In Your Town for July 11, 2024

News briefs from across Marin County.

BELVEDERE

Appointees assume
planning board seats

The Planning Commission has three new members.

Jena Watson, Justin Botros and Don Schinske joined the commission on July 1. The City Council appointed them last month.

They replace Nena Hart, Marsha Lasky and Claire Slaymaker, whose terms expired June 30.

ROSS

Council to review
2 home projects

The Town Council has scheduled hearings on two residential projects that would require variances.

One variance would allow an outdoor kitchen in the side yard setback at 34 Poplar Ave. The other would allow a patio and retaining walls within the side yard setback at 118 Winding Way, as well as retaining walls above the 6 feet height limit.

The council meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at Town Hall.

COURTS

Beekeepers sentenced
in worker death case

A pair of beekeeping business owners on Wednesday pleaded guilty to safety violations that caused an employee’s 2018 death in Novato.

Defendants Mark Dennis Tauzer and son Trevor Hansen Tauzer earlier pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of causing the victim’s death. They changed their pleas after their attorneys successfully had their felony charges reduced to misdemeanors in Marin Superior Court.

The case centers on what transpired at a worksite for the defendants’ Yolo County-based business, Tauzer Apiaries Inc. Employee Carlos Del Toro was crushed between a cage and forklift while exiting a Bobcat, according to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. His death was ruled accidental.

Judge Kelly Simmons on Wednesday sentenced the Tauzers to a year of probation. She also ordered them to pay restitution to the victim’s family and to complete a safety course on operating heavy machinery.

Prosecutor Geoff Iida, and defense attorneys Peter Goodman and Geoffrey Rotwein declined to comment on the case.