Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/23691
TUESDAY JANUARY 25, 2011 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Bull & Gelding Sale See 6A, 7A, 8A Weather forecast 10B Sunny 71/41 By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer As promised, Assemblyman Jim Nielsen has come up with a plan that he says would will secure and assure funding for rural public safety programs. Nielsen and two colleagues have co-authored AB168, which would provide funding for law enforcement through an appropriation from the state’s general fund. A .15 percent increase in the state’s vehicle license fee has been the primary funding source for rural public safety programs. That increase is due to sunset June 30. Law enforce- DAILYNEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Nielsen has public safety funding plan ment programs would be endanger if the funding goes away. The bill proposes a continu- ous, or yearly, funding of $500 million from the state’s general fund to the local safety and pro- tection account, Nielsen said. With an entire general fund budget of about $90 billion, the $500 million would take a sub- stantial part out of the general fund, but it’s very critical for where it is needed most, where public safety hits the road, he said. “Public safety, justice and education are of the highest priority,” Nielsen said. The bill is a counterproposal to one that was proposed earli- er by North Coast Assembly- man Wesley Chesbro. Ches- bro’s bill proposes getting rid of the June 30 sunset date on the vehicle license fee. Public safety funding should not be tied to the vehicle license fee, Nielsen said, adding that has been his posi- tion all along. “I will assure you that what- ever options available out there, this is the most likely choice,” Nielsen said. “What we have here is the best alter- native.” The co-authors of the bill are Livingston Democratic Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani and Republican Assemblyman Jeff Gorell. Galgiani is a great person to work with. She understands and is sensitive to rural issues, Nielsen said of his Democratic colleague. In a press release Galgiani said “Fully fund- ing local law enforcement pro- grams like this is not a partisan or political issue, it is an issue important to all Californians. New sheriff adjusts Nielsen That’s why we are dedicated to work across the aisle on various measures to ensure our communi- ties remain safe.” Gorell, from Camarillo, brings an urban perspective to the team. “There’s a nice mix of rural and urban area represen- tatives supporting this,” Nielsen said. ——— Tang Lor can be reached at 527-2153, Ext. 110 or by e-mail at tlor@redbluffdailynews.com. Local CalFire not worried about cuts By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed cut of millions of dol- lars from CalFire’s budget will trim staffing of engines from four to three per engine, but that should have no effect locally. “There will be absolutely no change in our ability to respond to emergencies,” said CalFire Interim Chief Ernie Loveless. “It won’t change our local responses to fires, medicals or our mutual aid.” While the mandate now shifts to having 3-0 staffing during the peak fire season, which typically runs July to October, it is just things returning to normal, Loveless said. “For years and years we had 3-0 staffing,” Loveless said. “It wasn’t until three years ago under executive order that it changed to 4-0.” The main difference is that while there will still be 114 permanent jobs there will be fewer seasonal fire- fighters hired on, with only 100 to be hired for the 2011 season — 24 fewer than normal, he said. “We are very fortunate,” Loveless said. “It won’t change the number of engines. Our stations will all stay open and our air program at Vina Helitack will remain open. Nobody’s really going to see a change.” CalFire has eight stations with two schedule A sta- tions, which are county-owned stations staffed with CalFire employees, three schedule B stations, which are state owned stations that the county pays CalFire to keep open, Loveless said. There are 125 volunteers who serve in 13 different volunteer companies, he said. Brown has proposed a realignment of programs and funding with a shift of responsibility for programs going from the state to local governments. CalFire is a part of the phase one realignment that is Daily News photo by Andrea Wagner Sheriff Dave Hencratt, posing in front of the Tehama County Administration building, plans to be active and visible in the community. By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer Things are in flux at the Tehama County Sher- iff’s Department as newly-sworn-in Sheriff Dave Hencratt sticks to his campaign promises