LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is requesting an extension for its reduction of public office hours on Monday mornings. If approved, the public window will remain closed until 1 p.m. and only be open until 5 p.m.
Lake County’s Board of Supervisors will consider the request at this morning’s regular meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. at the County Courthouse.
Initially approved by the BOS in February, the request was made due to staffing shortages that affect prompt processing.
Currently, there are two employees that work the window and execute the office’s records department, Sheriff Brian Martin said, but one has been indefinite medical leave. The other is still performing the duties of the job despite being recently promoted.
The short-handed staff also has to ensure proper reports are submitted to the District Attorney within the required 48 hours of a person’s arrest, making Monday mornings a busy time as they process those that were taken into custody on the weekend.
“Typically, numerous people are arrested over weekends,” Sheriff Martin said. “This creates a large number of ‘in-custody’ reports that need to be processed…”
Normal office hours Tuesday through Friday would stay at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The LCSO is currently looking to fill the position
Firefighting Money
The Lake County Fire Protection District — which covers Clearlake — will seek approval for an approximately 67 percent increase in fire mitigation fees imposed on new construction.
According to Interim Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer Jeff Rein, the proposal would bump the fee from 60 cents to $1 per square foot and would help fund capital improvements like firefighting equipment that is rising in cost.
“The theory behind it is that when someone builds a new structure, it creates and additional burden for the district,” Rein said, noting that they are the only district in the county that doesn’t charge the $1 fee.
One place the department needs help in is paying loans assessed against its fire trucks, LCFPD financial analyst Miasha Rivas said, because those annual payments are higher than what they take in from fees.
Rivas added that the department isn’t behind on its loans, however.
