COUNTY BUILDING
NEEDS: Siskiyou County is faced with a variety of new building needs. As highlighted
in the Grand Jury report, the Sheriff needs to move from existing ancient and outdated
quarters behind the Courthouse building. Adult Protective Services and Child Protective
Services have moved over to share the building occupied by Child Support Services. The
newly merged Community Development Department (Planning, Building and Environmental
Health,) will locate in their space in the old brick Hospital/Human Services Building on Main
Street.
The Courthouse plans to expand into the area behind the building
where the Sheriff’s building and planning annex building are now located. Under state
law, the court may eventually take over
ownership of the courthouse, creating possible future needs for space elsewhere for
several County departments. In addition, the
jail needs to expand. It has been running for years at maximum capacity and convicted
persons must wait several months to serve jail terms.
The Board of Supervisors is looking at the overall space needs of many
Departments and will come up with a comprehensive plan to address needs.
IRWMP APPLICATIONS: At the
North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) meeting I attended a few
weeks back, there was a workshop on requirements for applications to access the $37
million in Proposition 84 funds earmarked for our region. These are similar to the
Proposition 50 funds that have brought well over a million dollars in funding to the north
county. It is anticipated that the application
process may go forward next spring. Applications will be submitted through the County.
Preference will be given to projects that: (1) restore native
salmonid habitat - particularly steelhead and coho recovery plans; (2) protect and enhance
drinking water quality; (3) provide an adequate water supply with minimum environmental
impacts; (4) support statewide water initiatives; (5) serve environmental justice; and (6)
fall within an inclusive framework for intra-regional cooperation – such as the IRWMP
and North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board basin plan. In addition, preference
will be given to projects that implement TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads for water
quality); improve flood control; and address climate change concerns – such as
mitigating greenhouse gas emissions over a 20 year period of time. Any water management
strategies must consider the 25 strategies in the California Water Plan Update. www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/
Available planning grants will require a 25% cost share, (which can
be waived) and must have relevance to and be consistent with the North Coast IRWMP. For
the Klamath Watershed Management Area www.northcoastirwmp.net/Content/10301/preview.html
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