LAKEPORT >> County officials were hesitant over possible measures to assist neighboring areas affect by fires during the Board of Supervisors regular meeting this week. They also resisted the idea of temporary dwellings in the aftermath of the Sulphur Fire.
Community Development Director Bob Massarelli said the county has been sharing disaster relief plans, as well as process packets that the county put together to organize development, permit applications and cleanup. But District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith said that it is difficult to lend out resources when the county has work that needs to be completed before the rainy season hits.
“We’ve got people I’m sure looking for inspections and getting things done before the rainy season hits so I think we got our hands full still right in our own county and hopefully they understand that,” Smith said.
Earlier this year, the county had a few issues with the staffing of inspectors in the Building Division Department. This caused a backlog of construction permits and approvals for homeowners and businesses rebuilding from the fires of 2015 and 2016.
The county is now almost completely caught up in inspections, Massarelli said. Meanwhile, both Sonoma and Napa counties are looking for 50 inspectors.
“On inspections, we are in very good shape. We are only two to five days out now,” Massarelli said. “During the damage assessment, we actually maintained one inspector last week.”
The county decided to hold off on requesting temporary dwellings from FEMA.
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said in the past with the need of homes and temporary housing it was necessary to get those in from FEMA but because there has been a quick response to the fires in and around the county he does not feel it is necessary at this time.
“I think it was appropriate at the time, but I think right now we got such a quick response from the state and the feds, the last disaster wasn’t federal,” Brown said. “I suggest that we don’t do that (get temporary homes) at this time.”
People who did lose their homes might have donations and there is also money coming in from the various government entities along with donations from the community that could be used for fire relief Brown said.
“I think for the sake of avoiding the risk of not getting reimbursed from FEMA I think we need to be careful with that,” Brown said.
Getting these temporary houses for people as well cost the Community Development Department money as well and Brown said they should be careful at where money is put at this time. Massarelli said to put in the temporary housing cost $75 and to demolish it after it is unneeded is $95.
