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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse will be closed, so members of the public who want to provide real-time input during any upcoming board meeting should write the clerk to the Board of Supervisors at
Input on any board item can likewise be shared via
The meeting can be viewed at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx .
In response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order 33-20, the state Public Health officer recently designated a list of “essential critical infrastructure workers,” those who must continue working despite the statewide order to shelter-in-place.
The governor’s order defines essential critical infrastructure workers by sector including health care and public health, emergency services sector, food and agriculture, energy, water and wastewater, transportation and logistics, communications and information technology, critical manufacturing, hazardous materials, financial services, chemical and defense industrial base, according to a report to the board from County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson.
The Board of Supervisors was additionally given authority to define, “Critical government workers.”
At its Tuesday meeting, the board began discussing the workers’ definitions and assigned an ad hoc committee consisting of Huchingson, Board Chair Moke Simon, Supervisor Bruno Sabatier and County Counsel Anita Grant to work with department heads toward final recommendations, which will be presented during Friday’s emergency meeting.
Huchingson said the committee’s goals were the safety of county employees and compliance with shelter in place order and as many employees as possible working productively from home.
During the COVID-19 shelter in place order, the committee concluded that the county “must be focused on critical duties that cannot wait because they are essential to the County’s continuity of operations and/or on critical infrastructure work (as defined above in the 12 specific sectors) to support disaster response efforts,” Huchingson said.
“The committee found, and department heads concurred, that general office workers who are responsible to provide support work, such as reception, clerical, and other internal and/or routine functions are not essential workers during the disaster and such workers should shelter in place,” Huchingson wrote. “The committee found that such non-essential workers, when feasible to do so, should be allowed to work remotely. For those situations where it is not feasible to work remotely, non-essential employees should be offered work as Disaster Service Workers, subject to assignment by the Lake County Emergency Operations Center.”
She said that the committee also found that department heads are best equipped to serve as decision-makers with respect to the nonessential workforce “and should be afforded flexibility to make changes in their determinations due to the fluid nature of the crisis.”
The ad hoc committee suggests directing department heads to immediately send workers they have determined to be nonessential to shelter in place during the COVID-19 disaster; that the board should authorize department heads to periodically adjust their determinations of nonessential workers due to the fluid nature of the disaster; department heads should provide remote work assignments to nonessential workers when feasible, offer disaster service work or approve such employees the use of accruals and other leave benefits while sheltering in place and not working; and direct the ad hoc committee to continue to be available to department heads to assist with resolution of issues that arise and return to the Board no later than April 14.
Once those determinations are made, the board will consider a resolution amending its previously approved Resolution No. 2020-32 relating to workplace safety, employee leave and remote work in response to COVID-19.
In other business, Health Services Director Denise Pomeroy will ask the board to consider appointing Dr. Charlie Evans as the county’s designated alternate Public Health officer and approve a professional services agreement with him.
Pomeroy said that Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace has been working 12-hour days, seven days a week.
“This Agreement would allow Dr. Pace to receive assistance when needed and take a day off if necessary. Dr. Pace has worked with Dr. Evans over the last several years and recommends him as Designated Alternate Health Officer,” Pomeroy wrote.
Pomeroy said the agreement states that Dr. Evans may only act as alternate health officer when mutually agreed upon in writing by her or Dr. Pace.
Evans graduated with honors from University Of California, San Francisco School of Medicine in 1982 and has more than 38 years of medical experience, including work in emergency medicine, family medicine and public health, specializing in tuberculosis control.
He has served as the communicable disease health officer at the Mendocino County Health Department for 18 years, works as an emergency medicine specialist in Ukiah and has affiliations with several regional hospitals.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Jan Cook
All due dates and library holds expiration dates have been extended. Please keep your library materials with you at home until the library reopens.
County librarian Christopher Veach said, “We are taking this step to comply with guidelines set forth by the state of California and in coordination with local health officials regarding social distancing and slowing the spread of the virus. Thank you for your continued support as we all work together to keep our community healthy and safe.”
Online library services will continue while the physical branches of the Lake County Library are closed. The public can call the library or go online to access those services.
Lakeport Library’s phone number is 707-263-8817, Redbud Library in Clearlake can be reached at 707-994-5115, Middletown Library’s number is 707-987-3674, and Upper Lake Library’s number is 707-274-2049.
