The starting time for the regular meeting of the Sutter County Board of Supervisors on January 4, 2011 has been changed from 7 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

This is the annual reorganization meeting of the Board of Supervisors, when a new chairman and vice-chairman will be selected. Also on the agenda is the ceremonial swearing in ceremony for department heads and Board members who are starting new terms after successful election or re-election efforts in 2010.

Video of the Sacramento River overflowing at Tisdale Weir, a natural and critical function of the Sacramento Valley Flood Control system. When the Sacramento River rises, half its flows are diverted into the Sutter Bypass, reducing the pressure on Sacramento River levees.

The Sutter County Tisdale Boat Deck is closed before the river overflows the weir, and is re-opened when the water recedes and there is no forecast for additional overflows.

View the online video

On Friday, December 31st, most county offices will be closed in observance of the New Year's Holiday.

During an emergency, you may not have time to gather food, water and other items you will need to keep your family safe and comfortable. When disaster strikes, you may not have time to gather up important documents that you will not want to leave behind.

The Sutter County Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross have teamed up to produce a video describing the very simple process of preparing an emergency ‘Go Kit’. The video is available online.

On Thursday and Friday, November 25 and 26, most county offices will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Community Memorial Museum’s annual fundraising gala, Trees & Traditions, will take place on Friday, December 3, 2010, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Museum. Elegant and lavish hors d’oeuvres will be accompanied by sparkling champagne and wine. The MARKS Ensemble will provide a festive background of holiday music. A 16-foot tree will serve as the centerpiece of the party, decorated with ornaments handcrafted by museum volunteers. Wreaths and garlands of fresh evergreens will deck the galleries of the museum.

Small decorated trees and gifts donated by area businesses and individuals will be awarded in a drawing and silent auction at the end of the evening. Proceeds from the gala benefit the Museum by helping to fund operating costs for 2011. Tickets are available at the Museum or from any Museum Commissioner at $40 per person or $75 per couple. The Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County is located at 1333 Butte House Road, Yuba City. For more information, call the Museum at 822-7141.

On Thursday, November 11th, most County offices will be closed in observance of Veteran's Day.

Efforts by Sutter County officials to reduce the threat to human safety and the potential for damages associated with flood events have resulted in a 20 percent decrease in the cost of flood insurance premiums in special flood hazard areas, which will save property owners millions of dollars.

In a letter from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency dated Oct. 12, Sutter County was notified that its floodplain management activities, including the enforcement of building codes and an extensive community outreach program, have resulted in the lowering of the costs of insurance premiums for those owners who were re-mapped into special flood hazard areas in 2008, and will in the future benefit those who are expected to be re-mapped into special flood hazard areas in 2012.

Come to the Haunted Health Fair! We have healthy tricks for your Halloween treats.

Where: Sutter County Public Health
1445 Veterans Memorial Circle, Yuba City

When: October 27 from 3:30-6PM

Who: For trick or treaters of all ages.

The Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County is hosting a book signing for the new book Sacramento’s Chinatown. Lawrence Tom and Brian are also the authors of the recent book Marysville’s Chinatown, and now they have just released Sacramento’s Chinatown, published through Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series. The program and book signing will take place on Saturday, October 9th at 1:00 p.m. at the Community Memorial Museum. Admission is free.

First Yuba-Sutter New Citizen Ceremony Video Is On County Webstreaming Site

A video of the September 19 Naturalization Ceremony hosted by Sutter County and conducted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service is available online.

It was the first new citizen ceremony ever conducted in the Yuba-Sutter area.

View the New Citizen Ceremony Video

Those who drive without insurance risk having their vehicle impounded, their registration and driver’s license suspended, and a fine. Those who believe they cannot afford basic liability insurance may qualify for California’s Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program.

Qualifying Sutter County drivers can be insured for $279 a year, and qualifying drivers in Yuba County can be insured for $260 a year, according to the California Department of Insurance. Rates are different in each County of California, ranging from $198 in Monterey County to $368 in Los Angeles.

A basic liability policy under the program is $252 a year in Colusa County, $233 in Butte County, and $251 in Nevada County.

Drivers must be at least 19 years of age, have been continuously licensed to drive for three years, have a good driving record, own a vehicle that is valued at $20,000 or less, and meet income eligibility requirements. For more information, contact the California Department of Insurance at 1-866-602-8861.

Sutter County Public Health is holding a no cost "School's Back In" Bicycle Rodeo Saturday, September 18, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Sutter County Public Health parking lot, 1445 Veterans Memorial Circle, Yuba City. All Sutter County Kindergarten through eighth grade students are invited to attend.

The bicycle rodeo will teach children various bicycle safety skills by using simulated real life situations. Children will ride through a riding skills course to learn bicycle safety techniques. In addition, if children bring their own bicycle to the bicycle rodeo, they will have their bicycles inspected. Bringing own bicycle is not required to participate. FREE bicycle helmets will be properly fitted and provided to all participants (Quantities, sizes, colors and styles of helmets are limited).

Please see the attached flyer. Thank you for helping us "spread the word" and keep our children safe on their bicycles!

• Bicycle Rodeo 
• Bicycle Rodeo Public Service Announcement 

Sutter County Public Health is offering flu vaccine, tetanus/whooping cough vaccine and pneumonia vaccine beginning in October at a variety of locations. This year H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine is included in the seasonal vaccine. Vaccines will be offered at the Sutter County Public Health Outpatient Clinic after November 4, 2010 during walk-in hours. For your convenience, the consent forms located below in the links may be printed and completed before arriving at a flu clinic site. Information about each vaccine is available below.

