LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL met May 15th at the City Center with Counsel Steve Gross present.
California Department of Forestry will be at the cemetery May 21st and 22nd to clean it before Memorial Day. It was stated new flags need to fly at the cemetery and social hall.
CalPERS: Mayor Mark Marin has consistently said the City doesn’t have funding to pay the five former employees which amounts to nearly $5,000 a month. At the meeting, he said they’d voted to pay December and understood January and he was going to direct the “money people” to try and pay the retirees. “Gotta pay 60%,” he said, adding he’s been told it could come out of water and sewer and have settlement money. It was stated 95% comes out of water and sewer to pay employees.
Bookkeeper Tracy Smith gave a description of the break down of departments and the mayor questioned taking 60% out of water and sewer. Tracy told of the need of a budget to pull a report and nothing had been created. Councilwomen Joy Markum agreed they need a budget. The mayor agreed, “Then let’s do one,” he said, not having had a finance meeting since September 2017.
From the audience, Phyllis DeMartini stated “money you’re talking of taking represents this whole community,” and told of driving over and dodging streets. The mayor stated the city has “$980,000 to do Beckwith Street and it’ll start next year.” Phyllis stopped the mayor from blaming past councils and stated, “This council needs action,” and received applause.
Markum talked of a clause on settlement monies being used only for water and sewer plant. Counsel Gross said it was limited to improvements of facilities not pension supplement payments.
From the audience, Brooks stated both settlements given were neither stipulated for water and sewer and takes a 4/5 vote. Gross stated they were USDA-funded and had limitations and prohibited expenditures of funds to fund litigation and would limit how funds are expended. This was tabled to the next meeting.
VERIZON TOWER: Markum addressed the Verizon tower and the contract appeared the property is in the county and to follow the County’s ordinance on what it would look like, adding it wasn’t “aesthetic appropriate.” This resulted in the county planning director being referred to as “the enemy” by a member of the audience and Beals stating the characterization was false. He told of a title issue on how the city obtained the property and at no time was it rejected or told about aesthetics. He agreed to help push it through “If Verizon wants to meet.” This would be agendized.
FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Assistant Fire Chief Robert DeMartini told of a positive spaghetti feed. There have been 49 calls so far this year with two just that day. 98% are medical calls. With the upcoming annexation, they need a water tender to cover outlying areas. Battalion Chief John Evans told of advanced classes for wildland fire fighting and they anticipate it being a busy season. Robert told of how with all the rain, it rejuvenates grass and asked property owners “to please cut it down and protect yourself. Report anything,” he added.
4-H & FFA: There was a lengthy discussion regarding 4-H and FFA with Allison Gunier telling of her daughter’s six years of 4-H involvement, 4 years with a pig purchased and housed in her backyard. Carrie O’Reilly, County representative and several 4-H leaders were present. Allison told of heat lamps, play, feeding and watering, washing and walking, communication and trust, shots, nutrition, skin care, percentage of fat and muscle in her daughter’s raising of the pig. Her neighbor, Joy Markum, she stated was watering the pig creating a stench, to which Joy wanted the pig’s pen moved.
O’Reilly told of 4-H’s main job of serving our community and being helpful and respectful with neighbors and had sympathy for both. She hoped within May to find a more satisfactory location for the pig. In Plumas County, she said there is a special use permit expected and getting buy-in from the neighbors before it becomes an issue.
City Clerk Kathy LeBlanc said there is a special use permit on file and Allison has 60 days. Gross told of when the permit comes back, to make sure it meets regulations and if the applicant can keep a pig as it might require to move it or not to grant. He said to see if the property complies with the ordinance, evaluate the permit and see the conditions to mitigate problems.
O’Reilly stated Loyalton’s permit is exactly the same as Plumas County’s and the same, good process having a public comment for those affected and for all other animals.
Gross will bring a draft and have it on the next agenda. From the audience, 4-H leader Sara Jackson felt the City had “drifted so far it’s unrealistic to expect us to do this after the animal is purchased.” According to LeBlanc, there are permits out for the pig and two lambs this year. Joy asked Allison to “build a new pen,” and Allison wanted Joy “to stop watering.”
CREDIT CARDS FOR THE FIRE DEPT.: DeMartini said charges come out of their own budget and if there are stipulations, they need to know. Apparently, the credit cards were torn up over thoughts of the city being disincorporated. John Evans stated the chief authorizes all purchases and there is a $2,000 limit with no cash back.
RELEASING THE ATTORNEY STATEMENT: Gross told of the law changed and the court has said in less pending litigation, the bill can be provided. Audience members questioned his presence. He stated he got no overtime and charged $200/hour. The mayor took credit for having the attorney at the meeting, thought there would be a “bunch of people raving about Nancy,” some who screamed at him.
