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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Community members are being alerted to cases of chickenpox that have been reported in Upper Lake.
The county of Lake said there has been one health care-provider diagnosed case of chickenpox and one possible case – pending diagnosis – at Upper Lake Middle School.
These two children were sent home from school with blister-like rashes on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Lake County residents are urged to be alert for symptoms of chickenpox in their children.
Health officials offered the following information about chickenpox.
During the chickenpox incubation period, symptoms usually appear 14 to 16 days after exposure. The rash first appears on the trunk (stomach and back) and spreads to the face, arms and legs. The rash appears to be small water blisters. Your child may have a fever or stomach ache for the few days before the rash appears.
In a day or two, the rash will form crusts that will remain for a few days. As the blisters spread, some will be healing as new ones appear. Your child needs to remain home until all the blisters are crusted over, as they are contagious until that time.
Many children have received the chickenpox vaccine; however, children who have been vaccinated may develop a milder case with only a few lesions and may not feel ill at all.
Treatment usually involves symptom relief with no specific medication. However, antiviral medications are recommended for people with chickenpox who are more likely to develop serious disease, including otherwise healthy people older than 12 years of age, people with chronic skin or lung disease, people receiving steroid therapy and pregnant women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “children who lack evidence of immunity and whose parents refuse vaccination should be excluded from school from the start of the outbreak through 21 days after rash onset of the last identified case.”
The CDC also states, “One dose of the varicella vaccine has been used successfully for outbreak prevention and control in school settings. A second dose is now recommended for outbreak control. Children who are vaccinated with a first or second dose during an outbreak may immediately return to school after vaccination.”
If your child attends Upper Lake Middle School and has not received varicella/chickenpox vaccine, your child should be vaccinated immediately, health officials sai.
If you do not wish your child to be unvaccinated or your child cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons, your child should be kept home from school for 21 days after rash onset of the last identified case of chickenpox.
Parents are urged to speak with their medical providers about the option of medication that can be given to prevent chickenpox.
Some people are more likely to have a serious case of chickenpox. Call a health care provider if:
– The person at risk of serious complications: This includes those less than 1 year old, older than 12 years of age, anyone who has a weakened immune system or is pregnant; or
– They develop any of the following symptoms: fever that lasts longer than four days; fever that rises above 102°F (38.9°C); any areas of the rash or any part of the body becomes very red, warm, or tender, or begins leaking pus (thick, discolored fluid), since these symptoms may indicate a bacterial infection; extreme illness; difficult waking up or confused demeanor; difficulty walking; stiff neck; frequent vomiting; difficulty breathing; severe cough; severe abdominal pain; or rash with bleeding or bruising (hemorrhagic rash).
For any questions or to report a suspected case of chickenpox, please call the Lake County Public Health Department at 707-263-1090.
The county of Lake said there has been one health care-provider diagnosed case of chickenpox and one possible case – pending diagnosis – at Upper Lake Middle School.
These two children were sent home from school with blister-like rashes on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Lake County residents are urged to be alert for symptoms of chickenpox in their children.
Health officials offered the following information about chickenpox.
During the chickenpox incubation period, symptoms usually appear 14 to 16 days after exposure. The rash first appears on the trunk (stomach and back) and spreads to the face, arms and legs. The rash appears to be small water blisters. Your child may have a fever or stomach ache for the few days before the rash appears.
In a day or two, the rash will form crusts that will remain for a few days. As the blisters spread, some will be healing as new ones appear. Your child needs to remain home until all the blisters are crusted over, as they are contagious until that time.
Many children have received the chickenpox vaccine; however, children who have been vaccinated may develop a milder case with only a few lesions and may not feel ill at all.
Treatment usually involves symptom relief with no specific medication. However, antiviral medications are recommended for people with chickenpox who are more likely to develop serious disease, including otherwise healthy people older than 12 years of age, people with chronic skin or lung disease, people receiving steroid therapy and pregnant women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “children who lack evidence of immunity and whose parents refuse vaccination should be excluded from school from the start of the outbreak through 21 days after rash onset of the last identified case.”
The CDC also states, “One dose of the varicella vaccine has been used successfully for outbreak prevention and control in school settings. A second dose is now recommended for outbreak control. Children who are vaccinated with a first or second dose during an outbreak may immediately return to school after vaccination.”
