Supervisor Wilson Rep Speaks to Thousand Palms Chamber
An update to various Thousand Palms projects and issues was presented to the Chamber of Commerce today (Wednesday) at the chamber's monthly breakfast meeting, held at Denny's Restaurant on Ramon Road.
Supervisor Roy Wilson's spokesman Denys Arcuri commented on the current boundaries of the community of Thousand Palms, as established by the board of supervisors (click here for map: http://www.rivco4.org//web/communities/documents/Thousandx20Palms.pdf). Members of the Chamber commented on wanting the eastern portions of those boundaries to remain in Thousand Palms. Arcuri allowed that the supervisor was committed to maintaining the current boundaries, but that market pressures and annexation attempts could ultimately reduce the size of the community. He noted, also, that the sign welcoming motorists to the Community of Thousand Palms will be moved to the east-all the way to the northwest corner of Berkey and Varner.
The supervisor's communication director also noted the number of improvements and additions to the community which have come over the years, the most recent of which is SafeHouse of the Desert. SafeHouse broke ground last week (click here for the full story: http://www.rivco4.org/web/news/archive/200801/news_0018.html), providing a vital service for runaway and "throwaway" teenagers.
Also among Arcuri's notes on improvements in the community:
- While the state budget forecast is dire, Riverside County is in much better position to handle the economic downturn because of its prudent fiscal policies.
- Varner Road & Monterey Street Project is set to get under way imminently, with completion set for October of this year.
- Thousand Palms Fire Station /Burn Tower Training Facility-construction start in late spring, completion 18 months later (late 2009/early 2010).
- Thousand Palms Community Park Expansion project-Under construction by May, completion due by mid-summer.
Tom Mehas and D.C. Bockman of Skanska USA's Thousand Palms office noted that the company had successfully bid on the project to completely rehabilitate Ramon Road from a point just east of Monterey Avenue to Thousand Palms Canyon Road. Skanska's bid of $2,143,000 was $860,000 less that the Engineers Estimate.
Arcuri also noted that the regularly-scheduled Thursday night (Jan. 31) meeting of the Thousand
Palms Community Council has been cancelled, and that the Riverside County Fair and National Date
Festival gets under way in just over two weeks. The Fair & Fest, which runs from Feb. 15 - 24,
features LeeAnn Rimes, Blues Traveler and Heart as major entertainment acts this year. Their
concerts are free to fairgoers.