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 Administrative
Office
The County Administrative Officer (CAO) is appointed by
and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors.
The CAO serves the legislative function of the Board by
providing research, information and recommendations, and
serves all of the executive functions of the Board by administering
and supervising all County departments in matters that are
the responsibility of the Board. Additional duties include:
acting as an agent and representative of the Board, enforcing
Board policy, recommending the annual budget and long-term
capital improvements plan, exercising continuous budgetary
control, and recommending more effective and efficient operating
procedures and administrative reorganizations.
The Administrative Office is also responsible for providing
direction and supervision of the following functions: Purchasing,
Risk Management, Employee Benefits, Central Garage and Central
Services.
Purchasing: This Department is responsible for
reviewing and evaluating purchasing requests; issuing
competitive bids; requests for proposals and quotations;
the purchasing of services, supplies and equipment for
the County. Other duties include the issuance of Purchasing
Agent Agreement which contract for personal services under
$10,000 in total value; oversight of telephone orders
and changes for County departments; oversees the transferring
of items among departments for maximum utilization; disposes
of obsolete and surplus items. The Department also performs
the duties of posting and distributing County mail as
well as other general services requiring multiple departmental
coordination.
Risk Management: This Division is responsible
for the determination and acquisition of appropriate insurance
coverage; determining the appropriate insurance requirements
for contracts with the County; administers the County's
self-insured workers' compensation and liability programs;
investigates claims for damage and makes recommendations
on the acceptance of these claims; and coordinates the
County Safety Program required by CalOSHA and good work
practices.
Employee Benefits: This Division researches and
recommends benefit programs for consideration by the Board
of Supervisors. The Division provides the administration
and enrollment requirement for the selected programs;
which includes health, dental, vision, deferred compensation,
flexible benefits, life insurance and long term disability.
The Division also facilities the development of voluntary
benefit programs.
Central Garage: The Central Garage Department
provides a preventive maintenance program and repair facility
to better utilize the vehicles the County operates. Central
Garage controls, maintains, and services all County vehicles,
except for Road and Fire Department vehicles.  More
Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer
of Weights and Measures
The Agricultural Commissioner Department promotes and protects
the County's agricultural industry by preventing (a) fraud and
deception in the packing, labeling, or marketing of agricultural
products sold to the public or the producer, and (b) the introduction
and spread of injurious insect or animal  pests, plant diseases, or
noxious weeds, in accordance with provisions of state law. This
department also provides pesticides enforcement within the County.
The Department of Weights and Measures Consumer Protection
protects the public through inspection of weighing and measuring
apparatus used in trade throughout the County and inspection
of containers of commodities for accurate quantity statements.
The Director is empowered to order out of use any inaccurate
weighing or measuring devices, to cause to be prosecuted
any person violating weights and measures laws, and to monitor
the quality of petroleum products and advertising price
signs. The department assists the public by receiving complaints
of a general nature and resolving them by referral, negotiation,
or counseling. More
 University
of California Cooperative Extension
Cooperative Extension with the Division of Agriculture and
Natural Resources (DANR) is a component of the University
of California, a land-grant institution. Within the University
the Division is responsible for research and extension education
in the areas of agriculture, the environment, natural resources
management and human and community development. Cooperative
Extension research and extension responsibilities are authorized
by federal legislation, the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, which
provides federal support for Extension Service to transfer
knowledge from the University to the community and conduct
applied research. Our mission is to serve California through
the creation, development and application of knowledge in
agriculture, natural and human resources.
Under a cooperative agreement between the University of
California and the Madera County Board of Supervisors, the
University provides ten academic staff members with various
expertise. Cross county collaboration and service from Merced
and Fresno counties allow UC to provide a maximum level
of service to Madera County clientele. Competitive research
contracts and grants are generated which helps support programs
and allows the hiring of two full time staff research associates
and part-time program assistants and college students. Cooperative
Extension relies heavily on volunteers to help accomplish
its mission. Two hundred volunteer adult 4-H leaders provide
leadership and countless number of hours delivering educational
programs to youth. Ten volunteer Master Gardeners contribute
many hours providing information in horticultural, gardening
and small scale food production.
University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE)
programs are financed jointly by federal, state and county
funds. Federal and state monies provide for the employment
of the 10 University academic staff assigned to the county.
Madera County provides and pays for clerical employees,
office facilities, operating expenses and vehicles for the
department.
Typical activities include applied field research, workshops
and field meetings, demonstrations, newsletters, publications,
and individual consultations. More
Animal
Control
The Animal Control Officer maintains and operates the animal
shelter, enforces County dog control ordinances, operates clinics
for the licensing and vaccination of dogs, and investigates animal
nuisance and dog bite reports. More
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
This department performs all acts required by law or by ordinance
as directed by the Board; answers varied inquiries and provides
information regarding Board actions; prepares the agenda for
Board meetings and keeps official records of actions taken by
the Board; plans, organizes, and directs the clerical services
for the Board; and processes legal documents, notices, and orders
of the Board. Other functions include keeping official records
of Special Districts, Air Pollution, Flood Control Boards, the
Board of Equalization, and various commissions, committees, and
authorities which are advisory to the Board of Supervisors. More
County Counsel
The County Counsel serves as legal advisor in civil matters
for all County offices, departments, boards and commissions,
school districts, and other districts. The duties of the
office include providing legal counsel and advice to the
Board of Supervisors and County departments; preparing contracts,
resolutions, and ordinances; filing and litigating civil
and condemnation cases; coordinating the collection of delinquent
accounts; and acting as attorney for the Public Administrator
and Public Guardian. More
Other duties include coordinating the defense of bodily injury
and property damage suits under the County's self-insured liability
program.
