LAKEPORT ? During Denise Rushing”s last full meeting as chairwoman of the Lake County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, she smacked the gavel, received citizen criticism for past gavel use and voted on a number of issues.
The board will elect a new chair at the next meeting, Jan. 5 at the County Courthouse in Lakeport.
Board members agreed to fix the Courthouse elevators, one of which has been broken for more than a month. The board also voted to transfer $65,000 to pay for repair, engineering and service to the working elevator.
Supervisor Rob Brown questioned the need for $10,000 in elevator engineering.
“I”m really tired of getting jacked by engineers,” he said.
Brown thinks if the company regularly makes and installs elevators engineering isn”t necessary, he said.
Rushing supported the engineering, she said.
“I for one would want to ride in an elevator that they did the load calculations for,” Rushing said.
The elevators were built in the 1960s and are now the only allowed access to the fourth floor Lake County Superior Court. The court estimates 400 to 600 people use the elevators daily. The court will pay for 30 percent of the repair or replacement cost.
Board members asked that staff work with the courts to see if people can use the stairs rather than the elevators.
Board members unanimously voted to advance the changes to the invasive species ordinance to the Jan. 5 board meeting. The changes to the code will include description of resident and non-resident vessels and vessels to be exempt such as kayaks, rafts and boogey boards. The amendment will also allow for color-coded inspection bands for non-resident vessels and inspection bands for trailers.
Non-resident vessel owners will have to get screened monthly for quagga and zebra mussels and receive a colored band if they pass, rather than a sticker. The resident sticker program will remain the same. The board unanimously agreed to apply for a Federal Community Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance Grant for $70,000 for engineering and design of sidewalk improvements along Highway 20 in Nice.
The Health Leadership Network and consultants presented the Lake County community food assessment which included a push to diversify crops, create a food distribution network and purchase of county-grown food. Board members asked staff to bring Pat Akers of the California Department of Food and Agriculture to a meeting to present on hydrilla eradication history and effectiveness.
The board will not meet Tuesday to allow for holiday vacation.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
