By Arielle Hardy
December 22, 2022
QUINCY — The Plumas County Board of Supervisors meeting on December 20, 2022, opened with a public comment from a citizen expressing concern about the need for consideration of electric vehicle charging stations and the grants to install them, solar stations, and more recycling bins in Quincy. Ava Hagwood, Plumas County Child Welfare social worker, spoke to the Board regarding wages for county employees. She asked the Board to consider paying employees what they deserve for their average field. “It appears that minimal progress has been made over the past four months to better understand the budget, I would hope you’re considering seeking outside support.” She concluded by mentioning that the state minimum wage is increasing by 3 percent this month. Her co-workers make around $15.11 an hour for non-entry-level positions as eligibility specialists and will receive part of that pay increase. “However,” Hagwood said, “those employees are currently paid 17% less than the average counterparts on the list of ten comparison counties.” Tracy Ferguson, Planning Director, reported an update from a November meeting regarding the Rock Creek Cresta Project FERG license 1962 condition 4D on conditions about reasonable control measures for the water temperature report. She reported that PG&E received all the comments (35). California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, American White Water, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Plumas National Forest, and Plumas County were all commenters. On December 2, PG&E submitted a letter to the US Forest Service, Plumas National Forest, and Supervisor Carlton in response to the comments. They have been uploaded to the planning department webpage for the public to view. She also reported a twelve-month schedule for the broadband project with the Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) Grant. Ferguson concluded her report by mentioning that the State Fire Marshal is seeking to update the State Responsibility Area (SRA) maps which were last updated in 2007. Plumas County’s public meeting will be held to review the SRA maps on January 17 at 6 p.m. at the county fairgrounds. Sheriff Todd Johns reported the Sheriff’s Department had two applicants who had completed the training academy. They have two new deputies, one from the jail and the other from the probation department. He reported he now has 12 Correctional Officers for coverage 24/7. Johns said the correctional officers have been working 12 hours shifts for over two years. “I’m pretty much killing our correctional officers,” he said, as well as having one sergeant going into dispatch, which leaves him with a total of four female correctional officers, and suspects one may be leaving. Without the ability to have proper staffing at the jail, especially for females, he had contacted several neighboring counties to contract out housing for inmates if need be. “We are getting to a critical staffing issue,” said Johns, “if things continue to go the way they have been, I don’t know if we’re going to be able to sustain the jail as it currently is. I don’t know for certain that I would be able to sustain patrol.” He concluded by mentioning the employees association going into negotiations last week and confirmed with Chandler, the Association President, that the only discussion was for medical benefits and asked the Board for their help. The Board then gave a presentation, commending and recognizing Honorable Supervisor Sherri Thrall, Plumas County Board of Supervisors for District 3, for service on the Board since 2007. They presented her plaques from the Board, the U.S. House of Representatives, the California State Senate, and the State Assembly, thanking her for her 16 years of service to Plumas County and wishing her a happy retirement. They also read a letter from retired Plumas County Supervisor Lori Simpson, congratulating and thanking her, mentioning she is the longest-serving woman on the Plumas County Board of Supervisors. Simpson’s letter highlighted how involved Thrall was in the community and her many accomplishments serving on the Board. Supervisor Engle also commented on how much of a pleasure it has been working with Thrall since his time serving on the Board. Clint Koble, reporting for the Dixie Fire Collaborative, discussed issues that residents have expressed, like why some residents seem like a higher priority than others, who feel ignored. Some survivors feel guilt regarding not losing their homes when others have, and the collaborative is looking into additional resources for those residents affected. In their recent meeting in Greenville, they had several insurance representatives present. Koble said while the rates were not encouraging, they were able to answer a lot of questions. The Indian Valley Innovation Hub also met and discussed a “makers space” for local craftsmen and craftswomen. On January 7, the hub will facilitate a workshop on Business Plans and how to write them. Several members of the collaborative’s Steering Committee also served on the “Recovery Support Function Economic Committee.” When asked what Greenville’s three most important immediate needs were, they identified the need for a hardware store, an ATM, and a post office.