Watchdog: Siskiyou County Cemetery District

help to insulate the boards from duties of Caretaker/Superintendent resulted in issues involving tree caretaker. There is no written job The Fort Jones Cemetery District does disputes that could end up in litigation. position. falling, ongoing vehicle traffic and d p jo o e b s s . c i t r i i o p n t . i o T n r ain f in o g r oc t c h u e r s so c l a e r l e y t a o k n e t r h ’ e s n pr o o t ce h d a u v r e e s. a n y written policies or F T i h n e d F in o g rt 3 Jones District has no written Finding 5 c b a e t t c l e e m ro e a te m ry in l g a n o d n s . what is believed to job description for the groundskeeper The Fort Jones Cemetery District does Recommendation 7 The District maintains a fixed asset Recommendation 1 position. The current services not have a public telephone listing. The Fort Jones Cemetery District l d i i s s t p . o T s o e o d n a t o e n e th p e i y e c h e a o v f e e o q n u l i y p m h e a n d t . t I o t T sh h o e u l F d or h t a v J e o n a e s w C ri e tt m en e te P ry o li D cy i st a ri n c d t p d r ir o e v c i t d e e d d . by the groundskeeper are self T th h e e o p u h t o si n d e e n o u f m th b e e r c i e s m o e n t l e y r y av s a h i e la d b . le on B C o o a u r n d t , y in B o c a o r n d j u o n f c t S io u n p e w rv it i h s o S rs is , k s i h y a o l u l was sold, with Board approval, to a Procedures manual that codifies the accurately determine all cemetery v e r p e x o r m o c lu f h o e n a v s t n s a e g i l e o e r i n s f a o h f l r s o a v r n a o d n l l a d u e n d t t h n e b e e o y r m w s c i o e o n r o n a v d l t i r c a i e s c f s e t . g e w T i v r i e e t i h n n e r e r p u u x o l d p l e i i e s c m n ie f d e o s n i r t t u i a . ( r r e b e y . u s , t d i n s o H c t i u p b l m l i i i m d n a a n it r e y d p t R p r o r o e ) o c s c c o e e a d u s p u r s i c r e t e e a s s s l , R W h ru i e g n h c h s i o l l e y m m t m t h h o e e e t n i c v d u a a d r t t e r a i e d o y n , n - t t v o 3 e g - r r d y o a u y d n e d d s ic o k a p e t e e e p r d a e t r a i o n i n d s R T s p h h h e o o e c u n o l e m d F n o m u p rt m e u n b b J d l e o i a s r n h t f e i o o s r a n t C h 5 c e e e m m pu e e b t t e e li r r c y y . d d i i s s t t r r i i c c t t b D r la e o n i s s u o d t n r l o u d i w c t a t i n r o i e n e r i s s n t i o a n n v r t d o e h a l e a v c s e h s s d i a i n . s t i t g s f th ac a e t i C o p n e r m o o p e f t e e r a r t l y y l away. and grounds for termination. extremely well, the duties and services provided are not recorded in any Finding 6 (continued on ) All monies received, and warrants Finding 2 fashion. The Fort Jones Cemetery The Henley Hornbrook Cemetery paid on behalf of the District are The Henley Hornbrook Cemetery Board needs to draft a thorough and up District does not have a public managed by the Siskiyou County District does not have any formal to date job description outlining the telephone listing. Contact is through Auditor’s office. written policies or procedures. groundskeeper’s duties. the employees. 8— 2013 - 2014 SISKIYOU COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT Review of the City of Weed WATCHDOG Siskiyou County Cemetery District : Administration of Community Development Block Grant Loans For the fiscal year 2012 an annual City to be legitimate this process has to occur RECOMMENDATION 6 committee members is to deal with RECOMMENDATION 13 wide independent audit, in their findings, when necessary. The Grand Jury could Requests for CDBG/EDBG loan many individuals and businesses in the City should seek assistance from noted some inadequate documentation not find retrieval of loan collateral on modifications from the borrower should City. They should disclose their financial appropriate State CDBG/EDBG RECOMMENDATION #7 Districts should take responsibility for issues were found in regards to the City EDBG loans reviewed. be accompanied by current financial activity. departments. Additional training on The Fort Jones Cemetery District is in ongoing training opportunities that Mt. Shasta Memorial CDBG program. statements/ information along with program management, loan monitoring, an ongoing property line dispute with may be available through the We tried to make an assessment of the RECOMMENDATION 3 r C e i v t i y s ed s h p o ro u j l e d c tio fo n l s l o fo w r th t e h e b us g in u e id ss e . l i T n h e e s RECOMMENDATION 9 p m r o o d c i e f d ic u a r t e io s, n s c a o n ll d a t d e e r l a i l n q r u e e tr n i t e v p a a l y , m l e o n a t n s t r h e e su n l e te ig d h b i o n r in i g s s la u n e d s o w in n v e o rs l v w in h g ic h t h re a e s appropriate authority. fairness of this program. We concluded The City needs to review its procedures requiring annual financial The City should set terms of 2 or 4 years would be beneficial. It may be helpful falling, ongoing vehicle traffic and t w h a a s t t t h o e o i v m ar p ie le d m a e n n d t a c t o io u n ld o c f a t u h s i e s c p r r i o ti g c r i a s m m a o n n d e i t f h o a n t e fo d l o lo e w s n s o C t i e t x y i s g t u , i i d t e sh li o n u e l s d . W cre h a e t n e s A ta p te e m rf e o n r t m s/ a in n f c o e r m hi a s t t i o o r n y f o ro n m th b e o r e r x o i w st e in rs g . i b n y o th rd e e C r i f t o y r o L n C a m pe e r m io b d e ic rs b t a o s i b s e . M rev em iew be e r d s f s o it r u a th ti e o n S t s a o t e h e to lp k c n o o u w ld t b h e e m C o it r y e ’ s ta c rg u e rr t e e n d t . cattle roaming on what is believed to REQUEST FOR RESPONSES in several forms. If terms change and necessary the City should retrieve loan should be reviewed along with should be appointed based on the be cemetery lands. Pursuant to Penal Code section delinquencies are not appropriately collateral on non-performing loans. possible modifications of collateral prior qualifications outlined in the City 933.05, the grand jury requests addressed then some of these loan funds to any action. CDBG/EDBG guidelines. Members REQUEST FOR RESPONSE RESPONSE TO responses as follows: simply become grants. If the City suffers FINDING 4 should also be required to file conflict of Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05 RECOMMENDATION 7 From the following individuals: losses in the loan program it reduces The Grand Jury found little evidence of FINDING 7 interest forms on an annual basis. the Grand Jury requests responses as The Siskiyou Board of Supervisors loans to other potential borrowers. It City monitoring, regarding the The Grand Jury found that LC lacks follows from the concurs with the Grand Jury does not reflect on the City financial requirement of EDBG loans to create training and understanding regarding following governing bodies: recommendation and will offer Fort Jones Cemetery District

