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County engineer reports permit failure by MidAmerican subcontractor; supervisors urged to support food pantry amid federal cuts
Summary
County engineer reported a MidAmerican subcontractor replaced poles without a right-of-way permit; the county will rewrite permit rules so facility owners must apply and cited a $250/day penalty. Separately, board heard that federal cuts and SNAP timing could increase food pantry demand and discussed serving as a regional hub.
County road staff reported an unpermitted right-of-way activity after a MidAmerican subcontractor replaced utility poles on 210th Street. Ben, the county engineer, said he was notified of a rock pile on the roadway and that communications with MidAmerican and its subcontractor followed; he said the county planned to issue a permit and that the contractor may be fined for working without a permit.
Ben described a forthcoming rewrite of the county’s work-in-the-right-of-way permit and a separate utility permit that would place responsibility on the facility owner rather than subcontractors to obtain permits. He told the board the county’s penalty is $250 per day per incident for failure to obtain the permit. "We have a copy of their insurance," he said after describing conversations with MidAmerican and the contractor.
Board members approved the permit once paperwork and insurance were provided, and Ben said he will continue work this winter to formalize permit language and utility-permit processes so owners (not subs) apply for permits.
At the same meeting supervisors also heard from staff involved with Humboldt County Prevention and the county food pantry. The board was told that funding disruptions at the federal level and changes to SNAP carryover could sharply increase demand. A county representative relayed Alyssa’s warning from EDMO that SNAP timing could prevent usual carryover of October benefits into November and that local food pantries will likely be busier; the board discussed soliciting monetary donations and offering the county-owned food pantry as a regional hub for distribution if needed.
What’s next: Ben will draft permit changes for board review this winter and staff will follow up on recommendations to coordinate regional food distribution and identify monetary donation channels.
