LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Tuesday hired a new County Clerk/Auditor-Controller following a public job interview.
Cathy Saderlund, currently the Assistant Auditor-Controller, will be replacing retiring County Clerk/Auditor-Controller Pam Cochrane beginning Oct. 15.
Saderlund sat before the BOS for a public job interview, answering questions and describing her background. The BOS held the interview in public session because the job is an elected position.
County Administrator Kelly Cox said three applicants for the position were notified for the interview. One gave notice they would not show up for the interview and the other person could not be reached.
Saderlund said she has more than 30 years experience with the county government, including many years of preparing budgets for special districts. She said the job would be the next step in her career, a move that many of the county”s staff have pushed her toward.
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said it was unfortunate that many candidates did not apply for the position but acknowledged Saderlund was qualified and knowledgeable. Rushing said Saderlund had guts to go through a public interview and called her “the complete package.” The BOS unanimously approved her as the next County Clerk/Auditor-Controller.
In other business, the BOS approved a conceptual plan to transfer the administration of the Lake-Mendocino Area Agency on Aging (AAA) from the Mendocino County Department of Health and Human Services to the Lake County Department of Social Services.
Social Services Director Carol Huchingson said the proposed move came about following the departure of several key staff members in Mendocino County. Huchingson, Cox and their Mendocino County counterparts met to discuss the options for AAA”s administration.
Huchingson said she and her Mendocino County counterpart on Aug. 25 proposed to AAA”s governing board moving the administration to Lake County Social Services. The governing board approved the administrative shift on Sept. 22. The shift will be effective Jan. 2 or as soon as it becomes practical.
Huchingson said the bulk of AAA”s services are in Lake County so it makes sense to have the administration here. She said Susan Era, a retired former executive director of AAA, will be used as a consultant during the transition process.
Rushing said the move will help the program to operate more efficiently and that AAA is one of the least expensive ways to provide oversight for senior centers. The BOS unanimously approved the conceptual transfer plan.
