EDC defending itself regarding mitigation fees

El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 5 unanimously agreed to spend up to $150,000 from the county’s self-insurance fund to defend how the county collects mitigation fees.

Thomas and Helen Austin of El Dorado Hills in December filed a lawsuit against the county regarding building permit fees.

The couple in court documents believe the county is violating the Mitigation Fee Act and therefore wants the county to refund nearly $30 million to the people who have paid the fees either directly to the county, to El Dorado Hills Fire Department, or to El Dorado Hills Community Services District.

In one of Robyn Drivon’s last acts she recommended the expenditure. Her last day as county counsel is Jan. 10. The supervisors agreed to hire Abbott & Kindermann of Sacramento to handle the case.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report