Board recruits county leadership position
Plumas County is slated to have new high level leadership in the form of a county administrator, not to be confused with a county administrative officer. At the May 1 Board of Supervisor’s meeting the board directed human resources to fill the long vacant, and recently revamped, position.
“We just spent numerous discussions and meetings making it really clear that we did not want a CAO and agreed on county administrator,” said District 3 Supervisor Sherrie Thrall.
The board has been working through the job description of the position for the past few months and trimmed down some of the duties of the former county administrative position.
In the end, the county administrator would be responsible for oversight of county functions and activities, policy and program evaluation to the board and staff, and community development. The main task the board removed from the previous job description was job evaluations of department heads, though the job description includes the following wording “The county administrator shall be included in the on-the-job performance of each appointed department head at least once annually, with the board.” The board also lowered the salary from approximately $11,000 a month, to $7,500, capping the annual salary at $90,000 a year.
With very little discussion, the board approved the position, and sent it off for recruitment.
Freezing in Almanor
The Almanor Recreation Center is too chilly for comfort according to a recent renter’s complaint. Thrall said that people in her district are frequently commenting on the state of the county building, and the lack of heat almost ruined the Chester PieceMakers Quilt Guild event in April.
“One of the reasons I wanted this on the agenda for further discussion was because … the problem that I am having in the Almanor basin is basically a total lack of management of our facility,” said Thrall.
She reported that the building has very little county oversight and is often left dirty and untended after use. Thrall requested that Facility Services Director Kevin Correira consider contracting out to inspect and care for the building.
“We need to do something to address this issue,” she said.
Correira reported that the heat problem had to do with a gas company turning off the gas tank to refill the tank and not turning it back on. He also agreed with Thrall’s assessment, and reported that he would be contracting out for cleaning and management services.
The board agreed to refund the quilt guild’s $150 rental fee. Correira said there would be a consistent cleaning service, and more employee oversight for the building.
