Modoc supervisors reorganize leadership, honor Rep. LaMalfa and approve grants, ordinances and staffing changes

The Modoc County Board of Supervisors reorganized for 2026, adopted a resolution honoring the late Congressman Doug LaMalfa, and approved a slate of grants, agreements and administrative changes at its Jan. 13 meeting.

Reorganization and tribute: The board elected Jerry Byrne as 2026 chair and Kathy Rhodes as vice chair by voice vote. The board also adopted a resolution honoring Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s years of service to rural Northern California, citing his work on water reliability, agriculture, fire prevention, forest management, infrastructure, wild-horse issues and broadband access. The resolution directs the clerk to transmit a copy to LaMalfa’s family and congressional office.

Grants and contracts: The board approved a number of grant-related and contracting items by voice vote. Those actions included authorizing the chair to sign a HEDIS performance-measurement agreement with the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) for a not-to-exceed amount of $25,920 to cover external quality review and data reporting (reporting year 2026). The board also approved applying for a one-time California Air Resources Board Climate Heat Impact Response Program (CHIRP) grant of $20,208, which staff said would be added to the county’s wood-stove program or Carl Moyer funds, and authorized a budget modification to increase expenditures by $77,000 to purchase a building to house Air Pollution and the Department of Agriculture.

Public safety and staffing: Sheriff Tex Dowdy told the board the Department of Justice COPS Hiring grant awarded to Modoc County totals $250,000 in federal funds with a required local match of $86,110 over five years; the sheriff said the funds are intended to support school resource officer coverage for county schools and to assist city programs. The board accepted the grant. On law‑enforcement assets, the board approved removing a totaled Dodge Durango from the sheriff’s inventory and transferring it to the Tule Lake Police Department and authorized purchase of a replacement 2018 Ford F‑150 for $85,899.

Planning and administration: The board waived second readings and adopted ordinances to update Title 19 (Williamson Act/land conservation) and Title 3 (revenue and purchasing procedures) to align with federal regulations and Office of Emergency Services compliance. Administration also obtained board approval to create a Paralegal 3 classification to provide a career ladder within prosecutorial and other county offices; staff emphasized the classification is a job series placement rather than an immediate net increase in allocated positions.

Agriculture and local programs: The board authorized staff to send letters to the Modoc National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management requesting transfer of up to 15 Forest Service horses and up to 20 BLM horses for the Devil’s Garden Colt Challenge youth program. The board also voted to request that USDA consider including alfalfa in the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program following export‑market impacts on some commodities.

Other business and closed session: The board approved routine consent items and committee assignments for 2026, received reports on hospitals, indigent health funding (CMSP), and transportation safety concerns on Highway 299 (board authorized a letter to Caltrans). The board held closed session on public-employee evaluations and real-property negotiations and reported that evaluations were held and direction given; no public action was reported beyond the stated directions.

The meeting adjourned after the board completed business and returned from closed session.