The weekly meeting of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors was held as an evening meeting, called to order at 5:32 p.m. on November 7, 2024. The complete video and agenda are available here. Timestamps are in parentheses.
(1:59) Item R6 was removed from the agenda and will be brought back at a later date.
(2:29) Item C3 was removed from the agenda and will be brought back at a later date.
(2:42) CALL TO ORDER
The Invocation was conducted by Father George Elliott from Saint Andrew for Christ Orthodox Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Supervisor Kelstrom.
REGULAR CALENDAR
Members of the public may comment on any item on the Regular Calendar before or during the Board’s consideration of the item. Members of the public may also address matters scheduled for public hearings at the time such public hearings are opened for comment. Those wishing to participate in public comment for Regular Calendar items must submit a speaker request card to the Clerk of the Board before public comment on the item begins. Each speaker is allocated three minutes to speak. All speaker request cards submitted after public comment for each Regular Calendar item begins will not be heard by the Board.
Board Matters
(4:06) R1 Adopt a resolution which recognizes Marianne Sargent, Eligibility Specialist II, of the Health and Human Services Agency as Shasta County’s Employee of the Month for November 2024.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
(4:20) Supervisor Garman: Whereas the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta has adopted the Shasta County Employee Recognition program to identify exceptional employees who deserve to be recognized and honored for their contribution to county service. And whereas such recognition is given to employees meeting the criteria of the program, namely exceptional customer service, professionalism, high ethical standards, initiative, innovation, teamwork, productivity, and service as a role model for other public employees. And whereas the Shasta County Employee Recognition Committee has considered all current nominations for the Shasta County employee of the month.
And whereas Marianne Sargent has served as Eligibility Specialist, formerly a Worker, since she began her employment with Shasta County in 2012. The knowledge the knowledge base that Marianne has amassed during her years at the county has made her an excellent mentor to new employees when new hires need to shadow for training. Marianne is chosen for her exemplary professionalism and she leads by example, as she illustrates what it takes to be an excellent eligibility specialist. Marianne is professional in her communications and takes great pride in her work. Marianne never shies away from the phone calls and takes the time to explain what each client needs in straightforward, easy to understand language and strives to make the process less intimidating. Marianne’s experience enables her to explain a complicated program in simple terms in order to assist in eliminating any confusion, obtaining needed information and making the process easier for all involved. When there are cases that require finesse, they are referred to Marianne due to her knowledge and integrity in handling clients and their concerns in an honest and caring manner. Marianne consistently exceeds expectations for productivity as she maintains an incredible 100% accuracy rate and clears well above the expected task rate.
Marianne works diligently to process applications as quickly as possible while continuing to help clients in the course of her job. Marianne utilizes multiple software benefit determination programs to process applications for her clients. These programs come with their own set of challenges, but Marianne has an excellent understanding of the programs which enables her to solve the vast majority of issues that arise utilizing leadership only when necessary to work through ideas. Marianne’s calm demeanor, clear understanding of complex rules and regulations and attention to detail ensures that nothing is missed and eligibility is correctly determined. Marianne embodies the Health and Human Service Agency’s core values and goes to great lengths to serve clients while supporting coworkers. Marianne sets a great example, for all who work with her, she will do whatever is needed to help the team and she has counted on to assist with new employees. Her experience as a teacher really shining through her coworkers have stated, Marianne always has a small and positive outlook. She encourages her coworkers and never lets overwhelming workload get her down for the reasons stated above. The employee recognition committee recommends Marianne Sargent, Eligibility Specialist II of the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency be selected as the employee of the month for November 2024. Now, therefore, be it resolved that Maryanne Sergeant, Eligibility Specialist II, the Shasta County and Health and Human Service Agency is hereby named Shasta County employee of the month for November 2024.
(8:29) Jeremy Brookhart: My name is Jeremy Brookhart, Deputy Branch Director for Economic Mobility and there’s a lot of stuff that was said there and it is my distinct pleasure to allow Marianne to come up here and actually do some of the thinking and some of the speech on her own because there’s not much more we can say that is good about, better, than what was said in that resolution. Sorry about that. My first time talking here. So Marianne was brought to the county in 2012 and she’s excelled at getting Shasta County residents through CalFresh and Medi-cal processes. What I think people don’t necessarily know is that was before the ACA that was after ACA that was during the pandemic and after the pandemic and she’s been a stalwart for our workers as well as our clients alike, getting through all those different changes that come with all the regulations. And she’s a, besides the fact that she’s been a teacher in the community, she’s always been someone who makes working at the agency one of those people that keep you coming back. So we want to thank you for doing that for, doing the math in my head real quick, almost 12 years now. So thank you so much.
Marianne Sargent
(9:42) Marianne Sargent: So 12 years ago when I applied for a job with the county, I was newly divorced and the Supreme Court had just decided that everyone needed health care. Getting hired to be an eligibility worker was definitely a gift from God. When I was in the induction class I loved learning about the different programs in the HHS A and once the induction class was over, like so many new eligibility workers, I didn’t think I would make it past my six-month evaluation. Once I got past that hurdle, I found that I enjoyed helping people get their medical bills paid and their nutritional needs met. So I stayed. I have succeeded these past 12 years because I am only part of a group effort. I couldn’t do what I do without the maintenance staff cleaning our rooms, emptying our trash, and taking care of our bathrooms. Thank you for all that you do, maintenance staff. I also appreciate what our office assistants do, dealing with mail, faxes, registering applications, getting supplies for us and so much more. Thank you, clerical staff for your hard work. I want to thank all the people that I’ve been in Bible studies with that have prayed for me during some of the challenges I’ve had both personally and professionally. Thank you for reminding me to have balance in my life. I also want to thank my walking buddies who remind me to take breaks and stay healthy. Thank you for sharing your family’s opinions and podcasts with me. Frequently when we walk, we interact with our security guards, Matt and Robert, who I’d be in big trouble if I didn’t mention. They’re very busy keeping us safe. Thank you, Matt and Robert.
