How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex fire, the largest wildfire in California’s history, burned close to 460,000 acres from the time it began on July 27 until it was fully contained Sept. 19.
In this Caltrans News Flash, the agency reports on the devastation from the Lake and Mendocino County fire and how it responded and supported the emergency efforts.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Cal Fire investigators have arrested a Lincoln man for setting a series of fires last year.
Kyle Jeptha Bridgman, 30, was booked into Placer County jail on five counts of arson.
Authorities said Bridgman confessed to deliberately setting five fires in the Lincoln area of Placer County between June 19 and Aug. 3, 2017.
A team of Cal Fire investigators, identified Bridgman following the fires in 2017 and again this year.
While investigating Bridgman, the team identified another arsonist in August culminating in the arrest of Gregory Scott Courtney, 30, of Yuba City.
In both cases, Cal Fire said it was assisted by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office and the Placer County Probation Department.
“I am so very thankful for the efforts of our investigators and assisting agencies,” said Cal Fire NEU Unit Chief George Morris III. “The community is safer today because of their extraordinary efforts.”
Bridgman’s bail is set at $160,000.
Kyle Jeptha Bridgman, 30, was booked into Placer County jail on five counts of arson.
Authorities said Bridgman confessed to deliberately setting five fires in the Lincoln area of Placer County between June 19 and Aug. 3, 2017.
A team of Cal Fire investigators, identified Bridgman following the fires in 2017 and again this year.
While investigating Bridgman, the team identified another arsonist in August culminating in the arrest of Gregory Scott Courtney, 30, of Yuba City.
In both cases, Cal Fire said it was assisted by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office and the Placer County Probation Department.
“I am so very thankful for the efforts of our investigators and assisting agencies,” said Cal Fire NEU Unit Chief George Morris III. “The community is safer today because of their extraordinary efforts.”
Bridgman’s bail is set at $160,000.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Work is under way to repair a damaged water line in Middletown that on Wednesday left area homes without water.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wink said early Wednesday evening that the water system in Middletown proper has had a temporary shutdown due to a line break.
He said Callayomi County Water District staff are on scene working on repairs and using a backhoe to dig up the damaged area.
Repairs are expected to be completed by Wednesday night, Wink said.
Wink said Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire have plans in place should an emergency water supply be needed, including having extra water tenders ready for immediate response.
He didn’t have information on what caused the line break.
A call to the water district was answered by the district’s answering service, which said they had only been informed by the manager that there was an emergency and water would be restored as soon as possible.
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.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wink said early Wednesday evening that the water system in Middletown proper has had a temporary shutdown due to a line break.
He said Callayomi County Water District staff are on scene working on repairs and using a backhoe to dig up the damaged area.
Repairs are expected to be completed by Wednesday night, Wink said.
Wink said Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire have plans in place should an emergency water supply be needed, including having extra water tenders ready for immediate response.
He didn’t have information on what caused the line break.
A call to the water district was answered by the district’s answering service, which said they had only been informed by the manager that there was an emergency and water would be restored as soon as possible.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – During a brief Tuesday morning public hearing, the Board of Supervisors considered and approved the budget for the new fiscal year, which the county’s administrative officer warned is likely to be the last in which county operations and services follow the normal pattern.
The board had held lengthy budget hearings in June to go over the details of the budget. The Tuesday budget discussion lasted less than 20 minutes.
The final recommended budget totals approximately $242,986,990, $12 million more than the budget the board approved at this time last year.
Supervisor Tina Scott and County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson were absent from the meeting. However, for the budget discussion staff presented a video of Huchingson giving her budget message to the board.
“We are still severely challenged financially here in Lake County, not only with the slow recovery but also from the long series of unprecedented wildfire disasters,” she said, noting that no less than three additional disasters – the Pawnee, Ranch and River fires – have occurred since the board considered an earlier version of the budget in June.
Huchingson said the county also is severely constrained by 10 years of stagnant revenues and mandated increases they’re facing in retirement contributions and minimum wage rates.
“This budget before you today provides very little additional discretionary revenue to support new positions or new initiatives,” she said.
General fund appropriations show only about a three tenths of one percent increase over the prior year, while the net county cost change for the general fund budgets remains relatively unchanged from last year. Huchingson said the cost of any new general fund positions have been absorbed within the previous year’s funding levels.
“While the near term outlook may appear bleak, this budget also focuses on long term solutions,” she said, explaining that it invests in operational efficiencies and it commits to replenishing reserves.
Huchingson said the budget continues to emphasize the ongoing administration of the master fee schedule, continues the recently implemented grant writing position and includes consultant support to identify opportunities for improved organization efficiencies.
The budget also invests in needed upgrades to technological systems, continues to set aside money in a fund the board recently established to put the county in a better position to deal with increased pension contributions that will start in 2019-20, she said.
