A PUBLIC HEARING regarding the annual increase to the Fire Development Impact Fee to be paid by certain new development/construction within the boundaries of the Sierra County Fire Protection District No. 1 (SCFPD) was held during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Loyalton on September 19th. Adoption of the resolution would increase the fire development impact fee, from $2.02 per building square foot to $2.08 per building square foot. There were no public comments, only a letter from SCFPD Director Jeff McCollum stating in part, “The change was not so much an “increase in the fee” but rather, implementation of the inflation factor approved by adoption of Resolution 2021-018 wherein the Board capped the indexed inflation adjustment at 3%. The net effect under consideration was an increase of $.06 (six cents) per square foot of specifically defined new construction to help SCFPD accomplish its 20-year Capital Investment Goals. To provide scale to this change, a builder of a 2,400 sq. ft. home will experience a net increase of $144.”
Board Chair Sharon Dryden stated this was one fee that is necessary and critical for services, adding she understood the impact but also understood the importance. The Resolution to increase the fee from $2.02 to $2.08 per building square foot was unanimously approved.
A RESOLUTION authorizing the use of Easy Smart Pay Inc., to provide taxpayers the option to pay secured property taxes in monthly installments was approved unanimously by the Sierra County Board of Supervisors at its meeting on September 19th in Loyalton. Auditor/Tax Collector Van Maddox stated taxpayers have always asked to make monthly or quarterly payments and this service would allow it. The service fee will be on the user with no cost to the county.
A CHANGE TO LOYALTON LIBRARY STATION HOURS was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting September 19th in Loyalton. The current hours of operation are Thursday and Friday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and requested the schedule switch to Wednesday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. They felt this would provide an increase in traffic and boost circulation numbers as well as provide for partnerships with other agencies.
The local school’s early release day is Wednesdays, letting students out almost an hour and a half earlier than the usual time school ends. By providing planned programming aimed at 4th through 12th graders, students will have another location when they are unable to stay on campus. Guardians will have a safe and welcoming environment to send their children, and the library will see an increase in the under 18 population. Gail Verver, the Loyalton Library Station aide has reached out to the Senior Center in Loyalton to provide transportation from the Senior Apartments to the library once per month. Based on their schedule as well as theLoyalton Food Bank hours, opening the library on Wednesdays will provide seniors with more opportunities to interact with the community.
A challenge many seniors face is a lack of daily human interaction, and switching to Wednesdays provides seniors an additional day to connect to people and use community resources.
The Resolution adopting the updated hours was approved unanimously.
A FOREST SERVICE UPDATE was given to the Sierra County Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting held September 19th in Loyalton. Sierraville District Ranger Rachel Hutchinson reported they finished the roadside fuels project for this season, completing 800 acres of work and almost 50 miles of road treated between the Sierraville and Truckee Ranger Districts. She was very pleased to get that much work done in addition to 1,000 acres of mastication.
Beckwourth District Ranger Mike Rahe reported the District received three lightning fires from the day before. He said two were under control and one was being looked at that morning, west of Portola. Rahe talked about a Dixie Fire salvage timber sale that had been ongoing all summer which brings out nine truck loads per day, northeast of Cromberg. He talked about recreation and stated the main campground at Frenchman Reservoir is open and the rest are closed. Rahe said the concessionaire is leaving early and won’t be back next year so they are soliciting. He gave an update on the repaving project at Frenchman, stating the roads were in pretty poor shape from the fire and will have impacts to main boat ramp and campground for 7-10 days. 93 miles of fence that burned in the Dixie Fire is currently being rebuilt. Rahe stated a roadside project for the Beckwourth District treated about 50 miles.
Yuba District Ranger Tom Parrack reported on the Highway 49 aspen project, stating it is progressing well. He spoke on the hazard tree work in campgrounds, and stated the felling work was done and trees and slash are being hauled off. October 15th is planned for end of season for campgrounds. Parrack stated the last weekend saw 26 lightning strikes on the district, adding there were no reports of any fires so far.
Employment numbers for Sierra County in July of 2022 were 2.9% and by June of 2023 employment numbers rose to 3.9%. U.S. was 3.6%. Alliance for Workforce Development served 33 Sierra County clients with classroom training, resume assistance, skills testing, job search, OJT, and work experience (WEX). There were 48 workshops offered and six services provided to businesses.