I have worked alongside many different eligibility workers who are now specialists. They have been supportive when I have been confused by a difficult case or rule, they have helped me work through the issues involved. They have shared my frustration over clients who don’t understand the definition of simple words, like spouse and income. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I have learned much about our programs and myself from all the various supervisors and lead workers who have been over me. Thank you for that. I especially want to thank my current supervisor, Tammy Heisler and my current lead worker, Kimber Roth. I have been under their leadership for over six years now. They have made work feel like home with the decorations, the animal stories and the respect and concern they have for each of us under them. I mostly communicate with various help desks and analysts through emails, IMs and phone calls. I have on occasion gone to a going away party for somebody that I didn’t know what they look like. Thank you for untangling the knots in our systems and the messes in our cases. I know less about all the work done by the program managers, deputy directors, branch directors and the senior management of the HHSA. Thank you for making the important and tough decisions that help me and the whole eligibility world run smoothly. And thank you for the Board of Supervisors for running the county and giving me this award.
R1 was adopted by a 5-0 vote.
(15:21) R2 Adopt a proclamation which designates November 10-16, 2024, as “Veterans Awareness Week” in Shasta County (Sponsored by Supervisor Crye).
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
(15:38) Supervisor Crye: Veterans Awareness Week, November 10 to the 16, 2024. Whereas the people of the County of Shasta have great admiration and the utmost gratitude for all of the men and women who have selflessly served their country and this community in the armed forces in order to protect and preserve the freedoms enjoyed by our community and all Americans. And whereas freedom is not free, veterans have paid the price by leaving their families and communities and placing themselves in harm’s way for the good of all. And whereas many citizens of our community have given their lives while serving in the armed forces. And whereas the contributions and sacrifices of the men and women from Shasta County who served in the armed forces have been in maintaining the freedoms and the way of life enjoyed by our citizens. And whereas during Veterans Awareness Week, all levels of government and private citizens come together to honor and recognize our veterans for the great sacrifices they have made defending freedom and paid deep respect for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Shasta County Board of Supervisors hereby proclaims November 10 to the 16, 2024 as Veterans Awareness Week in Shasta County, urging all citizens and government leaders to honor the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families and pay homage to the men and women who have given their lives defending freedom and preserving our way of life. Be it further resolved that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta hereby presents this year’s proclamation to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1934 for their dedication and service to our veterans, their families and our communities signed by myself with this date, November 7, 2024.
R2 was adopted by a 5-0 vote.
(17:32) Troy Payne, Veterans Service Officer: Thank you chairman members of the board. It is my honor this evening to introduce Mr. Joshua Simmons, the commander of VFW post 1934. Mr. Simmons grew up in Fortuna, California joined the army at age 18. He did his basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His medical training at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio Texas. Went on to Fort Benning, Georgia where he earned his airborne wings. His permanent assignment was then at joint base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. In 2017, Mr. Simmons was deployed to Afghanistan to fight the insurgency of ISIS funneling into the country since his discharge in 2018, Josh has served as the senior vice commander and now serves as the commander of VFW post 1934, continues to work in the medical field and serves our veterans here in Shasta County.
Joshua Simmons
(18:46) Joshua Simmons: Good evening, everyone. It’s a pleasure to be here today. What an honor to accept this for this whole week. I’d like to give you guys a picture of what it feels like to be a veteran in the United States. When I was 23 years old, I deployed to Afghanistan and I moved to Shasta County three months after I got back and I didn’t know anyone here. And you know, Wes was one of the first friends that I met and he was the commander of the VFW post 1934 and he brought me in. To this day I’m not sure if I would even be here without the VFW. And that’s why I’m the commander today. Ok. I don’t think I deserve to receive this gift, but I will for my fallen brothers. So thank you guys very much, appreciate it.
(20:59) R3 Present Certificates of Recognition to Brian Aldridge, Chase Peets, Dante Crandall, and Riley Gillion, which recognizes their heroic actions on August 17, 2024 (Sponsored by Supervisor Garman).
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
(21:08) Supervisor Garman: Good evening again, everyone. This is a really cool story. I hope you guys understand this and, and get the meaning of what heroes look like. I wrote out a little bit here. On August 17, Ashley Robinson was on a leisurely bicycle ride with her children at Anderson River Park when a large branch fell from a tree and crushed her. Four teenagers were fishing nearby and heard the commotion and without a second thought, ran over to help Ashley. Without their swift heroic action, Ashley would have died. Ashley suffered the following injuries and I have permission to share these from Ashley: severe concussion with bleeding on the brain. Six vertebrae were broken and nine of them were fused together with two metal rods. All of her ribs were broken and the right side was so badly damaged that the doctors had to plate together five ribs with screws and metal plates. The right shoulder blade was broken. Her sternum was shattered, the right lung was collapsed and punctured and her left lung was partially collapsed.