Department of Corrections
The Department of Corrections operates the Adult Correctional
Facility (jail) and provides custody of persons awaiting
trial and under sentence from the Justice and Superior Courts
or awaiting transfer to another jurisdiction, state prison,
or institution. More
 Engineering
and General Services
The County Engineer/County
Surveyor is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and serves
under the direction of the Resource Management Agency Director.
The Engineering Departrment is one of four departments that
make up the newly formed Resource Management Agency. The County
Engineer's office provides a variety of services related to
land development and public works. The Engineering Department
is responsible for all aspects of public works with the exception
of roads and bridges. The Engineering Department is responsible
for all new construction and development on County owned property.
The County Surveyor's Office reviews parcels and subdivision
maps as well as records of survey.
The following divisions
are under the administrative control of the County Engineer:
County Surveyors
Office: This division reviews all parcel and subdivision
maps for technical compliance with the Subdivision Map Act.
The division reviews and processes the filing of all records
of survey and corner records. The division assists land surveyors
and the general public in locating property corners through
the interoperation of recorded maps.
Building
Department: The primary responsibilities of this division
involve the enforcment of current building codes, including
life safety issues, and building construction inspection services
within the County. The departments duties include processing
and issuing permits for grading, demolition, residential and
commercial construction, mechanical, plumbing and electrical
installations. The division also performs building code enforcment
including abatment proceedures and notices of violation. Residential
and commercial plan checks including engineering and energy
calculationsare also performed by this division.
Building
Maintenance: The primary responsibilities of this
division involve the maintenance of all County buildings and
facilities, including heating, air conditioning, mechanical
equipment, and electrical equipment. This division also performs
and supervises various new construction and remodeling projects.
Building Operations:
Administers contractual
janitorial services that provide cleaning services for County
buildings.
 Flood
Control and Water Conservation:
This division provides for regular maintenance of certain
natural water courses in the County. These responsibilities
are delegated through contracts with the State and the Army
Corps of Engineers to provide adequate carrying capacity for
portions of the Fresno and Chowchilla Rivers, and Ash and
Berenda Sloughs. Additional channel clearing activities are
performed in partnership with the irrigation and water districts.
The division also makes recommendations to the Board for various
public works to prevent or minimize flooding. This division
also administers water conservation and development of water
recharge projects. The National Flood Insurance Program, which
is a branch of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is
administered locally by this division for new construction
and remodels of structures located in special flood hazard
areas.
General Services: This division performs those activities
that are not covered by other County Departments or as directed
by the Board. This could include property management, land
acquisition and acting as the County representative for the
re-licensing process for electrical generation at Bass Lake
by PG&E.
Parks
and Grounds:
The primary work of this division involves maintenance of
County parks, recreational facilities, and the grounds surrounding
County buildings. Courthouse Park, Laundry Park, Jackass Rock
Recreation Area, Parksdale Park, and Parkwood Park are some
of the areas that are maintained by this division.
Refuse
Disposal (Solid Waste Management):
This division provides administration of contracted services
for the operation of the County's sanitary landfill at Fairmead,
the collection of refuse and the combined operations of the
North Fork transfer station and transportation of refuse from
the North Fork transfer station to the Fairmead landfill.
Special
District Services:
The primary responsibilities of this division involve the
maintenance of County operated Maintenance Districts and Service
Areas which provide water and/or sewer facilities to approximately
45 communities throughout the County.
 Environmental
Health
This department protects and promotes the health of the community
by providing environmental health and sanitation services
and programs in air sanitation, food sanitation, waste management,
housing, recreation areas, water supply, land use and development,
and vector control. Consultation and enforcement activities
assure maintenance of standards sufficient to meet local environmental
health and sanitation needs. More
 Health
Department
The Health Department protects and promotes the health of
the community by means of preventive medical, sanitation,
and educational services. This department is also responsible
for enforcing all State and local health laws. Specific
programs include Communicable Disease Control, Child Health,
California Children Services, Family Health, child and adult
physical assessments, public health laboratory analysis,
vital statistics, institutional medical and nursing services,
public hearing and occupational medical advisory services,
Health Education, Community Health, planning, immunization
clinics, Family Planning, and medical care of inmates at
the Adult Correctional Facility and Juvenile Hall. The department
also administers a senior citizens health program, a school
children's dental program, and the Child Health and Disability
Program. More
Human Resources
Under the general policy direction administered under the
direction of the County Administrative Officer, and the
Civil Service Commission, the department recruits and examines
all employees in the classified service. Other activities
include employer-employee relations, salary administration,
employee classification, processing employee status changes,
and payroll certification. General personnel policy guidelines
are provided by a five-member Civil Service Commission which
is appointed by the Board of Supervisors for four-year terms.
