Shafter council adds $200K for core improvements

The Shafter City Council approved a $200,000 budget amendment to help fund the city's capital improvement project for the city's core.

The council approved a contract between the city and Westrock LLC to complete the Street Improvement Project.

The project includes pavement resurfacing, striping, repairs, sidewalks and curbs. Westrock was the lowest bid out of five that were submitted. Their bid came to $616,616.00.

The council voted unanimously to approve the contract. According to Public Works Director Michael James, there is currently $500,000 in the projects fund, making it necessary to request an amendment of $200,000 to fund the rest of the contract. The council okayed the $200,000 amendment. This makes a total budget of up to $700,000 for the projects.

In other council action, the Shafter Little League Baseball and Softball teams were cited for their accomplishments this past season.

The baseball team won the District 61 championship in its first year. They advanced to the Area Championship, one step away from the State Championship tournament. The softball team did the same, winning the 61st District title. The girls advanced to the Section Tournament and ended up capturing third place in Section 7.

According to Shafter Little League President Daniel Burciega, the league will be even bigger and better this next year. Burciega said that they have tryouts in January and that their season starts in April, going into July for the All Star teams.

Also on the docket, Mayor Chad Givens presented a certificate to Angie Nelson, of CAPK, in honor of CAPK's efforts in feeding the communities of Shafter and the rest of Kern County. Nelson and her staff regularly give needy families in Shafter bags of food every month, with all of the staples for a household provided.

Givens gave Nelson a proclamation designating September as Hunger Action Month in the city. Givens thanked Nelson for her tireless work in helping the community fight hunger.