“The fiscal year 2018-19 budget is likely to be the last in a series of years in which county operations and services could be considered business as usual,” which Huchingson said the board recognized with its recent acceptance of a pilot program that closes some county offices on Fridays.
Huchingson said the county has a vacancy rate of at least 20 percent, with staff struggling to keep pace with workload.
She said she’s working with department heads on a plan for what county operations will look like in the future. “Sadly, our ability to take on new initiatives will be severely limited in the years to come.”
As is required by law, the county’s 2018-19 budget is balanced, with sufficient revenue to support appropriations. However, Huchingson said that, like last year’s budget, it is not structurally balanced, which means it uses unreserved fund balance carryover to support ongoing general funds operations.
In the face of unprecedented challenges, Huchingson said county staff has continued to show extraordinary dedication, providing public programs and services despite diminishing operational budgets and employee retention issues.
She also lauded the budget team in her office for their work as well as the efforts of county Auditor-Controller Cathy Saderlund, who despite overseeing funding for nine disasters managed to get the necessary work done for the budget.
“The challenges we face in the years to come are significant,” said Huchingson, who added that she’s confident that with the board’s “thoughtful direction,” along with the efforts of department heads, the county can approach the new fiscal year with positive momentum.
Supervisors Jeff Smith said the county department heads are doing the hard work, continuing to work with the public while dealing with less resources and making the board look good.
He said it’s amazing what the county has done over the last 10 years with nothing. “You guys always keep doing more with less,” he told county staff.
Supervisor Rob Brown said they’re struggling to come up with ideas to address the county’s challenges, adding that he doesn’t think any idea should be off the table at this point.
While he agreed that the county is on the mend, he said it needs to be making changes to the way its operations are done.
“I don’t see good years for a long time to come. They will come, but it’s going to be awhile,” Brown said.
In order to make the good years come quicker, Brown said the county needs to make tough decisions now, including cutting some vacant positions to give increases to current staff. He also cited operations costs including the county’s vehicle use policy, as needing to be reviewed.
“You guys are doing so much with so little,” he told staff.
“This is a time of opportunity as much as it is a time of challenge,” said Board Chair Jim Steele, explaining that a lot of rural counties are having similar conversations.
He said there are a lot of grant funding opportunities that the county has to look at and pursue. Steele also suggested that it may be time to once again look at community choice aggregation for power purchasing to lower county costs.
The board then unanimously approved resolutions adopting the budget for fiscal year 2018-19, establishing new classifications and canceling general reserves, and also approved continuing the informal hiring freeze for general fund departments, delegating authority to Huchingson to waive the hiring freeze as appropriate.
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.
The board had held lengthy budget hearings in June to go over the details of the budget. The Tuesday budget discussion lasted less than 20 minutes.
The final recommended budget totals approximately $242,986,990, $12 million more than the budget the board approved at this time last year.
Supervisor Tina Scott and County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson were absent from the meeting. However, for the budget discussion staff presented a video of Huchingson giving her budget message to the board.
“We are still severely challenged financially here in Lake County, not only with the slow recovery but also from the long series of unprecedented wildfire disasters,” she said, noting that no less than three additional disasters – the Pawnee, Ranch and River fires – have occurred since the board considered an earlier version of the budget in June.
Huchingson said the county also is severely constrained by 10 years of stagnant revenues and mandated increases they’re facing in retirement contributions and minimum wage rates.
“This budget before you today provides very little additional discretionary revenue to support new positions or new initiatives,” she said.
General fund appropriations show only about a three tenths of one percent increase over the prior year, while the net county cost change for the general fund budgets remains relatively unchanged from last year. Huchingson said the cost of any new general fund positions have been absorbed within the previous year’s funding levels.
“While the near term outlook may appear bleak, this budget also focuses on long term solutions,” she said, explaining that it invests in operational efficiencies and it commits to replenishing reserves.
Huchingson said the budget continues to emphasize the ongoing administration of the master fee schedule, continues the recently implemented grant writing position and includes consultant support to identify opportunities for improved organization efficiencies.
The budget also invests in needed upgrades to technological systems, continues to set aside money in a fund the board recently established to put the county in a better position to deal with increased pension contributions that will start in 2019-20, she said.
“The fiscal year 2018-19 budget is likely to be the last in a series of years in which county operations and services could be considered business as usual,” which Huchingson said the board recognized with its recent acceptance of a pilot program that closes some county offices on Fridays.
Huchingson said the county has a vacancy rate of at least 20 percent, with staff struggling to keep pace with workload.
She said she’s working with department heads on a plan for what county operations will look like in the future. “Sadly, our ability to take on new initiatives will be severely limited in the years to come.”