On the way to the hospital. The EMTs gave her a six unit of blood. She had another seven units once she arrived at the hospital. Our bodies hold about 10 units of blood. It’s a miracle that Ashley is still with us today. Ashley, I’m going to take this time for you. Would you stand up and just say hi to everybody. [Applause] Everything had to happen just right for Ashley to survive. First of all, she wore a bicycle helmet. Not only are you setting a role model for your kids, it saved your life. That’s a public service announcement for everybody else, wear your bike helmet. The teens were right there to rush over and help her and call 911 and help get the tree branch off of her. The EMT showed up in record time and rushed her to the hospital and the staff at the hospital, just swift action and it all saved her life. It took that entire team to save Ashley’s life and it all started with those four heroes. So now Brian Aldridge, Dante Crandall, Chase Peets, and Riley Riley, I’m saying the name wrong. I hope it’s right. Riley Gillion. You are hereby recognized for your exemplary acts on August 17, 2024. When faced with an immediate and life-threatening medical emergency, your quick response and heroic actions, saved a human life in peril. With that, I’ll make a motion to approve this. Riley, my daughter, Miss Hannah from Project Share says hello,
wanted me to make sure I said that to you guys. So before we get up for a picture, I just want to say one last thing. Kids today get a bad rap, especially teenagers. It’s not fair. It’s not right. There are good kids out there and you guys are great, amazing young men, Brian, Dante, Chase, and Riley, you’re going to be our leaders of tomorrow. And I hope that I see one of you sitting in one of these seats someday.
R3 passed on a 5-0 vote.
(26:08) R4 Receive an update from the County Executive Officer on County issues and consider action on specific legislation related to Shasta County’s legislative platform and receive Supervisors’ reports on countywide issues.
No Additional General Fund Impact
No Vote
CEO David Rickert
(26:22) CEO Dave Rickert: First, I’d like to give an update on county election news. I’d like to take a moment to recognize and express my heartfelt appreciation for the poll workers and election staff who play an essential role in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the electoral process. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly behind the scenes at the polling places throughout Shasta County ensuring that voters have a smooth, secure and welcome experience. Their commitment often requires long hours unwavering focus and they are vital to upholding the values of democracy and civic engagement within our community.
Moving on to other news, I would like to report and it’s a brief report this week, but I’ve had several very constructive conversations with Chairman Crane, a representative from Southend Industries, a company focusing on consulting with building projects. We’re exploring creative ways to renovate at the existing old courthouse and associated property. This could be done by leveraging grants and other federal funds. Once we have more definitive information, we’ll bring this back for board consideration. This concludes my report.
District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert.
(27:40) Supervisor Mary Rickert, District 3: Attended the Economic Development corporation luncheon. Rebecca reported she had gone to a conference called Take Off America and met with several various airlines. Southwest was probably one of the ones she mentioned that might be an option down the road for Redding. They’re partnering with two organizations to promote more tourism in Shasta County too. So, got an update on everything going on there.
I attended the Empire Recovery Center fundraiser. It was an incredible night again. They had two people get up, young men, talk about their testimonies of recovery. This is a very pertinent topic right now as we’re discussing the opioid settlement fund money and I wished I could have them come and speak to all of you. It’s just amazing, their stories, and both of them now are working to help others who have addiction issues. One works on the Hill Country, the mobile crisis unit.
Let’s see, I attended a press conference with ROV Tom Toller on problems with the ballot counting with the overspray issue, ink overspray issue. I met with our new public defender, Ashley Jones. We had a really good conversation. I really appreciate the fact that she understands the nexus between mental health, substance use and crime. And so we had a very healthy and very productive conversation. She said they currently have three social workers in the public defender’s office and she’d like to see at least one more.
So I also met with CEO Rickert, County Counsel Joe Larmour, Tim Garman about the problems with the ballots for a meeting on that. I spent time at, I’ve spent a lot of time just about every single day at the elections office. I want to thank all the election workers and all the tireless hours that they’re putting in. I really admire their tenacity and fortitude and all the volunteers that go there too. So it’s been busy down there on Market Street. I attended the Northern California Water Association meeting virtually, this was yesterday, the lobbyist that represents us in Washington DC talked about the various outcomes to expect with the new administration in terms of water in California and various other agricultural issues. And today I was asked to attend the Redding Rotary Veterans program. We presented a plaque to Mr. Joe Tallerico, this year’s Veteran Award of Excellence. I presented him a plaque from this board. And I just want to remind everyone that Veterans Day is Monday and I’d like everyone to reach out and thank a veteran for their service.
District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom
(30:31) Supervisor Chris Kelstrom, District 5: All right. On October 30 I also met with the new public defender, Ashley Jones and just before that meeting, there was an impromptu meeting with Counsel Larmour on an issue that came up that day. And then further talks about that with CEO Rickert later on. And I missed the monthly EDC luncheon because we had a conflicting meeting with the Sheriff CEO Rickert, Chair Crye, and myself along with Kimberly Johnson and her team from Children’s Legacy Center. They were there to clear up some accusations that have been recently been levied against them. And then on October 31, I had a SRTA meeting with Chair Crye and Supervisor Jones. On the first I met with Nina from the State Office of Business. It’s similar to a statewide Economic Development committee, but she represents the North State up here and kind of facilitates businesses coming into town and what they can do to help them.
And then on the third, I have at the Anderson Senior Center breakfast, which I believe there’s two cooks in the crowd right now. Stewart Buettell, as well as Darren Hale, I saw him earlier. So they didn’t poison me. So that’s good. That’s a plus. And they did a great job.
On the fourth I met with a potential program manager regarding the opioid settlement money. It was a great meeting. I have not talked to them since so I will not mention who that was. Hopefully they will be here next Tuesday. And then that same day I also met again with Kimberly Johnson after talking to her with our meeting the week before. I did a tour of the Children’s Legacy Center and the both locations and I include, I did a tour of where they do their forensic interviews of the alleged victims. And it’s something back in the past if, you know, they had a victim, oftentimes the police on the scene would interview them and then they would go and you know, maybe a detective would interview them and then children’s services interview them and then, you know, eventually the DAs office would interview them and, and you know, victims had to relive this over and over and over again. So they have a great program here where they get all the stakeholders into one room. They get a forensic interviewer that interviews the victim and while everybody else watches and gets it recorded so that the victim does not have to relive it over and over again. So you know, shout out to them, they’re doing great work there.
