Comments on: Three Tulare Public Cemetery District board members resign https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/ In-depth, locally-produced coverage of the Central Valley. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:43:55 -0700 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Tulare County Supervisors vote to take over Tulare Public Cemetery District - Valley Voice https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-151283 Tulare County Supervisors vote to take over Tulare Public Cemetery District - Valley Voice Fri, 04 Jul 2025 07:13:04 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=51435#comment-151283 […] Only two cemetery district trustees were left: Xavier Avila and Steve Presant. The other three resigned over Memorial Day weekend. […] […] Only two cemetery district trustees were left: Xavier Avila and Steve Presant. The other three resigned over Memorial Day weekend. […]

]]> By: Tulare County Supervisors start process of taking over Tulare Cemetery governance - Valley Voice https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-149872 Tulare County Supervisors start process of taking over Tulare Cemetery governance - Valley Voice Tue, 10 Jun 2025 22:31:08 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=51435#comment-149872 […] a statement reminiscent of those by former Tulare cemetery trustees, one of the three trustees pointed the finger for the issues at another trustee, claiming that […] […] a statement reminiscent of those by former Tulare cemetery trustees, one of the three trustees pointed the finger for the issues at another trustee, claiming that […]

]]> By: Valley Voice (2013-2025) – More Porterville History https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-149774 Valley Voice (2013-2025) – More Porterville History Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:41:26 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=51435#comment-149774 […] on May 29, 2025 by Catherine […] […] on May 29, 2025 by Catherine […]

]]> By: susie ellis https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-149570 susie ellis Tue, 03 Jun 2025 21:35:31 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=51435#comment-149570 The was no "cancer". The problem was... lack of transparency, lack of explaining missing money and lack of feeling the need to explain, lack of answering concerns of the citizens, lack of cooperation with change or suggestions, hardheadedness and resistance to people wanting to help. That's not cancer, that's bs....so good, hit the road. God forbid you should put your ego's aside, do what's best for the citizens,the cemetery, be a team, be open and willing to look at all of the concerns, make it a friendly place that welcomes everyone and new ideas. None of you are any better then the rest. And by the way if you have messed up, be honest, correct it and move on. Evidently that wasn't an option The was no “cancer”. The problem was… lack of transparency, lack of explaining missing money and lack of feeling the need to explain, lack of answering concerns of the citizens, lack of cooperation with change or suggestions, hardheadedness and resistance to people wanting to help. That’s not cancer, that’s bs….so good, hit the road. God forbid you should put your ego’s aside, do what’s best for the citizens,the cemetery, be a team, be open and willing to look at all of the concerns, make it a friendly place that welcomes everyone and new ideas. None of you are any better then the rest. And by the way if you have messed up, be honest, correct it and move on. Evidently that wasn’t an option

