AN ORDINANCE amending Sierra County Code 8.12.050 implementing fire regulations and restrictions on private property in Sierra County was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held June 18th in Loyalton. Planning Director Brandon Pangman stated this was the third time in bringing back a draft ordinance for seasonal fire restrictions. The county-wide ordinance (excluding the City of Loyalton) by amending the Sierra County Code would extend fire protection measures by adopting seasonal fire restriction/prohibition consistent with the U.S. Forest Service. The committee met with Forest Service officials to come to a consensus on what would trigger the local ordinance. USFS uses Stage 2 language when the most stringent fire restrictions go into effect, but the Tahoe National Forest doesn’t use it. Intent is the trigger would start the local ordinance with the most restrictive fire restrictions in Stage 2 are implemented or when open flames are restricted in hosted campgrounds. The Board approved and waived first reading.
VERIZON WIRELESS Lease Optimization Program pertaining to the cell tower located at 305 Lincoln Street in Sierraville was discussed at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held June 18th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey explained he received correspondence that Verizon is offering to lower the lease payments to $680 per month in exchange for a long-term lease. The initial 5-year term of the current lease was $10,800 per year ($900 a month) with a 7% escalation factor every 5 years for 4 extensions. The County is in the second term so the rent should be $11,556 per year ($963 a month) now. The current lease is for 25 years set to expire 2042. Verizon is offering a couple lump sum lease options in addition with a much lower payout than the monthly lease. Davey stated he was going to send a denial letter, stating they are not interested. https://www.allconnect.com/providers/verizon
LOYALTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL will have some new faces joining the staff this fall. At the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District Governing Board meeting held June 11th in Downieville, the resignation of Andrea Ceresola, Site Administrator, was announced during the Superintendent reports. Andrea has accepted a position as the Director of Student Services for Plumas County Office of Education. The board expressed regret to see her leave but happy for her new role. Andrea stated this was not an easy decision and she will be part of the hiring committee on her replacement.
The board also accepted resignations from teachers Allie Davis and Amy Mason and instructional aide Taya Hernandez.
Retiring teacher, Erin Folchi, had her position filled by Annie Tipton who stepped down as the District’s Board Trustee for Area #2 to be eligible to apply.
Loyalton High School will also see some changes. The board on the same night approved Ryan Branche as Spanish Teacher and Margaret Binkley, ELA/Social Studies Teacher.
Word is now out that Loyalton High School Principal Megan Meschery has accepted another administrative position with Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District, so the principal position will be open until filled.
To view all job postings, go to www.edjoin.org or call 530-993-1660 ext. 151
WOLVES, BEARS, LIONS AND BIRDS were discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held June 18th in Loyalton with the status of the Smithneck WUI and Antelope Creek WUI Forest Health and Fuels Reduction Projects. Board Chair Paul Roen recused himself due to mitigation work on the projects. Supervisor Sharon Dryden asked for this agenda item as it is crucial to her district and wanted a discussion about what is going on with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) lands.
County Forester Danielle Bradfield provided an update on the Smithneck Project. It is a 723-acre project, funded through Sierra Nevada Conservancy and went through the Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District. They completed 638 acres last year and have about 85 acres left which was set to complete this spring. After starting, CDFW showed up and shut them down for a new lengthy permit process, bird nesting surveys and wolf sightings in the area. Bradfield stated the season for operation is already pretty short due to fire conditions. They have lost operational days and lost 10-15 acres due to bird nesting. Part of the fuels reduction treatment is the need to reduce surface fuels and now CDFW is requiring them to leave 80-90% of the bitterbrush. They now have CDFW surveying for bird nests every seven days. Bradfield hoped they could come to a consensus.
Executive Director for Fire Safe Sierra County Rodd Rummel talked about the Antelope Valley Project which is the 2nd phase to the Smithneck Project. He recently sent an email to CDFW to inform them they were starting the project and had a contractor ready to go. CDFW shut them down, citing a permit process that had never been identified and are now losing operational days. He stated they have designated a wolf pack and restrictions are imposed once a den site has been identified. The benchmarks for restrictions haven’t been hit, but are already imposed. Rummel said they are trying to work through it and get the project implemented as soon as possible as well as having bird surveys every seven days. Dryden had hoped someone from CDFW would be at this meeting to address the issues. She felt it important to have the public know what is going on and very important that these projects get done. Dryden felt safer living in Sierra Brooks because of the work done and stated there had to be a balance to protecting wildlife and protecting the forest.
