++ Red Cross in Modoc ++

The Three Rivers/Shasta Red Cross has been making visits to Modoc County for the past four months in hopes of establishing a Red Cross presence in disaster and health and safety. Progress has been made in the following ways:

Carol Callaghan and Debbie Hess from TEACH were enrolled as the first Red Cross volunteers in recent history in Modoc County. They have been trained in how to dispense Red Cross financial assistance to those who have been displaced from their homes because of human or natural disaster, such as house fires, localized flooding or winter storms.

Others who became volunteers include Walt and Kerry Davis, Alan Hopkins, as well as several more who have signed up after last month's meeting.

A dozen county social service staff were trained in how to open and manage an Emergency Evacuation Shelter. These staff, as well as others who will be trained this month, will be available to the county to open up and manage shelters in cooperation with Red Cross volunteers.

Charles McCaul, Emergency Services Manager for the region, also met with Tony Richno, Modoc County Office of Emergency Services, to discuss how the county and Red Cross would work together during a local disaster.

The next meeting of the Red Cross in Alturas will be Tuesday, March 30, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at the Alliance for Workforce Development, 221 North Main Street, Alturas. This month's topic will be "Red Cross Concept of Operations: What are the procedures taken to respond to a disaster?" The meeting is open to the public.

If you have any questions or want to volunteer you may stop by TEACH to pick up an application and view the two introductory videos. You may also call Charles McCaul at -800-934-5344 or email him at disasterdir@sbcglobal.net.

SV Permanent Hospital Tax Goes to Vote

The Surprise Valley Health Care District board of directors left no stone unturned in asking for feedback and public input on their resolution to make the Surprise Valley tax assessment of $225 per dwelling unit permanent. They held meetings in all the Surprise Valley towns. They even recently held a special meeting in response to individual concerns.

Citing the fact that lenders will look favorably on the community’s commitment to tax themselves permanently in support of the hospital district the board, with public support, ultimately voted in favor of the resolution to place the permanent tax assessment on the ballot.


OF THE SURPRISE VALLEY HEALTH CARE DISTRICT
CALLING FOR AN ELECTION FOR
APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL TAX


WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Surprise Valley Health Care District wishes to impose a special tax for the provision of services to the District; and

WHEREAS, the Board wishes to have an election called to place this special tax on the ballot so that it may be submitted to the voters of the Surprise Valley Health Care District;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED to request the Board of Supervisors of Modoc County, State of California to call an election to determine whether or not a special tax should be levied in the District pursuant to Article 3.5, Chapter 1, Part 1, Division 1, Title V of the California Government Code; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That subject to the approval of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the votes cast, there shall be imposed a special tax of Two Hundred and Twenty Five Dollars ($225.00) per year on each dwelling unit now existing or hereafter constructed in Surprise Valley Health Care District for services to be rendered by the said District; and
That for purposes of this resolution and the tax to be imposed, “dwelling unit” means a house, houses, bunkhouses, rentals, shacks, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, motels, duplexes, tents or any other type of shelter that is used as a residence; and
That said tax imposed by this Resolution shall be first levied for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010; and
That said tax shall be levied for each fiscal year thereafter, or until an election is held to repeal or otherwise alter the special tax subject to the approval of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the votes cast; and
The County of Modoc shall collect the said special tax in the same manner and subject to the same penalty as, or with, other charges and taxes fixed and collected by the County, and shall be entitled to be paid its reasonable costs incurred for such service before remittal of the balance to the District; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Directors shall request the Board of Supervisors of the County of Modoc to call an election at which time the issue of whether or not the said tax shall be approved shall be placed on the ballot.
DULY ADOPTED this 16th day of February 2010, by the Board of Directors of the Surprise Valley Health Care District.

Legal Pressure to Release Rudometkin Files

The California First Amendment Coalition (CFAC) has filed a formal request with Modoc County officials to make public the personnel files pertaining to the qualifications of recently appointed Chief Administrative Officer Rick Rudometkin.

The request follows County Counsel John Kenny’s opinion that Rudometkin’s files are not public information. His opinion came in response to the Modoc Independent News’ repeated efforts seeking their release.

CFAC countered in a letter to Rudometkin and Stephanie Northrup, clerk of the board, that the files are open to public inspection under provisions of the California Public Records Act and asked that they be released to CFAC within 10 days of notification.

Specifically, attorney Judy Alexander, representing CFAC, is seeking Rudometkin’s resume and any other documents in either his or the county’s possession that reflect Rudometkin’s professional qualifications to serve as CAO of the county.

The request includes anything that reflects Rudometkin’s education, training, experience, awards, previous positions and or publications.

Rudometkin, who holds the position of director of transportation in addition to the CAO job, was hastily appointed interim CAO by the board of supervisors last Nov. 10 and then given the permanent position on Feb. 9.

In both of the board’s actions there was no public discussion of his qualifications to hold the CAO position.

The reluctance of the county to make Rudometkin’s files public comes at the same time as the Modoc County Board of Supervisors has agreed to work with an ad hoc citizens committee known as the “Monday Group” in an effort to publicly resolve how the county is going to replace an estimated $12.5 million it illegally took from the treasury.

