[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6543750,"mediaKeyId","3404657-2e3ff74e305a752a75d47189a1a3c367","parentId",3404657,"title","Madera supervisors approve $20.7 million in road and bridge contracts, veterans services reorganization and housing bond support","audioSeconds",2295,"startMs",2701000,"endMs",4996000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3404657-2e3ff74e305a752a75d47189a1a3c367&start=2701&end=4996","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3404657-2e3ff74e305a752a75d47189a1a3c367/thumbnail_2701000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6543750/Madera-County/California/Madera-supervisors-approve-207-million-in-road-and-bridge-contracts-veterans-services-reorganization-and-housing-bond-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543750-dab31edd69e5e8c71a7d882f14e75cb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770894700&Signature=ExmSiqxA9DomD7ml5gKzcmhFpyj4jCEt2YgcOsREAxFSxv9jBSTDL5yvRQuvg~5C0hq41VcYQLNUYb2Tvroics2XwBYRUmwhuUzZCzcj2lDLb~jVY7p0y~XHEvO9uE-54h85avV-5fNrrpXGNDylW1MlADlBo3TlZSLQ0bulWKlVc2W-X1VN4QrkODAFC9fzkkGygDRYXlX3OMeudsmGpIva~laaTovTk-R~huwLXUpYqHrV3ojo6KP7UeiohCP35ogp4gY4abVnaOeRdydFN7b9zqeidk4LwWyuiZmOZu2SUru3r~qU43P0AlvwXxkrgqeaiHy7aRa2vNhjAC~loQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Madera County","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","Madera County Board of Supervisors on May 20 voted unanimously to authorize two major construction contracts — $6,223,696 for the Road 427 (Oak Creek) bridge replacement and $14,446,036.30 for the Avenue 12 widening — and approved organizational and financing measures including a veterans services reorganization and a county membership in the California Municipal Finance Authority for a proposed 50‑unit rental project.

The actions came during the board’s regular meeting at the Madera County Board Chambers and were approved on 4‑0 roll call votes where recorded. Public works staff said the bridge project is fully funded by the Federal Highway Administration and requires no local match; the Avenue 12 widening will be funded entirely by developer impact fees, county staff said.

Why it matters: the two construction contracts move forward significant infrastructure work expected to affect commuters and local development in eastern Madera County and the Ranchos area, while the veterans services reorganization and the county’s conditional participation in bond issuance affect county service delivery and affordable housing financing.

Public works projects
Dominic Tyburski, Madera County public works director, told the board the Road 427 bridge — built in 1975 and rated functionally obsolete — received three responsive bids; AG Construction Corporation was the low bidder at $6,223,696. The board authorized the chair to sign the contract and approved contingency authority (up to 10% per county policy) and contract change orders within that contingency. Public works said construction will proceed in staged work with one‑way traffic control and temporary signals to maintain traffic during work.

The board also approved a $14,446,036.30 contract with Avison Construction Inc. for the Avenue 12 widening from Road 40 to 800 feet east of Riverwalk Boulevard. Staff said April bids produced a low price well under the engineer’s estimate; construction is slated to begin in mid‑June and last about 18 months. The project includes widening from four to six lanes for part of the segment, two new permanent traffic signals and a raised center median. Staff noted the Avenue 12 work will overlap a State Route 41 expressway expansion project expected to begin construction in March 2026.

Veterans services reorganization
The board approved a reorganization to align the Veterans Services Office under the Department of Social Services. Human resources staff presented a revised Director of Social Services job classification and asked that Deborah Martinez, the county’s Director of Social Services, assume oversight of Veterans Services effective July 3 and receive a 10% longevity pay adjustment. The board approved the classification and the pay adjustment; staff said the reorganization is contingent on the board’s second reading and adoption of ordinance amendments (scheduled for a later meeting).

Housing bond TEFRA ratification
The board adopted a resolution to become a member of the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) to satisfy TEFRA requirements and related California Government Code provisions for a proposed issuance of revenue bonds not to exceed $30,000,000 to finance and refinance a 50‑unit rental project at 39963 Sierra Way in Oakhurst for the benefit of River Grove 2 LP. Community and economic development staff said the county would have no fiscal, financial or legal responsibility for the bonds.

Other actions
The board adopted appropriations limits for fiscal year 2025–26 for the county and its special districts ahead of next month’s budget hearings. The board also ratified sending a letter of support for SB 607, described in staff materials as a set of targeted reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) intended to streamline review.

Procedure and consent calendar
A procedural motion to reconsider a consent calendar item (to correct a drafting error) was made and approved at the start of the meeting; the board subsequently approved the remainder of the consent calendar with item 5S pulled for redrafting and a future hearing.

Votes at a glance
- Road 427 Bridge replacement contract (AG Construction Corporation) — motion to approve carried 4‑0; contract amount $6,223,696; authorized contingency up to 10% and notice to proceed authority to Public Works.
- Avenue 12 widening contract (Avison Construction Inc.) — motion to approve carried 4‑0; contract amount $14,446,036.30; authorized contingency up to 10% and notice to proceed authority to Public Works.
- Reorganization of Veterans Services under Department of Social Services; director classification and 10% longevity pay for Deborah Martinez — motion to approve carried 4‑0; effective date contingent on ordinance second reading.
- CMFA membership and TEFRA resolution for River Grove 2 LP (50 units) — motion to approve carried 4‑0; bonds not to exceed $30,000,000; staff said no county fiscal responsibility.
- Appropriations limits for FY 2025–26 (county and special districts) — carried 4‑0.
- Ratify letter of support for SB 607 (CEQA reforms) — carried 4‑0.