• 2010 Flu Clinic Schedule 
• 2010 Flu Screening Consent Form English 
• 2010 Flu Screening Consent Form Spanish 
• When to Seek Emergency Medical Care 
• Nasal Flu Vaccine Information English 
• Nasal Flu Vaccine Information Spanish 
• Injectable Flu Vaccine Information English 
• Injectable Flu Vaccine Information Spanish 
• Tdap Vaccine (Tetanus/Whooping Cough Vaccine) English 
• Tdap Vaccine (Tetanus/Whooping Cough Vaccine) Spanish 
• Pneumonia Vaccine Information English 
• Pneumonia Vaccine Information Spanish 

The Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County will welcome Judy Yung, co-author of a brand new book titled Angel Island, Immigrant Gateway to America, for a program and book signing on Wednesday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Angel Island, in San Francisco Bay, served as the center for immigration on the west coast, in much the same way that Ellis Island served the east coast of the United States. Immigrants arrived on Angel Island from Asia and South Asia, including China, Japan, India and the Philippine Islands. Although their stories are little known, their experiences were diverse, challenging and a fascinating part of our history. Many families in our own local area first arrived in the U.S. on Angel Island and began their new lives there.

On Monday, September 6th, most county offices will be closed for Labor Day.

Sutter County's Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program has won the statewide Best Practices Award—Excellence In Health Linkages, a competitive award given each year to just one of the 82 WIC programs operating in California.

WIC is a federally-funded health and nutrition program designed to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. In addition to assisting families in buying healthy supplemental food from local vendors, WIC provides education in healthy eating, physical activity, and breastfeeding.

Sutter County was chosen for the award, presented by the California Department of Public Health, because of its successful collaboration with community health partners: they teamed up with the First 5 Commission-Smiles Dental Van to provide more than 200 dental screenings and dental work for children 5 and under; and they teamed with the Sierra Health Foundation to provide nutrition education, physical activities and gardening experience for mothers at three substance abuse treatment programs.

Dental services for children under age 5 are difficult for WIC participants to obtain. The Smiles Dental Van provides comprehensive dental services at the main WIC site and satellite sites, thereby decreasing transportation and access to care barriers. As a direct result of this services, many WIC participants were able to obtain the required dental services need for kindergarten enrollment.

Nutrition education and access to healthy foods is vital in recovery from substance abuse. The Living Strong program funded by a grant from Sierra Health Foundation, utilized peer educators to provide access to nutrition education, physical activity, and to plant and grow gardens. The peer educators attended WIC staff trainings and incorporated the WIC "Healthy Habits For Life" messaging in their training of mothers in the substance abuse program. The Living Strong program served 250 clients.

WIC participants must meet income guidelines and be pregnant women, new mothers, infants or children under age five. Foster children are eligible for the program.

PICTURE: From left: Karrie Spencer, Sutter County WIC Registered Dietician; Marcia Barnes, Sutter County WIC Program Coordinator; Linnea Sallack, WIC Program Division Chief, California Department of Public Health; Dr. Horton, Director of California Department of Public Health

Sutter County Public Health Division is offering two no-cost pertussis (whooping cough) shot clinics.

Parents must bring their children’s yellow immunization cards (shot records) to the clinic.

• Pertussis Clinics Flyer 
• Pertussis Clinics Public Service Announcement 

The first of two shot clinics will be held:
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Live Oak Senior Center
2750 Date Street, Live Oak [Map]

The second shot clinic will be held:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Yuba City Certified Farmers Market
Town Center on Plumas Boulevard, Yuba City [Map]

The photography studio on the second floor of the now-demolished Odd Fellows Building on D Street in Marysville housed a series of portrait photographers from the 1870s until the 1920s. Many residents of Marysville,Yuba City, and surrounding communities had their portraits made there. Before the building was demolished in the 1970s, many people took away glass plate negatives stored there, thereby saving an important part of local history. Scattered to the four winds, some of these original glass negatives returned home to the Community Memorial Museum to become a permanent part of our community’s history.

Exhibit runs from August 20 to November 21, 2010

Photographer Allan Lamb scanned, printed, and restored these precious glass plate negatives as a donation to the museum. He founded the Image Restoration Center to save California’s deteriorating photographic history one photograph at a time.

For more information, call 822-7141.

Attention Sutter County Childcare providers: There are still a few spaces left in the Creating Great Starts and Lessons Learned classes. The classes are provided by the Sutter County Children and Families Commission and are open to licenses childcare providers. Enroll today!

The Sutter County Children and Families Commission (SCCFC) is pleased to announce two child care provider, early educator classes. The SCCFC has approved $38,000 in funding to continue the Lessons Learned and Creating Great Starts classes for FY 2010/2011. The classes are open to licensed childcare providers in Sutter County.

• Class Information Flyer 
• Creating Great Starts Postcard 

Applications will be due no later than Friday August 13th, at 12 noon.

If you have questions or would like more information call (530) 822-7505.

Sutter County has again won a gold award for its California State Fair exhibit.

This year's exhibit, "Sutter County: A First Class Ticket" features a rendition of the Sutter County Airport, a Farmer's Market, and the Sutter Buttes, and includes three videos, and an animated Snow Goose.

One of the videos is a history of John Montgomery, the Sutter County native born in 1858 who was the first American to build, and fly, an "aeroplane," 20 years before Orville and Wilbur Wright. Alexander Graham Bell said after Montgomery's feat that "All subsequent attempts at aviation must begin with the Montgomery machine." Montgomery died in a plane crash in 1911.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Stan Cleveland chairs the State Fair Exhibit effort.

