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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The Board of Supervisors emerged from a closed session just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon to announce that they had voted unanimously to appoint Assistant County Administrative Officer Susan Parker as interim county administrative officer.
The appointment is effective April 30, the day after County Administrator Carol Huchingson departs.
The board held closed-door interviews for the interim position on Tuesday.
Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein told Lake County News that there were three candidates for the interim position. “Two were determined qualified, and one withdrew.”
Lake County News asked Parker if there was a restriction preventing her from applying for the job on a permanent basis and if she was planning to seek the job long term.
She said she was unaware of any restrictions. “And yes, I do plan to apply for the permanent position,” she said in an email response.
At its March 22 meeting, the week following Huchingson’s sudden announcement that she was leaving, the supervisors approved a plan to recruit a new county administrative officer that included an in-house interim appointment, an open recruitment to fill the job overseen by the Human Resources Department and preparation of a request for proposals for a headhunting firm, if needed.
Human Resources Director Pam Samac said the goal was to have the interim county administrative officer in place to work with Huchingson for a “thorough download” and some basic training for several weeks.
For several years, Human Resources has been overseen by the County Administrator’s Office, which has in turn raised questions about how much influence Huchingson will bring to bear on choosing her successor.
And with Parker’s appointment as the interim, and her intention to seek the job permanently, the county has not addressed how it intends to address the potential conflict of interest for her to oversee the recruitment for a position she is pursuing.
Parker joined the county as assistant county administrative officer on March 28, 2019, Rothstein said.
She has a Master’s in Public Affairs and Public Administration from the Robert M. Lafollette Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin, according to a statement from the County Administrative Office.
That same statement said she’s held previous executive jobs in the states of Wisconsin, Nevada, Colorado and North Carolina before coming to Lake County following what the county of Lake described as “a rigorous nationwide search.”
In the county’s statement, Board Chair E.J. Crandell was quoted as saying that Parker comes to the position with 20 years of experience as a high level government executive and administrator, “and she understands the unique needs and challenges facing Lake County’s communities.”
The statement attributed to Crandell continued, “During her time here, Susan has repeatedly proven herself to be an insightful leader and effective collaborator. She knows what needs to be done to continue to move Lake County forward, and we truly look forward to seeing Susan positively influence conditions for every Lake County resident with this interim appointment.”
Parker, quoted in the county’s statement, said she came to Lake County because she believed its future was bright.
“In getting to know many community leaders and making this my home,” Parker was quoted as saying. “I have grown increasingly confident we can make tremendous progress. Lake County is a very special place.”
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 14, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The agenda is here.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 933 4337 3108, the pass code is 307141.
Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,93343373108#,,,,*307141# or dial in at 669-900-6833.
The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s website or Facebook page.
On the agenda at 9:05 a.m. is a public hearing to consider a resort project held over from the March 24 meeting.
Nikki Island is seeking a design review and a mitigated negative declaration for a small resort at 5835 and 5825 Highway 20 in Lucerne.
The project would include nine overnight lodging units; conversion of the existing dwelling to a social gathering room, lobby, kitchen and dining room; an outdoor kitchen; in-ground pool and hot tub; removal of asphalt and an existing driveway; and new landscaping, parking and pedestrian paths.
Also on Thursday, the commission will hold a public hearing for a major use permit and a mitigated negative declaration for Joyce Kirstein/Spring Valley Organics. The project, which would include a small amount of outdoor cultivation and a self-transport distributor license, is located at 2593 New Long Valley Road, Clearlake Oaks.
The commission also will consider a major use permit and a mitigated negative declaration sought by Igor Stolper/Jerusalem Grade Farms/RMI Ventures. The project would include outdoor cultivation and a self-transport distributor license.
Another project on the agenda for Auto Canna LLC is being rescheduled for May.
The full agenda follows.
AGENDA
Approval of the Minutes from the March 10, 2022, and the March 24, 2022, Planning Commission hearing.
9:05 a.m.: Continued from March 24, public hearing on consideration of a design review (DR 21-01) and a mitigated negative declaration (IS 22-06).The applicant, Nikki Island, is proposing, a small resort, containing nine overnight lodging units; conversion of the existing dwelling to a social gathering room, lobby, kitchen and dining room; outdoor kitchen; in-ground pool and hot tub; site improvements including removal of 1,100+ sq. ft. of asphalt and the western driveway leading to Highway 20; landscaping, parking and interior access aisles and pedestrian pathways. The project location is 5835 and 5825 Highway 20, Lucerne, and further described as APN’s 034-421-20 and 034-421-21.
