By Susan Read News Review Staff Writer– During the Ridgecrest City Council meeting of January 18, 2023, a resolution was approved for the city to enter into a purchase and sales agreement with Race Communications, Inc. for $ 300,000 for the currently city-owned property at 1521 N. China Lake Boulevard. The 20,442-square-foot industrial building, built in 1984, was occupied by Matrix Motor Co., Inc. from 2000 to 2008. Matrix was an automotive manufacturing and restoration company.
Race Communications intends to establish its local headquarters there, ready to provide about 11,900 homes in Ridgecrest with high-speed fiber-optic Internet. According to a public information event at City Hall in July 2022, the company also can supply phone and television services.
The Council was in strong support of the sales agreement. It indicates a positive message to the community that a revival of formerly empty buildings is possible and shows progress on the business front. At the December 21, 2022, meeting, Council Member Skip Gorman expressed concern about the number of empty buildings in town. City Manager Ron Strand stated that the city is also concerned, and the issue will be addressed further at the City Ordinance or Economic Development Committees in the new year. Strand also said the city is looking at the more significant vacant buildings to see how they are being managed and get an accurate picture of the situation.
According to its website, “Race Communications is dedicated to providing reliable, high-speed Internet and advanced communications at an affordable price. Working in partnership with the California Public Utilities Commission and many non-profit community advocacy groups, Race focuses on improving connectivity in communities that larger carriers have long ignored.”
To read more about Race Communications and its residential plans and pricing, visit its website at www.race.com.
Additionally, the council declared February as Safely Surrendered Baby Awareness Month. The Safely Surrendered Baby Law was established in 2001. The law allows parents or people with lawful custody to safely surrender newborns within 72 hours of birth to a hospital emergency room or a fire station staff with no questions asked.
It reportedly has saved 95 infants in Kern County since 2006.
The council also declared February 2023 as Kern County Grand Jury Awareness Month. The council encourages local citizens to volunteer for the Kern County Grand Jury.