See a video of the exhibit

Several local organizations and businesses were recognized by the Sutter County Board of Supervisors at the July 13, 2010 meeting for their proactive efforts in assuring that those in our community are not exposed to the deadly effects of tobacco.

Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more people each year from their own smoking than AIDS, car crashes, illegal drug use, alcohol, and murders combined. Second hand smoke has been linked to heart and lung disease, cancer, complications of diabetes, bronchitis, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In fact, the National Cancer Institute states that there is no safe amount of second hand smoke exposure. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 35,000 Americans die annually from heart disease as a result from exposure to secondhand smoke.

The Sutter County Public Health Tobacco Control Program is encouraging local businesses and managers to adopt voluntary "no smoking" policies and appreciates those stores that do not sell harmful tobacco products at all.

The Sutter County Board of Supervisors presented a Tobacco Free Work in Sutter County Resolution to the following entities:

• Sopa Thai Restaurant, Kaffe T' Latte, The Cookie Tree and Starbucks, for providing tobacco free outdoor dining areas;
• Yuba City Certified Farmer's Market, Candace and Dan Silva, managers, for creating the only local tobacco free farmer's market;
• Fremont-Rideout Health Group and Sutter Medical Foundation for adopting a tobacco free medical complex;
• The Yuba City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission for creating 100% tobacco free community parks and prohibiting smoking within 50 feet of city buildings;
• Yuba Sutter Mall for prohibiting smoking within 50 feet from mall entrances;
• Target and Kmart for discontinuing the sale of tobacco products in their stores.

For more information on tobacco control or for assistance in adopting a tobacco free policy for your organization or business, contact the Sutter County Tobacco Control Program at 822-7215.

SBFCA Board to Consider Adopting Benefit Assessment District on July 14

YUBA CITY, CA – With ballots counted and results in hand, the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency (SBFCA) announced July 9 that property owners in Sutter and Butte Counties have approved a benefit assessment for 44 miles of levee improvements along the west bank of the Feather River. Results will be officially announced at the July 14 SBFCA Board meeting, at which time the Board will consider official action to form the Benefit Assessment District.

Ballot tabulation was completed by a third-party certified public accountant on Thursday afternoon, with results showing that 71 percent of the weighted ballots returned by property owners were in favor of the benefit assessment. In total, nearly 13,500 of the approximately 34,200 ballots were returned, or about 39 percent.

“These results are remarkable given the economic climate,” said Larry Montna, Sutter County Supervisor and SBFCA Chair. “It speaks volumes about our communities’ collective commitment to improve public safety, provide protection against onerous state and federal regulations, and take advantage of state grant funding that will pay the majority of the levee improvement costs.”

The assessment is expected to raise approximately $6.65 million each year. Assessment revenues would be used to fund project design and permitting, repay bonded construction debt, and provide the required local cost share for another $172.5 million in state funding for the $250 million project.

“Assuming the Board gives us the go-ahead, we’re planning to get started with the design and environmental work immediately,” said Bill Edgar, SBFCA Interim Executive Director. “Our goal is to complete these levees by 2015, so we’re going to be aggressive on our timeline.” On July 14, the SBFCA Board will consider approving a contract with a civil engineering team lead by HDR Engineering for the required levee design, environmental and geotechnical work. In addition, the Board will consider retaining a financial advisor to assist SBFCA in preparations for short and long-term financing.

If the Benefit Assessment District is adopted by the SBFCA Board, assessments will first appear on property tax bills this fall. Per state law, each property’s assessment is proportional to the special benefit it receives from better, stronger flood protection. Individual property assessments are calculated based on their location (relative flood risk), depth of flooding absent levee improvements, land use type, square footage of any structures, and size of the parcel.

Property owners with questions can contact SBFCA’s Assessment District Hotline at 530-870-4425, or visit www.sutterbutteflood.org.

# # #

The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency – a joint powers authority of Sutter and Butte Counties, the cities of Biggs, Yuba City, Gridley, and Live Oak, and Levee Districts 1 and 9 – was formed in September 2007 to finance and construct regional levee improvement projects.

On Monday, July 5th, most county offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day.

The Sutter County Children and Families Commission has approved Community mini grant applications for a total $25,014 and Childcare provider applicants for $20,000 in mini grants for the 2010/2011 Fiscal Year. The commission approved the applications at the June 16th meeting. Please see the attached lists for the successful mini grant applicants and funding amounts.

• Childcare Provider Mini Grants 
• Community Mini Grants 

The traveling exhibit currently at the Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County features personal portraits and stories of Holocaust survivors who call California home. Noted photographer Evvy Eisen undertook a 15-year project to create photographic portraits of survivors living in California and to collect their personal stories. The resulting exhibition, Multiply by Six Million: Portraits and Stories of Holocaust Survivors, offers viewers a personal perspective on one of the defining events of the 20th century. Survivors tell their stories in hopes that the seeds of today’s intolerance and bigotry are recognized in time to present tomorrow’s genocides.

The exhibit describes the horrors that the survivors experienced in Europe during the Holocaust and how they then came to the United States to create meaningful lives and contribute to society in their adopted country. Survivor Frank Roubicek shares, “The horror years of the wartime taught me how to appreciate the basic values of life and to fully appreciate the good things it has to offer.” Multiply by Six Million includes 37 stunning black and white photographs and is accompanied by a 24-minute DVD of survivors’ stories. Interpretive text allows visitors to understand historical events in Europe leading up to the Holocaust and contemplate current concerns about intolerance and genocide.

On the evening of Thursday, June 24th, photographer Evvy Eisen will present a program at the museum featuring the DVD and talking about the project. A brief reception at 7:00 p.m. will precede the 7:30 program. Admission is free.

