Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Watch (1/9/13)

Vito Chiesa took the helm Tuesday as chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors. He will preside over county board meetings this year. Supervisor Jim DeMartini was appointed vice chairman. Chiesa's district includes Turlock, Hughson and the southeastern section of the county. He praised former Chairman Bill O'Brien for leading the board in the past year while serving on numerous panels, such as the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District board and Modesto Regional Fire Authority board.

Supervisors dealt with a light agenda Tuesday, taking the following action:

• Accepted an audit report on purchasing cards by the auditor-controller's office

• Heard a progress report on the Stanislaus County employee mentor program. County employees work with Modesto City Schools to serve as mentors for students. They have provided more than 20,500 hours of mentoring since the program's inception 14 years ago.

• Approved an agreement with the California Highway Patrol for traffic control services during improvements to the Highway 99 and Kiernan Avenue interchange

• Canceled a public hearing on changes to hardship eligibility for the indigent adult health program