MARK MARIN will remain mayor of Loyalton the next year. The Council took a vote at its regular meeting on January 17th.
Pat Whitley nominated Brooks Mitchell with Marin, Kristin Gallegos and Nancy Rogers voting no. For Vice Mayor, Brooks nominated Pat and Marin, Gallegos and Rogers voted no. With two new members, there was discussion over who else could qualify. Marin then agreed to second another vote for Pat and it passed.
LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL heard a discussion by Jason Christian on the Loyalton biomass plant on January 17th at the regular City Council meeting.
Jason told the Council the UC proposal “was not complete,” stating it “never addresses health of the forest.” He suggested a draft letter to the Governor.
As a consultant for the City of Loyalton, he would include copies to elected officials and to supervisors who he felt will want to get on board.
Jason, a fan of Assemblyman Brian Dahle, stated Dahle was “aware and on board and likes setting things up for constituents.”
Jason felt if they’d get the biomass going everything would be solved. He stated, “the State’s got money.”
Council member Pat Whitley reminded Jason the actual project was on County land and would have to be approved by the County and the County would have to be on board.
Councilman Brooks Mitchell was in agreement if Jason would spearhead the effort, contact the County and Dahle. The City Council would have legal counsel review any proposal.
Jason agreed to send an updated proposal with any fee waived to get on the next agenda. He called it a “small piece of the drought disaster.”
THE LATE JOE MARIN will be the recipient of the 2017 Richard Meder Community Leader award by the City of Loyalton.
Other nominees were Leland Cross, Terry LeBlanc, Mike Buck and Robert DeMartini.
Brooks Mitchell nominated Robert and Mayor Mark Marin nominated Joe. New Council members, Kristin Gallegos and Nancy Rogers seemed unaware of such an award and had no suggestions.
The presentation will take place in February for Fire Chief Joseph Marin, Jr.
“WHERE’S THE MONEY COMING FROM?” City Council member Pat Whitley wanted to know concerning CalPERS payments to
former employees at the January 17th meeting.
Bookkeeper Kim Lombardi mentioned discrepancies and wanted to confirm “This is what it really is.”
Councilman Brooks Mitchell thought it a general fund expense but Pat stated it was split mostly from water and sewer as most employees worked on water and sewer.
Mary Fleming Leslie, with Rural Community Assistance Corporation out of West Sacramento, is assisting the City and she stated they won’t know if they have the revenue in water and sewer until the financial statement for each enterprise is separated.
Kim was concerned with an additional $5,000 a month in expenses when they don’t have an additional $5,000 in revenue.
Pat talked of sewer and water rates.
Mary said there needs to be a rate analysis done with all costs and revenue by enterprise in water and sewer to tell if the rates are covered. She stated they need to get the audit cleaned up in a 6-week process.
There was deep discussion over Mary never having seen a rate study done and Brooks stating one was dated 2008. Mary stated USDA doesn’t do it but “would love to see the documents.” If so, it’s eight years old, she said.
Brooks stated it was in the ordinance for sewer and water. Mary stated nobody projects out ten years but 3-5 years. Brooks said it was 2008-2012, stating 2% every year.
Mary continued, inflation factor would be adequate because of such stalled growth and it “looks like you’ve lost a good segment of revenue; losing dramatically on both enterprises.” She continued on, “so much work to do to get ready for the audit and be ready for the rate study,” but stressed the audit as number one priority.
Kim questioned paying bills having lost $5,000 at the trailer park and increasing $5,000 in retirement payments.
Mary was “highly suspect” of a rate increase in three months when they could vote, accept a rate increase and wait 45 days for the hearing.
Brooks made a motion, noting it takes a 4/5 vote, to take $15,000 out of contingencies for the next 3 months’ payments, seconded by Pat and it passed unanimously. Brooks then moved, seconded by Nancy Rogers to open a separate checking account to pay retirees and that too passed.
Pat Whitley nominated Brooks Mitchell with Marin, Kristin Gallegos and Nancy Rogers voting no. For Vice Mayor, Brooks nominated Pat and Marin, Gallegos and Rogers voted no. With two new members, there was discussion over who else could qualify. Marin then agreed to second another vote for Pat and it passed.
LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL heard a discussion by Jason Christian on the Loyalton biomass plant on January 17th at the regular City Council meeting.
Jason told the Council the UC proposal “was not complete,” stating it “never addresses health of the forest.” He suggested a draft letter to the Governor.
As a consultant for the City of Loyalton, he would include copies to elected officials and to supervisors who he felt will want to get on board.
Jason, a fan of Assemblyman Brian Dahle, stated Dahle was “aware and on board and likes setting things up for constituents.”
Jason felt if they’d get the biomass going everything would be solved. He stated, “the State’s got money.”
Council member Pat Whitley reminded Jason the actual project was on County land and would have to be approved by the County and the County would have to be on board.
Councilman Brooks Mitchell was in agreement if Jason would spearhead the effort, contact the County and Dahle. The City Council would have legal counsel review any proposal.
Jason agreed to send an updated proposal with any fee waived to get on the next agenda. He called it a “small piece of the drought disaster.”
THE LATE JOE MARIN will be the recipient of the 2017 Richard Meder Community Leader award by the City of Loyalton.
Other nominees were Leland Cross, Terry LeBlanc, Mike Buck and Robert DeMartini.
Brooks Mitchell nominated Robert and Mayor Mark Marin nominated Joe. New Council members, Kristin Gallegos and Nancy Rogers seemed unaware of such an award and had no suggestions.
The presentation will take place in February for Fire Chief Joseph Marin, Jr.
“WHERE’S THE MONEY COMING FROM?” City Council member Pat Whitley wanted to know concerning CalPERS payments to
former employees at the January 17th meeting.
Bookkeeper Kim Lombardi mentioned discrepancies and wanted to confirm “This is what it really is.”
Councilman Brooks Mitchell thought it a general fund expense but Pat stated it was split mostly from water and sewer as most employees worked on water and sewer.
Mary Fleming Leslie, with Rural Community Assistance Corporation out of West Sacramento, is assisting the City and she stated they won’t know if they have the revenue in water and sewer until the financial statement for each enterprise is separated.
Kim was concerned with an additional $5,000 a month in expenses when they don’t have an additional $5,000 in revenue.
Pat talked of sewer and water rates.
Mary said there needs to be a rate analysis done with all costs and revenue by enterprise in water and sewer to tell if the rates are covered. She stated they need to get the audit cleaned up in a 6-week process.
There was deep discussion over Mary never having seen a rate study done and Brooks stating one was dated 2008. Mary stated USDA doesn’t do it but “would love to see the documents.” If so, it’s eight years old, she said.
Brooks stated it was in the ordinance for sewer and water. Mary stated nobody projects out ten years but 3-5 years. Brooks said it was 2008-2012, stating 2% every year.
Mary continued, inflation factor would be adequate because of such stalled growth and it “looks like you’ve lost a good segment of revenue; losing dramatically on both enterprises.” She continued on, “so much work to do to get ready for the audit and be ready for the rate study,” but stressed the audit as number one priority.
Kim questioned paying bills having lost $5,000 at the trailer park and increasing $5,000 in retirement payments.
Mary was “highly suspect” of a rate increase in three months when they could vote, accept a rate increase and wait 45 days for the hearing.
Brooks made a motion, noting it takes a 4/5 vote, to take $15,000 out of contingencies for the next 3 months’ payments, seconded by Pat and it passed unanimously. Brooks then moved, seconded by Nancy Rogers to open a separate checking account to pay retirees and that too passed.