The library website is http://library.lakecountyca.gov .
If you need a library card, you can call your local branch or use the online library card application form on the library website. Library employees will make cards and give patrons their card information.
With a library card, patrons can access the library’s digital collections for children, teens, and adults online without the need to visit a local branch.
You can click on the “Digital Content” button on the library’s website to access eBooks, audiobooks, movies, music, magazines, and craft classes from any location.
Library staff will be available by phone during normal operating hours to assist with the digital resources.
For children and teens the library offers ABCmouse, Britannica, and TeachingBooks. ABCmouse.com is the leading and most comprehensive fun digital learning resource for children ages 2 through 8. Britannica School and Britannica Escolar are both educational sites for students to use for homework help, projects, or learning at home or at the library.
TeachingBooks.net is a multimedia website that generates enthusiasm for books and reading with engaging author programs and K-12 book resources for children and teens.
The library’s digital periodicals collection includes free access to the New York Times online and to digital magazines.
RBdigital Magazines, the world's largest newsstand, offers full-color digital magazines for anytime, anywhere reading on desktops, mobile devices, and apps.
Your library's collection of popular digital magazines includes both new and backlist titles with no holds, no checkout periods, and no limits
Libby by OverDrive is a free library service that lets you borrow eBooks, Kindle Books, and audiobooks anytime, anywhere through a browser, smartphone, or tablet. Access eBooks on your computer straight from Enki Library, a shared open source eBook Network that allows California libraries to own and store eBooks for access by library patrons.
Hoopla is an app and website which lets you borrow eBooks, audiobooks, comics, movies, television shows, documentaries, and music via a browser, smartphone or tablet immediately with no waiting.
Library users also have access to online art video classes with Creativebug, the number one inspirational resource for DIY, crafters, and makers. Creativebug offers over 1,000 art and craft video classes alongside downloadable patterns, templates, and recipes.
If you have any questions about digital services, library cards, or other library matters, call your local branch library.
Jan Cook is a library technician for the Lake County Library.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The agency said people can make appointments to come in and foster or adopt dogs.
The following dogs are ready for adoption or foster.
‘Buddy’
“Buddy” is a male spaniel mix with a black and white coat.
He is dog No. 3667.
‘Cha-Chi’
“Cha-Chi” is a male Chihuahua with a short gold and white coat.
He is dog No. 3661.
‘Duchess’
“Duchess” is a female Chihuahua puppy with a short tan coat.
She is dog No. 3618.
‘Fable’
“Fable” is a female husky with a smooth brown and buff coat.
She is dog No. 3044.
‘Freckles’
“Freckles” is a female Australian Cattle Dog mix with a short red and white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 3668.
‘Lucious’
“Lucious” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short gray and white coat.
He is dog No. 3690.
‘Phoebe’
“Phoebe” is a female American Pit Bull Terrier mix with a short black and white coat.
She is dog No. 3483.
‘Princess’
“Princess” is a female German Shepherd with a black and tan coat.
She has been spayed.
Princess is young and energetic. She previously lived around a smaller dog and has been around the office cat. She will benefit from training and attention.
She is dog No. 3669.
‘Tucker’
“Tucker” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier puppy with a short white and gray coat.
He is dog No. 3717.
‘Tyson’
“Tyson” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short gray and white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 1863.
‘Woodrow’
“Woodrow” is a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a black and white coat.
He is dog No. 3281.
Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.
Hours of operation are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays; the shelter offers appointments on the days it’s closed to accommodate people.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s website.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
“Developed recreation sites” refers to designated recreational areas that facilitate public use.
Information on individual recreation sites and opportunities is available by calling the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 and leaving a message for prompt response.
Closures of developed recreation facilities are being put in place until at least April 30 in an attempt to avoid groups of people and promote social distancing, staying at least six feet apart.
While designated recreation sites will be closed, the general forest area including the extensive trail system will remain open and available to the public.
Hiking and walking outdoors are widely considered beneficial to maintaining one’s health. It is the intent of USDA Forest Service to maintain trail access to the extent practicable.
Please keep health, safety and the environment in mind when visiting National Forests. Your personal responsibility is critical to ensuring public safety and preventing further restrictions.
The Forest Services asks that people consider whether your personal participation in outdoor recreation at this time would pose an unnecessary risk to others as we all work together to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19.