Once again, the Sierra County Board of Supervisors waltzed briskly through their agenda during last Tuesday’s meeting at the Loyalton Social Hall, completing the session in less than 90 minutes.

During this time, the Board received the 2021 Ag Report for Sierra County. Produced by Willo Vierra, the Ag Commissioner for Plumas and Sierra counties, the report indicated cattle production was "static" compared to the previous year, however, wool and sheep production declined slightly. Honey production dropped sharply due to drought-related reductions in available forage and because two producers left the county. Alfalfa and hay production was also deemed "static" by Vierra, but lumber harvest revenues dropped sharply due to the availablility of timber from the Dixie fire.

Sheriff Fisher's update centered upon storm damage and staffing issues. As it happened, the recent, early snow storm brought down the Sierra County Sheriff's Office's (SCSO) radio system for almost a week due to AT&T failing to address equipment damaged during last year's storms. Power outages also damaged equipment and brought down Caltrans' repeater. Thus, Fisher warned the Supervisors he will be seeking funds required to retrofit SCSO's radio system. As for staffing, while Fisher has two candidates for deputy sheriff positions in Sierra Valley and has filled one of two vacant dispatcher jobs, he has been unable to recruit anyone to fill a budgeted undersheriff position.

Judy Behlke, Personnel Director, also told the Board about the County continuing to have difficulty in filling openings in several departments: Probation, Public Works, IT, the library in Loyalton, and the Health and Human Services.

Meanwhile, according to Van Maddox, the Sierra County Tax Collectors Office is aware of several people running Airbnb operations within the county who are not making Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) payments. One now owes nearly $60,000. Historically, the county’s procedure for collecting these unpaid taxes has been to file a lien against the scofflaws. Unfortunately, Maddox this only works when an individual tries to sell the property or applies for a loan. Accordingly, he asked the Board to direct the County Counsel to determine what other legal actions can be used to force short-term renters to pay the taxes they owe.

In other salient business, the Board appointed Glen Haubl to be a Commissioner for the Sierra City Fire District; Annie Tipton to be a Director of the Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District; and, approved a letter of support for the Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District's (SVGMD)application for a grant from the California Dept. of Water Resources to help implement their Groundwater Sustainability Plan.