Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Watch (10/16/12)

Stanislaus County leaders tonight are expected to pronounce the death of a source that paid for $7.7 million of public improvements over 11 years, another victim of hard times.

The Economic Development Bank funded 25 expensive projects since 2001 in most towns and cities throughout the county, from downtown renewals in Newman and Riverbank to water improvements in Knights Ferry, Ceres and Denair, a sewer design in Patterson and much more.

Since last year's demise of redevelopment agencies throughout California, cities have no realistic way to repay loans, and applications have dried up. Monica Nino, the county's chief executive officer, suspended the Economic Development Bank in May; county supervisors will be asked to formalize that this evening.

Supervisors also will consider modifying outstanding loans to Newman and Riverbank, which request extensions of eight months and 17 months, respectively.

Ray Simon had cited the bank as one of his proudest accomplishments when he retired in early 2007 after 40 years in public office, including two Modesto City Council terms and eight terms as a county supervisor.

Today's Board of Supervisors meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the basement chamber at Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St., Modesto.

Supervisors also are scheduled to consider:

• A letter from Kenneth and Mary Bennett complaining about senior meals in Patterson.

• Paying $17,400 for right of way northeast of Kiernan Avenue and a northbound ramp to Highway 99, in Salida. The land, owned by Amarjit and Rupinder Dhaliwal, is needed for a $46 million remake of the interchange, including a new crossing wide enough for eight lanes.

• Abandoning right of way reserved about 20 years ago near Marquette Lane, east of Riverbank. Control would revert to adjacent landowners Tim and Dorothy McKinsey and Gary and Susan Hunter.

• Participating in Thursday's Great California ShakeOut, a statewide drill focused on preparing for natural disasters.

On the Net: Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda.