[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,85,97],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6488524,"mediaKeyId","5465129-9c48ed237439d96821cf17323dcf7ae0","parentId",5465129,"title","Supervisors approve donations, personnel changes and grant applications in 5–0 votes","audioSeconds",1630,"startMs",1717000,"endMs",3347000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5465129-9c48ed237439d96821cf17323dcf7ae0&start=1717&end=3347","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5465129-9c48ed237439d96821cf17323dcf7ae0/thumbnail_1717000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6488524/Calaveras-County/California/Supervisors-approve-donations-personnel-changes-and-grant-applications-in-50-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488524-9c693e2503c9545efc61ec9d34a466fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1777096284&Signature=H2SEy1otgWkzJoMAmXkc7C1WKiIuFYGax--CrCC8~awNbCZ9xscsnS-HrV0nYHGK~HWlJqed5lcRzJcyNm1sEvpI-TFGv8W7jUh9UKI7yRdMdR49RL3igtiySCjACZqKjN96OlcnHQngCngTq28Kiv1DO1DH17c6fnVbyLYrjbu1nyWBcLww333JoqITU8liha1QSOe-sFU8YpD55HC8wBxHHOj8Ic03t9FdGLokH3r7HyXB032He2s5lDdwK2r7r0FwsBWOG7DPLFM02et97ptZtGc4mRdsXRYCZzWJ2EUtSgbHqMF8H4hFFQ5IZMkjpmxeGFbcDTyY~BSjIUjeuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-22T22:27:40Z","article","Calaveras County supervisors on July 22 approved a group of items ranging from a donated search‑and‑rescue utility vehicle to personnel reclassification and grant authorization, with most votes recorded as unanimous 5–0.

The board approved a proclamation recognizing “Probation Services Week” for July 2025; accepted a $33,894.78 donation of a six‑seat Polaris utility vehicle from the Calaveras County Search and Rescue Team for the sheriff’s office; authorized the county to serve as fiscal agent and submit a grant application to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for maintenance of the Lily Gap vegetative unit; and approved a Human Resources request to retitle the department’s “senior engineer” classification to “engineering manager” and increase the position’s salary. Where formal votes were recorded, the tally was 5–0.

Votes at a glance

- Proclamation: Probation Services Week — Motion moved and seconded; adopted 5–0. The board formally recognized probation staff and programs that provide pretrial, adult, juvenile and post‑release supervision.

- Item 12: Board response to the 06/02/2025 grand jury report regarding the Health and Human Services Agency — Motion moved and seconded; approved (vote recorded as aye/5–0). The response is the county’s formal reply to the grand jury’s findings and recommendations.

- Item 27: Acceptance of Search and Rescue donation — Resolution accepted; board found the donation served a public purpose, authorized adding the vehicle to the sheriff’s capital asset inventory, and adopted a resolution of gratitude. Value listed in the staff report: $33,894.78. Approved 5–0.

- Item 31: Authorization for Emergency Services to submit a full grant proposal to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Wildfire and Forest Resilience grant program for the Lily Gap Vegetative Maintenance Unit 1 project; accept and execute award if made; and execute project documents — Motion moved and seconded; approved 5–0. Project scope described in the staff report: maintenance of an existing 157‑acre shaded fuel break northeast of West Point; county would serve as fiscal agent and capture the de minimis rate for administrative revenue.

- Item 32: Human Resources resolution to retitle senior engineer to engineering manager, update the job description and increase salary — Motion moved and seconded; approved 5–0. Staff said repeated failed recruitments motivated the change; the position manages the public works CIP and a contract consultant is covering duties until a permanent hire is made.

Procedural notes

Where recorded in the meeting, motions were moved and seconded from the dais and votes were recorded as unanimous (5–0). In several consent and routine votes the clerk called the roll and the board adopted items without discussion. The board also removed two consent items (12 and 27) from the consent calendar for separate action prior to voting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Calaveras County Board of Supervisors meeting of 7/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Calaveras County supervisors on July 22 approved a set of items including acceptance of a donated off‑road utility vehicle for the sheriff’s office, personnel changes in public works, and authorization to pursue a wildfire‑resilience grant — most measures passed unanimously, 5–0.","taxTitle","Calaveras County, California","taxId",26728,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_47":79,"_49":80,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6488508,"Public commenters raise IRS complaint against county visitor bureau; organizers promote 'New California' initiative",0,1207000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5465129-9c48ed237439d96821cf17323dcf7ae0&start=1207&end=1207","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5465129-9c48ed237439d96821cf17323dcf7ae0/thumbnail_1207000.jpg","/articles/6488508/Calaveras-County/California/Public-commenters-raise-IRS-complaint-against-county-visitor-bureau-organizers-promote-New-California-initiative","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488508-4e3920338083ed61f928ce148f004e36/orig.mp4?Expires=1777096284&Signature=A7uBar6A78bL0Ub2hL~nhF7XztqQJpEnvUcIo2J94FSAPl65~rATp0sXNNsPllDMZjIGSwgiWxgEPUntPXJUfoJ-hzSmddy3LvZwMoWTXLoQTJnSOIHo4Qasu~8l1qnCnNhJtH16L3spBjOL3w509CQgvlMLo6bAKWXOjyTMORDRsve8kGRDY~q1X4VXtVbOHJvd4lMKHaQfr3~siXEidNqDTVZJS00jX53wlujbfsUoqfzHFfDRvYKSmG0O6Eyuzw3lV0Wte~sBilRWVN3ZhkKeEWDtvtMGPDS40cUSQWqg3STQeE9ZS6mP4NeNXmvOYXeTCxjb06yTBanKMNrEAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 22 public‑comment period several speakers addressed local government and civic issues. Comments ranged from praise for probation and search‑and‑rescue volunteers to a speaker who said he had filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service alleging improper use of tax‑exempt status by the Calaveras Visitors Bureau.

Christopher Butner, identified in the record as the publisher of calaveras2026election.com, told the board he had “submitted to the IRS seeking an investigation” and alleged the CVB had misrepresented its nonprofit classification, saying the organization is a mutual‑benefit 501(c)(6) but had “persistently and willfully misrepresented its legal designation as being a public benefit nonprofit” to the county and to the City of Angels Camp. Butner said the CVB receives approximately 90% of its operating funding from transient occupancy tax funds allocated by the county and city and that he had asked the IRS to investigate whether donors were misled about tax deductibility.

Earlier in the public‑comment period Terry McBride identified themselves as chair of a local New California State committee and reported on recent community polling and upcoming events, urging the board and residents to review a proposed constitution produced by the group.

Other public comments included praise for probation services and for search‑and‑rescue volunteers’ recent work. No formal board action was taken in response to these public comments; the speakers’ remarks were entered into the public record.","Public speakers during the July 22 public‑comment period urged recognition of probation staff, described local community activity, and one speaker said he had submitted a complaint to the IRS alleging misuse of tax‑exempt status by the Calaveras Visitors Bureau (CVB). Another speaker promoted the New California State initiative.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6488514,"Board directs staff to return with draft compensation policies and possible increases for elected officials",4396,3994000,8390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5465129-9c48ed237439d96821cf17323dcf7ae0&start=3994&end=8390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5465129-9c48ed237439d96821cf17323dcf7ae0/thumbnail_3994000.jpg","/articles/6488514/Calaveras-County/California/Board-directs-staff-to-return-with-draft-compensation-policies-and-possible-increases-for-elected-officials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488514-e6b2d03d734d06b0e7f1f97851b7b4e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1777096284&Signature=XMe78iayKsLnUY65XRK5tVnckZvH9VjMs8x110mUqJV0LRHq9~8xH796xNQGloi6YRzpXP5H2RFeWVXx3U6zdHWD0Cak~v5UtHKD8SkTXsrWk7P0AnJmLLqUpuvnLkChLn9cx48AL~aXACeDwjbF7k22iwANh3pFigUeNebuTxs0Ftwxzhv1QzLIX~8Esno6Qr~2qGQh2wTN6JMb1lKis-q91yf2KT3h2J9hXXtoo3l2p83lUXWtvkNiLxD2-gDhU6BXBs~DRc~tMEfr8UW8dNi4V28jWN7hzqFgGCM2y75kxhUgdxF6pHEL06phjOYznub3Oi352-D8FNWRP4uvQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Human Resources brought draft compensation policies for elected officials and board members to the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors on July 22, and the board gave staff direction to return with finalized policies and recommended salary adjustments tied to the county’s fiscal calendar.

Judy Hawkins, human resources and risk director, said the materials are draft and intended for discussion: “This is not adopting the policy. It's bringing to you for discussion.” Hawkins told the board Evergreen Consulting provided the original benchmarking and HR worked to refine a formula that balances internal and external comparisons.

Key elements of the draft policies discussed

- For the assessor, auditor‑controller, clerk‑recorder, district attorney, sheriff and treasurer/tax‑collector the recommended methodology described in the staff presentation uses a weighted approach: 50% comparative market benchmarking (peer counties) and 50% alignment with comparable appointed department‑head pay grades, with protections against compaction between an elected official and their principal assistant (15% separation recommended). Evergreen suggested an annual cap on adjustments (10% mentioned in discussion). The comparable counties listed in the presentation included Amador, El Dorado, Lake, Stanislaus, Nevada, Sutter and Tuolumne.

- For Board of Supervisors compensation the draft used a different blended formula: 40% cost‑of‑living adjustment (CPI), 40% the average base of supervisors in peer counties, and 20% of the annual percentage adjustment approved by California superior court judges. Staff noted the current proposed formula as drafted would not produce an immediate increase for supervisors (the board is approximately $3,000 per year above the peer average under the parameters presented).