If your child attends Upper Lake Middle School and has not received varicella/chickenpox vaccine, your child should be vaccinated immediately, health officials sai.
If you do not wish your child to be unvaccinated or your child cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons, your child should be kept home from school for 21 days after rash onset of the last identified case of chickenpox.
Parents are urged to speak with their medical providers about the option of medication that can be given to prevent chickenpox.
Some people are more likely to have a serious case of chickenpox. Call a health care provider if:
– The person at risk of serious complications: This includes those less than 1 year old, older than 12 years of age, anyone who has a weakened immune system or is pregnant; or
– They develop any of the following symptoms: fever that lasts longer than four days; fever that rises above 102°F (38.9°C); any areas of the rash or any part of the body becomes very red, warm, or tender, or begins leaking pus (thick, discolored fluid), since these symptoms may indicate a bacterial infection; extreme illness; difficult waking up or confused demeanor; difficulty walking; stiff neck; frequent vomiting; difficulty breathing; severe cough; severe abdominal pain; or rash with bleeding or bruising (hemorrhagic rash).
For any questions or to report a suspected case of chickenpox, please call the Lake County Public Health Department at 707-263-1090.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Community members are invited to attend wreath-laying ceremonies at local cemeteries on Saturday morning that will honor the men and women who have served the country in the military.
The ceremonies are part of the annual Wreaths Across America commemoration, as Lake County News has reported.
The courage and sacrifice of our military veterans should never be forgotten.
You can show them your appreciation and gratitude when citizens across the country come together to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach our children the value of freedom.
The ceremonies will take place at 8:50 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Hartley, Kelseyville, Upper Lake, Lower Lake and St. Mary’s cemeteries.
This year’s theme is “Be Their Witness.” You’ll be joining fellow patriots as they say their names and show support for their families.
The truck being driven by volunteer veterans will be delivering wreaths to all of the cemeteries where ceremonies will be held on Friday morning.
Watch for the truck – it will stand out as it is escorted through Lakeport and Kelseyville.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Due to the election of Planning Commissioner Dirk Slooten to the Clearlake City Council, the city is accepting applications for the open position on the Clearlake Planning Commission.
Planning commissioners are appointed by the City Clearlake Council to review matters related to planning and development.
Recent issues have included the general plan update; a service station expansion; commercial cannabis; large family day-care centers; commercial signage; and much more.
“We are looking for residents who have an interest in the growth of Clearlake and want to be involved in land use decisions as we move forward,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “We are updating our Zoning Ordinances and expecting additional development projects soon.”
The Clearlake Planning Commission meets on the first and third Tuesdays. Applicants must be a resident of the city of Clearlake in order to be appointed to the Planning Commission.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, and the council will consider appointing an applicant shortly thereafter.
Applications are available at Clearlake City Hall or on the city’s Web site.
For more information contact City Clerk Melissa Swanson at 707-994-8201 or via email atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Planning commissioners are appointed by the City Clearlake Council to review matters related to planning and development.
Recent issues have included the general plan update; a service station expansion; commercial cannabis; large family day-care centers; commercial signage; and much more.
“We are looking for residents who have an interest in the growth of Clearlake and want to be involved in land use decisions as we move forward,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “We are updating our Zoning Ordinances and expecting additional development projects soon.”
The Clearlake Planning Commission meets on the first and third Tuesdays. Applicants must be a resident of the city of Clearlake in order to be appointed to the Planning Commission.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, and the council will consider appointing an applicant shortly thereafter.
Applications are available at Clearlake City Hall or on the city’s Web site.
For more information contact City Clerk Melissa Swanson at 707-994-8201 or via email at
State Controller Betty T. Yee has updated her Government Compensation in California Web site to include 2017 self-reported data for K-12 education employers, including public school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education – a total of nearly 413,000 positions and almost $16.28 billion in wages.
While cities, counties, and special districts are required to report salary and benefits data to the State Controller, K-12 education employers are voluntary reporters.
The State Controller’s Office requested data from 1,931 K-12 education employers and 527 filed reports. Of those reports, 440 were complete.
In Lake County, these districts reported the following information.
– Konocti Unified: 658 employees; total wages, $21,396,540; total retirement and health contributions, $8,508,091.
