I-Team Investigation: Cemetery Disarray
The Coachella Valley Cemetery is the final resting place for over 17,000 people and gets more than $700,000 each year in property tax revenue.
A little more than a year ago, a grand jury report found a number of issues with the leadership of the cemetery district.
The report cited a lack of training for trustees, a lack of transparency, Brown Act violations and other issues.
The grand jury also found that a three-member board wasn’t large enough and it should be expanded.
Dr. Bruce Underwood was one of the new appointees to what is now a five-member board and now serves as its chair.
Longtime local businesswoman Judy Vossler was sworn-in last week after she was appointed by County Supervisor Manuel Perez.
As a special district, county supervisors appoint trustees and then the district operates independently.
While the size of the board has been addressed, other issues remain.
The district’s website remains in development more than a year after the grand jury found issues with transparency.
Only one board meeting agenda has been posted on the website and it was for February.
The most recent meeting on May 14th was not posted.
When asked if that’s good enough, Underwood says, “No it’s not and really as a board, we are disappointed the website is not up and running.”
Underwood only answered questions after putting the interview request from KESQ on the agenda.
Another issue is the management of the district.
Last year, under the past board, Leland Kestell replaced Bret Kestell as general manager.
Underwood says Leland Kestell is the nephew of the prior general manager.
“The governor is even looking at these issues of nepotism,” Underwood says of what happened.
Other board members back Kestell and express frustration with the process.
One of them saying, “We’re not progressing, we’re not even standing still, we’re going backwards.”
The grand jury report was critical of the district’s use of three residences on the property for the general manager and 2 other staff members without leases.
Kestell hasn’t been allowed to move into the home that would normally be used by the general manager because it needs repairs and the board wanted to have the home inspected and appraised. A lease still hasn’t been drawn up for the property.
Underwood believes each issue is being addressed one by one.
“I think the progress is fantastic,” he says.
Another board member disagrees saying, “We talk about things, we just don’t move ahead.”
The Riverside County Grand Jury Report can be found here:
Riverside County Grand Jury Report
The Coachella Valley Cemetery District response can be found here:
