El Dorado County owned airports under the microscope of Civil Grand Jury again
PLACERVILLE, Calif. – More than five years have passed since the Civil Grand Jury issued recommendations in 2020 to operate county-owned airports. Progress was minimal until 2024, when the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (Board) moved the Airports Division from the Planning and Building Department to the Chief Administrative Office (CAO).
The Grand Jury acknowledges the County’s initiative to update policies and procedures related to County owned airports. According to the report, the undertaking is commendable, yet concerns remain regarding the openness and effectiveness of its implementation.
The report, “El Dorado County Owned Airports – Navigating Change,” was published recently at www.eldodradocounty.ca.gov/Grand-Jury by the Superior Court, which annually appoints 19 county residents as grand jurors to serve as citizen watchdogs over local government.
The Grand Jury investigated recent changes to the Airports Division after its operations returned to the CAO as approved by the Board in 2024. Following the transfer, CAO staff promptly initiated updates to airport operations by revising existing ordinances and policies. Standards and procedures for airport users’ ground leases were updated to reflect policy changes.
As a result, the Grand Jury investigated several complaints with concerns ranging from ground lease terms and insurance demands to inadequate representation and public outreach.
All findings and recommendations can be found in the full report on the County website. Under California law, the Board of Supervisors must respond to the Grand Jury report within 90 days.
The Superior Court lists qualifications for Grand Jury service and encourages applications at https://www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov/Public-Safety-Justice/Safety-Justice/Grand-Jury/Apply-To-Join.