And let’s see, on the fifth, election day, I voted in Cottonwood and then I later on attended an election night party and then November 6, last night attended a little election night celebration out in Palo Cedro. And then today I met with Robert Bowman from the Step Up program and I’m proud to announce that they will be presenting on Tuesday. So that concludes
District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones
(33:11) Supervisor Patrick Jones, District 4: I attended the SRTA meeting along with Chair Crye and Supervisor Kelstrom as well. You know, most of the items that we have are very similar, but there was a few things we did award, approve of, awarding a local carbon reduction program. AC RP funding for fiscal year 24/25. We also authorized the director to execute a Master Fund agreement and a few other things that are fairly boring.
Did want to mention this Saturday for everybody that’s interested in Shasta Lake City, which is in my district. We have the second largest Veterans Parade starting at 10 in Shasta Lake City. So we’d like everyone to show up for that and show their support and I’ll certainly be there with the Missing in American project.
And then most of this week I spent at the ROVs office in and out, I think at least four or five times, observing, I appreciate the staff for allowing us to observe, trying to see things that maybe have possibly been missed in the past and having meaningful observation to me is a big thing. That’s really the way that we restore trust. I would appreciate Tom Toller getting through his first election. I know this was a tough one considering we had an issue with the ballot. So I think most people know, it’s certainly been in the paper that our ballots come from Runbeck, which is printed in Arizona. And on approximately half of those ballots, there was a problem, possibly an overspray on the barcode that did not allow the Canon scanners to scan those. So with extra staff here at 1450 Court Street, the administration, I think that we had at least 12 people from here go over to the ROV office to help out and they did a great job getting through that process. Runbeck also came out and brought at least two electronic scanners. Well, three separate machines to take an electronic image of the original ballot and then duplicate that. And there was four duplicate stations right across from the Bat Cave in the ROV. And the Bat Cave is just simply where the Canon electronic scanners are.
Unfortunately, from the first time that I watched the duplication process, there were a high number of errors and what was happening was that on the original marks were made by the voter and not all the time did those marks get reproduced on the separate ballot. It was happening at a reasonable rate. And now I will say and hats off to the election workers there that from the mistakes that I saw this process being made, the people there, the election officials were correcting them. And so they had their work cut out for them, you know, with two ballots and you have to visually look at, you know, both sides. Basically four images have to pass for one ballot. These folks are going to have to be looking at approximately 150,000 images and three things that I observed during this process that is highly concerning and there’s going to be a motion at the end of this to bring this back for action and have a representative from Runbeck explain this process. But on all occasions where there was a light mark, those those were missed. So a light mark which would be a check or an X was not transferred over but yet to the human that could be easily corrected. And I believe our staff did so. A partially blocked in was also typically missed as well. But then a large number of properly marked in square boxes were also missed by this process. Now that’s alarming because that means a lot of extra work for our staff to have to catch these. And again, what I witnessed what I saw was staff were correcting those from what I saw.
The couple of problems I have is that I can only look at the duplication four station. I can’t, I don’t have any meaningful observation on 1,2, or three. And so I’m assuming that the same error with the Runbeck system was happening on all four machines. That is a reasonable assumption that I have to make because I don’t have meaningful observation. That’s where, that’s where meaningful observation would be really nice. Now, Duplication Station four was very clear. I could see that very nicely. And again, hats off to our staff for what I saw, correcting a ton of mistakes and every mistake that I saw they did correct. And then another set of eyes, that those ballots then would go across the hall, and another set of eyes would take a look at that. But it’s alarming in that we have a company here that is providing a service and we have a lot of marks on ballots and I don’t know if there was a pattern to that or not, that would certainly be very concerning. Is it just simply random? Not sure. So I’m going to put this in a motion that we bring this back, this issue back at the earliest opportunity and have a member from Runbeck explain how these errors occurred. And that’s in the form of a motion.
(38:18) Supervisor Crye: Would you amend your motion to make sure it’s at a time that if we, if we want obviously ROV Toller to be here, that it could be after the 30 days is up so he has time. So maybe like December 10.
Supervisor Jones: Well, I don’t necessarily, I know ROV Toller is very busy right now and I don’t think he necessarily has to be here. This is an issue with Runbeck, this, our staff is and, and ROV Toller is fully aware of the issue. So I just simply, I want to have somebody from Runbeck.
(38:48) Supervisor Crye: Then do we need to, we need to take that, do we take public comment before we take that vote then? No, because it’s just bring it back. Ok. So we’ll just ask staff to bring it back. Do you want to take a vote on it? Ok. We’ll take a vote. to bring it back and have someone request someone from Runbeck here.
(36:26) The motion passed on a 5-0 vote.
Tim Garman, Shasta County District 2 Supervisor
(39:45) Supervisor Tim Garman, District 2: First off, I want to give a huge shout out to the entire elections team and that starts with Tom Toller. We had some issues with, supervisors have already spoken before me about the overspray. but Tom Toller attended his press conference where he laid it out, kind of what happened and what the process was going to be going forward to make sure the ballots were all counted. And I have full confidence those ballots were were and will be counted correctly and accurately. Tom was definitely a man of honor and I appreciate that.
