The following is a monthly letter written by Mendocino County’s 3rd District Supervisor John Haschak to constituents:
We had an interesting, informative Northern Mendocino County Town Hall with Senator McGuire, Sheriff Kendall and Supervisor Gjerde. Senator McGuire is the second ranking senator in the State Senate. His efforts on behalf of Mendocino County, whether it be water, safety, cannabis policy, or economic development have been stellar and having him in that Majority Leader position will continue to serve us well.
Topics that we discussed were water, safety, cannabis, and the environment. I appreciate that Senator McGuire helped secure $600,000 in additional state funds to help deal with the illegal cannabis grows in our County. Together we have been working on workforce development and Career and Technical Education. Working with Mendocino College and the Mendocino Office of Education, together we have helped get programs on construction, medical, and EMT/paramedic training started.
Last week, I visited the California Conservation Corps as they worked on Blue Lakes Road northwest of Willits. The 20 young adults were creating a shaded fuel break along the road. This is work that the Sherwood Firewise Council helped organize with Fire Safe Mendocino (FSM) to provide greater safety to our communities in case of a fire. FSM just finished two months of fuel reduction work in the Brooktrails Greenbelt. They also have programs for free defensible space work for qualified seniors and persons with disabilities and free community chipper days. Go to their website at https://firesafemendocino.org for more info. People helping build stronger community. The County is planning fuel reduction programs in the Laytonville and Covelo areas.
At the March 15 Board meeting, Supervisor McGourty and I are proposing rules around water extraction and water hauling. I have received too many calls from people without enough water for residential uses or who fear the effects on our groundwaters from excessive pumping. We want the Board to give direction to enforce existing rules, add some restrictions to water hauling, and create a regulatory program to reduce these activities for illegal purposes.
You can always contact me at haschakj@mendocinocounty.org or 707-972-4214.
John
