Stockton, CA – At its meeting on Tuesday, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $7.7 million in federal funding towards key infrastructure projects as the deadline for spending pandemic era funds approaches. The projects cover many rural areas throughout the County and meet basic needs of residents for clean and affordable water and emergency communication network improvements. There is also continued investment in Micke Grove Park, ensuring its legacy as a local landmark for families throughout San Joaquin County. A full list of projects is attached below.
“The Board of Supervisors continues to recognize that the funds which we were granted during the pandemic are a once in a generation opportunity to invest in the critical infrastructure needs of our County,” commented Board Chairman Miguel Villapudua. “As a Board, we are committed to spreading these investments across the entire County and also planning for future growth in our region, including at the popular landmark, Micke Grove Park.”
Water infrastructure investments comprise $2.9 million of the projects approved on Tuesday. Several water districts in need will have their wells refurbished, water mains replaced, and other critical improvements that are needed to update the systems to meet new standards and provide high quality infrastructure for residents. This funding will improve water service reliability, conserve water, and decrease operations and maintenance costs. Investments will also be used to improve drainage in the vicinity of Larch and Clover Roads in the Tracy area.
Previously allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are being reallocated for Micke Grove Regional Park, Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park, and Community Centers. Originally, the County sought to connect the Micke Grove Regional Park to the City of Lodi sewer and water systems. After an initial study, it was found to be time and cost prohibitive, so staff recommended that the Board consider alternative projects to meet the water and sewer needs at Micke Grove and Shumway Oak Grove Parks to meet both time and budgetary requirements. The cost savings estimated from this change will allow the County to pursue additional solar projects at the County’s Community Centers. An additional item was passed to use approximately $300,000 in federal funds to repair and update Joint Radio User Group (JRUG) radio systems and command centers, which provide additional coverage in the rural parts of San Joaquin County that are most likely to be impacted by the California Public Utility Commission’s (CPUC) decision to allow AT&T to end the use of its copper system. With this investment, the County is ensuring that there are no service cuts based on increasing costs to small rural districts, including fire agencies throughout Districts Four and Five, which cover the rural north and south County areas.
“The Board is committed to ensuring the best possible coverage and outcomes for all of our residents, including those in rural or hard to reach areas,” commented Supervisor Steve Ding, who represents the Fourth Supervisorial District. “Public safety is a top priority of this Board, and we approved these improvements to ensure that our residents can get in touch with emergency services when they are needed.”
ARPA was signed into law in March 2021 to provide counties assistance in meeting the critical need for investments and improvements to existing water and sewer infrastructure. The Department of Public Works administers over 100 special districts that provide services to unincorporated communities in San Joaquin County. The additional funding of the JRUGs comes from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Act Funds (SLFRF) which are designed to assist areas experiencing budget shortfalls to avoid cuts in government services. These federal funds require project completion by December 2026.
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The Board of Supervisors is the governing body of San Joaquin County and serves more than 779,000 residents. The Board establishes County policies, passes local ordinances, approves the budget, sets local tax rates, supports community programs, and provides many other essential services.
Project List- Micke Grove Regional Park - $3.5 million
- Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park - $500,000
- Community Centers - $500,000
- Sunnyside Maintenance District - $700,000
- County Service Area No. 44 Fairoaks - $575,000
- Morada Manor Maintenance District - $250,000
- County Service Area No. 12 Thornton - $750,000
- Road District No. 5 - $625,000
