A standing room only crowd packs the board chambers to listen and comment on the proposed tax measure

Supervisors Place Wildfire Prevention Measure on November Ballot

On Tuesday, August 9th, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors approved placing a “Wildfire Prevention, Emergency Services and Disaster Readiness” measure on the November 8th, 2022, General Election ballot. The purpose of the measure would be to save lives, reduce the threat of wildfires, and improve all-hazards disaster readiness and evacuation safety.

The measure would establish a ½ cent countywide general sales tax that would apply to both residents and visitors. The tax is expected to generate approximately $12,000,000 annually for 10 years (“a sunset”) to fund critical emergency services and would require a simple majority approval by Nevada County voters to pass.

The final vote followed several hours of impassioned public comment. More than fifty residents addressed the Board, with 60% expressing support for putting it on the ballot and “letting the people decide.” The Board also received nearly 150 individualized letters, with over 88% in support.

“I appreciate everyone who came out and spoke to us. It’s clear to me that the community is on the same page about the need to take action to make our county safer, even if we don’t all agree how to do it. Now it’s up to the community to decide if they want to vote for the measure,” said Board Chair Sue Hoek.

Read More

New Go Nevada County Website Showcases Sustainable Tourism and Recreation

Residents and visitors now have access to a newly launched Go Nevada County website, an easy-to-navigate virtual guide that puts a wealth of experiences and unforgettable itineraries together in one beautiful place.

Committed to sustainable tourism, the new website features the region’s arts and culture, historic charm, and recreation destinations - from the lower foothills to Donner Summit - while encouraging everyone to support the local economy and be good stewards of these iconic Northern California landscapes, rich with natural resources.

“We’re excited that Go Nevada County makes it easy for visitors to connect with our vibrant local businesses, recreational gems, and unique cultural assets, and also guides visitors on sustainable, responsible travel to Nevada County's special places,” said CEO Alison Lehman. “We see this as an important tool to support and promote economic development, access world-class outdoor recreation, and help preserve our community’s cherished places.”

Read More

Check Out the Library's New Recreation Collection

The Nevada County Library is proud to announce a new project. The Recreation Collection is an innovative assortment of outdoor and indoor recreational items that can be checked out for free. This collection contains board games, metal detectors, hiking poles, outdoor sporting equipment (tennis sets, pickleball, etc.), trail cams, and so much more. The library will continue to add items to the collection throughout the next few months, and patrons can expect to see snowshoes and other seasonally appropriate outdoor equipment in the collection as the weather shifts.

Ian Boalt, Adult Services Librarian for Nevada County states, “The Recreation Collection is another way for our community to see how libraries are changing and adapting to their needs. Come to the library for books, equipment for your next outdoor adventure, board games for spending time with friends, art instruction, technology help, or just a nice place to relax and get some work done. Nevada County Library is working hard to fulfill the needs of each community member.”

Learn More

State Librarian Truckee Tour: A Look at Future Facility Plans

On July 28, 2022, Nevada County, the Town of Truckee, and Friends of the Truckee Library hosted a tour for Greg Lucas, California’s 25th State Librarian. The tour was an
opportunity to showcase the current staff and programming and the vision for a modern community hub.

The Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District have committed to a 2-acre parcel at the Truckee Regional Park for a new Truckee Library. LDA Partners has created architectural renderings of the new facility, which presents a space that is bright, open, inviting, and timeless, employing
green building practices throughout and incorporating the beauty of Truckee in its lines and curves. The 20,000 square foot space will house youth and teen areas, private and open gathering spaces, meeting rooms both large and small, a community room for events, and plenty of space for programming, reading, and research.

“The visit by the State Librarian was an opportunity to demonstrate the significant efforts that have been made in creating support for this project and the collaboration between the Town, County, and Friends of the Truckee Library, as well our regional partners,” said Hardy Bullock, Nevada County District 5 Supervisor. “It was a great demonstration of the strong, cooperative relationships and momentum behind this project.”

Read More

All Veterans Exposed to Environmental Hazards During War Are Now Eligible for Benefits

On Tuesday, August 10, 2022, President Biden signed The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act (PACT Act) into law. This bill is one of the most significant laws the United States has ever passed to help the millions of veterans who were exposed to toxins during their military careers and will positively affect generations of veterans and their survivors.

During our most recent conflicts, the US military utilized enormous burn piles to eliminate toxins, trash, and debris. Service members ate, slept, worked, and trained in the presence of toxic fumes and hazardous waste. While many began experiencing health problems during their service, many others did not see the impacts of this practice until years after returning home. This gap in symptoms coupled with the rules and regulations that govern veterans’ benefits made it nearly impossible for veterans to be treated or receive compensation for conditions that were a result of their exposure to the toxins released by these burn pits.

The PACT Act has added 23 presumptive cancers, respiratory conditions, and other diseases to the Burn Pit registry, immediately making them eligible for benefits from the VA. This bill will also expand healthcare services to 3.5 million veterans nationwide and mandates that every veteran who was exposed to toxins partake in a follow-up exam every five years. This will allow the VA to track trends amongst this group of veterans and add more eligible conditions as veterans age and more of the impacts become known.