All five members of the Modoc County Board of Supervisors were also notified of CFAC's request.

CFAC is a non-profit public interest organization dedicated to advancing free speech, open and accountable government and public participation in civic affairs. Its offices are in San Rafael.

-- Ray A. March

Red Flag Lowered

“Monday Group” Given Pass Through Modoc-gate

If there was a sign that the Modoc County Board of Supervisors was willing to entertain suggestions from the public on how to resolve the financial crisis it caused by illegally taking money from the treasury, it came in the first five minutes of yesterday’s (March 2) meeting.

The board, without its usual judgmental inquiring, was presented with a list of members of the “Monday Group, and when the supervisors took no action because none was required, they effectively gave the citizens’ ad hoc committee the go-ahead with plans for advising the board on how to replace the $12.5 million that‘s missing from the treasury.

There had been concern from the “Monday Group” that the board may try to dictate the makeup of the citizens’ committee.

The “Monday Group” members to date, are:

Don Demsher, Surprise Valley Joint Unified School District superintendent; Alan Hopkins, president of the Modoc Joint Unified School District board of trustees; Mike Tedrick, a past Modoc County auditor; Dan Silveria, manager of Surprise Valley Electrification; Carol Sharp, board member of Modoc Economic Development Corporation; Ben Zandstra, clergyman and former county supervisor; Dwight Beeson, Plumas Bank branch manager; and Jim Cavasso, businessman.

Demsher said the ad hoc group will first assess the “state of the county,” meaning Modoc Medical Center’s financial status, the county’s cash flow and how financial decisions are made.

Also on the committee’s list is determining the amount of restricted funds that were used inappropriately, according to a prepared statement handed out by Demsher, who said much of their work will rely on the audits that are now being conducted by an outside firm ordered by the state Controller‘s Office.

-- Ray A. March

Modoc Independent Daily News
Passes 10,000 Mark

To our readers:

Your interest and participation in the Modoc Independent Daily News Blog is proven by the numbers. As of March 1 this blog has had 10,717 visits and 24,598 page views as confirmed by SiteMeter.

Thank you for your involvement.

The Editors

Attention:

Special Meeting - Surprise Valley Health Care District

The Surprise Valley Health Care District Board of Directors has called a Special Meeting for Tuesday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m. at the hospital to reconsider the resolution to create a permanent tax assessment. The resolution was recently approved at a community meeting held in Cedarville.

The resolution currently reads as follows, "That said tax shall be levied for each fiscal year thereafter, or until an election is held to repeal or otherwise alter the special tax subject to the approval of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the votes cast."

For more information please call the hospital at 279-6111.

“Monday Group” Sees Red Flag

Leaders of the “Monday Group” see a red flag on the agenda of the next Modoc County Board of Supervisors meeting (March 2), but Supervisor Patricia Cantrall says there is no concern for worry.

Don Demsher, one of the representatives of a citizens ad hoc group ready to assist the county in finding ways to replace an estimated $12.5 million to the treasury, is concerned about an item Cantrall placed on the agenda calling for board action on the actual membership of the citizen's committee.

“I put it under ‘consideration/action’ because I wasn’t sure the board needed to vote on it,” Cantrall told the Modoc Independent News over the weekend. “If no nobody thinks we need a vote, then we don’t vote.”

She explained that placing the matter of membership names on the agenda the way she did could save the “Monday Group” time because if board action were required it would not have to be put over to another meeting.

At the last board meeting County Counsel John Kenny expressed the opinion that the supervisors did not have to approve the actual membership of the “Monday Group.”

Asked if she thought a supervisor should also be a member of the “Monday Group,” Cantrall said she did not.

“No, I think this is supposed to be a citizens committee,” she said. “They will bring their findings to the board. That’s the way I look at it. I am not part of their committee.”

“Knock It Off” Letters

The Brown Act


Modoc County isn’t alone when it comes to the question of Brown Act violations. It’s common today for local government agencies to silence or censure critics at public meetings, and to hold secret meetings, often by telephone.

In Los Angeles County dozens of agencies have quashed citizen comments, and these agencies have suffered the consequences. According to a Los Angeles Times review of district attorney records, prosecutors responding to public complaints have sent over 50 letters to government officials since 2001 stating that the officials acted illegally.

“It’s arrogance and a feeling that they know best and they can do whatever they want,” said Richard McKee, quoted in the L.A. Times. McKee, an advocate for open government has filed lawsuits against government agencies alleging violations of the open meeting law.

“No one has been prosecuted,” the Times reported. “Some agencies have been required to publicly reverse decisions made in secret.”

But attorney Terry Francke, also quoted in the L.A. Times, said, “The idea of a letter, firing a shot across the offender’s bow, is a very good one.” Sometimes referred to as “knock it off” letters, these legal warnings from the district attorney’s office educate public officials about compliance.

Jennifer Lentz Snyder, the assistant head of the Los Angeles’ district attorney’s Public Integrity Division, told the Los Angeles Times, “I don’t think that most of the these people go out there trying to subvert the law. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”