– Lake County Office of Education: 315 employees; total wages, $6,228,593; total retirement and health contributions, $1,750,746.
– Upper Lake Unified: 184 employees; total wages, $5,245,487; total retirement and health contributions, $2,021,979
– Lucerne Elementary: 78 employees; total wages, $1,612,192; total retirement and health contributions, $626,572.
Local districts and schools not reporting were:
– California Connections Academy @ North Bay;
– Kelseyville Unified;
– Lake County International Charter School;
– Lakeport Unified;
– Middletown Unified.
More than three-quarters of K-12 education employers did not file the requested reports or they provided incomplete information.
As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller also safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners, and has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds.
Follow the Controller on Twitter at @CAController and on Facebook at California State Controller’s Office.
While cities, counties, and special districts are required to report salary and benefits data to the State Controller, K-12 education employers are voluntary reporters.
The State Controller’s Office requested data from 1,931 K-12 education employers and 527 filed reports. Of those reports, 440 were complete.
In Lake County, these districts reported the following information.
– Konocti Unified: 658 employees; total wages, $21,396,540; total retirement and health contributions, $8,508,091.
– Lake County Office of Education: 315 employees; total wages, $6,228,593; total retirement and health contributions, $1,750,746.
– Upper Lake Unified: 184 employees; total wages, $5,245,487; total retirement and health contributions, $2,021,979
– Lucerne Elementary: 78 employees; total wages, $1,612,192; total retirement and health contributions, $626,572.
Local districts and schools not reporting were:
– California Connections Academy @ North Bay;
– Kelseyville Unified;
– Lake County International Charter School;
– Lakeport Unified;
– Middletown Unified.
More than three-quarters of K-12 education employers did not file the requested reports or they provided incomplete information.
As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller also safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners, and has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds.
Follow the Controller on Twitter at @CAController and on Facebook at California State Controller’s Office.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Land Trust reported that it is undertaking its most ambitious acquisition yet as part of the Big Valley Wetlands Preservation Project.
The acquisition of the 200-acre Wright property, just southwest of the city of Lakeport will significantly add to the protected wetlands on the shores of Clear Lake.
Because they recognize the value of this project to the overall health of Clear Lake and value responsible ecological stewardship, Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon owners Lynne and Bernie Butcher are championing this cause by offering $40,000 as a 50-percent match; essentially, they are challenging the community to come up with $80,000 which they will answer with $40,000 in order to meet the fundraising goal of $120,000.
This means that for every $2 that comes in for this project, the Butchers will contribute $1 up to $40,000, helping the Land Trust get to their goal and making other donor dollars go farther.
“We think that the Big Valley Wetlands is of the highest priority for the Land Trust. And anyone who walks this magnificent lakefront parcel will most likely agree with us that it will be a cornerstone of the Trust’s preservation efforts in this vital area,” Bernie Butcher said.
This beautiful and significant shoreline property is south of the city of Lakeport in the Big Valley Wetland area. Habitats found on the property include lake, freshwater marsh, pasture, valley foothill riparian and valley oak woodland.
The property is home to black-tailed deer, California quail, wild turkey, prairie falcon, otter, bobcat, black bass, catfish, waterfowl, and habitats that support special status species including Clear Lake hitch and western pond turtle.
The project is an important part of the State Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Big Valley Wetlands Conceptual Area Protection Plan, or CAPP.
The North Central Region of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is urging the Wildlife Conservation Board to support the Land Trust’s request for fee title acquisition of the property, which NCR staff consider a priority for conservation.
The wetlands in the Big Valley area stretch from the Clear Lake State Park, all the way to the southern boundaries of the city of Lakeport. According to the CAPP, they represent the most significant remaining unprotected wetland habitats on the shores of Clear Lake, comprising about one-third of the remaining wetlands along the lake.
The value of this area, along with the creeks flowing through it, is recognized by both county and state agencies, thus the approval in 2014 of the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s CAPP.
In order to receive a grant from the State’s Wildlife Conservation Board, which is the land protection funding arm for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Lake County Land Trust must supply some matching funds for the purchase of this property.
In this case, the Land Trust’s match will be $100,000 – plus $20,000 for property improvements, upkeep, and stewardship – estimated to be approximately 15 percent of the current value of the property.
