At the Jan. 6 meeting the Lake County Board of Supervisors completed routine organizational and personnel actions.

Elections and organizational items: Supervisors nominated and elected Supervisor Rasmussen as board chair for 2026 and elected Supervisor Pyska as vice chair; both actions carried unanimously as recorded. The board also elected Chair Rasmussen and Vice Chair Pyska as leadership for the Lake County Board of Equalization and the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority board (motions carried 5-0 as recorded).

Oath of office and personnel: The board administered the oath to Thomas Feimer as chief public defender. Later, after closed session, the board appointed Rachel Smith as Animal Care and Control Director effective Feb. 9, 2026; that appointment was approved 5-0.

Advisory boards: The board considered and approved appointments to multiple advisory panels, including appointments to the Building Board of Appeals, reappointment to the Cobb Municipal Advisory Council, East Region and Western Region town-hall panels, the Lake County Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Vector Control District Board of Trustees — all motions carried as recorded.

Contracts and items continued: The board considered an amendment to the county’s agreement with Community Behavioral Health (an item addressing pass-through Medi-Cal rates) but staff notified the board that the version posted online was not the updated draft; the director withdrew the item and it will be continued to a future meeting once the correct document is uploaded.

Votes at a glance (recorded outcomes during the meeting):
- Election of board chair (Supervisor Rasmussen): carried 5-0.
- Election of vice chair (Supervisor Pyska/Paiske variant in the transcript): carried 5-0.
- Board of Equalization and IHSS board leadership appointments: carried 5-0.
- Consent agenda approval (with item 5.8 pulled): carried 5-0.
- East Lake Landfill purchase: carried 5-0.
- Formation of ad hoc energy policy committee: carried 5-0.
- First reading of zoning ordinance to implement HE‑6 and adoption of internal CDD policy: each carried 4-1 (Supervisor Sabatier opposed).
- Appointment of Rachel Smith as Animal Care and Control Director (closed session): carried 5-0.

The meeting recessed for lunch and returned to closed session; the board reported the animal-care appointment upon reopening.