A Yolo County-focused update for Winters

Lucas Frerichs serves as representative for Winters on Yolo County’s Board of Supervisors

Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs. Frerichs represents District 2. COURTESY

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It is an honor and a joy to serve as a County Supervisor representing Yolo County’s District 2, which includes the City of Winters. Below are some highlights of the past year and an upcoming event that supports a vital Winters-based non-profit.

El Rio Villa Playground

For the past five years, the approximately 100 children living in El Rio Villa, a Yolo County Housing community located just east of the City of Winters, have been without a playground. Parks and safe play areas are vital for our physical, emotional, and mental health and well-being.

Last year I was honored to direct $60,000 of the Yolo County American Rescue Plan Community Benefit Funds to this project, which was matched by a mix of investments from Yolo County Housing, Pacific Gas & Electric, the Winters Joint Unified School District, and Mariani Nut Company to collectively make this needed improvement a reality.

The outcome is more than just a playground — it represents the public and private sectors coming together to support some of our most vulnerable community members. I’m grateful to all who helped us build this playground!

I-505 pedestrian overcrossing into the City of Winters

We continue to seek funding to create a safe crossing over I-505 for pedestrians and bicyclists travelling to and from the City of Winters along Route 128. Last month, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) unanimously approved $4.7 million in Regional Active Transportation Program grants, including $369,000 to finalize the design phase of this critical safety improvement.

When complete, this project will create a continuous 1.3-mile route for bicyclists and pedestrians traveling between the El Rio Villas affordable housing community and key destinations in Winters, such as schools, medical facilities, and essential services. This success reflects strong teamwork among SACOG, local partners, and legislative leaders.

While prior funding, including a $2 million congressional appropriation, has supported this effort, we remain focused on securing the additional $14 million needed to complete construction. Together, we’re bringing this much-needed infrastructure improvement to life for the residents of El Rio Villas and the broader community.

Repaving key county roads

Solving transportation issues has been a focus area of my elected leadership over the past decade and continues in my current roles on the boards of the Capitol Corridor passenger rail service and the Yolo Transportation District (YoloTD).

One of the issues I’ve heard loud and clear from my constituents is “fix the roads and bike paths!” Last summer, Yolo County repaved multiple county roads, including County Road 31, between County Road 98 and Interstate 505.

Making improvements to the heavily used CR 31 corridor was one of the top concerns I received from constituents in both Davis and Winters. I’m grateful to the County Public Works staff for prioritizing the re-pavement of this important transportation corridor.

As a reminder, our Public Works staff regularly demonstrates exceptional responsiveness to residents’ road concerns, swiftly attending to potholes and roadside ditches through our Road Maintenance Request system.

Federal uncertainty

The Federal Administration has taken unprecedented actions, from freezing and unfreezing all federal funds, slashing public health budgets, threats to Medicaid (Medi-Cal) funding, and more. In Yolo County, as in other local jurisdictions, federal funding supports basic social services for our most vulnerable people.

These services include, but are not limited to: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (CalWORKS); Foster Care; Adoption Assistance; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or CalFresh); Child Support; and Crime Victim Assistance.

Many families and individuals rely on these programs, and any disruption could have serious consequences. This has created a great deal of uncertainty and chaos as local governments, universities, and businesses that have federal funding need to understand the potential ramifications. My colleagues and I, along with Yolo County staff, continue to monitor the evolving situation and work to minimize negative impacts on our community.

Party with a purpose

I’m thrilled to host my 2nd Annual Party with a Purpose, which this year will benefit the vital services of Winters Healthcare. On Wednesday, May 21, from 6 to 8 p.m., gather at Berryessa Brewing Co. in Winters for an unforgettable evening of community connection, delicious food, live music, and fundraising for a vital cause.For 25 years, Winters Healthcare has been a cornerstone of the West Yolo County community, providing compassionate, high-quality healthcare to all who walk through their doors. As part of their milestone 25th anniversary, this event offers an opportunity for the community to come together and support their continued success and expansion, especially as they celebrate their 20th year as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

FQHCs play a vital role in providing healthcare services to underserved communities, offering care regardless of an individual’s insurance status or ability to pay. More tickets and more information: https://www.wintershealth.org/purpose

I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of the greater Winters area and look forward to working in partnership to continue making Yolo County a wonderful place to work, live, and visit.