Occasionally, irregularities occur in the administration of our local public agencies —sometimes unintentionally, sometimes otherwise. Some are quickly corrected, others you have to wonder about: a public agency whose books are not outside-audited for five years, for example, or one that uses never-before-heard-of accounting practices.The Town Crier reports on these and other irregularities and follows…

The Office of the State Fire Marshall (SFM) has prepared a new set of fire hazard severity maps for the state. Beginning next month, public hearings will occur throughout California to explain the maps’ purpose and the areas identified as potentially hazardous. The Public Resource Code has the SFM classify lands within state responsibility areas…

A new countywide ambulance service contract was approved 3-1 at the Riverside County Board of Supervisor’s Tuesday morning meeting. Only 1st District Supervisor Kevin Jeffries opposed it, because he favored new competition for the contract. In the new contract, effective July 1, the county ambulance provider, American Medical Response, will take over emergency medical service…