ALLOCATING TITLE III FUNDS to restore the Calpine Reservoir as set out in the County-wide Wildfire Plan was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, September 19th in Loyalton. Supervisor Paul Roen explained the need to get the Reservoir cleaned. They had $25,000 set aside to do this project and will have to get a biologist to monitor the yellow-legged frog. He wanted to transfer a little more money from Title III funds as appraisals are close to $40,000. Jeff McCollum, Sierra County Fire Protection District Director, stated the Reservoir serves as fire suppression for the community, adding it is valuable because Calpine doesn’t have other water storage. The Reservoir was last cleaned in 2008. The Board unanimously approved $15,000 from Title III funds.
Board Chair Sharon Dryden stated this was one fee that is necessary and critical for services, adding she understood the impact but also understood the importance. The Resolution to increase the fee from $2.02 to $2.08 per building square foot was unanimously approved.
A RESOLUTION authorizing the use of Easy Smart Pay Inc., to provide taxpayers the option to pay secured property taxes in monthly installments was approved unanimously by the Sierra County Board of Supervisors at its meeting on September 19th in Loyalton. Auditor/Tax Collector Van Maddox stated taxpayers have always asked to make monthly or quarterly payments and this service would allow it. The service fee will be on the user with no cost to the county.
A CHANGE TO LOYALTON LIBRARY STATION HOURS was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting September 19th in Loyalton. The current hours of operation are Thursday and Friday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and requested the schedule switch to Wednesday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. They felt this would provide an increase in traffic and boost circulation numbers as well as provide for partnerships with other agencies.
The local school’s early release day is Wednesdays, letting students out almost an hour and a half earlier than the usual time school ends. By providing planned programming aimed at 4th through 12th graders, students will have another location when they are unable to stay on campus. Guardians will have a safe and welcoming environment to send their children, and the library will see an increase in the under 18 population. Gail Verver, the Loyalton Library Station aide has reached out to the Senior Center in Loyalton to provide transportation from the Senior Apartments to the library once per month. Based on their schedule as well as theLoyalton Food Bank hours, opening the library on Wednesdays will provide seniors with more opportunities to interact with the community.
A challenge many seniors face is a lack of daily human interaction, and switching to Wednesdays provides seniors an additional day to connect to people and use community resources.
The Resolution adopting the updated hours was approved unanimously.
A FOREST SERVICE UPDATE was given to the Sierra County Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting held September 19th in Loyalton. Sierraville District Ranger Rachel Hutchinson reported they finished the roadside fuels project for this season, completing 800 acres of work and almost 50 miles of road treated between the Sierraville and Truckee Ranger Districts. She was very pleased to get that much work done in addition to 1,000 acres of mastication.
Beckwourth District Ranger Mike Rahe reported the District received three lightning fires from the day before. He said two were under control and one was being looked at that morning, west of Portola. Rahe talked about a Dixie Fire salvage timber sale that had been ongoing all summer which brings out nine truck loads per day, northeast of Cromberg. He talked about recreation and stated the main campground at Frenchman Reservoir is open and the rest are closed. Rahe said the concessionaire is leaving early and won’t be back next year so they are soliciting. He gave an update on the repaving project at Frenchman, stating the roads were in pretty poor shape from the fire and will have impacts to main boat ramp and campground for 7-10 days. 93 miles of fence that burned in the Dixie Fire is currently being rebuilt. Rahe stated a roadside project for the Beckwourth District treated about 50 miles.
Yuba District Ranger Tom Parrack reported on the Highway 49 aspen project, stating it is progressing well. He spoke on the hazard tree work in campgrounds, and stated the felling work was done and trees and slash are being hauled off. October 15th is planned for end of season for campgrounds. Parrack stated the last weekend saw 26 lightning strikes on the district, adding there were no reports of any fires so far.
Employment numbers for Sierra County in July of 2022 were 2.9% and by June of 2023 employment numbers rose to 3.9%. U.S. was 3.6%. Alliance for Workforce Development served 33 Sierra County clients with classroom training, resume assistance, skills testing, job search, OJT, and work experience (WEX). There were 48 workshops offered and six services provided to businesses.
ALLOCATING TITLE III FUNDS to restore the Calpine Reservoir as set out in the County-wide Wildfire Plan was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, September 19th in Loyalton. Supervisor Paul Roen explained the need to get the Reservoir cleaned. They had $25,000 set aside to do this project and will have to get a biologist to monitor the yellow-legged frog. He wanted to transfer a little more money from Title III funds as appraisals are close to $40,000. Jeff McCollum, Sierra County Fire Protection District Director, stated the Reservoir serves as fire suppression for the community, adding it is valuable because Calpine doesn’t have other water storage. The Reservoir was last cleaned in 2008. The Board unanimously approved $15,000 from Title III funds.