More
 Library
The Madera County Library System provides books, magazines, reference
services, pamphlets, records, and films to patrons in the entire
County through its resources at the main library in Madera and
branch libraries in Chowchilla, North Fork, Oakhurst, and Madera
Ranchos. More
Behavioral Health
The department oversees the Behavioral Health, Drug and Alcohol
Programs, which operate within the County. The department
performs functions: Program planning, administration, coordination
and evaluation, and provision of direct services. More
Planning
The Planning Department promotes the most effective,
efficient, aesthetic, and safe use of land for present and
future generations of Madera County residents and visitors.
The Planning Director is charged with the preparation and
updating of a comprehensive, long-term, general plan for the
land use and physical development of the County and for the execution
of this plan. The department's work includes zoning and subdivision
enforcement in the unincorporated area of the County, plus the
development of specific current and long-range area planning.
Appeals of department decisions and public hearings on proposed
subdivisions, zoning changes, etc., are heard by the Planning
Commission. The Planning Department is responsible for administration
of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 in accordance
with the guidelines issued by the State Secretary of Resources.
Probation
The County Probation Officer is appointed and serves at the pleasure
of the Board of Supervisors and the judge of the Superior Court.
The Probation Department screens juvenile referrals from law
enforcement, schools, welfare, and self or parent referrals.
Initial determination is made whether there is evidence to substantiate
that the minor is within the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court;
it is then determined whether a court hearing is necessary or
whether a lesser action is warranted; and lastly, the need for
continued for continued detention is determined.
Pre-sentence investigations are performed for the courts in
adult criminal cases. In juvenile matters, Probation has a direct
role in the entire court proceeding. Civil investigation duties
include divorce-custody, step-parent adoption, free from parental
custody, guardianship and conservatorship, and pre-court screening
of juvenile requests for consent to marry.
The department supervises juveniles placed on probation by
the department and by the courts who are in their own homes and
those placed by court order in relatives' homes, foster homes,
or other residential care facilities. All adults placed on formal
probation by the courts, adults diverted under Section 1000 of
the Penal Code, and those referred by other counties for courtesy
supervision are also supervised by the department.
Juvenile Hall: The Probation Department is also
responsible for operation and administration of the Juvenile
Hall. Juvenile Hall is a place of detention for juvenile
offenders taken into custody within the provisions of
Section 602 of the Juvenile Court Law. These young people
are detained for their protection or the protection of
the community, pending and/or serving final disposition
of their cases. Programs include temporary detention pending
court disposition, holding for other agencies, and varying
lengths of residential care. Treatment programs include
full-time school within the Juvenile Hall for continuation
of education. More
 Road
Department
Under the direction of the Road Commissioner, the department
maintains, repairs, and constructs all roads and bridges
within the County, except State highways and streets within
the incorporated cities of Madera and Chowchilla. This department
is primarily financed by State gas tax, motor vehicle "in-lieu"
tax, court fines for highway offenses, and Federal-State
allocations. No portion of the budget is financed by local
property tax, except for Road District 5 in the southeastern
portion of the County, which levees a five-cent property
tax.
More
Veterans Services, Public Guardian,
Public Conservator, and Public Administrator
The Veterans Service Office performs a variety of services for
veterans, and their dependents, and widows. This includes filing
for pension, compensation, insurance, death benefits, home loan
and any other State and/or Federal benefits to which they may
be entitled.
The Public Guardian, acting under court orders, applies for
benefits and handles property, care, and placement for minors
that are referred to our office.
The Public Conservator investigates and, under court orders,
administers conservatorship of persons and/or estates pursuant
to applicable laws. Additional functions include applying for
and handling funds and property of persons adjudged to be incompetent
and providing for their care and maintenance.
The Public Administrator, acting under court orders, administers
estates of deceased persons when no relative or other person
is willing and/or able to perform this function. Courts
also assign cases of estates and trusteeships directly to
this office for resolution of problem areas. More
Social Services
The Social Services Department administers all Social Service
programs, providing direct payments to indigent persons meeting
eligibility criteria established by Federal and/or State welfare
laws and regulations.
General Relief provides care and support of indigents
who are ineligible for State and Federal categorical and Medical
Aid programs.
The Aid to Families with Dependent Children program
provides assistance for needy children up to 21 years of age.
Children between 18 and 21 years of age are eligible for aid
only if in financial need and attending school or a training
program regularly, or are employed and contributing to the family.
Other functions include providing foster care homes
for needy children; providing group homes for juvenile
placement; providing placement of juveniles requiring
emergency housing under situations such as child abuse
or desertion, runaways, and out-of-control juveniles;
and providing special needs; unmet shelter needs; and
aid payments to applicants whose real property value exceeds
the federal limit of $25,000. More
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