9:10 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of a major use permit (UP 19-21) and a mitigated negative declaration (IS 19-37). The applicant, Joyce Kirstein/Spring Valley Organics is proposing one A-Type 3: “Outdoor” license: Outdoor cultivation for adult use cannabis without the use of light deprivation and/or artificial lighting in the canopy area at any point in time from 10,001 square feet to one acre, inclusive, of total canopy size per license on one premise; and a Type 13 “Distributor Transport Only, Self-Transport Distribution” license: The transport of cannabis goods between entities licensed pursuant to California Code. The project is located at 2593 New Long Valley Rd., Clearlake Oaks; Assessor Parcel Numbers: 620-071-04.
9:15 a.m.: Continued to the May 12 Planning Commission meeting at 9:05 a.m., public hearing on consideration of a major use permit (UP 19-44) and a mitigated negative declaration (IS 19-63). The applicant, Auto Canna LLC (Auto Canna) is proposing Four (4) A-Type 3: “Outdoor” license: Outdoor cultivation for adult use cannabis without the use of light deprivation and/or artificial lighting in the canopy area at any point in time from 10,001 square feet to one acre, inclusive, of total canopy size per license on one premise; and a Type 13 “Distributor Transport Only, Self-Transport Distribution” license: The transport of cannabis goods between entities licensed pursuant to California Code. The project is located at 21258 Morgan Valley Road, Lower Lake; Assessor Parcel Numbers: 012-069-57.
9:20 a.m.: Continued from Dec. 16, 2021, public hearing on consideration of major use permit (UP 20-13) and a mitigated negative declaration (IS 20-15). The applicant, Igor Stolper/Jerusalem Grade Farms/RMI Ventures is proposing one A-Type 3: “Outdoor” license: Outdoor cultivation for adult use cannabis without the use of light deprivation and/or artificial lighting in the canopy area at any point in time from 10,001 square feet to one acre, inclusive, of total canopy size per license on one premise; and a Type 13 “Distributor Transport Only, Self-Transport Distribution” license: The transport of cannabis goods between entities licensed pursuant to California Code. The project is located at 22644 Jerusalem Grade Road, Middletown; Assessor Parcel Numbers: 136-051-04.
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The group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the community meeting room located in between the Middletown Senior Center and the Library, 21256 Washington St.
The meeting is open to the public and also will be available via Zoom; the meeting ID is 659 964 1209. Call in at 669-900-6833.
Beginning at 7:05 p.m., the group will hear from several speakers: Lake County Public Services staff will discuss the Clean California grant, Battalion Chief Mike Wink of South Lake County Fire will give a seasonal fire prevention update and they will get the latest from the Tree Mortality Committee.
Under business, which is scheduled for 7:45 p.m., they will get updates on area cannabis projects including WeGrow and BarX.
They also will discuss the grievance committee update and review the January minutes and alternate election process.
At 8:20 p.m., Supervisor Moke Simon will give an update and take questions.
The MATH Board includes Chair Monica Rosenthal, Vice Chair Ken Gonzales, Secretary Todd Fiora, Rosemary Córdova and Bill Waite, and alternates Lisa Kaplan and Marlene Elder.
MATH — established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 — is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
For more information email
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Alisa Anne Pettey-Torres, 59, of Hidden Valley Lake, died in a head-on crash on Highway 29 just south of Grange Road on Friday, said Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Paulich said Walter William Toupal, 53, of Clearlake died in a solo-motorcycle crash on Highway 20 just west of Bruner Drive between Lucerne and Glenhaven on Saturday afternoon.
The California Highway Patrol’s on Pettey-Torres’ wreck said that on Friday at 5:18 p.m., she was driving a 2005 Toyota Corolla southbound on Highway 29, north of the Bar X entrance Road.
David Thurber, 49, of Hidden Valley Lake was driving a 2012 BMW X5 northbound on Highway 29, approaching Pettey-Torres’ Toyota sedan, the CHP said.
For reasons still under investigation, the CHP said Pettey-Torres’ Toyota crossed over the highway’s solid double yellow lines and she collided head-on with the BMW. Both vehicles became disabled on the northbound shoulder.
The CHP said Pettey-Torres was extricated from the vehicle and after life saving measures, she succumbed to her injuries on scene.
Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected to be factors in this collision, the CHP said. Both drivers were using their safety equipment.
In the case of Toupal’s crash, the CHP said he was riding his 2001 Harley Davidson eastbound on Highway 20, west of Bruner Drive at 2:16 p.m. Saturday when, for reasons still under investigation, he allowed his motorcycle to veer off the south side of the roadway.
Toupal’s motorcycle struck several boulders, impacted the shoreline and went into the lake, the CHP said.
A nearby fishing boat came across the motorcycle and the rider in the lake, pulled the rider to the shore and called 911, authorities said.
Medics who arrived on scene shortly afternoon pronounced Toupal deceased at the scene, the CHP said.
The CHP said alcohol appears to be a factor in this crash.
These two crashes were among four that have resulted in fatalities in less than a week. The other fatal wrecks occurred on Wednesday near Blue Lakes and on Sunday on the Mendocino National Forest near Upper Lake.
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