Learn More

Nevada County Sanitation District Hosts Lake Wildwood Treatment Plant Tour on August 16th

The Nevada County Sanitation District will be hosting a Lake Wildwood Treatment Plant tour on August 16, 2022, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Stop by and hear an overview of the system and see how wastewater is treated.

Whether you are taking a shower, washing your clothes, or flushing your toilet, you are using water. We all know where water comes from, but where does our wastewater go? You can learn more with a tour of the Lake Wildwood Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Nevada County Sanitation District handles nearly 1 million gallons of water every day through more than 110 miles of pipe and treats it all at 10 treatment plants in Western Nevada County. This free tour will give a behind-the-scenes look at the processes that make the system reliable and that strive to keep the environment and Nevada County residents safe. From the point, that wastewater leaves a home or business and enters the treatment system, follow the water through the treatment process to where it’s released to local creeks and rivers.

Read More

Department of Cannabis Control Appoints Jeff Merriman to Cannabis Advisory Committee

Jeff Merriman, Director of Nevada County's Code and Cannabis Compliance Divisions, has been appointed to the California Department of Cannabis Control's Cannabis Advisory Committee.

The Cannabis Advisory Committee (CAC) is expected to provide valuable input to the Department of Cannabis Control‘s (DCC) development of regulations and standards through the comprehensive representation in membership as well as through each member’s unique perspectives on consumer, community, and market issues. In addition, the CAC will provide an important venue for the DCC to hold robust public discussions that support the development of an innovative regulatory framework. The innovation and collaborative approach will benefit all Californians and results in a safe, sustainable, and equitable cannabis market.

Selection to the CAC was a competitive process that involved almost 300 applications from around the state from various jurisdictions and industries. Merriman was honored to be selected for the committee. Upon learning of his selection, Jeff said, “I’m looking forward to collaborating with the DCC and CAC members to tackle cannabis regulatory issues and help ensure a successful future for the local and state cannabis industry.”

Read More

National 811 Day: Call 811 Before All Digging Projects, Large or Small

Aug. 11th was National 811 Day and Pacific Gas and Electric Company is joining together with utilities across the country to help spread the word about the risks of digging at any depth without placing a free call to 811 to have all underground gas, electric, and other service lines marked prior to starting any digging project.

Customers, contractors and anyone planning to dig at any depth, should place a toll-free call to the free 811 service a minimum of two business days prior to starting the project. Utility workers will respond to the call at no cost to the customer to locate and mark the location of underground lines. Making the free call will help avoid safety incidents including injuries, property damage, and costly repairs.

“Calling 811 is free, easy and fast, and will help you keep your family and neighbors safe and connected to essential utility services. Hitting an underground gas or electric line while digging can be dangerous. Knowing where the lines are located, so that digging can be done safely in those areas, is the best way to avoid a safety incident and avoid costs associated with repair,” said Joe Forline, Senior Vice President, PG&E Gas Operations.

Read More

August 23rd Board of Supervisors Meeting to be Held in Truckee

The August 23, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting will be hosted in Truckee. The agenda for the Tuesday, August 23, 2022 special meeting will be available Thursday afternoon, August 18, 2022 on the County’s Meeting Information and Video Streaming site.

The meeting will take place in the Truckee Council Chambers, located at the Truckee Town Hall Administrative Center, located at 10183 Truckee Airport Road in Truckee.

Job Openings at Nevada County: Wastewater Electrical/Mechanical Worker I/II

Nevada County employs approximately 800 employees covering a full range of services and positions, from accountants to wastewater treatment system operators. In Nevada County, quality of life comes first. It is the only rural California county with two designated Cultural Arts Districts and is known for its abundance of outdoor recreational activities.

Nevada County is seeking a Wastewater Electrical/Mechanical Worker I/II to work on wastewater collection systems and treatment facility equipment and systems. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of the principles of electrical circuitry and wastewater health hazards. On any day, the Wastewater Electrical/Mechanical Worker will install electrical circuits, relays, switching, piping, wiring, instrumentation, controls, and pumps; and troubleshoot, maintain and repair diesel, propane, and gasoline engines as well as electrical motors, circuits, alarms, pumps, instrumentation, and controls. In addition, a Wastewater Electrical/Mechanical Worker I/II reads and interprets manuals, blueprints, and schematics and maintains records, manuals, and wiring diagrams of the County sanitation district electronic and mechanical equipment.

The Wastewater Electrical/Mechanical Worker I is an integral part of the wastewater collection system whose mission is to keep the community functioning by performing various repair work on electrical and mechanical water, sewer, and wastewater treatment systems! This position is crafted for individuals who have graduated from high school, supplemented by a formal apprenticeship as an electrical/mechanical worker. Furthermore, one year of experience as an electrical/mechanical worker in the maintenance and repair of generators and general plant maintenance is required. If you have knowledge of codes and laws governing electrical and mechanical repairs, that's a plus!

Find out more information about this position online. Have a question? Contact Human Resources by calling (530) 265-7010 and selecting option 2.

New jobs this week:

View Current Job Openings

Follow us on social media!

Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Nextdoor

Subscribe to or view past newsletters at www.NevadaCountyCA.gov/NevadaCountyNews.