S.R. Jones, the recently retired Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) executive officer, was honored Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors for her 32 years of service.
Her accomplishments include assisting with the incorporation of the Town of Truckee and playing a critical role in annexing the Glenbrook Basin to Grass Valley.
Jones retired Jan. 31. Bud Rice, the previous deputy executive officer of Kern County LAFCo, is now leading the agency with assistance from Deborah Gilcrest, Nevada County LAFCo’s clerk/analyst for nearly 13 years.
“We so appreciate all your work, how long you’ve been at the county,” Board of Supervisors Chair Lisa Swarthout told Jones. “What I will miss most working with you is your knowledge and your history of how things have transpired over the last 30 years.”
County Executive Officer Alison Lehman praised Jones for modeling integrity. “You have worked with more elected officials than any of us, you have taken on complex issues – land use issues – doing a wonderful job of making sure everything is done with fairness and integrity for the best results of the community.”
Jones said it has been an honor and privilege to do the work. “I couldn’t have done a job like this for as long as I did without the support of the county, the cities, the districts and all the wonderful staff members of all those agencies,” she said. “Thank you for this opportunity.”
LAFCo, an independent agency, makes decisions about growth while considering the needs of all Nevada County communities, including municipal services (such as utilities and treated water), special district services (such as fire protection, agriculture, water and road maintenance) and county services. Among the projects on the agency’s agenda is the proposed consolidation of the Penn Valley and Rough & Ready fire protection districts.
Over the years, Jones helped numerous organizations and individuals complete the important task of annexation and subsequent fair distribution of property taxes.
Jones also served eight years as director of the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions and was awarded the group’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
“When you go to a conference, everybody knows you,” Supervisor Sue Hoek told Jones. “You’ve done so much, not only for our county but for our state.”