c v o is n it f s u . sion that was evident during our better inclusion in the process. R A E nn C u O al M or M ie E nt N at D io A n T s I e O ss N io 1 n 1 for all City C of o d w e i t S n e e c s t s i o i n d e 9 n 2 t 9 it p ie r s o h to ib i e t n in c g o u di r s a c g l e o s f u u r l e l are not interested in giving up local T sh h o e u g ld o v b e e r n a i w ng a r b e o t d h i a e t s t i h n e d i c c o a m te m d a e b n o t v o e r In approximately half of the EDBG Council members should be required to candor in testimony in Civil Grand Jury control of their districts. response of the governing body must loans reviewed, the Grand Jury found FINDING 8 cover CDBG/EDBG Guidelines and investigations by protecting the privacy be conducted subject to the notice, concerns about the loan restructuring. RECOMMENDATION 5 The Grand Jury found varying opinions programs. and confidentiality of those who Recommendation 8 different entities, the lion’s share of and nighttime seminars are provided who serve on behalf of the citizenry, agenda and open meeting The City should review its CDBG from LC on what their responsibility is, participate in any Civil Grand Jury The Fort Jones and Henley Hornbrook which are governed by appointed to accommodate working individuals. are properly trained in their legal and requirements of the Brown Act.

condition of the borrower. This should program activities. Clerk, the Auditor and County It is incumbent upon the Board of all Special Districts regarding their There appears to be a lack of concern by be especially true for non-performing Jury investigations by protecting the the City to pursue EDBG loan collateral. loans. Included in the guidelines is the FINDING 9 Finding 9 Counsel, provides FREE yearly Supervisors, as the appointing body fiduciary responsibilities and County privacy and confidentiality of those T pr h o e c e G d r u a r n e d o J r u r t y h r c e o s u h l o d l d n o th t a fi t n t d h e a C po it l y ic y is , r a e n s n p u o a n l s f ib in il a i n ty c i o a f l t i h n e f o b r o m rr a o t w io e n r . t T o h fu e r f n i i l s e h s L n fo o C r t m m r s e e . q m u T i b r e h e r d e s i r t d o o r f n e il o s e p t o c h o n a n s v i f e b l i i t c l e i t r t m y o f s i a a n s n t d e r L a e r s C e t F T I h N e D C I it N y G C D 13 BG/EDBG programs need S sp is e k c i i y a o l u d C i o st u r n ic ty ts su g p o p v o e rt r s n a in lm g os m t 1 a 0 n 0 y t s r u a c in h i s n p g e s c e ia m l i d n i a s r t s ri c fo t r b t o h a o r s d e s . s e B rv o i t n h g d o a n y f b o o r a r m ds o , s t t o i n in d s e u p r e e n t d h e a n t t t h sp o e se c i m al e d m is b t e ri r c s t , C on o g u o n i s n e g l p b ro a v si i s d . e s I n le d g i a v l i d a u d a v l i ce S p o e n c i a a n l w Ju h ry o i p n a v r e t s i t c i i g p a a t t i e o n i . n any Civil Grand using in this regard. For loan programs included little information of that kind. help with their implementation. 16— 2013 - 2014 SISKIYOU COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT 2013 - 2014 SISKIYOU COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT— 9

