BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

JULY 17, 2007

 

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors convenes in Regular Session at 9:02 a.m.  Chairman Dahle asks for public comment and no comments are received.  Deputy Clerk of the Board Susan Osgood announces the Closed Session items and the Board recesses to Closed Session at 9:02 a.m. to discuss:  1)  Conference with Legal Counsel:  Existing litigation pursuant to Subdivision (a) of Government Code Section 54956.9: Citizens for a Healthy Rural Environment, Richard & Mary Morgan vs. Lassen County, Lassen County Board of Supervisors; Larry and Lise Wosick.  Superior Case #36349.  2)  Employee performance evaluation:  CAO John Ketelsen and County Counsel Craig Settlemire   3)  Claims:  Claim of Anita Easton presented June 22, 2007.

 

Present in the Closed Session are Supervisors Brian Dahle, Bob Pyle and Jim Chapman; County Counsel Craig Settlemire, County Administrative Officer John Ketelsen, County Personnel Director/Risk Manager Ron Vossler, Treasurer / Tax Collector Richard Egan and Deputy Clerk of the Board Osgood.  Supervisor Hanson enters at 9:06 a.m. and Supervisor Keefer enters at 9:11 a.m.  Treasurer Egan departs at 9:44 a.m.  Closed Session is recessed at 9:45 a.m.

 

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors reconvenes in Regular Session on Tuesday, July 17, 2007, at 9:45 a.m.  Present are Supervisors Brian Dahle, Robert Pyle, Jim Chapman, Lloyd Keefer and Jack Hanson; County Counsel Craig Settlemire, County Administrative Officer John Ketelsen, County Personnel Director/Risk Manager Ron Vossler, and Deputy Clerk of the Board Susan Osgood.  Following the flag salute, the invocation is offered by Supervisor Dahle.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION

County Counsel Settlemire announces the Closed Session dealt with discussion on:

1)  Conference with Legal Counsel:  Existing litigation pursuant to Subdivision (a) of Government Code Section 54956.9: Citizens for a Healthy Rural Environment, Richard & Mary Morgan vs. Lassen County, Lassen County Board of Supervisors; Larry and Lise Wosick.  Superior Case #36349 – The Board of Supervisors directs that the County Treasurer and the County Counsel are to commence collection of the full amount of noise monitoring costs paid by the County, in the amount of $152,700.  It is now, and always has been, Mr. and Mrs. Wosicks’ responsibility to obtain a modification of the noise monitoring requirements.  If they do not pay for noise monitoring, future noise monitoring will not be done by the County.  The Court Judgment provides that the track may not be operated without noise monitoring.  It is in the Wosicks’ best interests to obtain an order modifying the noise monitoring requirements before the next event scheduled for October 24 and 25, 2007.  

2)  Claims:  Claim of Anita Easton presented June 22, 2007 – The Board voted to reject the claim and give notice of rejection.

County Counsel Settlemire reports the remaining Closed Session items will be deferred to the end of the regular meeting.

 

AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS

Supervisor Chapman requests that Item H2 regarding a letter of response to Dimitrous Fylaktos and Lauren Argyriadis be continued. 

 

Supervisor Dahle requests the meeting be adjourned in the memory of Orma Albaugh.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried, to approve the agenda with the noted changes. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

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

 

UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS

1.                  Supervisor Chapman states that he contacted Lahontan Water Quality Board Executive Officer Harold Singer and updated him on Gioia Lee’s complaint that was reported to the Board by Deputy CAO for Health & Social Services Kevin Mannel at last week’s meeting. 

2.                  Supervisor Chapman reports that Mr. Singer and his family were among approximately 250 people that lost their homes in the Angora Fire.   During a celebrity golf tournament in Tahoe, Mr. Singer’s 13 year old son Garrett received a bicycle from Lance Armstrong who heard about the family’s loss.  Supervisor Chapman expressed Lassen County’s concerns to Mr. Singer regarding resolving issues pertaining to both fire protection and maintaining protection for water resources.

3.         Supervisor Keefer states he will be working on some of the issues he reported on the Wheeler Fire at last week’s meeting related to public information as well as the lack of information that was coming out of the incident in a timely manner.  He is trying to set up a meeting with the local media, the Chief Public Information Officers from the Plumas National Forest, California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, the Lassen National Forest and Bureau of Land Management possibly next week; he feels there are some things that can be done to improve the information flow to the public.

