Stanislaus County supervisors received an update on Tuesday regarding the use of $55.8 million in federal funds to improve unincorporated areas of the county. These projects are expected to begin construction next year.
These neglected areas currently face issues such as narrow roads, lack of sidewalks and streetlights, poor drainage, and some need water and wastewater connections.
Nearly half of the county’s $107 million from the American Rescue Plan Act has been allocated to improving infrastructure in these unincorporated areas within each supervisorial district.
Supervisor Channce Condit expressed concern that improvements in the Bret Harte neighborhood, scheduled to start in Fall 2025, are last on the construction list. The bidding for these projects is expected to begin in October or November.
Condit emphasized the sensitivity of this issue for his district, which includes Ceres and south Modesto, due to recent allegations from state Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil.
In May, Alvarado-Gil accused Condit of violating county ethics and conflict-of-interest policies related to the approval of $5 million in state funding for infrastructure in south Modesto. She suggested that Condit used family connections to secure this funding. Condit, whose father was Alvarado-Gil’s former chief of staff, has denied any wrongdoing, and County Counsel Tom Boze stated that the funding application was legitimate.
Condit asked county staff to reconsider the timeline for the Bret Harte project. He also suggested beginning the annexation process for the Parklawn and Bret Harte areas after the improvements are completed.
Approximately one-fourth of the Bret Harte area will be prepared for annexation to Modesto after the upgrades. However, state laws currently do not allow partial annexation of neighborhoods. Public Works Director David Leamon mentioned that it takes six to nine months to get annexation approval from the Local Agency Formation Commission.
Here are the updates for specific county island projects:
Topeka-Santa Fe Project, Riverbank (District 1): $8.31 million for storm drains, sidewalks, ramps, water and sewer facilities, streetlights, and road reconstruction. Construction is expected to start in spring 2025.
Kenwood-Starr area, Turlock (District 2): $4.72 million for storm drains, streetlights, sidewalks, water and sewer, and roadwork. Construction is scheduled for spring 2025.
Riverdale Park Tract, Modesto (District 3): $12 million for storm drains, sidewalks, water and sewer, lighting, and road construction. Construction is planned for summer 2025.
Colorado Rouse area, Modesto (District 4): $10 million for storm drains, sidewalks, water and sewer, streetlights, and roadwork. Construction is set to start in summer 2025.
Herndon Project, Ceres (District 4): $4.2 million for storm drains, sidewalks, water and sewer, lighting, and road reconstruction. Construction will begin in spring 2025.
Bret Harte Project, Modesto (District 5): $10 million for storm drains, sidewalks, streetlights, and road reconstruction. Construction is scheduled for fall 2025.
Parklawn Project, south Modesto (District 5): $6.9 million for storm drains, sidewalks, streetlights, and road reconstruction. Construction will begin in fall 2025.