Battle of the bulge
Inyo County Supervisors deal with large agenda
It was another long day for the Inyo County Board of Supervisors as they discussed a wide range of topics at Tuesday’s meeting in Independence.
In the open session beginning at 10 a.m. The Board approved an extension of the contract with Allan D. Kotin & Associates for consulting services to June 30, 2014 on two complex real estate projects: The Exclusive Negotiation with Joseph Enterprise on the proposed Combined County Services Building in Bishop and ongoing discussions with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on the transfer of the Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy in which the County might have an interest.
Of particular interest to the Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department was Board approval of county-owned property adjacent to the current fire station being declared as surplus property so that, when combined with the property upon which the fire station currently sits and leases from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power that they also hope to purchase, will aid them in their efforts to qualify for funding to construct a new firehouse.
Moving from the Big Pine fire station to the County Libraries in Tecopa and Furnace Creek, the board approved the hiring for two Library Specialists positions which were vacated last year because of retirement and relocation.
The Board also approved of payment for the County’s share of the court-ordered Blackrock dispute resolution arbitration under the Long Term Water Agreement which currently sits at $21,110 with final costs unknown as the dispute has not been concluded.
Approval was given by the Supervisors to waive Temporary Food Facility Fees for certified Cottage Food Operators (CFOs) that sell adjacent to and during Farmers Markets. The waiver will save CFOs $150 in fees per year, although they will still be required to apply for a Temporary Food Facility Permit, comply with other CFO regulations, and pay the lesser fees associated with becoming a CFO.
A Lower Owens River Project Recreational Use Plan update was presented by Larry Freilich for the Water Department for direction by the board on how to proceed. The plan offers the potential to increase tourism in the Southern Inyo County by opening the Lower Owens River to kayaking, canoeing, fishing, bird watching and wildlife viewing. The board requested that the Planning Department present it with an actionable agenda item to move the plan forward.
Information was presented to the Board on the County Road Department’s Snow Removal policy by Paul Brown and it was noted that the information on which roads receive priority for snow removal are on the County website. Susan Burak, the County’s Avalanche consultant from the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center gave board members a presentation on the program and how it protects both road workers, home owners, travelers and those involved in winter sports.
Two new Water Commission Board members were appointed. Craig Patten of Bishop and James Stroh of Independence were selected by the Board to replace outgoing members Sally Symons of Bishop and Mike Carrington of Big Pine.
The Board was given an update and expressed its approval to move forward with plans on a new 3,360 square foot animal shelter in Big Pine. The facility will include 24 inside kennels with access to an outside fenced area, a cat room with 24 cages, an office, lobby and waiting room, and an ADA compliant restroom. The cost is estimated at $701,400, of which $545,000 has already been raised or set aside. Ted Schade with ICARE offered assurance to the Board that the money still outstanding will be raised. The goal is to break ground by June 30, 2014 and have a Grand Opening by December 2014.
The Planning Department prepared letters offering input from the Board of Supervisors to the Sequoia-Kings National Park Services on the proposed Restoration of Native Species in High Elevation Aquatic Ecosystems Plan (Mountain yellow-legged frogs) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement; the critical habitat for the Bi-state Distinct Population of Greater Sage-Grouse under the Federal Endangered Species Act, and the Draft Assessment for the Inyo National Forest Plan. Essentially all the correspondence offered common themes: The federal government should take in consideration the consequences to the local economy on loss of recreational opportunities; respect the culture, history and heritage of the county; and limit the further loss of additional access to public lands which is already substantial.
Health and Human Services Director Jean Turner addressed the Board on Jail Medical Services which she says is the “biggest single concern for my department.” So far this year has been rapidly escalating for inmates held at the County Jail and Turner notes that the length of sentencing can have a significant impact on medical costs. Most inmates requiring in- or outpatient hospital care are treated at the Southern Inyo Hospital. There is also a nurse on duty at the jail as well. The HHS Department also maintains a pharmaceutical contract, another cost factor.
Costs for Jail Medical Services to date have been $98,266. Medicare changes and the effect of the Affordable Care Act will likely have an impact on the costs and possibly mitigate some of the expense, but is not clear to what extent. Turner warned the Board that it is hard to predict what the final costs will be under AB109, which was implemented under a U.S. Supreme court order to reduce crowding in state prisons by transferring low-risk inmates to local county jails to serve out their sentences. Adding to the costs of inmates have been lawsuits alleging poor medical care, which the state is also attempting to address.
Wild Iris and the Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action (IMACA) requested the Board’s approval to authorize a Certification of Local Approval needed for a Grant Application to fund homeless services and activities. Some concerns were raised about the county’s liability by the County Administrative Officer Kevin Carunchio. After an explanation about the critical timeline needed, December 17, the board counsel offered to look at the issue to facilitate the process in time to meet the request. All the board members expressed support for Wild Irises’, IMACA’s, and Health & Human Services Departments on behalf of homeless families and individual.
Health and Human Services Director Turner spoke to the board about the homeless problem in the County, which fortunately is much less than that found in many other counties. Even so she said the department is currently serving homeless families, going on to say that 7 children are being served as well as 49 adult and 16 females described as “not attached to children.” She noted that there is a hole in providing emergency sheltering.
As the day came to a close in the early evening hours, the supervisors held one last scheduled public workshop for public input for comments to include in their correspondence to the Inyo National Forest’s Draft Assessment Plan. The remaining members of the public had already sat through the board’s discussion of the correspondence during the regular meeting so the workshop was very short given that concerns of those present had essentially be answered earlier in the day.