The exhibit tour was organized by the California Exhibition Resources Alliance (CERA), with support from photographer Evvy Eisen. CERA is a network of professionally operated museums and cultural organizations that collaborate to create and tour smaller, affordable, high quality exhibitions that enhance civic engagement and human understanding. CERA is generously supported by The James Irvine Foundation, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, and the California Council for the Humanities.

The exhibit will be on display at the Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County through August 1st. The museum is located at 1333 Butte House Road in Yuba City. Open hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call the museum at (530) 822-7141.

The Sutter County Board of Supervisors has established afternoon starting times for five of its summer meetings. The meetings of June 8, June 15, June 29, July 13 and Aug. 3 will be commence at 3:30 p.m. All other meetings during the summer will be commence at the regular starting time of 7 p.m. The meeting of Tuesday, July 20 has been canceled.

All Board of Supervisors meetings are streamed live on the internet, and are archived for viewing at anytime. Visit www.suttercounty.org for the link to the Board Meeting Webstreaming Portal. Meetings are also shown at 8 p.m. on the Wednesday following each meeting on Comcast Cable Channel 18.

A documentary on the Christmas Eve flood of 1955 that damaged or destroyed approximately 6,000 homes and killed 38 people in Sutter County is now available for viewing online.

The 1955 Sutter County Flood was produced by the County of Sutter as part of its flood awareness outreach. It details events leading up to collapse of a Feather River levee one mile south of Yuba City, and the resulting flooding of 90 percent of Yuba City and the vast farmlands south of the city.

The documentary is approximately 80 minutes long. It can be viewed on any PC or Mac computer that can read Windows Media files (files with an extension of .WMV). Mac users should use the Safari Web browser with a plug-in to view Windows Media files).

The documentary includes still and moving images in both black and white and color, recent interviews of survivors, radio interviews of flood survivors in the weeks following the flood, and three songs written and performed by local musical artists.

View the video

Stephanie J. Larsen has been formally appointed by the Board of Supervisors to become Sutter County's next County Administrative Officer.

Ms. Larsen was named Acting County Administrative Officer on Nov. 26, 2009 after the resignation of former County Administrator Larry T. Combs. Ms. Larsen was offered the permanent position after an executive search and interviews by the Board of Supervisors determined she was the most qualified candidate, according to Board Chairman Stan Cleveland.

"We believe Ms. Larsen has the skills and experience to help Sutter County through the next three financially challenging years," Chairman Cleveland stated. "Her abilities in budgeting are the best we could have hoped to find."

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with a Board of Supervisors that takes its fiscal responsibilities seriously, and with such talented department heads and staff," Ms. Larsen said. "Sutter County is a professional, efficient organization. It will remain so, even as we deal with the financial uncertainties of the future."

A U.S. Army veteran and former Fiscal Analyst for the State of Arizona's Joint Legislative Budget Committee, Ms. Larsen's career in County government spans two decades, beginning in Stanislaus County in 1990, where she worked as a Senior Analyst in the County Administrator's Office, and as Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation. She worked as a Management and Budget Analyst in the County of Lassen, as a Senior Deputy County Administrator at the County of San Joaquin, and as Assistant County Administrative Officer in the County of Humboldt.

Ms. Larsen joined Sutter County as its Assistant County Administrator in January 2008.

Ms. Larsen holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, a Bachelor's Degree in American Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and attended the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.

The Board of Supervisors on May 25 approved an employment agreement that made her appointment effective May 26, and established a starting annual salary of $178,000.

Sutter County Tobacco Control will be providing a Spanish language tobacco cessation class Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at the Hans Miller Building in Richland Housing. The no-cost tobacco cessation program will begin at 4:00PM. If you use tobacco or know someone that does, please encourage them to quit for their health. We are here to provide tools to break the habit.

For more information, please call Rachel Licea at (530) 822-7215.

On Monday, May 31, most County offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

A vote by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday would formally appoint Stephanie J. Larsen Sutter County’s next County Administrative Officer.

Ms. Larsen was named Acting County Administrative Officer on Nov. 26, 2009 after the resignation of former County Administrator Larry T. Combs. Ms. Larsen was offered the permanent position after an executive search and interviews by the Board of Supervisors determined she was the most qualified candidate, according to Board Chairman Stan Cleveland.

“We believe Ms. Larsen has the skills and experience to help Sutter County through the next three financially challenging years,” Chairman Cleveland stated. “Her abilities in budgeting are the best we could have hoped to find.”

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with a Board of Supervisors that takes its fiscal responsibilities seriously, and with such talented department heads and staff,” Ms. Larsen said. “Sutter County is a professional, efficient organization. It will remain so, even as we deal with the financial uncertainties of the future.”

The County of Sutter is looking for pictures and video representing Sutter County for a video loop in its 2010 State Fair Exhibit. The County is also seeking volunteers to work the exhibit in exchange for free admission to the State Fair.

The County is soliciting submissions of pictures and video for consideration, and will seek written authorization to use the selected images in a video representing Sutter County. Owners of selected images will receive a credit in the video, which will be posted online in addition to playing at the State Fair exhibit.

The theme of the State Fair is Passport to Adventure. The Sutter County exhibit will feature a flying theme and the County is particularly interested in images of the outdoors, including birds, rivers, the Sutter Buttes, orchards, levees, wildlife areas, etc. Pictures of public events and recreational activities are also encouraged.

Images of Sutter County from the air are especially of interest.

