LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors approved 4-0 the concept of staff reductions in the Building and Safety Division Tuesday.
Rick Coel, Community Development director, said the Building and Safety Division needs to reduce its budget by about $150,000. Out of the eight-person staff, one is funded by the Special Districts and another is paid through geothermal royalties.
Supervisor Rob Brown and the other board members said cutting staff is difficult, but necessary.
“This is going to be tough,” Brown said. “Unfortunately, this is probably beginning of a trend in a lot of departments.”
The Building and Safety Division projected revenues to be about $100,000 to $140,000 more than the county now expects after the mid-year budget review. If the division has about $140,000 in shortfall, the reserve fund would be down to $2,000, which staff and supervisors agreed was not OK.
“Unfortunately, we”re not seeing revenue anywhere near estimated,” Coel said.
Coel said the division reduced costs as much as possible but is left with a revenue shortfall and needs to cut staff. Coel will come back to the board with a plan on staff reductions.
The board addressed a number of other issues at the meeting in the County Courthouse in Lakeport. Chairman Anthony Farrington was absent.
Without discussion Tuesday, board members passed an ordinance 4-0 authorizing payment of $700 to themselves from health benefit savings. Each supervisor said Feb. 16 they would donate the money to organizations in the county. Eligible county employees received the same stipend resulting from excess CalPERS premiums collected in November and December.
The board appointed Bob Malley to the Lake County Planning Commission District 2 as the supervisor for the district, Jeff Smith, requested.
Special Districts administrator Mark Dellinger told board members who oversee the Southeast Regional Wastewater System, one that has had sewage spills diluted by rainwater for years in the Clearlake area, they may want to consider improvements to they system before the end of spring.
Dellinger will bring back options of how to regulate new development, installing a temporary pump station and doing smoke testing to see if residents are illegally putting storm water into the sewage system at the next meeting.
Board members approved a resolution amending the county”s personnel rules limiting paid administrative leave for investigation to 45 days. Extensions to the limit would require approval from the human resources director and the county administrative officer.
The board voted 4-0 to authorize using $4,250 budgeted for Lucerne FLOW for infrastructure improvements needed to create a community garden in Lucerne, which Lucerne FLOW members supported.
Board members discussed ways to get Lake County post office box users to fill out census forms, as the Post Office does not distribute the forms to the boxes. The board asked staff to send a letter to postmasters asking for a partnership to get people to fill out census forms that can affect funding the county receives.
Supervisor Denise Rushing said she is also the head of the Complete Count Committee for the census.
“We”re a democracy. We do this every 10 years,” Rushing said. “It”s important, it”s safe, it”s easy. It”s 10 questions you know the answers to.”
The Mental Health Department director gave a report showing revenue loss, however the department expects to meet its budget, $9.9 million down from $10.6 million.
Board members approved the bid award to Holder Ford for $31,139 for a 1-ton, 4-wheel drive pickup for the Parks and Recreation Division of the Public Services Department.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