The Big Valley Wetlands Preservation project has been a leading goal of the Lake County Land Trust for more than 10 years. It emerged at the top of the Land Trust’s Land Conservation Priority Plan when the plan was first developed in 2006 and once again took the top spot when the Priority Plan was updated last year.
The Land Conservation Priority Plan was developed using a series of workshops which convened federal, state, and local experts in land use and natural resources, along with active citizen stakeholders in Lake County.
The group was asked to prioritize areas and/or issues that they felt were most worthy of conservation because of future threats from development and conversion.
To learn more about this project or the Lake County Land Trust, or to make a donation, please visit www.lakecountylandtrust.org.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday took community members’ input on a proposed hazardous vegetation ordinance that aims to put an abatement focus on unimproved parcels but has raised concerns due to its fines and the potential for making neighbors responsible for cleanup costs.
Board Chair Jim Steele, who said he has worked for a year and a half on the proposal, had asked the board to consider the draft document, which has undergone several updates over the past month.
It was explained during the meeting that the proposal came about after fire protection districts brought to the county a request to act on the matter. That led to Steele organizing a committee that resulted in the formation of a joint powers authority to increase fire safety that the board approved earlier this year.
Steele said fire officials wanted the county to accept Public Resources Code 4291, which governs defensible space rules, and apply it to the local level, specifically, to unimproved parcels, which the state law doesn’t cover. He said it introduces fines to get landowners to comply.
On Tuesday, Steele highlighted the imperatives of getting ahead of fire season and being able to apply for grant funding for the joint powers authority.
During public comment on Tuesday, community members applauded the board for trying to do something, but also questioned the document for what they perceived as an overly punitive approach.
Mary Jane Montana, the county’s chief building official, would serve as the “county fire official,” as defined in the document.
In response to concerns about fines, Montana said that property owners would be contacted and told to abate the nuisance vegetation before fines or other action was taken.
“Fines are not the first step. They’re the next to the last step that we use to gain compliance,” she said, explaining that notification and education are the first steps, with abatement coming later in the process.
Supervisor Rob Brown pointed out that if fire season starts in April, and continues to November as it did this year, nobody can do the abatement, referring to a prohibition on mowers and other power tools during that time because of fire danger.
“It has to be handworked, essentially,” said Montana.
“That’s not realistic,” said Brown.
Montana said the county could be flexible with larger properties, and in January and February – a quieter time of year for the Community Development Department, which will be tasked with the work – they would determine which properties need abatement so as to move on them before fire season. “This is going to take a significant effort on the part of our department,” she said.
Michael Kramer, who owns both improved and unimproved parcels, said he can see it from different perspectives. However, he told the board that he has tried to make the case that improved lots present fire dangers to neighbors as well. He suggested half of the landowners in county aren’t covered by the ordinance.
Kramer also questioned why the ordinance is necessary if similar language is contained in other county regulations.
Jessyca Lytle of Cobb raised a variety of issues, from the training of county staff to how the ordinance would impact timber harvest plans and conflict with forest practices, utility easements, parts of the document that were repetitive.
She said community members want a fire ordinance, but they don’t want it to cause undue stress on financial resources. As someone with experience in grant writing, she said she understood concerns about being able to pursue grant funds.
“Let’s do it right the first time,” she said.
“It’s not going to happen. This is going to be a work in progress for some time to come, believe me,” said Steele.
Lytle said she is completely in favor of an ordinance, but not the way the current one is written.
Stephanie Rick, who owns property in Nice, said the draft ordinance, as proposed, could bury Lake County in litigation because of issues with property rights. She had particular concern over the document’s requirement to have adjacent landowners pay to help clean up unimproved lots in order to give them 100 feet of defensible space. “I should not be forced into liability for something that is not mine.”
Julie Richardson, a real estate agent who owns eight acres of unimproved land and is on a local fire safe council, said the ordinance is poorly worded.
She pointed out the difficulty of finding contractors to remove brush. Richardson said she was given a list of 10 contractors in February of last year and tried to hire one for work on her land.
“Not one single contractor returned my call,” she said. When she did finally track one man down, he told her he was booked months ahead.
