Board Notes 050112
Sierra County Board of Supervisors Board Highlights 050112
The Board met Tuesday the 1st of May (labor day in much of the world) in regular session. The meeting started with a prayer to the flag, which the Fringe Editor, like a 3rd grader unable to help himself, joined.
Here are the highlights:
The Forest Service is preparing to tear down the house on the compound in Downieville. Dave Goicoechea was disappointed to hear the news since the Board has directed staff not to allow a permit nor accept waste in the landfill. The FS plans to put in a trailer pad so maybe someone could rent the spot, but Lee Adams informed the FS representative that isn’t good enough. Restore or replace.
The Board plans to address the issue of the service areas and service area money. Service areas 4A and 5A aren’t involved, but the rest could be recombined since it would be the most equitable.
Supervisor Scott Schleffstein reported to the board and provided a form to help assess risk and benefit when considering contracts. Other supervisors were happy with the form, but Tim Beals reported that the same information is already gathered on many contracts. He said the process was heavily influenced by procedures. County Council Jim Curtis stated that Health and Human Services requires a contracts manager. Supervisor Goicoechea stated the form does no harm, but primarily pertains to Health and Human Services and can’t prevent over-reaching in that department. The Board decided to use the form for 6 months in HHS.
Bill Nunes described an agreement which has been reached with the Forest Service, Plumas County and the Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District. Nunes credited Forest Service Sierraville District Ranger Quentin Youngblood with helping facilitate the agreement, which he calls the “Gold Standard” of such agreements. Youngblood agreed that in the future “watershed restoration” will refer to activities within the stream course; Sierra County and other interested parties will be notified at the inception of the project. Supervisor Goicoechea, generally recognized as the water watchdog on the board, also credited Youngblood and commended him for his spirit of cooperation, but also credits Supervisor Nunes for his part in the resolution, particularly to the question of Carmine Valley. Previously, the Board of Supervisors had a negative comment on a grant request made by Sierra Valley RCD for the Forest Service to do hazard fuel removal and stream restoration. A key element is the elimination of “plug and pond” methodology, where the streambed is excavated and the resulting spoils piled to create a berm. The method is unproven, and needs to be proven over decades.
The board reviewed a document submitted by Regine Miler, watershed coordinator for the Sierra County Fire Safe an Watershed Council to the board. This was a request by Supervisors. Her report is below. It was made clear that the Firesafe and Watershed Council is not affiliated with the county, and Ms. Miller did not have to provide the information but did so in the spirit of cooperation. Supervisor Goicoechea clarified that Ms. Miller is not the County watershed coordinator.
The Board addressed the Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District, an agency that does answer to the Board of Supervisors. The RCD might well be eligible to receive funds that other, less responsive agencies have been getting in the past. The Board appointed two members, Rick Roberti and Jeff Carmichael to the RCD and expects to appoint two more members, soon. This will invigorate the RCD, which has suffered from volunteer burn out recently.
The Board recognized Mary Johnsen, who has contributed in numerous ways to the community. She has supported mental health in the community (not an easy task) and has established tennis as a serious sport in the county. Thank you, Mary!