]]> By: Alberto Aguilar https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-149434 Alberto Aguilar Sat, 31 May 2025 05:06:05 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=51435#comment-149434 For the record, neither Presant or Avila were on the cemetery board in 2017. When I was appointed to the board on September 19, 2017, the only trustee on the board were Phil Deal, Vickie Gilson and me. All of the prior board members had resigned along with the Office Manager. After my first board meeting on September 20, 2017, my first order of business was to have a grounds keeper and a former grounds keeper remove their household belongings from the North J Cemetery facility where they had been residing for over 8-years (according to their peers). The district was paying for their cable TV services, and their use of electricity, gas and water services. My second order of business was to try to find out why all employee checks were in the Valt at the district office, and made in the middle of the month (September) for the entire month, prior to any actual daily work hours by the employees. There were three payroll checks missing from the vault belonging to the office manager, Grounds supervisor and the senior grounds keeper. (Person residing at North J Cemetery).My third order of business was to write the Bylaws for the District and submitted them to the board on October 2, 2017. My forth order of business was to meet with the Tulare Police Department and County District Attorney regarding the misappropriation of public funds. Perhaps, the reason the prior board members and managers resigned was because they were guilty of misconduct. (?) The board needs to follow the laws that govern public cemeteries which includes the Brown Act; the people have a right to know and not be ignored. For the record, neither Presant or Avila were on the cemetery board in 2017. When I was appointed to the board on September 19, 2017, the only trustee on the board were Phil Deal, Vickie Gilson and me. All of the prior board members had resigned along with the Office Manager. After my first board meeting on September 20, 2017, my first order of business was to have a grounds keeper and a former grounds keeper remove their household belongings from the North J Cemetery facility where they had been residing for over 8-years (according to their peers). The district was paying for their cable TV services, and their use of electricity, gas and water services. My second order of business was to try to find out why all employee checks were in the Valt at the district office, and made in the middle of the month (September) for the entire month, prior to any actual daily work hours by the employees. There were three payroll checks missing from the vault belonging to the office manager, Grounds supervisor and the senior grounds keeper. (Person residing at North J Cemetery).My third order of business was to write the Bylaws for the District and submitted them to the board on October 2, 2017. My forth order of business was to meet with the Tulare Police Department and County District Attorney regarding the misappropriation of public funds. Perhaps, the reason the prior board members and managers resigned was because they were guilty of misconduct. (?) The board needs to follow the laws that govern public cemeteries which includes the Brown Act; the people have a right to know and not be ignored.

]]> By: Tularean Tax Payer https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-149422 Tularean Tax Payer Fri, 30 May 2025 20:49:51 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=51435#comment-149422 In reply to <a href="https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-149415">Vicki Gilson</a>. Presant and Avila who were once bossom buddies are still going to continue vying against each other for control of the Board. The Board of Supervisors will approve whoever Vander Poel appoints simply because he is one of them. Let the City take over the cemetery. Clean house completely, including the manager. In reply to Vicki Gilson.

Presant and Avila who were once bossom buddies are still going to continue vying against each other for control of the Board. The Board of Supervisors will approve whoever Vander Poel appoints simply because he is one of them. Let the City take over the cemetery. Clean house completely, including the manager.

]]> By: Vicki Gilson https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-149415 Vicki Gilson Fri, 30 May 2025 15:50:11 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=51435#comment-149415 Good article. The Tulare Cemetery needs to go forward. Presant and Avila need to resign also. So tired of the lack of leadership and infighting. We need a new slate!! VanderPoel appoints, but it’s up to the Board of Supervisors to approve his choices. It needs to be taken very seriously. These are public funds and the public trusts the Board to do a good job. Good article. The Tulare Cemetery needs to go forward. Presant and Avila need to resign also.
So tired of the lack of leadership and infighting. We need a new slate!!
VanderPoel appoints, but it’s up to the Board of Supervisors to approve his choices. It needs to be taken very seriously. These are public funds and the public trusts the Board to do a good job.

]]> By: MizLillie https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-149399 MizLillie Fri, 30 May 2025 04:35:13 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=51435#comment-149399 The board has had issues since 2017 & continues to have issues. There is 1 common denominator here, only 1 person has been on the board this whole time, everyone else is new and gets beat up constantly by the “groupies” Glad they all resigned, enjoy life not this circus. The board has had issues since 2017 & continues to have issues. There is 1 common denominator here, only 1 person has been on the board this whole time, everyone else is new and gets beat up constantly by the “groupies” Glad they all resigned, enjoy life not this circus.

]]> By: Kelly https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2025/05/29/three-tulare-public-cemetery-district-board-members-resign/#comment-149398 Kelly Fri, 30 May 2025 04:28:36 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=51435#comment-149398 Could have guessed this would happen. Too bad they can’t just cut out the “cancer”. Vander Poel has his work cut out for him. He should have paid attend months and months ago when people sent him emails complaining about a “cancer” taking over the board. Could have guessed this would happen. Too bad they can’t just cut out the “cancer”. Vander Poel has his work cut out for him. He should have paid attend months and months ago when people sent him emails complaining about a “cancer” taking over the board.

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