Plumas Supervisors Address Fire Hazard Zones, Approve School Election, Extend Correction Officer Bonus

QUINCY — Meeting on July 8, the Plumas County Board of Supervisors voted to send a letter to the State Fire Marshall expressing concerns about Fire Hazard Severity Zone assignments that were developed earlier this year as a result of state legislation. The letter will be submitted along with a county ordinance officially adopting the state’s assignments, which state law effectively requires local governments to accept without changes.

The Board’s letter to the Fire Marshall conveyed two concerns about the state’s fire hazard zone assignments: 1) that insurance companies might use them to evaluate wildfire risk in setting home insurance rates, and 2) that the process of developing the hazard zones did not provide for local input or allow local fire protection agencies opportunities to change the assignments. Both concerns surfaced in comments from the public and the Board in previous discussions. The Supervisors’ letter also expresses the intention to engage with state lawmakers and the Insurance Commissioner to amend the process of developing future fire hazard assessments and prohibit insurance companies from using them for risk rating. The decision was adopted by a 4/5 vote, with Supervisor Engel voting against.

In other action, the Board authorized the Registrar of Voters to convene a special election for a seat on the governing Board of the Plumas Unified School District and Plumas County Office of Education, which has become vacant by resignation. Registrar of Voters Marcy DeMartile explained that state law requires vacant seats to be filled by appointment or election and that an election is now required because the appointment process has failed. The election would be held in November, and the incumbent would serve until the next regular election in November 2026. The cost of the election would be between $10,000 and $15,000, depending on the number of candidates. Supervisors Hall and McGowan questioned the cost-effectiveness of holding an election for a position whose term would be limited to one year, but County Counsel Josh Brechtel said that the Registrar cannot legally refuse to hold the election. Supervisor McGowan hinted that the best outcome might be for no one to file for election to the open seat, in which case an election would not be needed. The resolution passed by a 5/5 vote.

The Board also voted to continue a program that pays a $10,000 hiring bonus for new correction officers hired by the Sheriff’s Office through June 2026.