Contact Sutter County Public Information Officer Chuck Smith for more information. Telephone: 530-822-7100. Email Chuck Smith

Community members are also being sought to volunteer to work a three-hour shift at the State Fair exhibit. Volunteers receive free parking and entry passes. For additional information, contact Jessica Amen at 530-822-7100. Email Jessica Amen

The State Fair is earlier this year, running from July 14 to Aug. 1, at Cal Expo in Sacramento.

Video of Sutter County Board of Supervisors meetings is now available online. To see archived meetings or to view a meeting live, use the following link:

• View Sutter County Board of Supervisors Meetings

The Sacramento chapter of the American Society of Public Administration has honored former Sutter County Chief Administrative Officer Larry T. Combs for a prestigious career that continues in Merced County.

Combs, Sutter County’s CAO for 26 years, is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Merced County.

On Thursday, May 6, he received the Ross Clayton Lifetime Distinguished Public Service award at the Society’s 28th annual Excellence Awards ceremony in Sacramento.

In announcing the award, the Society noted that Combs has the distinction of serving the longest tenure for a chief executive for any California county, and worked with a variety of boards of supervisors to position Sutter County to weather the economic shortfalls brought on thus far by the worst recession since the Great Depression. When he took a new position in Merced County, Sutter County had one of the lowest debt burdens of any California county and one of the highest rates of reserves, the Society noted.

The Society also noted that Combs directed the emergency operations of the County during two flooding episodes, 1986 and 1997, including the evacuation of 1997 and the building of an emergency ring levee around the community of Meridian in 1997.

Play here for a breath of fresh air.

This is a FREE event for all!

What:		Community Celebration
When:		Friday, May 14, 2010 from 5-7PM
Where:		Gauche Aquatic Park
Why:		All Yuba City parks are 100% tobacco free, so we will celebrate fresh, clean and tobacco free air! There will be a variety of no-cost activities, fun and goodies throughout the evening. John Carter will even be there to play and sing and special appearance of the Sutter PowerKids !

Also, parents should bring their child's yellow immunization card to the event and a nurse will make certain all vaccinations are up-to-date, and in turn receive a free Jan-Yo Yogurt. Join us!

If you have further questions about this event, please contact Michele Blake, 530-822-7215.

California School Law requires children to be up-to-date with immunizations upon entry into kindergarten. Sutter County Public Health offers FREE immunizations for ANY child under the age of 6 living in Sutter County. Immunize now to avoid long waits and long lines as the new school year gets closer! Please see the required immunizations for kindergarten entry (English and Spanish).

Sutter County is conducting an online surplus auction through Ramay Auctions located at www.bidcal.com starting on Saturday, May 8, 2010.

Bidding Starts: Saturday, May 8th, 2010
Bidding Closes: Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
First lot will close at 1 p.m.
Inspection Period: Monday, May 10th, 2010, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Each year the American Public Works Association (APWA) sponsors National Public Works Week. National Public Works Week is a means to recognize the efforts of Public Works and help the public understand the many ways this dedicated staff provides service to the community.

The Sutter County Director of Public Works and Public Works Department, located at 1130 Civic Center Blvd., invites employees and the public to participate in National Public Works Week. A department overview and tour of the Engineering Division are scheduled for Wednesday, May 19, 2010 starting at 2:00 p.m. and again on Friday, May 21, 2010, at 9:00 a.m.

The Engineering Division staff will be on hand to provide information on our Annual Road Plan, Facilities Design Projects and Global Positioning System.

The Department will also have displays and provide information on Road and Facilities Maintenance operations on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and again on Friday, May 21, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Road Maintenance equipment will be displayed at the County Corporation Yard on 275 Samuel Drive, with personnel on hand to explain the operation and uses of the equipment.

The Facilities Services Division will have a static display at the 146 Garden Highway offices detailing facilities work and projects.

“Multiply by Six Million: Portraits and Stories of Holocaust Survivors” presents a visually arresting and powerful first-person history of one of the defining events of the 20th century through photographic portraits and personal stories of Holocaust survivors. The Sutter County Memorial Museum presents “Multiply by Six Million” from June 11 to through August 1.

The exhibition showcases contemporary photographer Evvy Eisen’s 15-year-long project to create portraits of survivors living in California and to collect their personal histories. Critically lauded, the project works are included in the archives of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC, the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, and the Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine in Paris, France.

By featuring individual survivor portraits and stories, “Multiply by Six Million” offers viewers a personal perspective on the Holocaust. Survivors tell their stories in hopes that the seeds of today’s intolerance and bigotry are recognized in time to prevent tomorrow’s genocides. The exhibition describes the horrors that the survivors experienced in Europe during the Holocaust and how they then come to the United States to create meaningful lives and contribute to society in their adopted county. Survivor Frank Roubicek shares, “The horror years of the wartime taught me how to appreciate the basic values of life and to fully appreciate the good things it has to offer.”

“Multiply by Six Million” includes 37 stunning black and white photographs and is accompanied by a stunning 24-minute DVD and an album of additional survivor portraits. Interpretive text allows visitors to understand historical events in Europe leading up to the Holocaust and contemplate current concerns about intolerance and genocide. The exhibition will be on display at the Sutter County Memorial Museum from June 11 to through August 1.

The “Multiply by Six Million: Portraits and Stories of Holocaust Survivors” exhibition tour was organized by the California Exhibition Resources Alliance (CERA), with support from photographer Evvy Eisen. CERA is a network of professionally operated museums and cultural organizations that collaborate to create and tour smaller, affordable, high quality exhibitions that enhance civic engagement and human understanding. CERA is generously supported by The James Irvine Foundation, The William Randolph Hearst Foundation, and the California Council for the Humanities.