Victoria Fisher representing RCD stated they were in a position with the Smithneck Project to try and meet grant guidelines. She felt they had good communication with CDFW and now there was a definite shift happening and stated if we don’t do something now, this will affect lands going forward.
Rancher Rick Roberti also representing the RCD stated this makes them not want to do projects. He found the nesting bird surveys hypocritical, as he’s been watching ravens destroy bird nests for years and had been trying to get help. He stated people in the city who are ignorant, are really the problem, adding it reminded him of the spotted owl issue. Roberti stated they can’t touch wolves because they are on the endangered species list and felt this was an orchestrated mission to get wolves back in California. “When they start shutting down jobs, it comes down to economics.” Roberti said wolves will take the whole state, because nothing is stopping them. He added, “It’s a bad thing and we are allowing it to happen.” He wondered how our forefathers would look at us right now with “lions walking around Main Street in Loyalton and bears eating people in Downieville”. He met with a CDFW specialist a few years ago, who said there was no management plan for bears or lions. Roberti stated this has almost destroyed the deer herd and felt the animal population would decline so much, they won’t issue permits for deer.He felt the Board should declare an emergency, “before they kill one of our kids,” adding if we don’t do something it will happen.
Sheriff Mike Fisher echoed the other comments. His interpretation on CDFW policies comes down to who is in the position to interpret the policy. Game wardens can only deal with public safety animals. Fisher stated this is a hot topic in all surrounding counties. He didn’t want to get in the “management game but will not put public safety below an animal”.
Supervisor Lee Adams suggested they engage legislature to get CDFW’s attention, adding issues won’t get better until we do something.
An adhoc committee was formed to further look at the issues and arrange a meeting with CDFW.
AN AMENDMENT adjusting the fire development fee within the boundaries of the Sierra County Fire Protection District No. 1 from $2.08 to $2.06 per building square foot was explained by County Clerk Heather Foster during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on June 18th in Loyalton. She stated the fee adopted last year went up too much, so it isn’t an increase just an amendment to the fee. Refunds were sent out to those who overpaid. Rick Maddalena, representing the fire district, thanked the building department for their help and reported on the $40,000+ investment they made to the Filippini well site available year-round for fire suppression access. They plan to make a similar investment to Deerwater in Sierraville to help support initial attack. Supervisor Sharon Dryden was happy to make the motion to decrease fees which passed unanimously.
A RESOLUTION adopting Solid Waste Fees for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 was discussed at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on June 18th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey stated after going through the whole process, they came up with the same number so proposed the same fee of $20.38 per (uncompacted) cubic yard. The resolution was adopted with appreciation to Davey.
Nichole Johnson
[email protected]
VERIZON WIRELESS Lease Optimization Program pertaining to the cell tower located at 305 Lincoln Street in Sierraville was discussed at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held June 18th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey explained he received correspondence that Verizon is offering to lower the lease payments to $680 per month in exchange for a long-term lease. The initial 5-year term of the current lease was $10,800 per year ($900 a month) with a 7% escalation factor every 5 years for 4 extensions. The County is in the second term so the rent should be $11,556 per year ($963 a month) now. The current lease is for 25 years set to expire 2042. Verizon is offering a couple lump sum lease options in addition with a much lower payout than the monthly lease. Davey stated he was going to send a denial letter, stating they are not interested. https://www.allconnect.com/providers/verizon
LOYALTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL will have some new faces joining the staff this fall. At the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District Governing Board meeting held June 11th in Downieville, the resignation of Andrea Ceresola, Site Administrator, was announced during the Superintendent reports. Andrea has accepted a position as the Director of Student Services for Plumas County Office of Education. The board expressed regret to see her leave but happy for her new role. Andrea stated this was not an easy decision and she will be part of the hiring committee on her replacement.
The board also accepted resignations from teachers Allie Davis and Amy Mason and instructional aide Taya Hernandez.
Retiring teacher, Erin Folchi, had her position filled by Annie Tipton who stepped down as the District’s Board Trustee for Area #2 to be eligible to apply.
Loyalton High School will also see some changes. The board on the same night approved Ryan Branche as Spanish Teacher and Margaret Binkley, ELA/Social Studies Teacher.
Word is now out that Loyalton High School Principal Megan Meschery has accepted another administrative position with Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District, so the principal position will be open until filled.