Board members weigh in
In his comments on the document, Supervisor Brown said that improved properties are the most dangerous when it comes to fire danger, although he acknowledged that fuel load is an issue, which is the motivation behind a benefit assessment district for vegetation abatement he’s working on in Kelseyville.
He said there are many property owners who want to do the right thing in removing vegetation, but it is very expensive.
Brown questioned how to property lines would be determined, said he didn’t want the joint powers authority to manage county funds and faulted the document for including dried leaves, tumbleweeds and severely damaged trees as hazardous vegetation, particularly the trees.
“We’re asking for trouble here. Severely damaged trees – there’s a whole forest of them up on Cobb,” he said, explaining that such trees are not combustible.
Brown also pointed out that the county has 3,000 lots, at least, and that the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies also own large amounts of property. He asked if they were going to hold themselves to the same standard as private property owners.
He said District Attorney-elect Susan Krones also wishes to review the document. The ordinance includes the possibility of prosecution by the district attorney for failure to comply. “It’s fair that she be allowed that opportunity.”
During the meeting, Steele had referred to 35 other counties working on similar hazardous vegetation ordinance efforts. Brown asked him if any of them had anything Lake County could look at. Steele said they are all looking at Lake County right now.
Steele wanted to get the updated ordinance back before the board by next Tuesday, but County Counsel Anita Grant said she wouldn’t be able to turn around a document updated with all of the proposed changes by next week. That also didn’t give enough time for Krones’ review.
Supervisor Moke Simon said there were great suggestions from the board and public. However, timing wise, “We’re going to need more time to get this thing put together,” he said, as he felt the ordinance needed more refining. He suggested it could be ready by early February.
Steele disagreed with delaying the document’s progress, explaining they would miss fire season and that the county is in competition with other counties for grant funding.
Grant then offered a solution, suggesting staff prepare a resolution that outlines the board’s intent with the ordinance and includes its basic tenets. That, she said, could be ready for Tuesday.
Steele called her a genius and asked that such a resolution include all of the intended protections. “That’s not a bad idea.”
Brown said the first part of the draft ordinance can be turned into a resolution very easily.
“What we’re trying to do is corrective, not punitive,” Brown said, adding that the board has only had the document for a short time, and that it’s been in the fire districts’ court over the last few years. “We’ve done a lot of work on this in the last month.”
Steele voiced his frustration after working on the effort for 18 months.
However, Grant said, “Oftentimes, for grant funders, we’ve found that resolutions of purpose do show the pathway the county’s intending to walk and it does have some significance.”
Steele said the board would hear the resolution next week.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Board Chair Jim Steele, who said he has worked for a year and a half on the proposal, had asked the board to consider the draft document, which has undergone several updates over the past month.
It was explained during the meeting that the proposal came about after fire protection districts brought to the county a request to act on the matter. That led to Steele organizing a committee that resulted in the formation of a joint powers authority to increase fire safety that the board approved earlier this year.
Steele said fire officials wanted the county to accept Public Resources Code 4291, which governs defensible space rules, and apply it to the local level, specifically, to unimproved parcels, which the state law doesn’t cover. He said it introduces fines to get landowners to comply.
On Tuesday, Steele highlighted the imperatives of getting ahead of fire season and being able to apply for grant funding for the joint powers authority.
During public comment on Tuesday, community members applauded the board for trying to do something, but also questioned the document for what they perceived as an overly punitive approach.
Mary Jane Montana, the county’s chief building official, would serve as the “county fire official,” as defined in the document.
In response to concerns about fines, Montana said that property owners would be contacted and told to abate the nuisance vegetation before fines or other action was taken.
“Fines are not the first step. They’re the next to the last step that we use to gain compliance,” she said, explaining that notification and education are the first steps, with abatement coming later in the process.
Supervisor Rob Brown pointed out that if fire season starts in April, and continues to November as it did this year, nobody can do the abatement, referring to a prohibition on mowers and other power tools during that time because of fire danger.
“It has to be handworked, essentially,” said Montana.
“That’s not realistic,” said Brown.
Montana said the county could be flexible with larger properties, and in January and February – a quieter time of year for the Community Development Department, which will be tasked with the work – they would determine which properties need abatement so as to move on them before fire season. “This is going to take a significant effort on the part of our department,” she said.
