9 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
Expenditures proceeded without budgeted line items, proper documentation, or council approval.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
F 1: Dry wells in parcels on the East side of Palermo imply that residents must have water delivered to them paid for by temporary grants obtained by EH. Response: The respondent disagrees with the finding in that it refers to the Environmental Health Division of Butte County Public Health as the administrator of grant funding, which is not the department administering grants for water delivery. The Department of Water and Resource Conservation acknowledges identified dry wells in the eastern areas of the Palermo community exist. To clarify, the Butte County Office of Emergency Management (OEM...
F2
Tenants occupied the Industrial Park without current, valid lease agreements.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
F2: County Environmental Health does not provide maps with the location of reported dry wells and new well permits, thus not keeping Butte County residents informed of issues arising in their neighborhood. Response: The respondent disagrees. While the Division of Environmental Health does not provide maps of the location of reported dry wells, the quarterly Well Permit Summary reports do list communities that have reported dry wells. Well completion and dry well reports and maps are available through the California Department of Water Resources (DWR): ): Well Completion Reports https://water.c...
R2
- The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Biggs establish and maintain accurate financial records for the Industrial Park operations by December 1, 2025. The City should implement a system where public records of Industrial Park financial activities are maintained and updated on a monthly basis, including all revenues, expenditures, and outstanding obligations.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
R2: The Grand Jury recommends that the Wyandotte Creek GSA Advisory Committee or Water Commission TAC include a local well-driller who will provide empirical knowledge of groundwater availability by Septembe
F3
Flooding causes septic failures and contamination of coliform bacteria and high nitrates in stormwater, generating a continuous health hazard.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
f 3 years. Response: The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted. The Department remains committed to engaging with the Palermo community through ongoing public meetings and workshops. However, forming a separate Palermo Task Force will not be implemented, as it is not warranted. Existing advisory groups and community forums already provide effective opportunities for coordination and public input without the need for additional structure or resources. The Department has conducted several public meetings and workshops associated with the Palermo Clean Water Consolida...
R3
- The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Biggs complete lease standardization and legal review for all Industrial Park tenancies by December 1, 2025. All new and existing leases must be standardized, legally vetted, and approved in open session before new or continued tenant occupancy/operations, including but not limited to: • Market-based rate structure with transparent justification • Standardized insurance and liability requirements • Establishment of formal tenant recruitment and approv...
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
r 3 I, 2025. The overall Palermo Clean Water Consolidation Project is awaiting funding approval from the Water Board. SFWPA, in collaboration with the Department, submitted an application for State Revolving Loan Funds (SRF) for $11.4 million in funding. In addition, the County has been designated as a recipient of $2 million dollars of Congressionally Directed Spending under the Community Grants Program through the federal EPA. This funding is anticipated to be available in the spring o
R4
- The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Biggs execute current, legally compliant lease agreements for all Industrial Park tenants by January 31, 2026. Valid lease agreements must be in place for all existing tenants, with no exceptions for verbal agreements or expired contracts.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
R4: The Grand Jury recommends that Environmental Health prepare and publish quarterly and annual reports of dry wells and well permits in Butte County include maps with their locations by Septembe
F6
Wyandotte Basin GSA must sponsor and collaborate on projects addressing dry wells and water quality as mandated by SB 552
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
F6: Wyandotte Basin GSA must sponsor and collaborate on projects addressing dry wells and water quality as mandated by SB 552. Response: This finding is incorrect. This recommendation should be directed to the Wyandotte Creek GSA, which is a separate legal entity from Butte County with its own governing board. SB 552 - Drought Planning for Small Water Suppliers and Rural Communities, requires counties to prepare a Drought Plan to achieve meaningful and long-term improvements in water resilience for their residents. SB 552 requires the establishment of a Drought Task Force to facilitate proacti...
R6
The Grand Jury recommends that Butte County Administration utilize Facebook, public noticeboards at USPS, flyers at public gatherings to remind Butte County citizens that they should report issues via County Connect website, or its replacement, to log requests for work that must be expedited by December 31, 2025. 30
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
R6: The Grand Jury recommends that Butte County Administration utilize Facebook, public noticeboards at USPS, flyers at public gatherings to remind Butte County citizens that they should report issues via County Connect website, or its replacement, to log requests for work that must be expedited by Decembe
R7
The Grand Jury recommends that the District 1 Supervisor, Public Works director, Water & Resource Conservation Director, Environmental Health Director, and 3 Palermo citizen representatives (including a Palermo Community Council member) meet quarterly as a Palermo Task Force formed by October 2025 for a minimum of 3 years.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
R7: The Grand Jury recommends that the District I Supervisor, Public Works Director, Water & Resource Conservation Director, Environmental Health Director, and 3 Palermo citizen representatives (including a Palermo Community Council member) meet quarterly as a Palermo Task Force formed by Octobe