Met with CEO and counsel and Supervisor Rickert as well before we moved over there at the press conference. I got continuing meetings with different folks in the community about the opioid dollars. We’re not going to discuss anymore today. We’ll just be discussing that next Tuesday. Hopefully, some of those people will have their presentations in and ready and we’ll see where all of that goes. Let’s see what else. Lastly, I want to say, remind you all that this coming Saturday from 11 o’clock AM until noon is going to be the Nor Cal Children’s Diabetes Club slash the Lions Club is also going to help with this. They’re going to host a diabetes walk, awareness walk at the Sundial Bridge. Please show up and wear Blue to help raise awareness of diabetes in our community. Diabetes is a big problem. And whether you’re type one or type two or, you know, somebody in that regard, you’re all welcome to come to the Sundial Bridge. The bridge will also be turned blue on World Diabetes Day, which is November 14.
District 1 Supervisor/Chair Kevin Crye
(41:05) Supervisor Kevin Crye, District 1: So pretty much again, most of the things that I’ve attended with other supervisors have already been mentioned, I will say I did have a pretty lengthy meeting with Supervisor-elect Plummer about some opioid programs, possible outpatient things. So, along with everybody else up here, I’ve had several several meetings with different individuals surrounding the opioid dollars. The one I will highlight though is one with Doctor Dhanuka as we’ve talked about inpatient detox beds. And so, I will say if, if in fact, he does, if his election count holds and he moves to the City of Redding as an elected official, I think we have some real opportunities working with the City of Redding as it relates to detox beds, working in conjunction with Prop 1 dollars. Also some of the work that CEO Rickert and I are doing about grant funding with buildings and retrofitting in terms of solar and lighting and other opportunities. I see a real opportunity to compound a lot of dollars to spread those much, much farther across the different municipalities and programs and options. So I’m excited about that. So other than that, everything is pretty much already been said.
Board of Supervisors
(42:38) R5 Discuss the grant agreement with Center for Tech and Civic Life and spending plan as approved on April 9, 2024 (Sponsored by Supervisor Jones).
No Additional General Fund Impact
No Vote
(43:03) Supervisor Jones: So this all started back in probably, I would say December 2022. Staff was aware that the Centers for Tech and Civic Life awarded the county a $1.5 million grant. It was brought to this body on Tuesday, February 28 at 9 a.m. and it was R3 and that was to approve a grant agreement with the Centers for Tech and Civic Life and award Shasta County elections a grant in the amount of $1.5 million with the expiration of December 31, 2025. So a motion was made and let me get to my minutes and who was present on that day as our acting county counsel, Mary Williams, our county counsel was Ruben Cruz. Then shortly he resigned and then it was Jim Ross.
Supervisor Crye: And you mean Mary Williams, acting CEO Mary Williams?
Supervisor Jones: Sorry Mary Williams. So I made a motion that this grant not be accepted. It was seconded by Supervisor Kelstrom and a vote was taken on that and that failed. The reason I did not want to approve this is that it’s been, this type of money has been banned in 29 states. And in fact recently, under oath Mark Zuckerberg, who was the individual that funds the Centers for Tech and Civic Life that donated the $400 million has admitted under testimony that in fact, the money was used for partisan politics and, and that’s exactly why I didn’t want this into the elections department. However, at that time, Supervisor Crye made a substitute motion to direct staff to draw up a counter proposal with language starting that the only use, the only use for the $1.5 million grant funding would be to purchase real property or to build a new building for the elections department and to strike out the ability for the CTCL to have the sole discretion to request and return the grant funds. That’s what the proposal that passed on a 3-2 vote and it moved forward. Approximately a month or so later, I asked our acting CEO Mary Williams if the counter proposal had been accepted. I figured it would not be with, with that language. She said it had not. A few months later, I had asked again and acting CEO of Mary Williams said it had not been received. Those are the facts. That’s what we know as of today.
What we now know is within a month or month and a half that and 174 emails later, 174 emails that that counter proposal did not go forward. And in fact, staff from the Elections Department and our county counsel rewrote that proposal, sent it on to the CTCL, and they approved it within a month to a month and a half, they approved it. And, and in these emails, if you read them and they are public now, you know, here’s one, here’s one on March 30. This is from our county counsel at the time. Keep in mind Ruben Cruz had just resigned or retired, Jim Ross come on board –
(46:25) Counsel Larmour: Mister chairman. So the emails are still subject to the attorney-client privilege. The board would have to set an item on the agenda and waive the attorney-client privilege before the information was in-
(46:34) Supervisor Jones: I’m pretty sure we already did that and I’ve already commented on these, these have already been made comment in open session.
Counsel Larmour: Yeah, there, there, there hasn’t been. Chairman Crye brought them and there was a, there was a request to make them public and made it clear at that time that the attorney client privilege haven’t, hasn’t been waived. And at that time, we have not brought an item back to do that.
(46:55) Supervisor Jones: Ok. That’s disappointing. So, so anyways, the counter proposal, what our counter proposal was not what the CTCL got, they got a different proposal. So at this time, I’m going to make a motion that we do a couple of things. First, we bring this back ASAP. It’s already been too long and put it into an actionable item for discussion and make all these documents available, waive the attorney-client privilege and make all these documents available to the public. That’s my motion.
(47:38) Supervisor Rickert: Yes, I was going to ask, County Counsel Larmour, It isn’t the ROV that’s an elected official. Doesn’t she have the ability to make decisions on her own on something like this?
Counsel Larmour: So the registrar of voters under certain circumstances could have their own counsel if they’re receiving advice from county counsel, the attorney client privilege flows directly to the board.
Supervisor Rickert: But my question is can’t the ROV make decisions on grants, when the DA or anybody writes a grant, they get money for it. They can decide how that’s spent, can’t they? I mean, because they are an elected official, we don’t have any jurisdiction over, over telling them how they can spend grant monies.
