Not found on Plumas Supervisors agenda, is the approval for Chester Public Utility District’s (CPUD) two parcel tax measures for the May 7, special election ballot. General Manager of CPUD expressed his concern that the omission of the tax measures from the Board of Supervisors meeting agenda creates uncertainty and may pose a significant risk to the timeline for presenting these measures to Chester voters. These measures are crucial in saving Chester’s Fire Department.
CPUD officials say the measures were submitted for approval on December 29, with previous acceptance by the Elections Department. CPUD’s general manager, Adam Cox, argues that the county has a legal duty to include the measures on the ballot and questions the unexplained delay.
The county’s response, according to Cox, was “that its legal office had received many public records requests about the tax measures.” Yet when CPUD’s legal counsel reached out to the County, they were unable to speak with anyone who could provide insight into why public records requests would delay moving forward with the County’s own election timeline. CPUD is considering legal action, adding complexity to the ongoing challenges faced by the Chester Fire Department, which has ceased ambulance services as of the first, and will begin layoffs as the department transitions to volunteer-based staffing.
CPUD general manager Adam Cox is expected to speak at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting regarding the lack of communication and unexplained delay.
The supervisors meet this Tuesday, January 16th, in the Quincy Courthouse.
CPUD will hold a special meeting this Tuesday at 5:30, agenda can be found below.
