Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Sheriff's station back in running for OHV grant
By Mark Wheeler / Hi-Desert Star
MORONGO BASIN - After being told its state grant application for $100,000 to enforcement off-highway laws in the unincorporated areas here was denied due to technical errors in its application, the county sheriff's office received good news Friday when the State Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division staff and attorney reversed the board of directors' decision.
The Morongo Basin sheriff's station's application was one of 39 denied across the state by the board.
Upon further study of the decision and of the instructions the OHV division had given about making applications, several watch-dog groups and the sheriff's departments themselves found ambiguities in the record sufficient to ask for reconsideration.
This was granted Friday at a commission meeting in Riverside when the division's attorney and staff stated the agency had been unclear in its grant application instructions.
With the decision's reversal, OHMVR staff also stated the Morongo Basin sheriff's grant could not be awarded for more than $67,000 - instead of the full $100,000 - and further recommended the award be limited to $30,000.
California Wilderness Coalition Field Organizer Jason Fried, whose work is focused on desert ORV issues, testified on behalf of the Morongo Basin sheriff's office at the meeting. Calling it a “model program,” he appealed to the commission for its award of the application at its full amount.
According to the author of the application, Sgt. Dale Mondary, the reintroduced request will now be reviewed at the final grant hearing on Nov. 18 and 19 in Folsom.
“They may fund us at $30,000 or $67,000,” he speculated, and suggested Fried's appeal might even inspire the commission to award for the full amount.
However, he also warned that the grant is a very competitive one and the commission could award it nothing at all.
The money for these grants comes from the off-road vehicle license fee fund. It is managed by the OHMVR and distributed for law enforcement and environmental rehabilitation. The Morongo Basin sheriff's office has successfully applied for funding to operate a program in Yucca Valley. This grant would allow it to extend its services to the unincorporated areas.
To support of the sheriff's department's application for off-road patrol money, send comments to: OHMVR Commission, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, CA. 94296.
Letters should reference Grant # OR-753 and must be received before Nov. 18
The Morongo Basin sheriff's station's application was one of 39 denied across the state by the board.
Upon further study of the decision and of the instructions the OHV division had given about making applications, several watch-dog groups and the sheriff's departments themselves found ambiguities in the record sufficient to ask for reconsideration.
This was granted Friday at a commission meeting in Riverside when the division's attorney and staff stated the agency had been unclear in its grant application instructions.
With the decision's reversal, OHMVR staff also stated the Morongo Basin sheriff's grant could not be awarded for more than $67,000 - instead of the full $100,000 - and further recommended the award be limited to $30,000.
California Wilderness Coalition Field Organizer Jason Fried, whose work is focused on desert ORV issues, testified on behalf of the Morongo Basin sheriff's office at the meeting. Calling it a “model program,” he appealed to the commission for its award of the application at its full amount.
According to the author of the application, Sgt. Dale Mondary, the reintroduced request will now be reviewed at the final grant hearing on Nov. 18 and 19 in Folsom.
“They may fund us at $30,000 or $67,000,” he speculated, and suggested Fried's appeal might even inspire the commission to award for the full amount.
However, he also warned that the grant is a very competitive one and the commission could award it nothing at all.
The money for these grants comes from the off-road vehicle license fee fund. It is managed by the OHMVR and distributed for law enforcement and environmental rehabilitation. The Morongo Basin sheriff's office has successfully applied for funding to operate a program in Yucca Valley. This grant would allow it to extend its services to the unincorporated areas.
To support of the sheriff's department's application for off-road patrol money, send comments to: OHMVR Commission, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, CA. 94296.
Letters should reference Grant # OR-753 and must be received before Nov. 18
 |
||
| Comet chaser among stars at celestial festival |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of hidesertstar.com.
You must register with a valid email to gain access to this site feature.
Already a Member?Login Here:
|
Become a Registered MemberFill out the form below.
|
RSS