3.         Supervisor Pyle states he attended the Planning Commission meeting on the Dyer Mountain Environmental Impact Report and Development Agreement; there was a lot of good discussion and good ideas.  The recent fire is on everybody’s mind and was one of the issues the Commission had regarding egress and the size of the bridge.  He expects the Commission will have a recommendation to the Board during the meeting on July 24. 

4.         Supervisor Dahle reports he attended a NACo Conference in Virginia.  The Western Interstate Region (WIR) Board passed a lot of resolutions and he will distribute copies to the Board.  Supervisor Dahle has been appointed to the Committee for the Waters of the U.S.; the navigable waters and streams issue will impact everybody in the country if some of the court cases aren’t interpreted differently.  He states it will be critical to everybody that has water running across their property; it can even pertain to the rain gutters on a home. 

 

RECOGNITION COMMITTEE – PRESENTATION

Chairman Dahle makes the following presentations for years of service:

 

Ten years:  a brass letter opener to Tamara Chandler (Health and Social Services) and

Twenty years:  a mahogany book clock to Nanette Henderson (Public Works/Road). 

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

Supervisor Chapman requests that Item G2 Auditor & Treasurer Departments Report for the month of June, 2007 be pulled from the consent calendar for separate consideration.

 

Supervisors Pyle and Hanson request Item G4 Prison Trial Costs Reimbursement Reports be pulled from the consent calendar for separate consideration.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried to take the noted action on the following Consent Calendar items:

 

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ITEM - PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

Receive and file Personnel Movement report for June, 2007.

 

TREASURER/TAX COLLECTOR ITEM - REPORT

Receive and file Treasurer's Investment Report for June, 2007.

 

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS

Receive and file the following correspondence:

a.   Lassen County Technical Advisory Committee meeting agenda for July 11, 2007.

b.   Lassen County Planning Commission meeting agenda for July 11, 2007.

 

AUDITOR & TREASURER DEPARTMENTS - REPORT

Supervisor Chapman asks Treasurer Richard Egan for an explanation of a notation on the last page of the June report that shows $7,739.16 that is left over and noted as “System Error”.  Mr. Egan replies that it is a timing issue with the closing of the month that has since been resolved.  Auditor Karen Fouch explains the $7,000 has been identified and considered properly and corrected.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Chapman and carried unanimously to receive and file Treasurer's Fund Balance Report and Auditor's verification for the month of June, 2007.

 

PRISON TRIAL COSTS REIMBURSEMENT - REPORTS

Supervisor Pyle states he and Supervisor Hanson both looked at CCC and High Desert Prison recaps for June, 2007 and the problem of timely payment continues to get worse.

Supervisor Dahle states he talked to Senator Cox about this last week.  Auditor Fouch states the County was notified the end of April that the appropriation for 2006/2007 had been spent and that would require an emergency appropriation by the legislature, which has happened only once in past years.  The State is in arrears back to February; there is $250,000 due for this program.  The fund itself has about $80,000 to operate on until the next revenue is received which should be in September.  Ms. Fouch states that Senator Cox has made a great effort but it didn’t resolve the problem because the State is still not appropriating enough to fund the program locally.  CAO Ketelsen reminds the Board that Senator Cox has sponsored legislation for imposing interest penalties on these late payments.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried to receive and file Recap of CCC Prison and High Desert State Prison Trials Cost Reimbursement Billing for July 2006 through June 2007.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - BUDGET

CAO Ketelsen states Assistant to the CAO Julie Morgan will present the budget report.  It is a statutory requirement for the budget process to give the County authority to continue to operate while continuing to work through the budget.

 

Ms. Morgan states the budget reflects department requests which tend to be high at this point to make sure their needs are covered; the estimated revenues are fairly conservative.  The Budget Committee will continue working on the budget and the committee will discuss any outstanding issues.  CAO Ketelsen states almost all department requests have been received; some outside requests (SEMSA, fire departments) will be presented at the July 24 meeting.  Further discussion is held.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried, with Supervisors Chapman and Pyle voting NO, to adopt the Fiscal Year 2007/2008 proposed budget.

 

HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES - ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS DIVISION

Deputy CAO for Health & Social Services Kevin Mannel introduces Director of Alcohol and Other Drugs Lyle Dornan.  (Supervisor Chapman absent 10:14 a.m. – 10:16 a.m.)  Mr. Dornan presents information on methamphetamine issues in Lassen County. He presents a detailed history of methamphetamine (meth); it’s pharmacology and physiological effects; Lassen County’s referrals, screening, assessment and treatment; Lassen County’s treatment outcomes and quality improvement strategies.  

