Frustrated by the lack of vaccine supply in El Dorado County as well as the frequent shifts in policy at the State level, I suggested that we use the Governor's latest policy pivot to advocate for our County.
On January 25th, the Governor announced he would prioritize seniors and disproportionately affected communities in increasing his vaccine allocations to counties. Following our Covid update on January 26th, the Board of Supervisors supported my recommendation to send a letter to the Governor highlighting the fact that El Dorado County senior demographics are well above California's as a whole with seniors comprising about 22% of our entire population. Additionally, while El Dorado County has roughly 40,000 seniors, we had only received 16,700 doses of the vaccine as of last week, leaving a large gap between a prioritized sector and our allocation of the vaccine.
A copy of our letter can be found here:
Letter to Governor Newsom
Additionally, after reaching out to Assemblymember Bigelow, he assured me he is working to advocate for our County at the State level, despite the Governor's lack of engagement with our Legislature.
For frequent answers to COVID 19 vaccine questions, click here:
Vaccine FAQ
 Sometimes, everybody needs a little help...
Since the beginning of October 2020, El Dorado County staff have assisted 715 families with help paying their utility bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is designed for eligible homeowners or renters who need assistance obtaining firewood, propane, pellets or heating oil. While there is limited funding, monies are still available. Applications are accepted by appointment only, and more information can be found here:
HEAP Program Information
 It's budget season...Time to understand department priorities, assess revenue, recognize needs, communicate constituent concerns, balance competing priorities, receive Administration recommendations and make decisions based on Board policy and strategic goals.
On February 2, we received the following presentations from our Department Heads to inform the process forward: Child Support Services, Assessor's Office, Health & Human Services, the Library, Treasurer-Tax Collector, Recorder-Clerk, the Sheriff, Auditor-Controller, District Attorney and the Public Defender. More presentations will follow on Monday, February 8. Stay tuned and be informed.
Click here to see the presentations
"A budget is telling
your money where to go,
instead of wondering
where it went."
DAVE RAMSEY
 On our February 9th agenda, the Department of Transportation is recommending that the Board approve and sign the High Cost Project Agreement with the CA Department of Transportation for the Mosquito Road Bridge at South fork American River project.
A unique characteristic of this project is that it is 100% funded by Federal Funds...no local discretionary money will be used to replace the existing bridge with a "functional bridge that meets current design and safety standards".
The link to the full agenda item can be found here:
Mosquito Bridge Project Link
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