Counsel Larmour: No. So, ultimately, the county has policies and procedures on –
Supervisor Rickert: Well, but doesn’t she have some flexibility is my, I’ve been told that she can make decisions on –
Counsel Larmour: So she has flexibility so long as the item isn’t required to be approved by the board. If it comes to the board and the board sets parameters out as to how the funding will be spent, then she has no flexibility beyond what the board is directed.
(49:04) Supervisor Crye: Supervisor Jones, can I ask you this? Ok, because we have public comment. I would like to. I mean, I’m, the, my, my thing is, I mean, bottom line, the board voted or an action and staff and counsel usurped our authority and did what they wanted. Nobody’s here with the exception of an election worker or two who or in any of those emails. So, my question is, can we, can we listen to public comment? Well, listen to public comment. Let’s bring it back. I mean, the, the reality is for me is I want to, there’s nobody, there’s nobody left. I mean, everybody that either knew about this or was culpable has bailed because it’s bad. It’s bad. I mean, it’s, it’s, it’s what? So, so I want to, you’ll have your three minutes. So let’s move on to public comment and we can bring it back.
(50:00) Public comment on R5 began.
(50:30) Robert: Great, thanks. This seems to me to be a parting shot by Patrick Jones to poison the well, on his way to his march to the sea. Patrick, you’re a failed candidate. You lost. And any malfeasance is the purview of our deputy, of our district attorney. Not Dave, not Joe and certainly not Patrick. So this is a distraction. Now, if you’re going to try to do this, then you’re way out of your lane, you’re staying way out of your lane. And I would just ask the board and those here to please remember that. You know, Cathy was an elected official. She had purview over what she was doing there. She sent a memo to you in April describing the things that she was doing and why she was doing it and, you know, for you to make a big thing like you didn’t know what was going on. You did know what was going on as far as I can tell. And, you know, you were just upset because you wanted to use the money in a way that was not beneficial to the county, the way that would have been beneficial to the county was using that million and a half as seed money, throw in a couple of million from the county advertised over a few years. So you could own the building versus paying rent to a private landlord. And you chose not to do that. Also, he made a big thing about Zucker bucks and taking money from a Democrat. The money was free, the money, it was a million and a half dollars to be used with very small strings attached. That is where, where they’re going to be. [Laughter from audience] Oh, quiet down, shut up.
Supervisor Crye: Please. Please refrain from talking.
Robert: You too. That was very, very small strings attached. And you know, this is be because Joan the Jones gang and the cry gang, your ideology is above the needs of Shasta County and you guys are wrong.
(52:46) Steve Emerel: Steve Emerel, district four. I’ve been disenfranchised as a voter. I’ve been taken the right to be represented by my county supervisors has been taken away from me. This is very bad. This is not a good thing at all. We work hard to elect you people, you guys work hard to get up there and get one of those chairs. We have fundraisers, we go through all this to have you. People represent us and these four people saw fit to give that the bird. I’m not happy. This is wrong. There needs to be serious consequences taken here. I think we, the people should be able to file a class action lawsuit against these people. They, they circumvented our, our rights to be represented by our elected officials and consequences have to come down. If there aren’t any consequences, nobody will stop. This sort of thing will go on and on. We’ve seen it already. There’s has been no consequences for four years, the last four years. I it’s just unbelievable that this happened for them to go around the board and just do whatever they wanted to do. We know she doesn’t like you guys. This is what she wanted to do in the first place. So she just gave you the finger and went ahead and did what she wanted to do. But I feel disenfranchised and I think we have a right as we the people to file something against this, we need to look into it. Thank you,
There were ten more public commenters. Two agreed with Robert and eight agreed with Steve Emerel.
(1:13:52) Supervisor Garman: I won’t be supporting bringing this back. We’ve had 10 of our 21 staff are no longer in that office. Kind of like what you were saying. Supervisor Chairman Crye, I don’t think there’s a point to, to continue to beat the dead horse, so to speak. So let’s –
Supervisor Crye: Just to, just to clarify, 10 have left in the last I believe two years. Yeah. So it’s not 10 –
Supervisor Garman: It was 2022 and this was, I think originally discussed somewhere in there. There’s been, but we’ve lost 10 out of 21 of the staff. The majority of them are gone. If we continue to push this issue, it’s, it’s, I don’t see any good coming out of this and more hurtfulness and we will- [Yelling from audience]
Supervisor Crye: Excuse me, Supervisor Garner. Give me a sec. Listen, I mean, this is a contentious topic. We get it and especially it’s on the heels of Tuesday. So let us just have our board discussion, please, please. Thank you.
Supervisor Garman: Thank you, Chairman. I, I just don’t see the point to bring it back and rehash this issue any longer. And I will, I just want to say one last thing. There’s not been any voters in Shasta County who have been disenfranchised. Our votes have always counted here and, and they always will. And hats off to the previous ROVs and hats off to Tom Toller.
