LAKEPORT — How much for a cup of Joe?
The Lake County supervisors spent more than a half-hour Tuesday debating that question, as it applied to Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) personnel.
LCSO Capt. Chris Macedo approached the Board of Supervisors (BOS) on the department”s behalf asking for permission to purchase coffee on an annual basis for employees, victims, witnesses, suspects, volunteers and department guests.
“This is common in public safety,” Macedo told the BOS Tuesday morning at the Lake County Courthouse.
Coffee provided by the LCSO could help keep personnel — such as deputies, correctional workers and dispatch workers — awake, alert and warm, Macedo said. It might also aid in opening lines of communication with victims and suspects, the captain added.
The request, however, left several supervisors admittedly torn, trying to balance support for county employees with effective spending of tax dollars.
“You made a very compelling argument, it moved me a little bit, but you don”t think the officers could put money in a kitty and buy their own coffee,” District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said to Macedo. “I”d rather have a dialogue about pay increases to show benefit to the deputies and correctional officers than coffee, to be honest.”
BOS Chair Jeff Smith, who raised concerns about what allowances might follow down the line, said, “To me, it”s kind of opening up a Pandora”s box I”m afraid.”
“I think the benefit of this far outweighs what the cost is,” District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said. “I can easily justify this.”
The BOS ultimately voted 4-1 to allow the LCSO to buy coffee, for as much as $6,250 for the year. Farrington dissented.
Later, the supervisors approved canceling $70,000 in asset-forfeiture reserves to fund renovations to the LCSO Narcotics Task Force facility. Sheriff”s officials did not reveal many specifics about the work or premises because of security concerns.
In other business, the BOS issued nearly three dozen thank-you letters to agencies and organizations involved in the mid-May search for young Mikaela Lynch.
The 9-year-old San Francisco girl, who suffered from a severe form of autism, reportedly walked away from her family”s Clearlake vacation home on Mother”s Day. Her body was found in nearby Cache Creek three days later.
The supervisors approved a memorandum of understanding with state courts officials pertaining to the Clearlake superior court building.
County officials agreed to vacate the facility as soon as possible after the agreement takes effect, County Administrative Officer Matt Perry said. Staff hopes the LCSO will move out during the next couple months and relocate its substation to Clearlake Oaks, he added.
The BOS unanimously supported submitting an application to the U.S. Army Donations Program for a helicopter to be displayed at the Kelseyville County Park on State Street to honor veterans of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
University of California (UC), Davis reps will continue to sample and study Clear Lake sediment for another year after the supervisors approved extending the contract between the county and UC regents.
The county remains without a permanent treasurer-tax collector as the BOS postponed picking a replacement for the third time this month.
In May, the supervisors interviewed four candidates to fill the unexpired term vacated by Sandra Shaul earlier this year, but they”ve held off on making a final selection during each June meeting.
The discussion was rescheduled for July 9. Former Treasurer-Tax Collector Kay Lytton continues to serve in the position on an interim basis.
The BOS also delayed its debate on a proposed fee to benefit Channel 8, the county”s public, educational and governmental cable television station. The debate was carried over to Aug. 6.
Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow coverage on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh or #LakeBOS.
