Debates Over Committee Appointments, Teamsters Upset About Cuts to Medical Benefits, and Another Arrest at Shasta County Board of Supervisors Meeting– January 6, 2026 (Summary Article)

Shasta County Board of Supervisors Matt Plummer, Kevin Crye, Chris Kelstrom, Corkey Harmon, and Allen Long

This was the first meeting of 2026, chaired by newly appointed Chair Chris Kelstrom. The session began somberly and featured recognitions, supervisor updates, heated public comments, disruptions (including an arrest), and debates over committee appointments, union contracts, and policy changes.

Opening and Memorial

The meeting opened with a moment of silence honoring U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA District 1), who died unexpectedly on January 5, 2026, at age 65 from a medical emergency. LaMalfa had represented Shasta County in Congress for 13 years.

Shasta County Employee of the Year, Brook Lowther

Awards and Recognitions

• Employee of the Year: Awarded to Brook Lowther, Assistant to the County Executive Officer (Confidential), for her exemplary service since July 2022, in communications, morale-building, and teamwork.

• Outgoing Chair Recognition: CEO Dave Rickert presented a plaque to Supervisor Kevin Crye for his 2025 chairmanship (46 meetings), highlighting increased transparency, reduced public fees, cost savings, and growth in county reserves to $31.7 million (up $950,000).

• Risk Management Achievement: Rickert congratulated Director of Support Services Monica Fugitt for Shasta County's #2 ranking in the 2023 California Division of Workers' Compensation audit (zero unpaid compensation identified).

County Executive Officer and Supervisor Updates

• CEO Rickert: Focused on the above recognitions and ongoing county issues.

• Supervisor Reports:

  • Allen Long: Attended strategic planning and Shasta County Fire Safe Council meetings; praised Resource Management Director Sean Ewing's code enforcement work.

  • Corkey Harmon: Attended the December 19, 2025, California Energy Commission rejection of the Fountain Wind project; addressed growing wolf populations impacting livestock (plans to propose measures aligned with Siskiyou County).

  • Kevin Crye: Attended Shasta Regional Transportation Agency meeting; requested agenda item for medical school development update from local physicians/committee.

  • Matt Plummer: Participated in strategic planning (to propose five county goals); met with economic development leaders; sought grants for correctional re-entry campus; appointed Vice Chair of CSAC Health and Human Services Committee and Mental Health/Drug Advisory Board.

  • Chris Kelstrom: Received honorary membership from Shingletown Fire Department; thanked Pit River Tribe for opposition to Fountain Wind project; attended memorial for Coach Bob Reid.

    
    

Benjamin Nowain during public comment was arrested later for shouting at his seat

Public Comment Period

20 speakers addressed non-agenda items. Key concerns:

• Teamsters Local #137 negotiations: Public Works employees (road maintenance, operators, mechanics) criticized proposed medical benefit cuts as unfair compared to other units, warning of retention issues and $15,000 training costs per new hire.

• Disruptions: Jenny O’Connell-Nowain (recently convicted of disturbing a meeting) spoke defiantly. Her husband, Benjamin Nowain, was arrested mid-meeting for shouting interruptions after warnings; he later returned after being released.

• Positive note: Pastor David Stark gifted facsimile Geneva Bibles to supervisors.

  
  

Consent Calendar (21 Items)

Most items passed routinely. Notable actions and discussions:

• Item C21: Approved new MOU with UPEC Local 792 General Unit (~1,000 employees) for January 1, 2025–December 31, 2026: 2% retroactive wage increase for 2025 and 2% for 2026.

• Item C3 (Pulled by Plummer): Approved 2026 committee/liaison assignments (4-1, Plummer dissenting). Debate centered on removing Plummer from Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board (MHADAB) due to staff direction concerns and limiting his RCRC/CSAC roles to avoid travel costs.

• Item C7 (Pulled by Kelstrom): Approved MHADAB appointments/reappointments (3-2, Plummer/Long dissenting), excluding Ronald Henninger despite support from Plummer and Long.

  
  

Regular Agenda Items

• Item R3: Unanimously approved 2026 meeting calendar (no night meetings initially, though Chair Kelstrom left option open). Calendar available at county website.

• Item R4 (Plummer Proposal): Amendment to allow individual supervisors to add agenda items without Chair approval – failed for lack of second (cited past abuses and staff burden).

• Item R5 (Plummer Proposal): Discussion on cost-of-living increases for supervisors and elected department heads (tied to UPEC contract post-2024 raise from ~$53,508 to $85,024 after 22-year freeze). Approved 3-1 (Plummer no, Crye abstained); concerns raised about conflict of interest.

• Item R7: Registrar of Voters proposal to reduce voter file fees from $68 to $5 and allow community outreach – no action taken unanimously (concerns over overhead costs and potential liability/electioneering issues).

Part of Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis' Presentation

Closed Session

The meeting recessed to closed session with no reportable actions.

The meeting highlighted ongoing labor tensions (especially Teamsters), internal board dynamics (majority vs. Plummer on appointments), fiscal recognitions, and community issues like wildlife management and election transparency. Disruptions underscored challenges in maintaining decorum. For full details, refer to official agendas/videos on the Shasta County website or the more detailed article in our Shasta Unfiltered newspaper.

For longer article: https://www.shastaunfiltered.com/post/another-arrest-mars-the-shasta-county-board-of-supervisors-meeting-1-6-26-detailed-report