There is one person signed up: Cathy Kresser. She names me, Nathan Solis, the reporter who is writing this stream, about my previous article on medical marijuana and the county's reluctance to pursue tax incentives.
Instead Kresser is reading an editorial from the Record Searchlight on Redding Police Chief's town hall meeting. Kresser is reading the editorial to the board.
Item C6 is being removed. Kehoe votes no on C9 - on the bomb robot maintenance. Kehoe does not question the item, but because it requires $40,000 in advance payment.
Schappell asks how much the bomb robot originally cost. County staff does not have that number.
C6 is a third amendment with the state substance abuse services. Kehoe said we are spending over $6 million on prevention and treatment services.
Kehoe said there is not much public awareness on these services. Dean True from the county is presenting on the substance abuse services.
True said there are many services on the calendar. They contract with Empire Recovery Center, Visions of the Cross and Right Roads.
True said there are several services working with pregnant women to prevent their addiction. In Adult Services there is the addicted offender program.
True mentions drug court, which he calls a great program. With Visions of the Cross, the FLIGHT program, allows families to receive outpatient services.
True said the obstacles to helping someone is getting them into treatment and keep them there.
There is a reduction of 62 percent for those who participate in treatment. This impacts crimes, homelessness. Sometimes people require a traumatic event to seek treatment. There needs to be a catalyst.
There are other services in the county - True mentions GoodNewsRescue Mission. True said there is a quarterly meeting to discuss in the services. The last meeting had a presentation from a Shingletown clinic staffer, which seeks to provide medication for pregnant women.
True said there are dramatic changes in healthcare and substance abuse treatment recently. Shasta County will have an opportunity to expand its services.
Schappell asks True about county participation with Visions of the Cross and criteria for getting into that program. Visions of the Cross has been primarily involved with women. True calls it a residential perinatal service as being the only service covered by MediCal.
Visions of the Cross bought the old OneSafePlace building and plan to repurpose it for men services. True said Visions are broadening their services.
Schappell on heroin. Has it expanded? True said it is clear in its increase. Back in 2011 for people entering into treatment: people said about 4 percent. Now it's closer to 27 percent.
True said heroin treatment/services are important. Empire Recovery is important for that. Deaths with prescription opiates is a much bigger problem.
Schappell still asking about heroin: He said marijuana creates a tolerance and those people move on to heroin. True said he will not get on to "gateway drugs."
Baugh thanks True for all the services he mentioned. Baugh asks is there an overall increase in drug use in general or are we shifting what they are using? True said he can't answer that right now. Yes drug use is probably expanding.
True said he does not know the answer to the expansion of drug use in the general population. That's it for True.
Item C6 is motioned and approved. That's it for the consent calendar. We're on to the legislative updates/supervisor's reports and one letter of support.
It is SB1188: Wildlife Management Areas: Payment of Taxes and Assessments. County Executive Officer Larry Lees is discussing why the board is hearing about this for the second time. Relates to the change of one word in the bill.
Board approves the letter.
Moty attended the SESAC regional meeting, where they discussed tree mortality issue. In Mariposa it's a concern as many trees are suffering from drought, disease. It's not going to stop on its own, Moty said.
What's happening are the fires have impacted trees. The county's association, along with other agencies, discussed the tree mortality issue.
Moty attended two blueprint meetings. They are closing in on their final recommendations. They're still looking again a few more times.
Moty said he had a conversation with a group concerned with state conservancy. He's reading the definition of these conservancies. All are independent agencies, but are governed by multiagency panel.
Moty brings this up, because there is an interest with 8-10 counties, ranging from Siskiyou to Napa. Is there an interest in this for Shasta County to be involved/or support this move or a presentation?
Giacomini said she had a discussion with Bob Schneider with the water board on this topic. So, it is being discussed. Giacomini said she would like a discussion on this. Moty said he will make arrangements to have a presentation.
Kehoe attended the LAFCO meeting. Kehoe asks about timber loss in the forest. Awareness is one thing, but action is another. What are the timber harvest plans? Moty said the issue gets held up with environmental lawsuits - for forest management.
Moty said we have to do a better job of managing our forest. I get on my stump once in a while, Moty said as he stops himself.
Is there a significance timber loss in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest? - Kehoe asks. Moty said not really at this point. But it is a concern.
Giacomini attended a fundraiser/social giving out scholarships. She updates the board on director of Public Works attended a state event. Giacomini also attended a child services(?) event.
Schappell attended the Lakehead Bunny Festival. Calls it a big event, not huge, but big. Also attended a development meeting in Lakehead. Attended an Anderson event. Interviewed for the First 5 Shasta job being left open.
Schappell said the forests are overgrown. Said there is weird stuff growing up there. Relates this to the U.S. Forest Service due to lawsuits(?) He's relating this to undergrowth and the bug population. Schappell said these lawsuits come out from Montana and take so long that the timber rots and can't be reclaimed.
Baugh attended an Anderson Chamber award event.
Baugh attended the Mercy Redding advisory meeting and a VFW event.
Baugh recognizes the Anderson Police Department's new police dog. He will also host an event on human trafficking at Red Lion this Thursday.
Baugh would like clarification on the amount of water the watershed takes up.
Baugh asks about pollutants in relation to the Forest Service(?) Giacomini said that conversation about smoke from fires is ignored. Moty said the social economic impact - how it impacts rural economies - is ignored.
Board is moving into a closed session to discuss conference with labor negotiators. Then the board will reconvene as the IHSS public governing board. This will take about 45 mins.
That's it for this meeting on this end.