The following is a monthly letter written by Mendocino County’s 3rd District Supervisor John Haschak to constituents:
Water! Water! Water! Whether this is a current two year drought or part of a long-term drought trend, water is on everyone’s minds.
The Board of Supervisors voted to declare a state of drought emergency for Mendocino County. We had a presentation on April 6 about the historically low water levels in Lake Mendocino and other parts of the County. The water level of Lake Mendocino is where it normally is in October right before the rainy season.
Governor Newsom visited the dry lake bed on April 14 and made a similar declaration for Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. This will put us at the front of the line when the state starts allocating resources and grants to deal with the situation. Mendocino Unit CalFire Chief Gonzalez was very supportive of these declarations seeing that the fire season could be very difficult.
I am on the drought emergency ad hoc committee with Supervisor McGourty. Our first task is to ensure that all the water agencies are communicating and receiving the proper information. With 40 water agencies in Mendocino County, this hasn’t always been the case. We will be reconvening the Countywide Drought Working Group.
The new cannabis ordinance with the 10% of acreage increase and opening up rangeland was again approved on a 4-1 vote. I voted no because of the detrimental effects this will have on the communities, environment, and economy of the 3rd District. After overwhelming public comments and the Planning Commission against this proposal, the Board went ahead with it. The people, water agencies, law enforcement, Department of Fish and Wildlife, environmental organizations, and practically everyone (except the corporate cannabis industry) are against this proposal which is soon to be the ordinance. There is considerable talk of a referendum to repeal this massive expansion.
When not dealing with the cannabis ordinance, I have been busy with devising a process for the allocation of the PG&E settlement funds, working on a County operations strategic plan, coordinating a million dollar grant proposal for Covelo clean up as well as long term solutions, and celebrating that the County is in the yellow tier.
My wife and I are going to visit our son Ricardo who is in the Marines in North Carolina. When I set up the trip, there were no BOS meetings scheduled. Since then, two special meetings were added so I will be zooming from North Carolina.
Best wishes and stay well,
John
Thank you for your diligence as a Supervisor John and for your “stick-to-it-iveness” on this particular issue. You have stood by your belief and the desires of the people in your District without faltering and it is appreciated. My only hope is that we are wrong in “our” way of thinking and maybe this won’t be the ruination of our beautiful Valleys and County. Nancy Stipe
Thank you John for representing your constituents and what the want wether it is in the boards perceived best policy making ability. I also would say that your diligence in the other committees is to be praised. The representation of your district is a full-time job that can require hours beyond 9 to 5 and sacrifices made in other areas of your personal life, this is a known factor to any who dare enter into this phase of government representation with some following through and others using it as a social ticket to the upper crust of community events. I’am glad we live in a time where you can represent even when your 2000mi away and I hope to see you returned renewed in the path ahead even if it means we need to make the the reversal of great laid plans a voter referendum for or against. We are grateful to hear your constant reports and accountability to us and hope you continue to burden the weight of representing us in such a gracious manner.
Thanks John for putting community before greed. I was wondering if anyone ever looks at a FEMA map to see where the flood zones there is certainly a lot of fill being hauled in