Image credit: Ernie Levy and Erwin Levy. ©2007 Evvy Eisen.

Ballots will be sent on or about May 1 to owners of 34,000 properties in Butte and Sutter Counties

The Sutter Butte Agency Flood Control Agency (SBFCA) Board of Directors unanimously authorized balloting for a property assessment for levee repairs.

Assessment revenues would provide the local cost share for $250 million in levee improvements along the west bank of the Feather River, from Thermalito Afterbay south to the Sutter Bypass.

Assessment ballots will be sent on or about May 1 to owners of 34,000 properties in Butte and Sutter Counties that receive a special benefit from levee improvements. In this case, properties will benefit from stronger flood protection and the avoidance of water damage to structures, their contents, and land.

Legislative Update - Health Care Reform: A First Look.

See the Legislative Update for a brief overview of provisions related to health care reform that may have an impact on the health care of our community.

• Legislative Update 
• www.healthycal.org

Join us on April 9, 2010 for the Spring Vacation Children’s Program at the Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County, featuring Aondreaa the Storytailor with a brand new presentation called “All You Can Eat: Food Means Sharing”. The Storytailor’s dramatized story telling includes violin music and colorful costumes and props, and one story is told in English and Spanish. The program begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Museum, and refreshments will be served afterward.

The Community Memorial Museum is located at 1333 Butte House Road in Yuba City. Open hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call the Museum at 822-7141.

The Sutter County Children and Families Commission is pleased to announce the release of $45,000 in funding for new mini grant opportunities.

Community Mini Grants: To apply attend the mandatory mini grant workshop Monday April 19, 2010 at 2 p.m.

Childcare Provider Mini Grants: To apply attend the mandatory mini grant workshop Monday April 19, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

Mini grant applications are due in the Commission office Friday May 14, 2010 at 12 noon.

Funding awards will be announced following the June 16, 2010 Commission meeting.

The Substance Abuse Steering Coalition is hosting its 5th Annual Run Drugs Out of Town 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, April 24th, 2010 at River Valley High School. This tri-county event is a family oriented fun walk/run for everyone!

Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. and the event starts at 9:00 a.m. There will be a 1/4 mile run for kids. The cost is $10 for adults and children who register by April 23rd, $15 for adults on the day of the event. This is a tobacco and drug free event.

• Flier 
• Individual Registration 

Visit www.rundrugsoutoftownrun.org or contact Dulia Aguilar at 674-1885 ext. 109.

The County of Sutter is seeking an individual, company or organization to construct the County's 2010 entry in the California State Fair Exhibit competition.

The County Administrative Office today released requests for Statements of Qualifications, seeking an individual, company or organization to assist the County in developing a display for the State Fair, which will run July 14 through Aug. 1.

The County Public Works Department has constructed the exhibit for the past 15 years and has an impressive record of winning awards in the competition. However, County officials believe it will be more cost effective, and less disruptive to county services, to hire out the construction of the exhibit. In addition, area non-profit organizations may be interested in an opportunity to help represent their community and win as much as $7,000 in prize money.

Experience in constructing exhibits for the State Fair is valuable but not necessary, if an individual, company or organization has relevant experience and can demonstrate above average skills in carpentry, electrical, mechanical, and exhibit design.

For more information, or for a copy of the Request for Statement of Qualifications to build the Sutter County Exhibit, contact Sutter County Public Information Officer Chuck Smith at 530-822-7100. The deadline to submit a Statement of Qualifications to the County Administrative Office at 1160 Civic Center Boulevard, Yuba City, CA, is 3 p.m. on Friday, March 26.

Sutter County's documentary on the 1955 flood will be shown five times a day on Comcast Channel 19 beginning Wednesday, Feb. 10.

"The 1955 Sutter County Flood" was produced by Sutter County as part of its effort to inform residents about the nature of the flood threat posed by area rivers, and emerging concerns about the integrity of the levee system that protects homes, schools and businesses.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has re-mapped one third of Sutter County into a "high risk" flood zone, requiring flood insurance on most properties. Much of the remainder of Sutter County is expected to be re-mapped into a "high risk" flood zone in 2011. The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency is developing a plan to bring levees up to new federal standards to protect the area from flooding.

The 79-minute documentary combines still pictures and film footage from the 1955 flood, radio interviews conducted by KUBA's Dutch Klemp in the days following the flood, and interviews of flood survivors conducted in 2009.

On Dec. 24, 1955, a levee collapsed one mile south of Yuba City and the Feather River poured into Sutter County, fanning out in a 180 degree arc. It flooded 90 percent of Yuba City, inundated farms to the west and south, and killed 38 people.

Flood insurance on structures was not available in 1955. The emergency assistance provided by the American Red Cross was one of its largest efforts ever in the U.S. at the time.

The documentary will air for several weeks on Channel 19, the Comcast government access channel, Monday through Friday, at 7 a.m., 9:30 a.m., noon, 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

In coming weeks, the documentary will be available on DVD from the Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission will offer area candidates and their campaign staffs a local opportunity to learn the proper procedures for filling out required FPPC campaign documents.

Sutter County Clerk-Recorder Donna Johnston said that the type of training that will be offered at the Veterans Memorial Center in Yuba City on March 8, 2010 can help candidates avoid embarrassing and expensive mistakes.

“Candidates and their treasurers have had to travel to Sacramento to receive this training in the past,” Johnston said. “This will be the first opportunity in many years for candidates from Sutter, Yuba, Nevada and Colusa counties to receive hands-on training from an FPPC representative about the sometimes overwhelming documentation required to meet FPPC requirements, without having to travel to Sacramento.

