Public Comments Express Concern for Circle of Friends in Burney at Shasta County Board Meeting Held July 14, 2026
- Elisa Ballard
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
Issues discussed during the July 14, 2026, Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting spanned a range of topics, including placing two charter amendments on the November 3 ballot, the potential interim closure of the Circle of Friends facility in Burney due to a funding gap, and state legislative bills aimed at standardizing and speeding up the processing of vote-by-mail ballots.
This meeting marked the inaugural use of the new telephonic public comment system implemented to comply with the state’s AB 707 requirements for accessibility. Despite concerns expressed ahead of implementation — particularly that out-of-county callers might dominate public comment slots — none of those fears materialized. Not a single person logged into the telephonic system to provide comments during the meeting.
board recognized HHSA employee Jeffrey Edenburn, Supervisory Accountant, as Shasta County’s Employee of the Month for his exemplary service.
A presentation and video highlighted Probation Department Services Week, a nationally recognized observance, showcasing the department’s vital work. The Shasta County Probation Department serves the courts, protects the community, assists victims, and supports rehabilitation through its Adult and Juvenile Divisions, utilizing evidence-based practices to reduce recidivism. Key services include supervision, mental health and housing referrals, employment assistance, the Day Reporting Center, the Community Corrections Center’s multi-agency programs, and the recently launched Mobile Probation Vehicle that brings services directly to rural areas. The department’s ongoing efforts emphasize accountability, restorative practices, and successful reintegration, helping offenders make positive changes while enhancing public safety across Shasta County.
Charter Amendments Advance to November Ballot
The board briefly discussed two proposed Shasta County charter amendments that had previously appeared on the ballot. After public comment, the board voted 3-2 to place both on the November ballot, with Supervisors Allen Long and Matt Plummer voting no.
The measures, sponsored by Supervisor Kevin Crye, aim to give more power to Shasta County citizens:
“An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta, Adding Limitations on the Exercise of Eminent Domain to the Shasta County Charter;” If passed, this would prohibit the county from taking private property through eminent domain and transferring it to another individual or private entity for development (as opposed to public use by the county). During public comment, Nick Gardner supported the amendment, stating, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
“An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Adding Provisions for Filling Elected Department Head Positions in the Event of a Vacancy to the Shasta County Charter;” This would allow the board to place a vacancy for an elected department head position on the ballot for a vote of the people if the next scheduled election is within six months.
Public Comments
Several members of the public spoke during the meeting. Dawn Duckett requested expanding the newly imposed time constraints for public comments from two minutes to three minutes per speaker.
Carol Reeves expressed support for a Shasta Unfiltered article advocating a pause in the demolition of the Old Courthouse to allow for an independent feasibility study on repurposing the 77,000-square-foot building.
Bev Gray raised concerns about FLOCK cameras installed around the county, calling them an invasion of privacy. She noted that Los Angeles County recently voted not to renew its contract with FLOCK.
Janine Gonzales, Peer Support Specialist for Circle of Friends in Burney, spoke about the urgent need for stop-gap funding during a three- to six-month transition period. The center faces closure at the end of July without approximately $22,000 per month in interim funding while awaiting approval of a new “Clubhouse” contract under changing state behavioral health funding parameters.
Multiple speakers emphasized the program’s importance. Since opening in 2008, Circle of Friends has provided critical support services to the intermountain area, including housing assistance, classes, transportation, and general support — helping residents address needs before they escalate into crises requiring higher levels of county intervention. Robin Keady, president of the Burney Rotary Club, also spoke in support of securing stop-gap funding.
Supervisor Matt Plummer stated he has been working with HHSA staff to find a solution. Supervisor Corkey Harmon expressed his desire to assist Plummer in those efforts.
Consent Calendar Items and Legislation
Supervisor and Chair Chris Kelstrom pulled two consent calendar items (C1 and C2) for discussion. Sponsored by Supervisor Plummer, the items sought board approval for letters of support for AB 2604 and SB 1420. AB 2604 would create a uniform statewide system to make it easier to cure signature verification issues on mail-in ballots. SB 1420 would allow voters who drop off mail-in ballots at precincts to verify signatures on site and have ballots counted with in-person votes that night.
Kelstrom noted that Shasta County already follows similar processes. Supervisor Plummer countered that the bills would standardize them statewide. Both items failed to gain a majority, with Supervisors Crye, Kelstrom, and Harmon voting no because they have a deep distrust of any new laws coming out of Sacramento concerning elections.
The board voted 5-0 to accept the June 2 election results, as officially submitted by Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis. The acceptance was described as ministerial.
In his report, CEO Dave Rickert noted that the Probation Department passed a recent April inspection.
Plummer addressed calls for an audit of HHSA by saying that there are already three consultants helping resolve the budget shortfalls, two of whom were formerly in leadership roles with HHSA.
Supervisor Crye inquired about his proposed agenda item reviewing adoption fees, which Rickert said would appear on the July 28 agenda. Crye encouraged those with experience in family adoptions to attend and share their stories. He also urged the board to engage County Fire Chief Sean O’Hara regarding the need for better coordination or contingency planning between the city, county, and CAL FIRE amid tight budgets.
Supervisor Harmon discussed a proposed Caltrans traffic circle (roundabout) at the intersection of Silverbridge Road and Highway 44. Caltrans has identified the intersection as dangerous and prioritized the project. Harmon said he is not opposed, having witnessed a fatal accident there involving someone he knew. He also raised concerns about worsening wolf problems in the area.
Supervisors Kelstrom and Long indicated they would bring back an item to censure Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis now that the election has concluded.
Supervisor Long announced plans for a District 2 town hall sometime between August 17–22 (date and time to be determined based on constituent input). He shared his email, ALong@ShastaCounty.gov, and welcomed suggested topics, which so far include fire safety, public safety, code enforcement, and road conditions. Town halls will be held in each district this year in response to citizen priorities identified during last year’s strategic planning process.
Kelstrom recapped recent meetings and events he attended. He noted that he learned about the Highway 44 roundabout via a Facebook post rather than through official channels. Regarding the Battle Creek Hydro project, a Zoom meeting with PG&E made no mention of draining lakes or removing the dam. He also met with the “Save Lake McCumber” group and assisted with a funeral for a deceased veteran in Igo who had been a helicopter pilot.
Kelstrom reported that a recent fire (the Hill Fire / P-1 Fire area) was quickly contained, and he toured the scene with Chief O’Hara, offering a shout-out for a job well done. On public comment time limits, he indicated flexibility to extend speaking time on controversial items, such as the upcoming agenda item regarding the censure of Clint Curtis.
After closed session on two items, County Counsel Joseph Larmour reported no reportable actions.
Shasta Unfiltered will continue to monitor developments regarding Circle of Friends funding, the charter amendments, and other board priorities.
