Opinion Piece By Samuel Strait – January 7, 2023 For those of you that are used to my bi-monthly reports on the local 5-0 Club, aka the Del Norte Board of Stupervisors, I apologize for my tardiness as internet connections on my Coast to Coast trip were less than acceptable and the holiday break for the month of December for the CCTimes has pushed my review of the train wreck found in the Supervisor's chambers until now. Never fear, I will relate to you the contents of the last three meetings, three you say? Yes, the County had the unfortunate experience of another DNBS screw up in the form of failing to remember the State's generous increase of the minimum wage to $15.00 as of January 1, 2023. Fortunately, since most in the County already receive a generous wage, only a very few of the County's employees were affected. It did seem that at least according to the spin cast by Norma Williams, the Union's president, that this oversight ranked up there with the sinking of the Titanic or some other major catastrophe, and she was having none of it. Anyway, back to the serious stuff contained in the November 8th BOS meeting, where aside from the "opening ceremonies", everything in this lengthy meeting proceeded more or less as normal. Introduction of new employees, quite a gathering, Board member reports lacking any evidence their activities are essential, and of course the County Council's pronouncement of nothing to report. How refreshing. The governing took place in the oft maligned "Consent Agenda" where the County's Bureaucracy runs the show and the BOS dutifully rubber stamps. Twenty items this go around with nary a question from any of the Board. The Board had to at least pretend to be interested during the public comments, with suitable stone faced normal appearances when things were made uncomfortable for them, but no real appearance of engagement. The vacation rental situation, juvenile hall closures and the Lake Earl Duck hunting closure led the parade. Seems that the pointless Sister City gibberish is still alive and well. Maybe another trip for the "Traveling Man", Chris Howard, at the taxpayers expense naturally. Nothing like getting nothing in return, except for some airline miles for Supervisor Howard. Following a dive into the Board of Equalization, the Board moved on to the "real" business of the Board. A Rotary Club donation, a public hearing on the County's five year housing plan, and another ordinance that is unlikely to be enforced, but hey, they must be seen to be doing something at least. Noise was I believe the culprit to be "corrected" by our ordinance happy BOS. I could say more, but the Budget transfers are calling. THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LED THE WAY WITH $205,000 FOR THE "HOUSING AND HOMELESS INCENTIVE PROGRAM". Must be nice to be homeless in Del Norte County. I wonder if purchasing them all automobiles is next on HHS list of incentives? The Sheriff's department got its "cut" to the tune of $165,00 . Wondering if the Sheriff's department will get well anytime soon? Then the cherry on the cake in the form of $50,000 to pay for the homeless to pick up their own trash, compliments of Supervisor "the government has a fix for every occasion" Valerie Starkey. A quietly slipped in $60,000 to waste on the Tri Agency. Thank heavens "legislative items" came up before Ms. Starkey managed to spend the County's $182 million budget before Christmas. I suspect that the County's "real government" would be unlikely to go along with that plan as it must be time for Norma William's crew to start agitating for another raise or at least an increase in benefits. After a quick adjournment for November, as the Board took the second meeting off, whew, dodged another lengthy consent agenda, clearly something to be made up in December. Can't after all, let the BOS think that they actually matter can we? December's supervisorial circus began as most do with the usual opening ceremonies, closed session report and supervisor reports occurring during the previous month long hiatus. Quickly on to the "Consent Agenda", twenty eight items. The "real government" had been busy during the intervening period. Nothing to see here folks. Most who view the proceedings are unlikely to question the lengthy list of goodies and benefits to many of the County's departments, but after all, according to Ms "stamp her foot" Norma Williams the County's employees are grossly disrespected, under paid, and over worked. Ms. Williams must not be aware of the hundreds of people paid for by the County to "consult" thereby "lightening the load" on Ms. William's forlorn. Time could be spent on slicing and dicing the consent agenda, yet the Supervisors seem unable to muster the energy to do more than vote 5-0 to rubber stamp the agenda. Moving on to timed item, Public comment. More on Juvenile Hall, Vacation rental issues, and hunting at Lake Earl. The report by Rural County CEO, Patrick Blacklock, with plenty of "Climate Change" and the environment activities by RCRC, but a seeming indifference to the future closure of Pelican Bay by 2028. Not so we were informed by super sleuth Supervisor Valerie Starkey. I guess we shall see. In any event, more Board of Equalization business, and concern over a new housing unit near Lake Earl which has garnered the attention of the local environazis. Seem they didn't get their way this time around, but hey, nobody gets in the way of potential money to the County. The last item to be scheduled might quell the angst of the environazis with the discussion of the Coastal Trail north of Point St George to be developed with all kinds of local agencies participating, including a discussion of "who would maintain it" once it was completed. No answers there, but what is new. Something for the future to wrestle over. And then the BOS takes up it's incredibly important County business, the praise of a retiring employee, Cannabis taxation, the transfer of Animal Control to the Sheriff's department, the Chief Probation Officer to be overseen by the County, another ordinance on County Camping, and then a bit of a hiccup occurred when confronted with Queer Humboldt and the establishment of a resource data base for the LGBTQ and a few other letters and symbols community which seems to require a separate and distinct resource data base that wished to utilized a 501c nonprofit that ruffled a few feathers on the Board. No second was to follow, a quick spin through updating the County's administrative manual, then a second hiccup occurred. Two at one meeting, will the heavens remain over head? Seem HHS got a bit greedy when it came to management level employees and it did not go well. The director of HHS was sent packing. How did that happen? Budget transfers went like this, a new vehicle for Code Enforcement to the tune of $32,000, not bad, at least someone is giving the taxpayers a break, $15,000 to the Jail, $17,000 to Victim Witness, and $64,000 to move Agriculture from Animal Control. Legislative Items and Budget transfer rounded out the day with money being spent, but not so fast. Adjournment followed and the festivities continued with the celebration of Chair Gerry Hemmingsen's ride into the sunset. Thought the year was at an end for the Board with Christmas coming up and the final meeting cancelled, but not so fast. A Special Meeting had to be held on December 29th to address the plight of a handful of County employees who hadn't been boosted in pay above the State's new minimum wage of $15.00/hr. Oh Dear! What a calamity. Nothing like five years to take care of that little over sight. Ms. Norma Williams, taking time out from her critically important job at HHS, elected to berate the Board over this slip up and threaten them with all sorts of Union inspired mayhem should the Board not heed her stomping foot. Of course in "Closed Session" the Board also took the opportunity to "run over" the Chief Probation Officer a few more times for the audacity to put them on the spot over the proposed closure of Juvenile Hall. Nothing since has occurred with that thorny issue. The final item involving money was tabled due to lack of interest. The 5-0 Club was unscathed throughout November and December until the opportunity arose for one more 5-0 vote, not to happen due to lack of attendance, the Board being short two members, and 3-0 didn't make the cut. 2022 is a wrap and in the can, hopefully 2023 will see some life injected into the new make up of the Board and the 5-0 club can retire in disgrace. Here's to a Board with a few questions in a future meeting. Let the 5-0 Club retire, not to be seen again.