LAKEPORT >> During Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the county heard from many members of the public including contractors, as well as staff with regard to staffing issues and concerns in the Building Division of Community Development. Human Resources handed out over 20 extra help employment applications at the end of the open discussion.
Supervisor Rob Brown also announced a special Town Hall meeting will be held in the Board Chambers on Tuesday, August 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., specific to Lake County build/rebuilding and other construction related issues throughout the County.
“Contractors, engineers, architects and suppliers, and anyone else related to the construction industry are encouraged to attend,” said Brown. This forum is not intended for discussion of specific cases of complaints by homeowners.
Simultaneously, Lake County will hold a job fair on Tuesday between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the lobby of the courthouse to accept extra help employment applications for Plans Examiners and Building Inspectors. A quick screening process will be used given the immediate need to fill the positions within Community Development.
The issue is so acute that although there several options to address the issue presented by county representatives and contractors, Supervisors Rob Brown and Moke Simon still felt it necessary to dig deeper with county staff. Immediately following the public meeting, Brown and Simon met with staff members for nearly three hours. Departments represented at the table included Community Development, Environmental Health as well as Administration, County Counsel and Human Resources. Environmental Health reported the lead time on septic inspections was roughly ten days.
During the meeting, there was discussion of community concerns regarding build/rebuild efforts surrounding lead times on inspections and plans review. Staff members spoke to backlogged work and how they are handling it, as well as the possibility of trainee programs, contracting with surrounding cities and counties, reaching out to retirees, hiring extra help and even bringing on volunteers as possible solutions for staffing shortages.
The immediate goal is to get inspections done while Community Development explores additional program efficiencies, including the possibility of Class K permits enabling owner built homes to be inspected when finalized.
Offers are pending to fill open permanent positions.
At the job fair, interested persons should arrive prepared with resumes, to fill out applications, be pre-screened by Human Resources. Qualified applicants could be interviewed on the spot.
Applications can be downloaded/completed online prior to the job fair. The Extra Help application can be found at: http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Human_Resources/Job_Opportunities/Extra_Help_Jobs.htm
For more information about the application process, contact the Human Resources Department at (707) 263-2213.
