facilities in each quarter section of the City of Hanford. The Grand Jury concludes that there is a need for more basketball courts in the north side of Hanford. A full court is needed in Freedom Park, and Hidden Valley Park. The Grand Jury recommends that in the future, plans be made to add a basketball court to other parks that do not currently have one, such as Earl F. Johnson Park.
F2: While there are many basketball courts located in Hanford schools, they are unavailable for use to the public due to insurance and vandalism concerns. The lack of access to school basketball courts has contributed to the need for additional courts in the City of Hanford Parks.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2: The Grand Jury believes that a discussion should take place between the City of Hanford and its schools. An analysis should be done by the City of Hanford to see if it might be more cost effective to cover some of the insurance costs in lieu of adding basketball courts in multiple City parks. The City of Hanford should consider working with school districts to make the basketball courts that have been fenced off available to Hanford residents.
F3: The Grand Jury found that there are many portable basketball hoops in residential neighborhoods of Hanford. The City of Hanford is currently issuing warnings and citations to homeowners that have the portable courts on the street and sidewalks in front of their homes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3: The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Hanford consider relaxing its enforcement of its encroachment code dealing with the City’s Right of Way, specifically Title 12 of the City’s Municipal Code, Chapter 12.04. The residents that have basketball hoops should move them on garbage days/street sweeping days but be allowed to keep them by their curb the rest of the week. One member of the Local Government Committee recused themselves from this report due to possible conflict of interest.
F4: There is a need in our community for a low barrier shelter in Kings County. 40
Related Recommendations (1)
R4: Continue to look for land that is appropriate for a low barrier shelter. Institute the KCAO plan for such a low barrier shelter soon.
F5: The lack of uniform headstones in some spots should be addressed.
F6: There is not a regular schedule for cleaning out faded silk flowers and fresh flowers that have been placed on gravesites.
F7: No website could be found.
Findings & Recommendations 3 findings
F1: All identified tripping hazards were repaired by grinding down raised asphalt in some areas and placing down new concrete where needed. BEFORE & AFTER 2 BEFORE & AFTER 3 BEFORE & AFTER 4 BEFORE & AFTER 5
Related Recommendations (1)
R1: Continue repairs to all walkways and raised asphalt locations when identified as a walking hazard.
F2: Plant Operations have included walkway maintenance and repairs to their budget as stated by the Plant Operations Manager.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2: Continue to include walkway repairs to Plant Operations yearly budget.
F3: Plant Operations were notified of the area causing a tripping or falling accident, but the specific location was not listed, and notification was not done in a timely manner. The Form 3066 although listed and completed was still vague and not precise to the specific location causing the tripping or falling.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3: Have injured employee provide specific location of tripping or falling accident on Form 3066 for Safety Officer to locate and identify in order to notify Plant Operations of the hazard for marking and timely repairs.
Findings & Recommendations 1 findings
F1: The Grand Jury found a display of rifles, one on the wall and the other in front of a countertop, inside of the art classroom at Lemoore High School.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1: Any display of firearms, in schools, should include a notification or a document (attached or prominently displayed near the firearm(s)) showing that the firearm(s) have been certified by law enforcement to be rendered inoperable. REQUIRED RESPONSE California Penal Code 933c, provides in part: “No later than 90 days after the grand jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority the governing body of the public agency shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body and every elected county officer or agency head for which the grand jury had responsibility pursuant to section 9141 shall comment within 60 days to the presiding judge or the superior court…” Dr. Miguel A. Guerrero Superintendent of Lemoore High School 5 Powell Avenue Lemoore CA 93245 REQUESTED RESPONSE Rodney Brumit Lemoore High School Principal 101 East Bush Street Lemoore CA 93245 SEND FINAL REPORT RESPONSES TO: Original to: Michael Reinhart, Presiding Judge c/o Shane Burns, Advising Judge Kings County Superior Court 1640 Kings Court Drive Hanford, CA 93230 Copy to: Kings County Grand Jury P. O. Box 1562 Hanford, Ca 93232 4
Findings & Recommendations 7 findings
F1: Most of the areas of the Corcoran Cemetery were green and contained very few brown spots. The trees were satisfactorily groomed.
F2: The interim supervisor was knowledgeable and seemed proud of the good things that were happening at the cemetery.
F3: The written policy and procedures would benefit from an update and more professional presentation. 1
F4: The sunken headstones in areas of the Cemetery should be addressed as to how to raise them, and how many at a time. This effects the safety of guests who walk around.
F5: The lack of uniform headstones in some spots should be addressed.
F6: There is not a regular schedule for cleaning out faded silk flowers and fresh flowers that have been placed on gravesites.
F7: No website could be found.