FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
The remains of a building destroyed by the LNU Lightning Complex Fire are shown along Pleasant Hills Ranch Way in rural Vacaville, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. The Solano Office of Emergency Services issued an evacuation warning Tuesday to the fire area due to possible flash floods and mudslides from the overnight storm that is forecast to move through the region. (Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic file)
Solano’s share of LNU fire recovery cost exceeds $600,000
That is a general fund cost.
The county also expects to lose revenues due to waiving or lowering certain permit fees in the recovery and rebuilding stages. For example, there is $28,653 that would have typically been collected for the 53 temporary power poles and 14 temporary emergency dwellings that have been set up.
Report out on LNU fire victims’ reactions, wants
Supervisor John Vasquez
VACAVILLE Solano County Supervisor John Vasquez announced Thursday that the report on fire victims’ comments during a series of “listening sessions” is out and will be presented Tuesday at the Board of Supervisors meeting.
“The stories we heard were incredibly impactful and encompassed a wide range of unique perspectives from those that were forced from their homes on Aug. 18,” Vasquez wrote. “Comments received fell into four broad categories: The Night of the Fire; Re-population and Re-entry; Recovery and Rebuilding Efforts; and Preparing for the Next Disaster.”
There were listening sessions organized by Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor and Winters Mayor Wade Cowan, followed by sessions Vasquez initiated.
Clock begins to tick on 3-week stay in restrictive health order
Dr. Bela Matyas
FAIRFIELD It seems as though Solano County has been watching the clock for months about what will come next during the Covid-19 pandemic.
And as the case numbers surged after Thanksgiving, and the regional intensive care unit capacity declined, the clock was set for when Solano would be thrust into the state’s more restrictive stay-at-home order.
The toll struck just before midnight Thursday, and the new watch begins for when the order might be lifted in three weeks.
But Solano County’s top public health official said he does not expect much change in how residents will respond to the new health order, which among other things prohibits private gatherings of any size heading into Christmas and other winter holidays.
County officials: New health order may not result in much change in Solano
Dr. Bela Matyas
FAIRFIELD Solano County’s top public health official does not expect much change in how residents will respond to the new and more restrictive stay-at-home order that goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Thursday – a state health order that prohibits private gatherings of any size heading into Christmas and other winter holidays.
“I imagine many people follow the (mandates), but many do not,” Dr. Bela Matyas said in a phone interview Wednesday, about an hour after the order was announced.
He said this latest surge coming out of Thanksgiving, with thousands of new cases and hundreds of hospitalizations, is evidence that many residents are not complying with the health orders, or even following precautions such as wearing face coverings and adhering to social distancing.
Nearly $500,000 more available in Solano to help with rental assistance during pandemic
FAIRFIELD Solano County has allocated $488,961 to expand the county’s CARES Rental Assistance Program, bringing the total to nearly $4.49 million.
An updated CARES Act expenditure report was given Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors as part of its consent agenda. There were no comments from the board.
The action included $778,000 in purchases for Public Health laboratory equipment and vaccine storage refrigerator/freezers.
Several speakers from the public urged the board to use the funds, the uses for which are restricted by the federal and state governments, to help small businesses.