Jan 12, 2019 -- The full Board of Supervisors heard updates on cannabis cultivation and fire recovery at the first meeing of year on January 8. Sean Connell, the new cannabis Program Manager, said his office is working through the final Phase I applications that were dropped off over the holidays, but that the most recent numbers do not reflect those applications. And supervisors John Haschak and Dan Gjerde tried to determine if CordovaCann, the Canadian cannabis company, is currently setting up shop in Covelo. If so, Gjerde suggested, the county might need to amend its ordinance banning GMOs so that it includes CRISPR technology. CordovaCann claims it has the ability to use the recently developed science to edit the genetic structure of cannabis plants.
During the fire recovery update, Director Nash Gonzalez told the board that Scripps Institution of Oceanography has plans to install five fire monitoring cameras in Mendocino County by the end of February. The cameras, funded by PG&E and other corporate sponsors, will capture video of fires and fire conditions from locations that are yet to be determined. The footage will be available to the public, but the dispatch agency, which will have control over the cameras, is also undetermined at the moment.
You can hear more details, including the numbers of structures rebuilt and cannabis cultivation permits issued, in the audio story below.