to Special District governance. not contain the name of any person, or now. The review should include by Siskiyou LAFCO, “under certain addition to meeting the requirements priority to attend these training When loan modification requests are facts leading to the identity of any p a in d r v o m o c l i e v n s e i s s d . t I r i f n a t t t i h h o e e n C E c i D t o y B n h t G r a a s / c C t t h o D e r s B p o G a s n s l d o ib a i n o li s t t h y a e n o r d s f m to a de n o b t y th r e e v b i o e r w ro we c r u , r t r h e e n t c ity f i a n p a p n e c a ia rs l R I m n E e fo m C r b m O e a M r t s i . M o n E s I N h t o D u s A l h d T o I u b O l e d N gi i v 8 n e c n l u t d o e a ll t h L e C ir R A E pp C ro O p M ria M te E N r D e A po T r I ti O ng N 12 should be c c i o r n c s u o m li s d t a a t n io ce n s o L f A th F e C d o is c tr o i u c l t d s. ” fo S rc h e o u th ld e o to f t p h u e b R li a c l p m h e M et . i n B g r s o , w t n h e a c d t i w st i r t i h c t r s e g a a ls rd o s a e tt s e s n io d n a s n c e e v er a y t y a e a s r. e L m a i w na s r c h p a r n e g se e n a t n ed d R R E E S C P O O M N M SE E N TO DATION 9 p th e e r s C o i n v i w l G ho r a p n r d o v Ju id ry e . s i T n h fo e r C m a a l t i i f o o n rn t i o a o lo f a n l l o o s s s s es t , o t hi t s a c x o p u a l y d e r r e du fu c n e d th s e a f m un o d u e n d t s b t o a r t r e o m w e e n r t . s T /i h n e fo l r a m ck a t o io f n t his f in ro fo m r mati t o h n e r w e h sp o o t n h s e i y b i w li o ti r e k s , f o w r, h w o h a a p t p G o N in C te ’ d s r t o h l e e m is , d ad ev m e i l n o i p s e tr d a t a io n n d m an a d d e c i a t v iz a e i n la s b l o e f to W C ee it d y . t i h n e d s e e p en d d i e s n tr t i c i t t s is w i i n sh cu m t b o e nt r e u m p a o i n n h re a s v p e o nsibi f l i i d ti u e c s i . a A ry s appo a i n n d te d Bo le a g rd a s l y go ea v r e s r n a e g f o fe c m ti a v y e ly n o g t iv e b n e th su e f f f r i e c q ie u n e t n c to y The Siskiyou Board of Supervisors S in t t a e t n e d s L e th g e is p la r t o u v r i e s io h n a s s o s f t a P t e e n d a l t h C a o t d i e t programs. should make it difficult to reach a proper and who they can go to for questions, City Council should appoint a CDBG them to address this with LAFCO many of those who serve are not well of law changes in California. concurs with the Grand Jury Section 929 prohibiting disclosure of decision. It seems that a prudent lending requests and information. . commissioner to help carry out this task rather than ignore their versed on these requirements. recommendation. The Auditor's Office witness identities to encourage full procedure is to know the financial along with giving oversight on the correspondence. Siskiyou County, through the County Recommendation 9 has provided training workshops for candor in testimony in Civil Grand

District does not have formal written AND policies i.e. disciplinary procedures The Henley Hornbrook Cemetery The Fort Jones Cemetery District is in procedures. The caretaker operates RECOMMENDATIONS and grounds for termination. board should draft a thorough and up an ongoing property line dispute with from a handwritten sheet of rules and Adoption of these written rules would to date job description outlining the the neighboring landowners which has regulations inherited from the previous

condition, but only shows as a footnote local jobs. The public has a right to CDBG/EDBG City guidelines. The LC assistance to the Fort Jones Cemetery The Fort Jones Cemetery District is LC members do not see or approve LC in the audit report. know how effective a major City loan would benefit if they knew the status of Board through the Public Works requested to respond to this report; program like the EDBG is on jobs and loans and the outcome of loans they meeting minutes. The City of Weed is requested to and/or Community Development recommendations 1,3,5,7,8 business revenue. approve. The LC would also benefit if respond to this report recommendations Departments by means of existing FINDINGS AND they were more included in the loan number 1 thru 13