What the board said
Supervisors who spoke at the meeting praised public works staff for pursuing federal funding for the bridge project and for advancing the Avenue 12 project, which board members and staff said will address long‑standing traffic and safety concerns in southeastern Madera County. Human resources and county administration staff described the veterans reorganization as an efficiency and service alignment measure and said similar structures exist in other counties.

Next steps and timing
Public works staff said construction on Avenue 12 is expected to begin in mid‑June and last about 18 months; the Road 427 bridge work will proceed under staged traffic control. The veterans reorganization remains contingent on a second reading and adoption of municipal code amendments at a future board meeting. The CMFA bond issuance will proceed through the authority’s TEFRA hearing and financing process; staff emphasized the county’s role was limited to satisfying legal requirements for public hearings.

Sources: Madera County staff presentations and public meeting record, May 20, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOS Regular Meeting - 05/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Madera County Board of Supervisors on May 20 voted unanimously to authorize two major construction contracts — $6,223,696 for the Road 427 (Oak Creek) bridge replacement and $14,446,036.30 for the Avenue 12 widening — and approved organizational and financing measures including a veterans services reorganization and a county membership in the California Municipal Finance Authority for a proposed 50‑unit rental project.","taxTitle","Madera County, California","taxId",4595,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6543745,"Madera County reports 10.7% vacancy rate, outlines recruitment steps under AB 2561",990,3818000,4808000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3404657-2e3ff74e305a752a75d47189a1a3c367&start=3818&end=4808","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3404657-2e3ff74e305a752a75d47189a1a3c367/thumbnail_3818000.jpg","/articles/6543745/Madera-County/California/Madera-County-reports-107-vacancy-rate-outlines-recruitment-steps-under-AB-2561","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543745-a51bbb5e4207a0555720a82c42dcca40/orig.mp4?Expires=1770894700&Signature=hL-C1NWTbUA1Mc7s0CHJ-guvAAJgRTWy0HroMux2ceQPVtzBJqS8hdyjB0dl-LEHghar48CKtkijVbUvFKHbAypGOQGP-HlvsJBhDSbBaxvvElUh4iEcD1Y6hc0rj0obzMmLx576Pj1O9BQon5T2SisO2mv-PCqDuu9f1SCOE5DCIYc5hPYstPChByBoi3W2sKC9DzS0NjFB35enopU45FfwcvQvrRM8bxmGBZPQSLOJn7McKIFMiWf34eO~gKW4o9VKk4rH3-a2dTHfTi0rW1Af4cEQJGO9~-yL9s~J8kHppdehosoY3xhdgxuopzE9wPa3EvbNDwdGj41Ue8jDoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shanika Dixon, Madera County director of human resources, presented the county’s AB 2561 annual public hearing on May 20, reporting a 10.7% overall vacancy rate, a roughly 88% retention rate and an average of about 132 days from requisition to hire for filled positions.

Nut graf: The presentation, held as a public hearing required by Assembly Bill 2561, identified two bargaining units that at one point met or exceeded a 20% vacancy threshold — the communications dispatch unit and the postgraduate licensed professional unit — and summarized steps the county has taken to reduce vacancies and streamline hiring.

What HR reported
Dixon said the county has 13 bargaining units and that some portion of the 545 vacant full‑time equivalents reflected vacancies carried from 2023 into 2024. Key drivers cited for vacancies included staffing growth (new positions), internal promotions/transfers, retirements, voluntary separations and previously untracked categories the department is now capturing.

For the communications dispatch and postgraduate licensed professional units, HR provided detailed recruitment metrics (number of applicants, qualified candidates, and days to fill). Dixon said the county has adopted continuous recruitments for some classifications to maintain a talent pool, revised job announcements and minimum qualification language, approved compensation adjustments previously, and increased targeted outreach. She reported recent reductions in the two units’ vacancy rates: the postgraduate licensed professional unit dropped to 12% and the communications dispatch unit to 8.33% as of the latest update.

Retention and recruitment efforts
Dixon said the county is expanding presence at job fairs (noting four fairs so far this year compared with four in all of 2024), increasing use of industry job boards and LinkedIn, adding county social media outreach and improving job posting pages (including QR codes to job listings). The HR department also has streamlined internal requisition forms to better capture data and has implemented onboarding and employee engagement initiatives, training for managers and a classification and compensation study.

Board and public response
Board members commended HR’s presentation; no members of bargaining units appeared to speak at the hearing. The board closed the public hearing after no public comments were offered online or in person.

Next steps
HR plans to continue data collection improvements and to coordinate with departments and bargaining units on recruitment strategies and compensation adjustments as needed. The report was presented to the board as the annual AB 2561 hearing before the FY 2025–26 budget process.

Sources: Presentation by Shanika Dixon and meeting record, Madera County Board of Supervisors, May 20, 2025.","Human resources presented the county's annual AB 2561 required report: 10.7% overall vacancy rate, 88% retention, average 132 days to fill positions, and targeted steps to reduce vacancies in high‑need units.","actionData","errors"]

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Madera supervisors approve $20.7 million in road and bridge contracts, veterans services reorganization and housing bond support

Madera County reports 10.7% vacancy rate, outlines recruitment steps under AB 2561