Memorandum
Date: 7/15/2022
To: The Honorable Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors
From: Douglas Gearhart, APCO
Subject: Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) By and Between County of Mendocino and the Lake County Air Quality Management District for Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) Duties, effective August 1, 2022.
Executive Summary:
As your Board is aware, the Lake County APCO has been providing APCO services to Mendocino County while updating their job descriptions and recruiting a replacement for the retired APCO. These services have been ongoing since February, 2022. The majority of this work is performed remotely and via teleconference.
As APCO, I continue to be willing to assist Mendocino County, on a limited basis as defined in the MOU. The MOU is written for up to 6 month, though I anticipate the APCO recruitment will be successful in the next couple months. The prior recruitments did not result in hiring an APCO. The current recruitment shows promise. The first round of interviews are anticipated to start in the near future. Should the position remain vacant, the MOU will be brought back to this Board for discussion. I anticipate requesting a discussion by this Board by the end of October, should the recruitment in Mendocino County fail to result in hiring an APCO.
The assistance provided to Mendocino County ensures that Lake County is not adversely impacted by air pollution from Mendocino County activities that are not adequately regulated due to lack of oversight. Lake County is downwind of Mendocino County, so providing these services helps prevent impacts in Lake County.
Pursuant to the attached MOU, with the approval of your Board, the LCAQMD will extend the services of the APCO, Douglas Gearhart for up to an additional 6 months (August 1 through January 31, 2023). In exchange for these services, Mendocino County will pay Lake County a total of $110.00 per hour up to a maximum of 10 hours per week. Additionally, in the case of a special project with concurrence of the APCO, Mendocino County may request an additional 10 hours in a week (total of 20 hours for one week). This Board will be notified and approval requested at the next available Board meeting.
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Recommended Action:
That the Board of Directors Approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) By and Between County of Mendocino and the Lake County Air Quality Management District for Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) Duties, effective August 1, 2022.