LAKEPORT — Sheriff Rodney K. Mitchell and a Lucerne resident talked over each other Tuesday during the Lake County Board of Supervisors” discussion on whether to approve agreements with helicopter companies for marijuana reconnaissance and eradication, which the board unanimously approved.
A $100,000 Drug Enforcement Administration grant will fund the helicopter contracts.
Lenny Matthews spoke to the board during public comment and said Mitchell mismanaged helicopter use among other problems she had with the program. Mitchell declined an opportunity to respond.
Sgt. Dave Garzoli of the Lake County Sheriff”s Office allegedly used DEA grant money for helicopter pilot training rather than the approved marijuana reconnaissance and eradication. The Lake County District Attorney”s Office and county counsel said on March 23 they would separately investigate whether Garzoli misused public funds and if he or anyone is liable for criminal or civil charges. Garzoli crashed a helicopter while training June 25, alerting the county to the helicopter training.
Supervisor Rob Brown said although he thinks an employee made an error in judgment using helicopters, that the Sheriff”s Office has the best interest at heart ? to protect the public.
Supervisor Jeff Smith said whether people grow marijuana or tomato plants on public land it”s illegal. Marijuana grows also cause chemicals to flow into Clear Lake, devastates the forest and kills animals.
“To me it”s not debatable whether to continue or not,” Smith said in support of the reconnaissance.
Supervisor Denise Rushing questioned whether hiring people on horse or foot for marijuana reconnaissance would be more effective. However, she asked if the Sheriff”s Office stopped using helicopters if it would leave “thugs” to hurt the land and people.
“I would like it to stop,” Rushing said of illegal marijuana grows. “I would like it to stop as soon as we can.”
Mitchell said helicopter reconnaissance is the best way to find criminal marijuana gardens.
“If the board doesn”t approve the contract we don”t fly,” Mitchell said.
The sheriff said reconnaissance would likely start in the next few weeks, before plants have matured, to identify gardens.
Chairman Anthony Farrington said he wished the money could be spent to combat methamphetamine, but the money is set aside by the DEA specifically for marijuana eradication.
Mitchell said sometimes marijuana growers use the profits to buy chemicals to produce methamphetamine, so law enforcement ends up fighting other drugs with the help of the marijuana enforcement grant.
Sheriff”s Office staff will also negotiate with the helicopter companies to ensure low rates and Mitchell will come back to the board if needed, he said.
County Counsel Anita Grant said the county added a paragraph to each contract to ensure county staff doesn”t use the marijuana eradication grant for flight training.
“No flight instruction and/or pilot training shall be provided either directly or collateral to the performance of this agreement,” the contracts state.
The board addressed a few other issues at its meeting that started 9 a.m. in the County Courthouse in Lakeport.
Board members unanimously approved a request to submit a grant to fund the Bridge Arbor Recreational Trail.
The board also agreed to advance construction of the bridge on Bridge Arbor South and accept a $20,000 contribution from the property owner for the bridge construction. The trail project aims to connect Lakeport and Upper Lake with trails and bike lanes.
The board sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County Sanitation District unanimously approved a contract between the county and companies for a temporary pump and pipeline and smoke testing to find inflow in the Southeast Regional Wastewater Collection System.
The system has had sewage spills diluted by rainwater for years in the Highlands Harbor area in Clearlake.
Board members voted 5-0 to appoint Scott DeLeon as the Water Resources director to start May 10.
Rushing announced a proclamation designating this week as National Volunteer Recognition Week in Lake County
Farrington presented a proclamation to Public Works Director Brent Siemer designating Monday to Sunday as National Work Zone Safety Week in Lake County.
Supervisor Jim Comstock announced a proclamation to the district attorney, Team DUI representatives and Victim Witness advocates designating this week as National Crime Victims” Rights Week in Lake County.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
