News Briefs
Mosquito Fire Prompts Emergency Declaration
PLACER COUNTY
The county has proclaimed a local emergency due to the ongoing threat from the Mosquito Fire.
As of publication, the fire near Foresthill has burned 14,250 acres. Foresthill and nearby communities in both Placer and El Dorado counties remain under evacuation orders and warnings.
A local emergency proclamation asserts continuing risk to life and property and that the response is beyond the capabilities of local resources. Placer’s proclamation requests state and federal assistance, but neither a state nor a federal disaster has yet been declared that would authorize individual disaster assistance for residents and businesses.
Review up-to-date information about the Mosquito Fire at fire.ca.gov/incidents/2022/9/6/mosquito-fire.
~ Placer County press release
NCSO Provides Update on Kiely Rodni Investigation
Truckee
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reported that the manner and cause of Kiely Rodni’s death are still pending toxicology results. The 16-year-old Truckee resident was last seen around 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, during a party near Prosser Family Campground. Following an extensive two-week search that included numerous local and regional agencies, hundreds of volunteers, and the FBI, Rodni’s remains were located inside her also missing Honda CRV, in Prosser Creek Reservoir, by YouTube search group Adventures With Purpose.
NCSO’s public information officer, Andrew Trygg, wrote in an email to Moonshine Ink that toxicology results typically take four to six weeks, yet the report will also require certification from the pathologist prior to release. He noted that the California Highway Patrol’s Major Accident Investigation Team is conducting the investigation into the motor vehicle accident, while the FBI is reviewing the case as a whole. The coroner’s investigation is also still being completed.
“While I don’t know specifically when other updates may come out, I do know that this is still a very active investigation,” Trygg said. “Because of that, information will only be released when it does not jeopardize the case.” Moonshine Ink will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
There will be a celebration of life for Rodni from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 10 at the Truckee Regional Park amphitheater. Details can be found online at findkiely.com.
~ JD
Increase in Stolen Vehicles
TRUCKEE/ NORTH TAHOE
This week, Moonshine Ink published High Cost of Speeding, a news story discussing the impacts of reckless driving in the area. In research for the story, CHP Officer Carlos Perez provided insight and statistics about recent changes in driving behavior in Truckee/North Tahoe.
Perez told the Ink that reports of stolen vehicles have risen since 2020. “Back in the day, you could warm your car up and go inside and leave it unlocked,” he said. “I think nowadays you’ve got to be really careful because we’ve had a pretty good amount of cars stolen like that.” He shared statistics about the number of stolen vehicle reports that occurred over the last five years, saying there were six reports in 2018; 12 reports in 2019; 51 reports in 2020; 69 reports in 2021; and 42 reports in 2022 as of August.
~ KM
Community Dumpster Facility Permanently Closing
OLYMPIC VALLEY
The Community Dumpster Facility is scheduled to permanently close on Sept. 12 due to persistent abuse of the facility and rising costs to maintain it.
Recurring violations at the site include dumping of couches, appliances, mattresses, commercial garbage, and construction debris. As the dumpsters fill quickly from illicit dumping, household trash is often deposited on the ground and is an easy score for bears, raccoons, and dogs. The unsightly scattered mess left behind on-site and beyond requires frequent clean-up by district staff. In addition, costs were scheduled to increase sharply to maintain the same dumpster capacity and collection frequency.
The district’s garbage committee explored alternatives to the facility at a meeting in early July. On Aug. 30, the board of directors made the difficult decision to permanently close the site. While the directors acknowledged the popularity of the facility by some residents who used it responsibly, they also considered the necessary rate increase indefensible.
Residents are currently allowed to leave as many as four trash cans per week for curbside pick-up. As only a minority of customers use the site responsibly, the rate increase imposed on all customers would have effectively subsidized users who aren’t supposed to use the site at all. Over the next few months, the board of directors will consider effective and affordable ways to support the installation of bear boxes for Olympic Valley residents who don’t already have one.