To view all job postings, go to www.edjoin.org or call 530-993-1660 ext. 151
WOLVES, BEARS, LIONS AND BIRDS were discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held June 18th in Loyalton with the status of the Smithneck WUI and Antelope Creek WUI Forest Health and Fuels Reduction Projects. Board Chair Paul Roen recused himself due to mitigation work on the projects. Supervisor Sharon Dryden asked for this agenda item as it is crucial to her district and wanted a discussion about what is going on with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) lands.
County Forester Danielle Bradfield provided an update on the Smithneck Project. It is a 723-acre project, funded through Sierra Nevada Conservancy and went through the Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District. They completed 638 acres last year and have about 85 acres left which was set to complete this spring. After starting, CDFW showed up and shut them down for a new lengthy permit process, bird nesting surveys and wolf sightings in the area. Bradfield stated the season for operation is already pretty short due to fire conditions. They have lost operational days and lost 10-15 acres due to bird nesting. Part of the fuels reduction treatment is the need to reduce surface fuels and now CDFW is requiring them to leave 80-90% of the bitterbrush. They now have CDFW surveying for bird nests every seven days. Bradfield hoped they could come to a consensus.
Executive Director for Fire Safe Sierra County Rodd Rummel talked about the Antelope Valley Project which is the 2nd phase to the Smithneck Project. He recently sent an email to CDFW to inform them they were starting the project and had a contractor ready to go. CDFW shut them down, citing a permit process that had never been identified and are now losing operational days. He stated they have designated a wolf pack and restrictions are imposed once a den site has been identified. The benchmarks for restrictions haven’t been hit, but are already imposed. Rummel said they are trying to work through it and get the project implemented as soon as possible as well as having bird surveys every seven days. Dryden had hoped someone from CDFW would be at this meeting to address the issues. She felt it important to have the public know what is going on and very important that these projects get done. Dryden felt safer living in Sierra Brooks because of the work done and stated there had to be a balance to protecting wildlife and protecting the forest.
Victoria Fisher representing RCD stated they were in a position with the Smithneck Project to try and meet grant guidelines. She felt they had good communication with CDFW and now there was a definite shift happening and stated if we don’t do something now, this will affect lands going forward.
Rancher Rick Roberti also representing the RCD stated this makes them not want to do projects. He found the nesting bird surveys hypocritical, as he’s been watching ravens destroy bird nests for years and had been trying to get help. He stated people in the city who are ignorant, are really the problem, adding it reminded him of the spotted owl issue. Roberti stated they can’t touch wolves because they are on the endangered species list and felt this was an orchestrated mission to get wolves back in California. “When they start shutting down jobs, it comes down to economics.” Roberti said wolves will take the whole state, because nothing is stopping them. He added, “It’s a bad thing and we are allowing it to happen.” He wondered how our forefathers would look at us right now with “lions walking around Main Street in Loyalton and bears eating people in Downieville”. He met with a CDFW specialist a few years ago, who said there was no management plan for bears or lions. Roberti stated this has almost destroyed the deer herd and felt the animal population would decline so much, they won’t issue permits for deer.He felt the Board should declare an emergency, “before they kill one of our kids,” adding if we don’t do something it will happen.
Sheriff Mike Fisher echoed the other comments. His interpretation on CDFW policies comes down to who is in the position to interpret the policy. Game wardens can only deal with public safety animals. Fisher stated this is a hot topic in all surrounding counties. He didn’t want to get in the “management game but will not put public safety below an animal”.
Supervisor Lee Adams suggested they engage legislature to get CDFW’s attention, adding issues won’t get better until we do something.
An adhoc committee was formed to further look at the issues and arrange a meeting with CDFW.
AN AMENDMENT adjusting the fire development fee within the boundaries of the Sierra County Fire Protection District No. 1 from $2.08 to $2.06 per building square foot was explained by County Clerk Heather Foster during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on June 18th in Loyalton. She stated the fee adopted last year went up too much, so it isn’t an increase just an amendment to the fee. Refunds were sent out to those who overpaid. Rick Maddalena, representing the fire district, thanked the building department for their help and reported on the $40,000+ investment they made to the Filippini well site available year-round for fire suppression access. They plan to make a similar investment to Deerwater in Sierraville to help support initial attack. Supervisor Sharon Dryden was happy to make the motion to decrease fees which passed unanimously.
A RESOLUTION adopting Solid Waste Fees for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 was discussed at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on June 18th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey stated after going through the whole process, they came up with the same number so proposed the same fee of $20.38 per (uncompacted) cubic yard. The resolution was adopted with appreciation to Davey.
Nichole Johnson
[email protected]