“As some campaigns have discovered in the past, violating the FPPC rules, even mistakenly, can be expensive because the FPPC will levy fines.”

The FPPC training is free. The two-hour workshop will be offered from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on March 8. To R.S.V.P. for the event, please contact the Sutter County Elections Department at 530-822-7100.

Sutter County is responsible for maintaining roads in unincorporated areas of the county that are neither private roads nor state highways. Following are frequently asked questions about Sutter County road work.

How many miles of roads are there in all of Sutter County and what roads are Sutter County responsible for?

Sutter County currently incorporates 790 miles of roads comprising 630 miles of paved roadways and 160 miles of gravel / dirt roads. The county is responsible for all road segments outside the incorporated limits of the cities of Live Oak and Yuba City. Sutter County is not responsible for state highways or private roadways.

Who decides what roads to fix?

The Public Works Department assesses the pavement condition and traffic volumes of the county’s roads on an annual basis and prepares a recommended fiscal year work plan for our residential, collector and arterial roadways. Depending on the available funds, Public Works adjusts the yearly “Road Plan”. The County Board of Supervisors then reviews the recommendation, may direct changes to it, and approves the plan.

What causes potholes and how long does it take to fix them?

Potholes are caused by the failure of the asphalt concrete pavement. As the flexible pavement ages and deteriorates, cracks can form. The cracks allow water into and under the pavement layer, weakening the base material and allowing separation from the flexible pavement. As vehicles drive over the weakened, broken asphalt, portions will be dislodged. Potholes are patched with either asphalt paving mix and compacted in place. A good patch requires removal of fractured asphalt, squared sides, dry compacted base, and hot mixed asphalt. Once a service request is received, the pothole is usually repaired not later than the next working day.

What is a road made out of and why does it cost so much to construct/maintain?

Paved roads are typically composed of 4 inches of black asphalt concrete pavement over 6 to 12 inches of compacted base rock over native soil. The cost to perform a 2-inch rehabilitation overlay includes the labor, equipment and materials to deliver, place and compact the asphalt pavement along the road segment. The Public Works Department utilizes a variety of preventative maintenance and rehabilitation techniques to maintain the roadways at the lowest possible cost, including slurry seals, chip seals, leveling overlays and structural overlays.

Where does the money to fix roads come from? Yeah, I know it comes from the taxpayer, but how?

Sutter County receives state and federal funding to maintain and rehabilitate our road segments. From the state, the County receives the following: Gas Tax Revenue, Proposition 42 (Transportation Congestion Relief) and Proposition 1B funds. From the federal government, the County receives Regional Surface Transportation Program funding (and occasionally one time funds like Stimulus 1). The federal funding is administered through the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) and is distributed on a competitive project selection basis.

How do I report a problem with a road?

A citizen may notify the Public Works Department of a road hazard by calling (530) 822-4500 or by submitting a Road Service Request on the County website.

On Monday, February 15th, most county offices will be closed in observance of President's Day.

Following recent articles in The Appeal-Democrat newspaper, Sutter County Animal Control staff received a number of questions about plans to construct a new Animal Shelter to replace the existing structure constructed in 1986. The following is provided in response to the most common questions raised after the newspaper articles.

Animal Shelter Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the new shelter going to be built? Why is it taking so long?
   Sutter County has hired an architect to design a new shelter. Yuba City has expressed concern about the size and layout of the conceptual design. A meeting is being arranged so that an ad hoc committee of Sutter County, Yuba City and Live Oak can come to agreement on those issues. Once those issues are decided, the architect will be authorized to proceed with the design.
    
2. Where will the new building be located?
   The plan is for the new Animal Shelter to be located off Garden Highway on a parcel of land that is south of the Welfare/Public Works building, that adjoins the county corporation yard. It will be an easier location to visit with an entrance off of Garden Highway.
    
3. Will the new shelter be larger? Will the animals have more kennels, or will they still have to be housed four and five dogs to a kennel?
   The current shelter is just over 4,100 square foot. The new shelter, as planned, will be approximately 10,000 square feet in size. The new shelter will have more kennel area to house the animals properly, with one animal per kennel. This should reduce the stress and spread of contagious diseases that are caused by over crowding.
    
4. Will the new shelter have areas for interacting with the animals for adoption?
   There may be a dedicated area that would be fenced in as "play yard/get acquainted" area for the dogs. It would have a larger cat adoption area where adopters could interact with the animals before choosing their new pet.
    
5. Would the shelter have an exam/surgery area to perform spays/neuters of the shelter animals? Would we be able to administer health vaccinations to the animals on intake?
   The new shelter would have a room dedicated to health exams, and possibly a surgical area to perform spays and neuters on shelter animals. The possibility of spays/neutering and vaccinations for animals incoming to the shelter is a consideration with a veterinarian's assistance.
    

On January 19, 2010, the Sutter County Board of Supervisors approved new hours the Animal Shelter will be open to the public. The new hours will take effect on March 1, 2010. The reason for the new schedule is to have the shelter open longer on Saturday and one evening a week to increase adoptions and reduce the amount of time animals are kept at the shelter.

The new hours the shelter’s administration office will be open to the public are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday except Wednesday when the office will remain open until 7:00 p.m., Monday from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and closed Sundays and holidays.

The shelter’s kennel area will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m .to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday except Wednesday when the kennels will remain open to the public until 6:00 p.m., Monday from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and closed Sundays and holidays.

The shelter has plenty of loving dogs and cats ready for adoption. If you are interested in adopting an animal you can contact the Sutter County Animal Shelter by phone at (530) 822-7375 or stop by the shelter at 102 Second Street, in Yuba City. You can also visit the shelter’s website.

