VOLUNTEERS FOR FIRE
DEPARTMENTS: All of the fire departments in District 5 rely on volunteer firefighters
to provide the service. (CalFire provides general wildfire protection and backup in the
summer months.) There is no County fire department. That means that if there are no
volunteers, then people go without residential fire service. Scott Valley Fire Protection
District, which maintains seven stations throughout the Valley, really needs volunteers.
Training and certification are provided. Volunteers are given a stipend of $25 per
incident and have the opportunity to participate on strike teams during wildfire season
and earn additional income. Anyone interested may call Asst. Chief Al Butcher at
530-598-9158.
COURTHOUSE AND OTHER
BUILDINGS: In 1997, the primary obligation
for funding court operations transferred from the Counties to the State of California. In
2002, the Trial Court Facilities Act mandated the transfer of ownership of actual “trial
court facilities” from the Counties to the State. So far, the leases for three court
facilities in the county have been transferred. Also transfer arrangements and perpetual
annual payments for the shared use of the facilities in Dorris and Happy Camp have been
signed. The agreement for the transfer of ownership of the County Courthouse in Yreka will
be considered over the next several weeks in time to meet the September 30 deadline set by
the State. Any agreement will maintain County ownership of the gold exhibit and determine
disposition of features important to the history and heritage of the people of Siskiyou County.
This past week, the Board of Supervisors authorized an application to
the State for $3.8 million dollars to demolish the back of the old courthouse and the
Sheriff’s office and build a new 8,000 square foot addition on the back. (The
structures to be demolished date back to 1856 and 1896.) This addition will include two
courtrooms, holding cells and a sallyport to transfer prisoners. It is hoped that the
State might consider a second floor on the new addition for future build-out.
As the County will no longer own the Courthouse, personnel such as
the Auditor, Assessor and Treasurer will have to vacate in the next year or so. The D.A.
and County Supervisors Chamber will remain. The Sheriff will move across the street to the
current Road Department/Public Works Building where an addition will be added for
dispatch.
Meanwhile, County offices have been playing musical chairs as Adult
and Child Protective Services have moved over to the Child Support Services building on Main
Street. Building, Planning and Environmental Health are being merged into the Community
Development center at the north end of the old brick hospital on Main Street. Public
Health and the Office of Emergency Services are now located in the middle of that building
complex.
Siskiyou County is working on the potential purchase of the current Klamath
National Forest building in Yreka - down from the fairgrounds. If that goes through, plans
are to eventually relocate the County departments that will be leaving the courthouse. A
small facility is also planned out at the
Public Works Yard to relocate the Road Department and other staff. Eventually, office
facilities for the Probation Dept. will be added to Juvenile Hall. |