California Department of Forestry will be at the cemetery May 21st and 22nd to clean it before Memorial Day. It was stated new flags need to fly at the cemetery and social hall.
CalPERS: Mayor Mark Marin has consistently said the City doesn’t have funding to pay the five former employees which amounts to nearly $5,000 a month. At the meeting, he said they’d voted to pay December and understood January and he was going to direct the “money people” to try and pay the retirees. “Gotta pay 60%,” he said, adding he’s been told it could come out of water and sewer and have settlement money. It was stated 95% comes out of water and sewer to pay employees.
Bookkeeper Tracy Smith gave a description of the break down of departments and the mayor questioned taking 60% out of water and sewer. Tracy told of the need of a budget to pull a report and nothing had been created. Councilwomen Joy Markum agreed they need a budget. The mayor agreed, “Then let’s do one,” he said, not having had a finance meeting since September 2017.
From the audience, Phyllis DeMartini stated “money you’re talking of taking represents this whole community,” and told of driving over and dodging streets. The mayor stated the city has “$980,000 to do Beckwith Street and it’ll start next year.” Phyllis stopped the mayor from blaming past councils and stated, “This council needs action,” and received applause.
Markum talked of a clause on settlement monies being used only for water and sewer plant. Counsel Gross said it was limited to improvements of facilities not pension supplement payments.
From the audience, Brooks stated both settlements given were neither stipulated for water and sewer and takes a 4/5 vote. Gross stated they were USDA-funded and had limitations and prohibited expenditures of funds to fund litigation and would limit how funds are expended. This was tabled to the next meeting.
VERIZON TOWER: Markum addressed the Verizon tower and the contract appeared the property is in the county and to follow the County’s ordinance on what it would look like, adding it wasn’t “aesthetic appropriate.” This resulted in the county planning director being referred to as “the enemy” by a member of the audience and Beals stating the characterization was false. He told of a title issue on how the city obtained the property and at no time was it rejected or told about aesthetics. He agreed to help push it through “If Verizon wants to meet.” This would be agendized.
FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Assistant Fire Chief Robert DeMartini told of a positive spaghetti feed. There have been 49 calls so far this year with two just that day. 98% are medical calls. With the upcoming annexation, they need a water tender to cover outlying areas. Battalion Chief John Evans told of advanced classes for wildland fire fighting and they anticipate it being a busy season. Robert told of how with all the rain, it rejuvenates grass and asked property owners “to please cut it down and protect yourself. Report anything,” he added.
4-H & FFA: There was a lengthy discussion regarding 4-H and FFA with Allison Gunier telling of her daughter’s six years of 4-H involvement, 4 years with a pig purchased and housed in her backyard. Carrie O’Reilly, County representative and several 4-H leaders were present. Allison told of heat lamps, play, feeding and watering, washing and walking, communication and trust, shots, nutrition, skin care, percentage of fat and muscle in her daughter’s raising of the pig. Her neighbor, Joy Markum, she stated was watering the pig creating a stench, to which Joy wanted the pig’s pen moved.
O’Reilly told of 4-H’s main job of serving our community and being helpful and respectful with neighbors and had sympathy for both. She hoped within May to find a more satisfactory location for the pig. In Plumas County, she said there is a special use permit expected and getting buy-in from the neighbors before it becomes an issue.
City Clerk Kathy LeBlanc said there is a special use permit on file and Allison has 60 days. Gross told of when the permit comes back, to make sure it meets regulations and if the applicant can keep a pig as it might require to move it or not to grant. He said to see if the property complies with the ordinance, evaluate the permit and see the conditions to mitigate problems.
O’Reilly stated Loyalton’s permit is exactly the same as Plumas County’s and the same, good process having a public comment for those affected and for all other animals.
Gross will bring a draft and have it on the next agenda. From the audience, 4-H leader Sara Jackson felt the City had “drifted so far it’s unrealistic to expect us to do this after the animal is purchased.” According to LeBlanc, there are permits out for the pig and two lambs this year. Joy asked Allison to “build a new pen,” and Allison wanted Joy “to stop watering.”
CREDIT CARDS FOR THE FIRE DEPT.: DeMartini said charges come out of their own budget and if there are stipulations, they need to know. Apparently, the credit cards were torn up over thoughts of the city being disincorporated. John Evans stated the chief authorizes all purchases and there is a $2,000 limit with no cash back.
RELEASING THE ATTORNEY STATEMENT: Gross told of the law changed and the court has said in less pending litigation, the bill can be provided. Audience members questioned his presence. He stated he got no overtime and charged $200/hour. The mayor took credit for having the attorney at the meeting, thought there would be a “bunch of people raving about Nancy,” some who screamed at him.
