(AVA) ABANDONED VEHICLE ABATEMENT PROGRAM was an item discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held September 15th in Loyalton. Supervisor Lee Adams stated he brought this before a board 30 years ago when he was sheriff and it was denied. He explained the fund can only be used to remove vehicles from public property not private. 37 of the 58 counties in the state have this program, noting the smaller counties are not using it. He questioned whether the effort was worth it.
Sheriff Mike Fisher reported looking at the 2025 numbers for Sierra County and 5,924 vehicles would fall within this program. The $1 registration fee for vehicles could carry over year after year to build some capital. The Board of Supervisors would be the authority. The Sheriff’s Office would be the lead administrator and enforcement. The Program could generate upwards of $6,000 a year, which would be a “handful of cars removed every year.”
Supervisor Sharon Dryden was frustrated that no one was present or attending online from the City of Loyalton who had asked the board to have this on an agenda. She felt the majority of this problem was in the city and heard the program was administratively burdensome and cost more to administer than the amount of vehicles towed.
County Counsel Andrew Plett stated Lassen County found the program to be administratively difficult and opted not to continue. He noted AVA program has to create the authority, annual reports have to be made, CHP has to approve the program. Lassen had difficulty meeting the requirements.
Adams appreciated the comments and felt the City should be in the room. He questioned how residents would feel to put another fee upon them. He suggested they put this item on another agenda to see if the City attends.
Board Chair Paul Roen stated the County would shoulder the cost to implement. County Counsel felt the issue was having a partner agency willing to help. Dryden suggested they put this item on pause and have Supervisor Terry LeBlanc meet with a City representative to go over what the needs would be to mutually share the burden. Fisher noted the City has paid for three vehicles to be towed this year.
Sheriff Mike Fisher reported looking at the 2025 numbers for Sierra County and 5,924 vehicles would fall within this program. The $1 registration fee for vehicles could carry over year after year to build some capital. The Board of Supervisors would be the authority. The Sheriff’s Office would be the lead administrator and enforcement. The Program could generate upwards of $6,000 a year, which would be a “handful of cars removed every year.”
Supervisor Sharon Dryden was frustrated that no one was present or attending online from the City of Loyalton who had asked the board to have this on an agenda. She felt the majority of this problem was in the city and heard the program was administratively burdensome and cost more to administer than the amount of vehicles towed.
County Counsel Andrew Plett stated Lassen County found the program to be administratively difficult and opted not to continue. He noted AVA program has to create the authority, annual reports have to be made, CHP has to approve the program. Lassen had difficulty meeting the requirements.
Adams appreciated the comments and felt the City should be in the room. He questioned how residents would feel to put another fee upon them. He suggested they put this item on another agenda to see if the City attends.
Board Chair Paul Roen stated the County would shoulder the cost to implement. County Counsel felt the issue was having a partner agency willing to help. Dryden suggested they put this item on pause and have Supervisor Terry LeBlanc meet with a City representative to go over what the needs would be to mutually share the burden. Fisher noted the City has paid for three vehicles to be towed this year.
