LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Tuesday adopted a proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Lake County.
More than 30 representatives of local advocacy groups later stood while District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington presented the proclamation during Tuesday”s regular meeting at the Lake County Courthouse.
The proclamation cites that roughly 3 million children per year are reported abused or neglected in the United States and calls for “all citizens, community agencies, religious organizations, medical facilities and businesses to increase their participation in our efforts to prevent child abuse.”
Organizations represented during Tuesday”s presentation included the county”s Child Welfare Services, Children”s Council, District Attorney”s Office, Office of Education and Sheriff”s Office.
Abuse prevention groups asked all county citizens during the presentation to “report suspected abuse, be aware of community resources and be an advocate.”
Several Child Abuse Prevention Month events will occur in April, including the Advocacy Walk and Children”s Festival in Lakeport”s Library Park on April 16.
The Advocacy Walk will begin at 10 a.m. and plans to raise awareness about child abuse prevention and children”s education. The Children”s Festival will offer art activities, music and information to children and their families beginning at 11 a.m.
Additional information about both activities can be found at www.lakecountychildcareplanning.com.
Other agenda items addressed early in Tuesday”s meeting included the BOS indicating unanimous approval for an ordinance increasing the water service rates for County Service Area No. 2, Spring Valley.
The proposed rates would result in an average increase of $12.20 per month, which would include a $4.50 increase in base rate, a tiered fee structure based on usage and $7.20 for a capital improvement program (CIP).
The rate increases would be used to address “serious deficiencies (that) exist in the current water supply, treatment and storage capabilities” of the service area, according to Lake County Special Districts Administrator Mark Dellinger.
Several service area customers and members of the Spring Valley Advisory Board indicated support for the fee increases and the proposed improvements.
One retired couple submitted the only written letter of protest, saying the increased fees would negatively affect their livelihood while living on a fixed income. The period to formally protest the rate increases ended Tuesday with the closing of the public hearing.
The BOS voted unanimously to waive the reading of the entire ordinance, having it read in title only, and advance the second reading of the ordinance to the April 12 meeting.
The BOS also unanimously approved a contract change order (CCO) worth in excess of $6,100 for the Countywide Stop Sign and Street Sign Replacement Project.
The increased total primarily originated because of the replacement of 56 more sign posts than originally estimated. The final project cost now sits at $485,576.55.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