to shrink bureaucracy at the top. Basically, there are fewer people doing more with no increases in salaries, Hencratt said. “We’re doing the same work with less chiefs,” he said. For the first two weeks in office, Hencratt, 48, has been swamped with meetings, personnel deci- sions and public appear- ances, but things have gone the way he wanted them to, he said. He has been restructuring and reorganizing and moving people around. “It is mainly to get fresh eyes and fresh ideas in each position,” Hen- cratt said. Some of the changes include promoting Sgt. Phil Johnston to Assistant Sheriff. “I quickly learned there has to be a No. 2 guy,” Hencratt said. “The lieutenants and captains all have their plates full.” The undersheriff posi- tion was recently vacated by Dennis Garton, who was elected to the Board of Supervisors. The posi- tion was intentionally frozen through budget negotiations for the remainder of the fiscal year. Hencratt would have to petition the Board of Supervisors to officially reinstate an undersheriff. For now, he is simply renaming the position “assistant sheriff” and keeping Johnston at the same pay rate he already has. “I was absolutely hon- SKILLS CLASS Thurs., Jan. 27 2011 9:30am to12:00pm Job Training Center 718 Main St., Red Bluff Cost $49.00 COMPUTER BASIC 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Call 529-7000 ored that Sheriff Hencratt asked for my assistance,” Johnston said. Johnston will be mak- ing a sergeant’s salary while, in essence, being an acting undersheriff. “We are going to have to do more with less,” Johnston said. A 30-year law enforce- ment officer, Johnston said he is looking to retire sometime soon as well. However, he believes in supporting his boss. “I’ve always believed in [Hencratt], mainly based on his work ethic over the last 20 years,” Johnston said. “I think the citizens did a very wise thing.” Hencratt won the sher- iff post in the June 2010 election, when he ran against his boss and 12- ATTENTION !!! Painful corns? WHO needs them! We can PERMANENTLY Remove these with very little pain Minimal down time. Most insurances cover. Call for info! DR. John Swaim, DPM (530) 527-7584 COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR Smog Inspection $ 2595 + cert. (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) Pass or FREE retest 195 S. Main St. Red Bluff 530 527-9841 year sheriff, Clay Parker. Hencratt garnered 498 more votes than Parker. Campaigning while still a detective, Hencratt said he spent many years looking up at administra- tors in the department who were no longer back- ing up the men on the front lines. Hencratt, who grew up in Cottonwood, has a vested interest in Tehama County, he said. Johnston, a Siskiyou County native, grew up in Weed. His career includes an 8-year stint as a resi- dent deputy in Modoc County. For the last 20 years, he has worked alongside Hencratt. Johnston has always been a “ground-pounder,” he said. Now, he is adjust- ing to everyday opera- See NEW, page 9A expected to be fully implemented by the 2014-2015 fis- cal year, which could result in the realignment of up to $250 million from CalFire’s Fire Protection Services to local governments. For more information on the proposed budget cuts visit www.dof.ca.gov. LaMalfa wants voters to reconsider high speed rail By TONI SCOTT MediaNews Writer SACRAMENTO — Sen. Doug LaMalfa is introduc- ing state legislation that intends to put the brakes on the California high speed rail project. LaMalfa, R-Richvale, has introduced SB 22, a bill he said will re-examine the state’s proposed high speed rail project. The proposed 800-mile system would connect San LaMalfa Francisco to Los Angeles via the Central Valley, with the California High Speed Rail Authority — the state agency overseeing the project — estimat- ing a travel time of two hours and 40 minute between the destinations. Plans also include a route that would run from Sacramento to San Diego. California voters approved funding for the pro- See RAIL, page 9A Your Business, A Look Inside Five Areas to Assess Your Business for Future Growth Two Dates to Choose From: Wednesday, February 2, 2011 – Red Bluff (Red Bluff Community Center) Wednesday, February 9, 2011 – Corning (Corning Chamber of Commerce) Call the Job Training Center at 529-7000. Join this interactive session featuring The ChicoProject which assists small and microenterprises with business and strategic planning, marketing, Web development, Web marketing, IT integration, sales assistance, finance and accounting. Leave knowing what areas you should be focused on. Sponsored by 3Core, the Job Training Center, County of Tehama, TehamaEDC and the ChicoProject. 2-5 pm / Cost: $45 per person Pre-registration required.