(1:15:04) Supervisor Crye: Would you mind if I jumped in? Ok. So, I mean, what I do and again, that’s under discussion. What I do want to bring back is I want there to be a message that staff can’t do this. Our county counsel can’t do this. Now. We have a staff right now and a county counsel that I’m sure of that this wouldn’t happen. But if we’re looking 10, 20 years down the road, there has to be mass accountability. I mean, look at closed session, look at some of the items we have. This stuff isn’t just popping up. This is stuff we’ve worked on for since Supervisor Kelstrom and I were seated in 23 and a lot of it’s heinous. But what we do, what we now know is what we thought only happened in Sacramento or for sure Washington DC happened and does or not as much anymore to my knowledge but happened for a lot of years here in this building for the Board of Supervisors So I want accountability. I’m not sure. So I’d like to ask Counsel Larmour what we’re truly bringing back in terms of what if, what findings, I mean, it’s, it’s obvious they broke policy and there is some, there is some, what’s the word there is, County counsel has some, what would be the word Counsel Larmour, like they represent the elections office. But in this, it’s obviously stated, they said this needs to go back to the board, this needs to go back to the board. It never did and then it was rewritten and sent in some other capacity which was not and, and to Supervisor Rickert’s point like that’s why are we even up here if they’re just, if other elected are going to just do what they want when stuff is supposed to have board approval, I mean, I mean, what can we, I mean, that’s what –
(1:17:00) Supervisor Rickert: We don’t have jurisdiction, the authority over other elected officials. We do not have not, we do not –
Supervisor Crye: We just talked. County counsel just said it’s not that we have jurisdiction, but when something comes to approval from the board to accept that money.
Supervisor Rickert: Ok. So I have a question for county counsel. So is, is it, do other elected officials have discretion to bring items back before the board? They do have that discretion, don’t they?
Counsel Larmour: This item falls under a budgetary item and the board holds that the budgetary string. So an elected official has a lot of autonomy in a lot of areas but the board controls the budget.
(1:17:37) Supervisor Rickert: But that’s the grant funding is part of the budget?
Counsel Larmour: Ultimately, grant funding is coming into the county’s budget.
Supervisor Rickert: But didn’t we, didn’t it come back before the board a second time and we went ahead and approved it?
Counsel Larmour: It did.
Supervisor Rickert: So the second time it came back, the board approved it.
Counsel Larmour: Yes.
Supervisor Crye: Not, not what we said in the motion to be approved.
(1:18:00) Supervisor Jones: Thank you. So, so let’s get a little more clarity here, Supervisor Rickert. So this action took place. It started unbeknownst to any board members that I’m aware of. In 2022 it came to our attention in early 2023 and the counter proposal was sent forward. I was chaired during that year, I asked, ultimately, three different times. Did the counterproposal get accepted? And, and I never got an answer. And, and so that whole year went by the whole year of 2023 while I was chair without an answer and yet it was rewritten and accepted. And when I asked our acting CEO –
At this point, Jenny O’Connell stood before the Dais holding up a sign that read, “PATRICK JONES RESIGN.”
(1:18:48) Supervisor Crye: Hey, Jenny, Jenny, Jenny, Jenny, you’re Jenny, sit down, please sit down.
Jenny O’Connell Nowain sat down on the floor.
Supervisor Crye: Hey, hey, you sit down, you need to sit down.
Benjamin Nowain came up and sat down next to Jenny.
(1:19:05) Supervisor Crye: All right, here’s what we’re going to do. People didn’t get enough attention as kids. So we’re going to recess for five minutes. We’re going to recess for five minutes,
Counsel Larmour: Mr. Chairman, before you recess, can you give an official warning to the Nowains?
Supervisor Crye: You bet. Before we recess. Will the two individuals please seated in front, move. This is your warning before you will be removed. All right, with that, they are not moving. We are going to be at five minute recess.
(1:19:34) Supervisor Crye: All right. Coming back from recess. Thanks for your patience. We have a motion by Supervisor Jones on the floor for discussion. Ok. Is there any other board discussion before we take a vote? Do you want to restate your motion? Supervisor Jones, just so we’re clear.
(1:19:59) Supervisor Jones: Yeah. So thank you chair. So this motion would be to bring this matter back, the CTCL matter back for action at, at the very next meeting or the, the soonest possible ,with, have waive our attorney client privilege on the emails and any other document concerning the CTCL and then make a decision as to what direction we want to go and direct staff to that.
(1:20:36) Supervisor Kelstrom: Yeah, I think we need, I think we need transparency. I think we need to see what exactly happened here, whether the people are still here or not. We need to see what went on behind our backs.
The motion passed on a 3-2 vote with Supervisors Garman and Rickert voting no.
R6 Discuss potential issues related to time stamps on the Audit Log from the March 5, 2024, Primary Election and other Hart InterCivic election equipment related issues (Sponsored by Supervisor Jones).
No Additional General Fund Impact
No Vote
This item was removed from agenda and will be brought back at a later date.
(1:21:33) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – OPEN TIME
During the Public Comment Open Time period, the public may address the Board on any matter not listed on the agenda that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors or on any agenda item listed on the Consent Calendar. Each speaker is allocated three minutes to speak. Those wishing to participate in Public Comment – Open Time must submit a speaker request card to the Clerk of the Board before the meeting begins. All speaker request cards submitted after the meeting begins, and any public comment not heard by the 9:30 p.m. recess, will be heard once all Regular Calendar items on the agenda have been considered by the Board, and before the Board’s consideration of the Consent Calendar.
(1:22:20) Steve Kohn: Good evening staff board and those that stuck around. I’m amazed, you know, with the elections behind us and you know, it’s just time I think for us to move on and try to accomplish more with the board, more productive things and more of the work that we need to get done. There is a couple of things here like you know, it was brought up about the Cathy Darling Allen and her hiding the fact that the Hart machines could tally ballots. She stated it and it was right in the agenda on that day. I read it over and over again. So I don’t know why that’s continually brought up. Then so anyway I don’t suppose that some people are going to be happy with the elections no matter what happens. But bringing up the election situations over and over and over again, especially, I think where a lot of the people that would complain, the elections have been, have turned out to be the way that they want them to be. So I really don’t understand why people are still so upset about it and bringing up things like the Mesa County, you know, pattern of fraud which has been shown to be incorrect and the persons, you know, primarily involved in it, some of them have been jailed. So anyway, it would be great to move on away from all that good stuff that tears our community apart and be more focused on moving forward, like spending some money on the you know, the settlement from the opiate situation and moving forward in a positive way which I hope entails some residential care and medically assisted treatment because in all the entities I talked to that seem to be a priority anyway, I hope people can kind of come together and let’s just accomplish some stuff and kick this other stuff to the side. We just don’t need all this.
