BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

SPECIAL MEETING

JANUARY 5, 2006

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors convenes in Special Session on Thursday, January 5, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. Present: Supervisors Robert Pyle, Jim Chapman, Lloyd Keefer, Brian Dahle, and Jack Hanson; County Counsel Craig Settlemire and County Clerk Theresa Nagel. County Administrative Officer (CAO) John Ketelsen is not present at the beginning of the meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Chairman Keefer asks for public comment and no comments are received.

DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY

Emergency Services Director Chester "Chip" Jackson announces that he proclaimed the "Existence of a Local Emergency" on December 31, 2005 due to flooding. Current estimates of damage are: local private property damage - over $1 million; County Roads - just short of $2 million; City property - $7 million; crop losses - $500,000.

Mr. Jackson lists the agencies that played a major role in the emergency work: CDF, Forest Service, BLM, City Fire and Public Works, CDF Inmate Crews, and County staff. He states that a proactive approach was used and things went very well. The Governor has declared Lassen County one of the counties in a state of emergency and a Presidential Declaration is being sought. A Presidential Declaration would provide help to private persons in the form of financial help. (CAO Ketelsen enters at 10:06 a.m.) The Emergency Operations Center was moved to SIFC (Susanville Interagency Fire Center) for the first time and it worked extremely well. The entire operational area (all participants) performed very well.

Supervisor Chapman expresses his appreciation of the great job performed by all the agencies and persons involved.

Fire Chief Stu Ratner expresses his appreciation for the County collaboration with the City and also discusses the possibility of placing a permanent wall along Carroll Street for control of Susan River flooding.

Mr. Jackson reports that a Union Pacific Railroad Bridge located behind the old Coin Lumber (Jeld-Wen, Inc.) became plugged with debris and was cleaned out by railroad personnel. UP has decided to completely remove the bridge which will sever the railroad line to Susanville.

Supervisor Hanson feels there may be some way to open up channels to get the river moving better in the Standish-Litchfield area.

Craig Hemphill from the Ag Commissioner's Office reports on infrastructure damage in regard to the agriculture community.

Public Works Director Larry Millar reports that road damage was county-wide and is typical type of damage for such a storm - estimated damage is $1.5 to $2 million.

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Dahle and carried to adopt Resolution No. 06-001, ratifying Declaration of a Local Disaster-Emergency by the Assistant Director of Emergency Services due to winter storms and flooding.