As is required by law, the county’s 2018-19 budget is balanced, with sufficient revenue to support appropriations. However, Huchingson said that, like last year’s budget, it is not structurally balanced, which means it uses unreserved fund balance carryover to support ongoing general funds operations.
In the face of unprecedented challenges, Huchingson said county staff has continued to show extraordinary dedication, providing public programs and services despite diminishing operational budgets and employee retention issues.
She also lauded the budget team in her office for their work as well as the efforts of county Auditor-Controller Cathy Saderlund, who despite overseeing funding for nine disasters managed to get the necessary work done for the budget.
“The challenges we face in the years to come are significant,” said Huchingson, who added that she’s confident that with the board’s “thoughtful direction,” along with the efforts of department heads, the county can approach the new fiscal year with positive momentum.
Supervisors Jeff Smith said the county department heads are doing the hard work, continuing to work with the public while dealing with less resources and making the board look good.
He said it’s amazing what the county has done over the last 10 years with nothing. “You guys always keep doing more with less,” he told county staff.
Supervisor Rob Brown said they’re struggling to come up with ideas to address the county’s challenges, adding that he doesn’t think any idea should be off the table at this point.
While he agreed that the county is on the mend, he said it needs to be making changes to the way its operations are done.
“I don’t see good years for a long time to come. They will come, but it’s going to be awhile,” Brown said.
In order to make the good years come quicker, Brown said the county needs to make tough decisions now, including cutting some vacant positions to give increases to current staff. He also cited operations costs including the county’s vehicle use policy, as needing to be reviewed.
“You guys are doing so much with so little,” he told staff.
“This is a time of opportunity as much as it is a time of challenge,” said Board Chair Jim Steele, explaining that a lot of rural counties are having similar conversations.
He said there are a lot of grant funding opportunities that the county has to look at and pursue. Steele also suggested that it may be time to once again look at community choice aggregation for power purchasing to lower county costs.
The board then unanimously approved resolutions adopting the budget for fiscal year 2018-19, establishing new classifications and canceling general reserves, and also approved continuing the informal hiring freeze for general fund departments, delegating authority to Huchingson to waive the hiring freeze as appropriate.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake’s Measure V road tax is funding new road projects now being carried out in the city.
Calling this week one of the most extraordinary in the city’s history, officials said that, for the first time since the city’s formation nearly four decades ago, multiple paving projects are under way.
The Dam Road Extension project began paving on Tuesday and will continue for the next several days.
It will be the first new major road constructed in the history of the city of Clearlake and will link Woodland Community College and the Walmart shopping area with the “Avenues,” connecting at Phillips/18th Avenue.
This project has been a priority project of the Clearlake City Council and is being funded by Redevelopment bond proceeds.
Granite Construction crews also are at work on the Country Club Road/Kings Lane rehabilitation project and the Pine Street rehabilitation project.
Granite Construction has installed new drainage in Country Club and Kings Lane and is in the process of grinding out the existing pavement in order to put down new asphalt.
Pine Street has had sidewalk repaired and handicap ramps installed and is ready for new asphalt. Both of these projects are being funded by Measure V proceeds.
In addition, crews from Chrisp Co. are out restriping the main arterial and collector roads in order to make the roads safer for motorists.
The Clearlake Police Department is sending out daily Nixle alerts to notify residents where the crews will be out working on the re-striping as the work does impact traffic.
“This is a very exciting time in the City of Clearlake,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “Not only do we have all these road projects happening right now, but we also have significant grading operations going on with the unpaved roads, and we are working on plans for additional projects for next year and beyond.”
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The League of California Cities elected Lakeport Mayor Mireya Turner to its 2018-19 Board of Directors on Sept. 14 during the League’s Annual Conference & Expo in Long Beach.
Mayor Turner was elected to represent the Redwood Empire division and will serve a one-year term.
Grass Valley Council Member Jan Arbuckle was elected to serve as the League’s president, Murrieta Council Member Randon Lane to serve as its first vice president and Yountville Mayor John Dunbar as second vice president.
South San Francisco Council Member Rich Garbarino, who served as the 2017-18 president, became immediate past president.
City officials serving on the National League of Cities, or NLC, Board of Directors also serve on the League of California Cities board of directors for the duration of their term on the NLC board (two-year term). The league board typically meets on a quarterly basis at locations throughout the state.
“It is an honor to be elected to the League of California Cities board of directors. I look forward to serving with the League’s officers and full board to strengthen the policies that strengthen local control and give our cities more tools to meet the needs of their residents. Together we can work with the Legislature to solve some of the many challenges that cities face today,” said Turner.
“Each member brings a wealth of expertise in public service to the League board and they work closely with our organization in our efforts to protect local control and develop policies that support California cities. It is an honor to work alongside so many city officials who are committed to serving their own communities and contributing their efforts to advocate for policies that benefit all California cities,” said Executive Director Carolyn Coleman.