Michael Kramer, who owns both improved and unimproved parcels, said he can see it from different perspectives. However, he told the board that he has tried to make the case that improved lots present fire dangers to neighbors as well. He suggested half of the landowners in county aren’t covered by the ordinance.
Kramer also questioned why the ordinance is necessary if similar language is contained in other county regulations.
Jessyca Lytle of Cobb raised a variety of issues, from the training of county staff to how the ordinance would impact timber harvest plans and conflict with forest practices, utility easements, parts of the document that were repetitive.
She said community members want a fire ordinance, but they don’t want it to cause undue stress on financial resources. As someone with experience in grant writing, she said she understood concerns about being able to pursue grant funds.
“Let’s do it right the first time,” she said.
“It’s not going to happen. This is going to be a work in progress for some time to come, believe me,” said Steele.
Lytle said she is completely in favor of an ordinance, but not the way the current one is written.
Stephanie Rick, who owns property in Nice, said the draft ordinance, as proposed, could bury Lake County in litigation because of issues with property rights. She had particular concern over the document’s requirement to have adjacent landowners pay to help clean up unimproved lots in order to give them 100 feet of defensible space. “I should not be forced into liability for something that is not mine.”
Julie Richardson, a real estate agent who owns eight acres of unimproved land and is on a local fire safe council, said the ordinance is poorly worded.
She pointed out the difficulty of finding contractors to remove brush. Richardson said she was given a list of 10 contractors in February of last year and tried to hire one for work on her land.
“Not one single contractor returned my call,” she said. When she did finally track one man down, he told her he was booked months ahead.
Board members weigh in
In his comments on the document, Supervisor Brown said that improved properties are the most dangerous when it comes to fire danger, although he acknowledged that fuel load is an issue, which is the motivation behind a benefit assessment district for vegetation abatement he’s working on in Kelseyville.
He said there are many property owners who want to do the right thing in removing vegetation, but it is very expensive.
Brown questioned how to property lines would be determined, said he didn’t want the joint powers authority to manage county funds and faulted the document for including dried leaves, tumbleweeds and severely damaged trees as hazardous vegetation, particularly the trees.
“We’re asking for trouble here. Severely damaged trees – there’s a whole forest of them up on Cobb,” he said, explaining that such trees are not combustible.
Brown also pointed out that the county has 3,000 lots, at least, and that the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies also own large amounts of property. He asked if they were going to hold themselves to the same standard as private property owners.
He said District Attorney-elect Susan Krones also wishes to review the document. The ordinance includes the possibility of prosecution by the district attorney for failure to comply. “It’s fair that she be allowed that opportunity.”
During the meeting, Steele had referred to 35 other counties working on similar hazardous vegetation ordinance efforts. Brown asked him if any of them had anything Lake County could look at. Steele said they are all looking at Lake County right now.
Steele wanted to get the updated ordinance back before the board by next Tuesday, but County Counsel Anita Grant said she wouldn’t be able to turn around a document updated with all of the proposed changes by next week. That also didn’t give enough time for Krones’ review.
Supervisor Moke Simon said there were great suggestions from the board and public. However, timing wise, “We’re going to need more time to get this thing put together,” he said, as he felt the ordinance needed more refining. He suggested it could be ready by early February.
Steele disagreed with delaying the document’s progress, explaining they would miss fire season and that the county is in competition with other counties for grant funding.
Grant then offered a solution, suggesting staff prepare a resolution that outlines the board’s intent with the ordinance and includes its basic tenets. That, she said, could be ready for Tuesday.
Steele called her a genius and asked that such a resolution include all of the intended protections. “That’s not a bad idea.”
Brown said the first part of the draft ordinance can be turned into a resolution very easily.
“What we’re trying to do is corrective, not punitive,” Brown said, adding that the board has only had the document for a short time, and that it’s been in the fire districts’ court over the last few years. “We’ve done a lot of work on this in the last month.”
Steele voiced his frustration after working on the effort for 18 months.
However, Grant said, “Oftentimes, for grant funders, we’ve found that resolutions of purpose do show the pathway the county’s intending to walk and it does have some significance.”
Steele said the board would hear the resolution next week.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
121118 Lake County Board of Supervisors - Updated hazardous vegetation abatement draft ordinance by LakeCoNews on Scribd