Board direction and next steps

After questions and comment, the board gave clear direction: staff should bring back two drafted policies (one for board compensation and one for the other elected officials) and return with recommended salary changes timed to the adoption of the county budget (September). Staff said the Evergreen recommendation would have produced a roughly $71,000 annual increase across affected elected offices (about $61,000 for FY2025‑26 after timing adjustments); the draft policy would generate an estimated $81,000 but timing reduces the FY2025‑26 impact to an estimated $61,000. Hawkins said the board could defer implementation in a given year if fiscal constraints required it; the draft also contemplates periodic review of the policy every three to five years.

What was not decided

The board did not adopt any salary changes at the July 22 meeting. Instead it directed HR to refine the draft language, distribute the policies to members for review and return with a formal item that would include proposed salary adjustments concurrent with the budget adoption.","Human Resources presented draft, formula‑based policies for setting salaries for elected officials and board members. The board directed staff to return with the policies and, separately, recommendations for salary adjustments concurrent with the budget process in September.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6488519,"Board approves general‑plan and zoning correction for long‑standing Spence Ranch Feed and Supply",982,2170000,3152000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5465129-9c48ed237439d96821cf17323dcf7ae0&start=2170&end=3152","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5465129-9c48ed237439d96821cf17323dcf7ae0/thumbnail_2170000.jpg","/articles/6488519/Calaveras-County/California/Board-approves-generalplan-and-zoning-correction-for-longstanding-Spence-Ranch-Feed-and-Supply","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488519-8918636d76f84de40d38585351716feb/orig.mp4?Expires=1777096284&Signature=YRSbOU6XUD3T9YDAmZ3yzziuZvYiRxA3iC6Fhel83PGzqi5mgrHQIwuTHUBZlhG4ud9bb91FUc~LGCU-DoX2GasMxuioCCr6UnYO-4RntY8Us~VFHsq-vueHOH8KhMV1yHzLKT1xjirFMFLJR00vhSeHMPbGjSRWL63rVQhTf8G3DHmNgo-byRTsuSuYacm6kh-cq7U5zAEY5Q-Ytrf91rJA02y3Vd6~Cba5QiNh1Xq60Zk5lJF~ddxwYdF~5OTZidt6h2GOKPdt0saQk1U6LW7hBMnVxTbvr97LZiqLbsA~qQdRhUPbA-mKYmqnXwbSGX0XZWVyzGJ-Va3yFVudHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Calaveras County planning staff persuaded the Board of Supervisors on July 22 to correct a mapping inconsistency that left a long‑established feed and farm‑supply business designated as working lands in the general plan while its zoning and land uses were commercial.

Gina, a county planner, described the action as “a long time coming” and said the application aims “to correct a technical mapping error” so that the 150,279‑square‑foot area occupied by Spence Ranch Feed and Supply at 1235 Highway 49 in Angels Camp is consistent across the general plan, zoning and actual land use. The board approved a notice of exemption under CEQA and adopted a general‑plan amendment and zoning amendment, and later adopted the implementing ordinance; the vote was recorded as 5–0.

Why it matters

Planning staff told the board the parcel has hosted the feed store since 1978 and that past approvals and a 2023 lot line adjustment left the parcel with split zoning (A1ME and RC) while the general plan designated the entire parcel as working lands. The requested change rezones a defined 150,279‑square‑foot portion of the 18.79‑acre parcel to C2 (general commercial) and amends the general plan land‑use map to commercial for that same area. Staff concluded the amendment is the minimum area necessary to align legal descriptions, zoning and existing use and that the project is exempt from CEQA under “common sense” and minor‑alteration exemptions cited in the staff report.

Board action and public comment

No public opposition was reported in the hearing record. The planning commission recommended approval on June 12, and the board adopted the findings, approved the notice of exemption and passed both the general‑plan and zoning amendments in consecutive public hearings. The ordinance implementing the zoning change was later adopted and ordered published per standard county practice.

Background and next steps

Staff said the parcel has an on‑site well and an approved on‑site wastewater system and that connecting to public water or sewer would require annexation into the city and roughly a half‑mile of infrastructure. The zoning change allows the existing retail, storage and parking to continue permanently as commercially designated land. The county clerk will publish the ordinance and update records to reflect the amended land‑use designation and zoning.","Planning staff told the board the action corrects a technical mapping error and aligns the county’s general plan and zoning with an existing commercial use that has operated since 1978. The board approved a notice of CEQA exemption, a general‑plan amendment, and a zoning ordinance amendment 5–0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Supervisors approve donations, personnel changes and grant applications in 5–0 votes

Public commenters raise IRS complaint against county visitor bureau; organizers promote 'New California' initiative

Board directs staff to return with draft compensation policies and possible increases for elected officials

Board approves general‑plan and zoning correction for long‑standing Spence Ranch Feed and Supply