The Local Assessment Committee on Waste Management's proposed landfill expansion now has a new member. In a split vote, the Kings County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed David Block of Hanford to the vacancy on the committee. The vote was 3-2 with Supervisors Jon Rachford and Joe Neves dissenting.

Block was one of four applicants for the position, including two from Corcoran and one from east of Hanford.

"Of all the candidates, he appeared to have the most experience in what (the committee) is supposed to do," said Supervisor Tony Barba, who made a motion to appoint Block. "That was my opinion. I didn't know the man other than what I read in his resume."

Block is a retired environmental scientist from Merced County who now lives in Hanford, Barba said.

The Local Assessment Committee is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to represent industrial and environmental interests as well as general community interests surrounding Waste Management's latest project to expand its hazardous waste landfill capacity to serve the needs for another 30 to 35 years.

The committee is tasked to negotiate an agreement with Waste Management, based on community input, about what measures are taken to ensure protection of public health and how the community may be paid off for any perceived negative cost from the project.

For the past few months, the committee has been looking to fill a vacancy left by the departure of Craig Schmidt. Kings County has since moved Ceil Howe from the community-at-large position to an industry representative position so that any concerned citizen could apply.

The committee will meet again on July 10 at 6 p.m. inside the county board chambers, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford.

On Tuesday, the board also took action on several other key items. Here's the action summary:

Implementing a hiring freeze, effective immediately, for the new fiscal year.

Renewing the resolution of local emergency due to drought.

Adopting a resolution to form the Anti-Terrorism Approval Body Authority.

Authorizing the chairman to sign the grant application for funding a program that provides health care coverage for children 6 to 18 years of age.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(July 2, 2008)