Initial steps necessary to incorporate Oakhurst as an official city will be discussed - again - on Wednesday [February 3].
    A meeting of the ad hoc committee that has periodically reviewed the incorporation project will begin at 10 a.m. at Oakhurst Branch Library.
    Ruth Hunt, who chairs the committee, says this is an opportunity for every person interested in the incorporation to speak up. And she doubts things will go much further if there isn't a lot of interest in pursuing the complex subject.
    Nevertheless, Mrs. Hunt has set an ambitious agenda for Wednesday's meeting, hoping that there is indeed some interest.
    These topics are likely to dominate the meeting:

    1 - Establishing the boundaries of the proposed City of Oakhurst.

    2 - Analyze a consultant's proposal to prepare the financial feasibility study that is required by state law as being among the first steps toward incorporation.
    3 - A discussion of ways and means of raising the funds to pay the consultant to financial study.
    The study lists projected costs of establishing a city government and running its departments, as well as the sources of revenue to pay that debt.
    Incorporation has surfaced periodically over the years, proponents saying that there needs to be more local control over issues such as growth and planning than is currently provided by county government.
    An extensive study was completed nearly 11 years ago, concluding that, at that time, it would indeed be possible to cover the costs of city government by claiming local shares of funds not now available to Oakhurst because it doesn't have a city bank account.
    Despite that finding, the city did not materialize.
    Opponents of the step continue to insist it would be too costly, and that assurances by proponents that taxes would not increase are shaky at best.
    Oakhurst, with a population of close to 14,000, remains among the larger communities in the Sierra Nevada that does not have official city status.

    Despite the snowy and wet roadways, there were only three wrecks last Tuesday morning, all of which were non-injury.
    Robert Gregg, 45, of Mariposa, skidded out of control while entering a roadway curve as he traveled east on Malum Ridge Road [274] west of Lake View Drive.
    His vehicle slid off the north shoulder and overturned.
    The California Highway Patrol says Mr. Gregg was traveling at too great a speed for the snowy conditions.
    Mary Miller, 82, of O'Neals, skidded while heading west on North Fork Road [200] east of Golden Acorn Court at 8:45 a.m.
    Her vehicle skidded into the oncoming lane, striking the vehicle driven by 43-year-old Adriana Tilden, of Coarsegold.