Kabian Memorial Park, Lakeland Village Community Center sewer connection given ARPA funding

Joe Naiman Writer

The actions of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors

Tuesday, July 11, included American Rescue Plan Act funding for Roy W. Kabian Memorial Park and for a sewer connection for the Lakeland Village Community Center.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote allocated $1,300,000 for Kabian Memorial Park infrastructure improvements and $578,635 to connect the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District sewer system to the Lakeland Village Community Center. The action also appropriated $1,500,000 for the Mead Valley Community Center.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 included $350 billion of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allocations for eligible state, territorial, tribal and local governments. The funding addresses the public health emergency and economic impacts of the coronavirus epidemic and can be utilized for four eligible categories: mitigation of negative economic impacts, premium pay for eligible workers performing essential work, provision of government services lost revenue would have eliminated and necessary infrastructure investments including water, sewer and broadband.

The county board of supervisors approved $82 million of ARPA funding for infrastructure projects and another $36 million for eco- nomic recovery programs.

Roy W. Kabian Memorial Park is in the 28000 block of Goetz Road. Approximately one acre of the park established in 1968 is developed and another 639 acres provide hiking and equestrian trails through Quail Valley. The ARPA funding will be used to improve parking, playgrounds and restrooms at the park.

The Lakeland Village Community Center currently utilizes a septic system. The ARPA funding will allow sewer facilities to be constructed and connected to the EVMWD system, demolition of septic tanks and leach lines and an on-site sewer lateral for a possible future restroom at the community center’s lower field.

The funding for the Mead Valley Community Center will replace the existing lawn with artificial turf on the sports field and add trees and upgraded lighting around the field. The county’s Facilities Management department is the lead department for the Mead Valley Community Center project. The Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District is the lead agency for the Kabian Memorial Park infrastructure improvements. The lead departments will return to the Board of Supervisors in the future to implement the projects. Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com.

Two deputies added to county law enforcement contract with Lake Elsinore

Joe Naiman Writer Riverside County’s law enforcement contract with the city of Lake Elsinore has been amended to add two law enforcement officers.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Tuesday, June 20, to approve the amendment to the law enforcement contract with the city. The increased level of service will add one deputy sheriff’s position and one community service officer.

An August 2020 county board of supervisors action approved a law enforcement contract with Lake Elsinore covering fiscal years 2020-2021 to 2024-2025. That contract called for the sheriff’s department to provide 14 dedicated officers along with lake patrol which is not a dedicated position. The contract does not prevent the city from hiring unarmed code enforcement officers. In 2021, the contract was amended to add two traffic officers, one special enforcement officer focusing on parks and one community service officer.

The Lake Elsinore City Council approved the most recent amendment to the law enforcement services agreement June 13. The additional fiscal year 20232024 expense for the city will be $459,000 which will cover salaries and benefits including retirement contributions.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at jnaiman@reedermedia. com.