~ Olympic Valley Public Service District newsletter
New Anti-Litter Campaign to Keep North Lake Tahoe Clean
TAHOE CITY
Placer County launched a new public awareness campaign this week to help keep trash and litter from polluting Kings Beach and Tahoe City in North Lake Tahoe.
Using eye-catching visuals, the campaign encourages people to toss all of their trash into one public bin, which is consistent with the successful One-Big-Bin program.
The campaign educates people that all solid waste, including recyclables, is collected in one bin and then sorted later at the Eastern Regional Materials Recovery Facility, also known as the MRF.
“This awareness campaign is increasingly important as our North Lake Tahoe communities have experienced a major uptick in litter pollution,” said Placer County Board of Supervisors Chair and District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson.
Trash bins used to be divided and labeled “trash” and “recycle” on each side, which resulted in bins overflowing with refuse on the trash side of the bin while leaving the recycle labeled side empty.
The updated trash bins are now labeled “anything” and “everything”, and are placed throughout Kings Beach and Tahoe City, which are heavily trafficked tourist areas.
The bins feature colorful graphics — a trio of dancing trash cans and the MRF monster.
~ Placer County press release
Public Input for Local Energy Efficiency Ordinance
TRUCKEE
The Town of Truckee is holding two community meetings to discuss options for a local energy efficiency ordinance (also known as a reach code), which could affect energy efficiency or fuel requirements for new construction and/or remodels of residential or commercial buildings. The first meeting will be held in person on Sept. 15 at the Community Recreation Center from 5 to 7 p.m. The second meeting will be held virtually from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 28 and will provide Spanish interpretation.
The town has contracted with Integrated Design 360 to help guide policy exploration and development in this process. They will provide a presentation about reach codes and present an overview of the options that the town and its Stakeholder Committee have been exploring. They will then invite questions and comments from community members.
Councilmembers Anna Klovstad and Jan Zabriskie have been participating in the stakeholder committee meetings and are hosting a CoffeeTalk on Sept. 24 from 8:30 a.m. at Lifthouse Coffee Co. This informal setting encourages community members to grab a cup of coffee and have a conversation with our elected officials about your ideas, concerns, or questions about potential changes to our local building code.
Using data from Truckee’s 2016 GHG emissions inventory, greenhouse gas emissions from building energy use accounts for 59% of Truckee’s total community emissions. The requirements being explored would improve the energy efficiency of our building stock, reduce GHG emissions, and improve indoor air quality through use of efficient, non-polluting appliances. Reach codes can target energy efficiency, energy storage, photovoltaics, electric vehicle readiness, water efficiency, or existing building energy upgrades.
~ Town of Truckee press release
Sanitary District Unveils Memorial Plaque Honoring Ron Sweet
TRUCKEE
The Truckee Sanitary District held a ceremony in memory of former Board Member Ron Sweet on Aug. 17. Sweet, who served on the TSD Board of Directors continuously for 43 years, died last November at the age of 87. Mounted on a granite stone off of the Legacy Trail with a view of Truckee Falls, the bronze plaque was unveiled at the ceremony and commemorates Sweet’s years of service to the people of Truckee. Current and former board members and employees of TSD were present for the unveiling ceremony.
~ Truckee Sanitary District press release
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
Board of Directors Vacancy
OLYMPIC VALLEY
One of the five seats on the Olympic Valley Public Service District’s board is vacant due to the resignation of Director Victoria Mercer, effective Aug. 26. Mercer served Olympic Valley as a director of the board since 2019 and has been a dedicated advocate for the community.
To fill the vacancy, the board of directors will hold a special meeting on Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m., to appoint a new board member to serve until the term expires in November 2024. All registered voters in Olympic Valley interested in being considered for appointment are encouraged to complete an application by 4 p.m. on Oct. 19.
For the basic information and the application, visit the district’s website, here. If you are interested in the position and would like to learn more, contact Board Secretary Jessica Asher at (530) 583-4692, ext. 213, or info@ovpsd.org.
~ Olympic Valley Public Service District newsletter