 

Lassen County reports meth is the drug of choice for adult treatment admissions.  From January to December 2006, 35.9% of admissions reported their choice of meth vs. 19.5% for alcohol; 16.5% for heroin and 13.8% for marijuana.  Lassen County Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) receives referrals from various sources: self-referrals, families, criminal justice system, Child Protective Services (CPS), and hospitals.  During FY 2006/2007, 226 individuals were admitted for treatment.  Priority of treatment admissions is:  1) pregnant IV drug users, 2) pregnant women, 3) IV drug users and 4) all others. 

 

AOD offers multiple levels of service and is personalized to meet each client’s needs. 

Lassen County AOD rates very well vs. statewide averages for length of stay in treatment for clients.  Lassen County has 17.5% of clients staying in treatment for 120-179 days vs. 12.3% statewide; Lassen County has 16.4% for clients staying in treatment for 180-364 days vs. a 9.5% statewide average.  Treatment over the last three years has improved by increasing the length of treatment, providing individualized treatment planning, focusing on Stages of Change for each client and contracting for a men’s Sober Living Environment with Crossroads Ministries.  AOD is upgrading their curriculum and working with CPS.  AOD is also collaborating with the Office of Education and the Title 4 Coalition to provide the 100% Me program to all fifth graders in Lassen County; there will be booster classes provided in seventh grade.  This will indoctrinate the anti drug message at an early age.    Lassen County AOD programs have taken aggressive approaches at helping citizens who are negatively impacted by meth and other drugs.  Further discussion is held. 

 

U. S. FOREST SERVICE

Leona Rodreick presents Lassen National Forest Motorized Vehicle restrictions maps for Westwood Area, Frontcountry Area and Burney Mountain Area that Lassen National Forest (LNF) Supervisor Laurie Tippin recently discussed.  The maps are intended to be used in conjunction with the Forest Visitor map.  She also distributes a Q&A and briefing paper on the Route Designation Temporary Forest Order.  An open house was held in Chester and another is planned in Burney.  About 100 people attended the Chester meeting; a lot of attention centered on the High Lakes area in Plumas County.  A discussion draft on the LNF system proposed route was presented; comments are needed by August 1.  A proposal should be ready mid-September and the environmental analysis phase will begin with a Record of Decision hopefully by next June.

 

Signs will be posted indicating what roads may be traveled on.   The public will be educated on the changes to road management on the LNF.  Every forest in the nation is going through the process.  LNF Law Enforcement Patrol Captain Mike Zunnino can be contacted for further enforcement information.

 

The LNF Supervisor signed a temporary order for stopping firewood cutting on July 13 due to recent fire activity; the restriction will be in force until there is some significant precipitation.  Other restrictions are still in place.

 

The fire at the Antelope complex (Plumas County) is 100% contained; it was just short of 24,000 acres and a BAER Team (Burnt Area Emergency Rehabilitation Team) is there  looking at mitigation measures to prevent erosion.   On the LNF, there has been minimal fire activity in the last two days.  There is a red flag warning today and tomorrow.  Siskiyou County and Klamath got over 1,200 downstrikes last week.  Diamond Mountain had 6 or 7 positive strikes but crews managed to get to them quickly. 

 

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES – ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Deputy CAO for H&SS Kevin Mannel states the agenda request is for the Board of Supervisors to formally appoint two Board members to serve on the Septage Working Committee, per discussion on June 26.  Supervisor Chapman had suggested Supervisors Keefer and Hanson be on the working committee to look into septage problems.  The matter had not been agendized so Board members would be volunteers only.  Further discussion is held.  The Board decides to not make formal appointments; Supervisor Hanson states he will be attending the next meeting to be held on July 30.

 

COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

LETTER

Receive and file follow up response letter, per Board discussion on July 10, 2007, to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding Proposed Resource Management Plans and Final Environmental Impact Statement.

 

"LET US REMEMBER"

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to authorize Chairman to sign letter of Appreciation to Reverend Michael Cornelison, Chairman of Susanville Remembrance Committee for the "Let Us Remember" program that brought the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall to Susanville.

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - ROAD

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to adopt  Resolution No. 07-032, “Establishing Pledge of Revenue for Financial Assurance of the Robinson Canyon Mitigation Site Endowment Fund".

 

ADJOURNMENT IN MEMORY

There being no further business, the meeting is adjourned at 11:08 a.m. in memory of Orma Albaugh.

 

 

                                                                 _____________________________________

                                                                  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________________

SUSAN OSGOOD, DEPUTY CLERK OF THE BOARD