Four speakers generally agreed with the opinions of Steve Kohn.
(1:29:43) Ron Pember: Good evening. Excuse me. Good evening again. But due to the overspray, I guess on those ballots, I’m wondering if the machines, can be trusted to make a correct calculation. So what I’m suggesting is, or not just suggesting I’m saying I’d like to see the, have a hand counting of 100% of the ballots be audited because I don’t trust the machines and I don’t see how you can have the certify the election without those 100% of the hand counting because I don’t think the machines, they’re having trouble according to Tom Toller. So, but I think you as supervisors can take a vote and you could do it tonight to have those hand counting take place. So we know that that way you can compare the hand counting ballots with the machine count and see where, where there’s any discrepancies. So this is where I’m going from. Take a hand count.
(2:00:25) Ashley: Hi guys, I just came back in. I wanted to, we were recently poll workers yesterday and just wanted to provide you with some positive feedback. It was a really good experience. There was a lot of people excited about voting. One of the local high schools encouraged kids to come out. So that was how we got brought into that. My daughter was a poll worker. I’d say the checks and balances were very good just as knowing, not knowing the process and seeing how it went. I was encouraged by that and we worked with a really positive group of ladies. I wish the gentleman that came into the precincts was actually still here to hear this. One of the things that as an observation that I wanted you all to know is that it was difficult seeing so many people present their ID. I would say 98% of our voters openly came up with their ID that’s revealing. I kind of hope that with the current changes, perhaps Shasta County would consider coalescing around the idea of identification. It was clear at my precinct that that was important to the voters. One of the things is feedback on the, the form that they filled out front and back. Those big squares were difficult for people to fill in and there. You could tell just when you count the final ballots, kind of for your audit to make sure that you have the proper amount of ballots, which we did. The boxes weren’t all the way filled in and should have been. I think that would if there was a simpler, smaller selection, I think it would be beneficial. And I, I do, I think of it as a positive thing. I came in here after not being here for a while and I feel like it’s welcome to the war room. You guys have been a little better tonight. I wish you all wouldn’t heckle each other. I wish you wouldn’t waste everyone’s time here by putting on those performances. I fully, fully respect someone’s right to speak up and do something, but you all have a job to do. We want to go home, we’re tired and the thing that I want in this county, I don’t understand the fight, especially with voting. And, you know, I’m not a voter integrity person. I cannot come up with any pushback for accountability and an audit of voting and, the feedback, a lot of people want you guys to audit the votes and they were happy about the paper ballots. And so I want you to feel encouraged by that for what you’ve done and I hope that you’ll continue and in spite of the fighting that we don’t need to do and audit, it’s our civic duty to be accountable to everything that you do up here. It’s complacency that’s got us into trouble. So your transparency and accountability should be done all the time regardless of party.
(2:10:28) CONSENT CALENDAR
The following Consent Calendar items are expected to be routine and non-controversial. They may be acted upon by the Board at one time without discussion. Any Board member or staff member may request that an item be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion and consideration. Members of the public will be provided with a single opportunity to comment on one or more items on the Consent Calendar, during Public Comment – Open Time, before the Board’s consideration of the Consent Calendar.
(2:10:57) The Consent Calendar was approved by 5-0 vote.
County Administrative Office
C1 Approve amendments to the lease agreements with: (1) John P. Murphy Trust; and (2) Shastique Holdings, LLC, for property located at 1405, 1415, 1421, and 1423 Court Street, City of Redding, and 1810 Market Street, City of Redding, respectively, which modify access permissions.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Clerk of the Board
C2 Reappoint Melvin Breshears, Charles A. Fleming, and Andrew McCurdy to the Board of Building Appeals to serve two-year terms to December 31, 2026.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
County Fire
C3 Approve an agreement with AP Triton for the development of a County Fire Master Plan.
No General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
This item was removed from the agenda and will be brought back at a later date.
Health and Human Services Agency-Behavioral Health and Social Services
C4 Approve a retroactive renewal agreement with Northern California Youth & Family Programs for visitation services.
No General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Public Works
C5 Take the following actions regarding the “Shasta County Anderson Veterans Memorial Hall HVAC Replacement,” Contract No. 610984 (Contract): (1) Award the Contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Ray-Mac Mechanical, Inc.; (2) approve and authorize the Public Works Director, or their designee, to sign a Notice of Completion and record it within 15 days of actual completion of the work; and (3) approve budget amendments which increase appropriations and revenue by: (a) $60,000 in the Land Buildings and Improvements Budget (BU 166); and (b) by $560,000 in the Miscellaneous General Budget (BU 173).
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Support Services
C6 Approve an amendment to the agreement with Day Management Corporation, dba Day Wireless Systems, for communication system services which extends the term.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
REGULAR CALENDAR, CONTINUED
(2:11:38) CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
The Board of Supervisors will recess to a Closed Session to discuss the following item (estimated 45 minutes):
R7 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
(Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1)):
Names of Cases:
Miller et al, v. County of Shasta et al., United States District Court for the
Eastern District of California, 2:24-at-00588
Kropholler v. County of Shasta, et al.
At the conclusion of the Closed Session, reportable action, if any, will be reported in Open Session.
REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
(2:11:52) There was no reportable action.
(2:12:03) ADJOURN