Sutter County Assessor Mike Strong today said he is pleased with the conviction of the principal of a company that misled property owners into believing they had to pay to have their property assessments appealed.

"I am very happy with the criminal conviction and very hopeful that California property owners who fell for this deceptive solicitation mailer, including some from Sutter County, will be reimbursed," Mr. Strong said.

Sean McConville, 29, pleaded guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court to a dozen misdemeanor counts of disclosure violation for unsolicited mailing, according to LA Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Nakaki.

McConville was ordered to perform 250 hours of community service and sentenced to three years summary probation. McConville must reimburse victims if the California Attorney General's Office is successful in a separate civil lawsuit, or face up to six years in jail.

In February of 2009, hundreds of property owners in Sutter and Yuba counties, and other counties across the state, received notices from a company called "Property Tax Reassessment." The notices, which advertised a $179 fee for processing an appeal of the property owners assessment for property tax purposes, arrived in an envelope that appeared to be from a government agency, which was a violation of the law, according to the LA County DA's office.

"No property owner has to pay a dime to appeal a property tax assessment," Strong said. "The filing of an assessment appeal is free and there is no reason to waste your money with such companies." Mr. Strong added that "in most cases, property assessment disputes are resolved by my office without the necessity for proceeding with an appeal." According to Mr. Strong, his office already has reviewed roughly 8,500 primarily residential properties and, of those, over 6,800 have received assessment reductions, generating some $5 million in overall tax savings for property owners.

Further, according to Mr. Strong, legislation (AB992) recently was signed into law (October 2009), now barring any assessment reduction filing service from "charging, demanding, or collecting money" for such service until after filing of the request for reduction with the appropriate agency.

Those who have paid an advance fee, in response to any property assessment reduction solicitation, are encouraged to contact the State of California Attorney General's Office for assistance in obtaining restitution.

Sutter County Public Health Department is holding a FREE H1N1 community vaccination clinic for Sutter County residents this weekend.

Sunday, February 7, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
St. Isidore’s Church Gymnasium
222 Clark Avenue, Yuba City

The Community Memorial Museum presents the exhibit "Past Tents: The Way We Camped" - A humorous look at our favorite pastime.

The exhibit runs from January 22 to March 14, 2010.

There will be a program on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. with Susan Snyder of the Bancroft Library, author of the book "Past Tents".

• Press Release 

Sutter County Clerk-Recorder Donna Johnston has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the County Recorders' Association of California, acting as its liaison to the Secretary of State's Office.

In this role, she will monitor proposed changes in state law that impact the function and responsibilities of County Recorders across California, and coordinate discussion and positions on these laws between the County Recorders' Association of California and the Secretary of State's Office.

The County Recorders' Association of California promotes integrity in the protection and recording of public documents and uniformity in indexing.

On Monday, January 18th, most county offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Free H1N1 vaccines are available for Sutter County residents on a walk-in basis (while supplies last) at Sutter County Public Health Department, 1445 Veterans Memorial Circle, Yuba City, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• At the current time, we do not have nasal spray; only injectable vaccine. If nasal spray is received before the clinics, all healthy 2-49 year olds WILL be given nasal spray, while supplies last.
• Second doses will be available for children under 10, only if it has been at least 28 days since their first dose , while supplies last.
• Children and teens under 18 years of age MUST be accompanied by parent or legal guardian.
• Wear clothing that quickly bares the upper arm near the shoulder in case an injection is needed.
• No smoking in or near lines.

For more H1N1 information, please visit www.suttercounty.org or call 530-822-7215

There is growing concern in Sutter County about property owners being overcharged for flood insurance.

The Sutter County Division of Water Resources reported Wednesday that it had determined that at least 12 different property owners have been overcharged for insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program.

"It's beginning to look like an epidemic of incorrect flood zone determinations," Board of Supervisors Chairman Stan Cleveland said. "The Board is very concerned because it appears local insurance companies who provide flood insurance on behalf of the NFIP are relying in good faith on data from a third party vendor that has been wrong in a number of instances."

"We encourage property owners, especially those in south Yuba City, to verify their flood zone status by contacting the Sutter County Division of Water Resources," Cleveland said. "That division maintains an official set of NFIP flood insurance rate maps and there are three people in that office who are certified to understand and interpret the maps."

What Sutter County building receives 2,500 visitors a day? What county has one of the lowest per capita debt burdens of any county in the state? How many arrests have there been since the inception of the Sutter County Gang Task Force?

For the answers to these and other questions see the State of Sutter County video on the Appeal-Democrat website.

Second District Supervisor Stan Cleveland was named Chairman of the Sutter County Board of Supervisors Tuesday night, January 5.

Mr. Cleveland will serve as Board Chairman for the calendar year 2010. He replaces outgoing Board Chairman Jim Whiteaker of Sutter County’s Third District, who served during 2009.

Fifth District Supervisor James Gallagher, who is beginning his second year on the Board of Supervisors, was elected Vice-Chairman by his fellow supervisors.

Watch new Board Chairman Stan Cleveland's comments on the Appeal-Democrat website.

Watch the State of Sutter County video on the Appeal-Democrat website.

February is National Heart Month and you are invited to participate in the annual Bless Your Heart Walk on Saturday, February 6, at the Yuba Sutter Mall.

Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. Check-in is between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. Free T-Shirt for Walk Participants, live music, and receive a free entry to win great prizes for each lap completed! Kids walk free with a registered adult. Pre-registration $15 (By February 1). Event day registration $20. For more information call 751-4070.

• Bless Your Heart Flyer 
• Bless Your Heart Registration Form