Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lassen County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
14 issues in public safety with medium priority
OHV grant funding for Sheriff's Department
The Sheriff's Office secured $23,880 from the state OHV grant program for deputy and sergeant overtime, training, and equipment to patrol off-highway vehicle areas. Supervisors also asked staff to look into future funding for patrolling hiking trails, possibly using e-bikes.
El Niño local emergency declaration
Supervisors declared a local emergency before any flooding, hoping to speed permits and qualify for grants if a wet winter brings debris flows and clogged culverts.
Ambulance service and EOA contract
SEMSA's ambulance contract runs through May 30, and a new entity backed by Plumas District Hospital is lined up to take over. The board got a status report on the RFP and transition.
Animal dumping and spay/neuter funding
A resident flagged dumped kittens and puppies across the county and said a funded free spay-and-neuter program is sitting unused. She wants the county to release the money and clarify enforcement options for dumping.
Public health infrastructure funding
The county accepted its annual $272,712 state allocation that keeps about four public health positions afloat. Supervisor Albaugh pressed why Lassen receives less than smaller counties; staff acknowledged under-spending and committed to strategies to raise future allocations.
Environmental health inspector vacancy
A senior environmental health inspector job has gone unfilled after two hires fell through, so the county is paying retired longtime director Doug Ames through a contractor association to keep inspections and landfill expertise going while recruitment continues.
School drug and alcohol prevention grant
Behavioral Health accepted an added ~$450,000 within a $2.7 million state grant for outreach in schools on drug, alcohol and marijuana vaping dangers — with students themselves fronting the campaign.
BearCat armored vehicle lease
The county is leasing a Lenco BearCat armored rescue vehicle for about $558,852 over five years. Supervisors cited a recent Southern California incident where a BearCat absorbed gunfire during a SWAT standoff, protecting officers.
Jail medical care feasibility study
The county will spend up to $33,438 on a regional jail medical care feasibility study with the Golden State Finance Authority, aiming to rein in one of the county's biggest and riskiest expenses.
Out-of-county juvenile detention costs
Lassen County pays up to $250,000 a year to house juveniles in other counties' halls since its own facility closed. The probation chief warned state law changes — shorter probation wards, closed DJJ — make juvenile work increasingly hard.
Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan adoption
The updated countywide hazard plan — now mentioning wolves killing livestock and Big Valley groundwater overdraft — keeps the county, Susanville and the Rancheria eligible for FEMA mitigation money.
Sheriff's SWAT training
Two deputies will attend a two-week basic SWAT course in Sacramento this spring, costing about $9,700, to build the county's SWAT team staffing.
Animal control vehicle reliability
The county's lone animal control officer covers the entire county daily in unreliable, high-mileage vehicles; the board bought her a new purpose-equipped diesel truck.
Jail HVAC retrofit
The county is spending $2.24 million to finally fix the aging adult jail's heating and cooling system, built in the 1990s — funded mostly with COVID money plus Community Social Services dollars.