SUPERVISORS SUPPORT MARIJUANA SUPPRESSION PROGRAM

LAKEPORT - The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously
Tuesday to support the Sheriff's Department application for a
$275,000 grant to fund its marijuana suppression program.

Funding would support two deputy sheriffs, partial payment of a
prosecutor and operating expenses from the California Emergency
Management Agency Drug Enforcement Section Grant, Sheriff Rod
Mitchell said. More than $90,000 of a deputy's salary would be freed
up to pay additional sheriff personnel.

Chairwoman Denise Rushing said she wanted to make sure the
application specified marijuana grows not following local, state and
federal law would be subject to enforcement.

Mitchell said medical marijuana growers occasionally ask the
Sheriff's Department to inspect their grow and officers respect
medical marijuana growers' rights.

The sheriff also told the supervisors that a sergeant and a deputy in
the department focus on methamphetamine.

The board addressed a number of issues and projects at its meeting in Lakeport.

Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve the purchase of 3555 Lakeshore Blvd.
in Nice for $102,000 to incorporate it into the surrounding beach.
Supervisor Rob Brown voted no.

District Attorney Jon Hopkins and Clearlake Vice Mayor Judy Thein
made a presentation to the board on Team DUI, which aims to prevent,
detect and punish drunken drivers. More than 50 people from
contributing organizations came to the meeting including: a
Congressman Mike Thompson representative, a representative for
Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Lake
County District Attorney's Office and its Victim Witness Division,
California Highway Patrol, Lake County Sheriff's Office, Clearlake
Police Department, Lakeport Police Department, Lake County Fire
Protection District, Lake County Probation Department, Lake County
Alcohol and Other Drug Services, Lake County Mental Health, Lake
County Office of Education and its Safe School Healthy Students
Division, Konocti Unified School District, Lakeport Unified School
District, Kelseyville Unified School District, Middletown Unified
School District, Upper Lake Unified School District, Lake County,
City of Clearlake, City of Lakeport, Lake County Chamber of Commerce,
Clearlake Chamber of Commerce, Lake Family Resources, First Baptist
Church Clearlake, St. Helena Hospital, Sutter Lakeside Hospital,
Hilltop Recovery Center and the Lake County Record-Bee and Clear Lake
Observer American.

Supervisor Jim Comstock presented a proclamation designating December
2009 as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month in Lake County.

The board will continue its decision on whether to support a state
constitutional convention so that Supervisor Anthony Farrington and
staff can amend some of the resolution's proposals.

Board members unanimously supported the Mental Health Department
submitting an application for a $174,658 grant for a substance abuse
offender treatment program.

Supervisor Jeff Smith presented a proclamation to Sandie Elliott
commending her for her service in helping wildlife.

The board awarded a storm damage repair project on Sulphur Bank Drive
to Granite Construction for $813,482.