County residents urged to provide feedback on state’s digital plan
Plan aims to increase access to high-speed internet
The Inyo County Board of Supervisors during its meeting last week received several presentations and updates, including a report on current projects and initiatives of the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments, presented by Executive Director of Regional Coordination Elaine Kabala, and a report on regional broadband activities by Regional Broadband Coordinator Scott Armstrong.
As part of his presentation, Armstrong reported that the California Department of Technology (CDT) is accepting public comments on a Draft Digital Equity Plan through today.
The Digital Equity Plan is part of the Federal Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment program, or BEAD, which itself is part of the federal Investment Infrastructure
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The program makes available $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs across the country.
Residents are encouraged to offer feedback on the plan by visiting the State Digital Equity Plan page to access the draft, then selecting the public comment form and following the instructions from there. Or, visit https:// broadbandforall.cdt. ca.gov/state-digital-equityplan/.
Filming in inyo
The board also heard from Inyo County Film Commissioner Jesse
Steele, who reported that filming has slowed a bit for the season, allowing him more time to work on development of a universal permit for Inyo County and building the commission’s online presence.
The website now includes a comprehensive list of local resources (caterers, hotels, automotive services, etc.) that local businesses can add themselves to, links to all agency permits, and a growing gallery of local “extras.”
Check out the improvements at https://inyocountyvisitor.com/film/.
Friends of the amargosa Basin Friends of the Amargosa Basin President Susan Sorrells and Executive Director Cameron Mayer provided an update on the grassroots effort to create the Amargosa Basin National Monument.
The first step in the process includes gathering input from a wide variety of stakeholders, including residents and business owners, the recreating public, tribal nations, government agencies, and elected officials.
It is expected that the group will return to the board of supervisors at a later date requesting a letter of support for its endeavor.
Code compliance change
The board of supervisors last week approved a cost-neutral change in the current code compliance system that moved the “Code Compliance Inspector” to the Planning Department.
The position was originally based in Administration and reported to the County Administrative Officer/ Assistant CAO.
As the volume of code compliance issues increased, the position regularly worked in close coordination with the Planning, Building and Safety, and Environmental Health departments as well as County Counsel.
In coordination with these departments, it was determined that the individual in the compliance role could work more effectively within the Planning Department – benefiting from the technical expertise and oversight of the Planning director, while continuing to work closely with Administration, County Counsel, Building and Safety and Environmental Health.
Commission appointments
Four individuals were appointed to two commissions overseen by the Board of Supervisors last week.
Alex Burciaga was appointed to the First 5
Children and Families Commission to fill out the remainder of a term ending Dec. 5, 2024. Heather Carr was appointed to a new three-year term ending Dec. 5, 2026.
Two vacancies still exist on the Commission and the application period closes Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. for anyone interested in applying for one of two three-year terms ending Dec. 5, 2026 – one for a regular member and one for an alternate.
The seats must be filled by community members representing one of the following categories: recipient of project services in the county strategic plan; educator specializing in early childhood development; representative of a local childcare coordination group; representative of a local organization for prevention or early intervention for families at risk; representative of community-based organization that promotes and early childhood development; representative of a local school district; or representative of a local medical, pediatric, or obstetric association of societies.
To apply, email a letter of interest to the Assistant Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at dellis@inyocounty.us.
The board last week also filled two vacancies on the Inyo County Water Commission by reappointing Dan Berry to serve a four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2027, and appointing newcomer Vikki Glinskii to a four-year term also ending Dec. 31, 2027.
Glinskii now fills the seat formerly occupied by Nate Gratz, who served on the commission since 2017. His service is much
appreciated and the board wishes him well.
Commission assignments
During last week’s meeting, the board of supervisors approved commission assignments for calendar year 2024.
The assignments cover a wide range of local, state, and national committees, commissions, and boards – from the Eastern Sierra Area Agency Advisory Committee to the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) to the National Association of Counties (NACo).
As recommended by Chairperson Matt Kingsley, there were only a few minor changes to last year’s assignments. Kingsley proposed and the board approved assigning Supervisor Trina Orrill to a new alternate position on the city of Bishop-County of Inyo Liaison Committee (with Supervisors Jeff Griffiths and Scott Marcellin as the main representatives), Supervisor Jennifer Roeser to a new alternate position on the Los Angeles-Inyo County Standing Committee (with Supervisors Griffiths and Kingsley as the main representatives), and Supervisor Marcellin to the existing alternate position for the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) Board of Directors (with Chairperson Kingsley serving as the main representative).
The assignments to the other two major organizations representing counties remain the same. Supervisor Roeser is the representative to NACo and Supervisor Marcellin will remain the alternate. Supervisor Orrill will continue to serve as the County’s CSAC representative with Supervisor Griffiths as the alternate. Griffiths pulls double duty on the CSAC Executive Committee where he serves as First Vice President.
A full list of the 2024 Board Committee Assignments can be found on the county website at: http://tinyurl. com/4y8pr2f6.
Recognizing dedication
The Inyo County Board of Supervisors kicked off last week’s meeting by recognizing employees who reached service milestones during the fourth quarter of 2023.
The following individuals received accolades from the board as well as their department heads, and received commemorative pins for their years of dedicated service:
• Sheriff’s Office –
Shane Scott, 20 years; Brian Howard, 20 years; Jessica Royal-Dews, 5 years; and Mike Atkins, 5 years.
• D.A.’s Office – Mike Durbin, 15 years
• Health & Human Services – Laura Cortez Barrientos, 10 years;
Natalie Luque, 10 years; Eryn Clark, 10 years; and Christina Bonnano, 5 years.
• Public Works – Chuck Baker, 5 years; Kody Nelson, 5 years; and Marjorie Chapman, 5 years.