LAKEPORT — The Building and Safety Division of the Community Development Department will have two fewer positions April 21 and a county employee may be out of a job after the Lake County Board of Supervisors approved cuts Tuesday.
The board unanimously voted to eliminate a building inspector II and the senior building inspector positions from the department, saving $154,000, Rick Coel, Community Development director said. The senior building inspector plans to retire April 20. The building inspector II may have rights to bump another county employee from his or her position.
“I wish we had more options,” Coel said.
Coel said the division needed to reduce expenses by about $150,000 a year. The division will be left with two community development technicians, one senior plans examiner, a chief building officer and a grading and stormwater inspector, who is funded with geothermal royalties.
The board addressed a few other issues at its meeting Tuesday in the County Courthouse in Lakeport.
Board members unanimously voted to have staff prepare a request for proposal for mechanical harvesting and herbicide treatment of aquatic weeds in Clear Lake. The board also voted to have the Clear Lake Advisory Subcommittee weigh in on the protocols and use of mechanical harvesting.
Chairman Anthony Farrington said he thinks the county needs to take action to combat the weeds before peak tourist season, which may suffer if weeds grow rampant in the lake.
“Timing is of the essence as we move into the next tourist season,” Farrington said. He said the use of herbicides concerns him because the lake is a source for drinking water in the county.
He said he also thinks the county should try to combat hot spots of weeds by contracting out mechanical harvesting services to see if it”s effective.
Jack Wadhams, president of the Clearlake Keys Property Owners Association, said mechanical harvesters are effective in clearing out weeds in the canals and that herbicides don”t work well.
County road superintendent Steve Strangland presented the board with the California Chip Seal Association”s 2009 Innovative Project of the Year Award for improving Highland Springs and Big Valley roads with little money.
Board members voted to increase spending with the Lake County Community Action Agency by $20,000 for treatment for pregnant women or parenting women with alcohol or drug problems.
The board also agreed to amend a contract with St. Vincent”s School for Boys for a residential treatment program with a maximum contract amount of $50,000.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
