LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) voted unanimously to merge the county”s Public Works and Water Resources departments on Tuesday, more than a year after the county separated the two agencies.
Both will remain distinct programs, with separate budgets and different goals, but will now operate under one department head, according to county administrator Kelly Cox.
“Merging them as equals is an important thing to note,” District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing said.
For years, the Public Works Department had a Water Resources Division, but the county decided to create an independent Water Resources Department early last year.
Former department practices that resulted in insufficient funds being directed toward water resources programs as well as personnel issues contributed to the separation, according to District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington.
“I think we made the right decision a year ago, and I think we made the right decision today,” said District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, adding that he wants the BOS to review the merger next year to make sure water resources programs received proper attention.
The merger decision came several weeks after then-current Water Resources Director Scott De Leon was appointed as Public Works director.
Cox said he expects De Leon to hold multiple titles while dually supervising public works and water resources programs.
The department-head merger was a cost-saving move for the county, and both agencies budgets will split De Leon”s salary, Cox said.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
