LAKEPORT— Supervisor Bruno Sabatier was elected chair of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday and Rob Brown got a spirited farewell from the community before Supervisor Jessica Pyska officially took over his seat.
Dozens of people, from supervisors and county staff to the sheriff and Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, chimed in on the Zoom call to send off Brown, who served five terms on the board. McGuire presented the outgoing supervisor with a resolution he called the “highest honor” of the California Legislature.
“I first really got to know Mr. Brown during the Valley Fire, and it was an incredibly emotional time for this county … some of the darkest days that I think all of us have faced, back in 2015,” the state senator said. “But there was a bright light for this county, a bright light that stepped up time and time again to be able to deliver for those who needed it most, and that was Supervisor Rob Brown.”
He described Brown’s efforts to assist with clearing debris, and literally, fight fire — once witnessing the supervisor hotwire a backhoe to build a fire line and save three homes from approaching flames.
“I’ve got to tell you that I have such deep respect for you,” McGuire said. “I know that we’ve had political differences along the way, but I want to let you know that you are an incredible friend.”
There was also a short recorded video and resolution for Brown from Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, as the congressman had business in Washington, D.C. Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin presented Brown with a plaque and said he knew Brown was a strong leader from the day he met him.
“Rob’s the type of person that says what needs to be said, when it needs to be said, even if it’s going to make somebody uncomfortable … You set the bar very high for anybody who wants to hold office, particularly in Lake County,” Martin said.
After people sung Brown’s praises for nearly an hour, it all ended on a different note, with a recorded song by a member of the public, Joan Moss, that wasn’t exactly complimentary. In one line, she referenced a confrontation between the supervisor and a man named Bob Sanders that police responded to in 2012. A judge ruled that Brown acted in self-defense.
“Bob Sanders was his name. He will never be the same. You have broken family ties with your phone calls and your lies.”
With accompanying horse neigh sounds, she sang in the chorus: “Rob Brown, Rob Brown, will you ride your horse to town?”
Somehow the supervisors remained basically expressionless, and then-Chair Simon swiftly moved the meeting along once the song ended without comment.
Soon after, Supervisor Tina Scott nominated Sabatier to serve as chair and Supervisor “EJ” Crandell as vice chair, a motion that was seconded by Pyska. The nominations received unanimous approval.
During his regular COVID-19 update, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said he was concerned about a potential surge following the holidays.
“I think the next eight weeks are going to be pretty touch-and-go for us, all over the state, but especially in Lake (County) because we’re so small,” Pace said. “We just don’t have a lot of resources. I really encourage people to avoid situations where they might be around other people who aren’t from their home.”
Pace said the county should be receiving its second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines this week and be able to move onto the second tier of people to be vaccinated around the end of January. He said the county wasn’t aware of anyone having adverse reactions to the vaccines locally.
Pace said testing sites would change beginning on Friday, with two sites to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Appointments will be able to be made online or by phone, with a limited number of walk-ins available. The Lower Lake Town Hall testing site will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and the Lakeport Community Center will be open on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, go to health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/Testing.htm.
Pyska didn’t waste any time on her first day on the board, bringing forward a proposal for an agricultural advisory committee. She suggested that it would have open meetings and seven members, including the supervisors for districts 4 and 5 (“the largest areas of prime ag,”) as well as five members of the agricultural community with diverse backgrounds, including organic, cannabis, processing, and other focuses.
“How I envision this committee working is to address the concerns and the issues within the ag community and industry before they become a problem,” she said.
A motion to approve the formation of the committee was made by Pyska, seconded by Scott, and unanimously approved by the board.
