Board of Supervisors Meeting | 5.19.26

by | Jun 8, 2026 | Economic Development, Get Involved, Stay Informed, Trinity Resources, Your Opinion Matters

Sharing Information  |  Encouraging Engagement

This board meeting included a presentation regarding the Clean Energy Grant Final Report. Updates were provided by our CAO, Sheriff, and each member of the Board of Supervisors.

All items on the Consent Calendar were approved. Under County Matters, the board approved a budget adjustment for the Vehicle Abatement department. The closed session included two items.

A. PRESENTATIONS

A.1. Community Development – Planning – Receive a Clean Energy Grant Final Report presentation. No fiscal impact.

  • Presentation based on materials attached to the agenda.
  • Three approaches studied
    • Connect Trinity County PUD power lines to Post Mountain
    • Connect to PG&E power lines
      • Recommend Option 2 – PUD connects to PG&E, then delivers electricity
        • Avoids FS Special Use Permit, least impact, low-cost electricity with local administration
    • Microgrid constructed to leverage solar options
  • Community Perspective
    • 2/3 want power
    • 1/6 prefer to stay “off grid”
    • 1/6 undecided
  • Current Conditions
    • Most use generators – estimate 467 gallons of gas per household annually (along with related emissions issues)
  • Plan Assumptions
    • 200 users
    • Underground distribution lines
  • California State Legislature – staff surprised over the existence of communities like Post Mountain.
  • 2028 Ban on purchase of small gas-powered generators
  • Next Steps:
    • Refine design and cost estimates for PG&E interconnection
    • Conduct required technical studies (system impact and facility studies)
    • Engage State legislators to modify funding criteria
    • Continue community engagement
    • Dedicate funding to continue working on the project
      • 1 year, 10 hours/mo, 3 trips to Sacramento – approximately $20,000
      • $100,000 to $200,000 to complete studies
    • Presentation includes a link and QR Code
  • Questions:
    • Subsidized with broadband funds? – Might be an option, either through associated effort or via legislation that frees up available broadband funds.
    • Special District – no discussions to-date about the community coming together to fund ongoing work.
    • Estimated Rates – seem low based on experience working with similar issues in other parts of the county.
    • PUD Support – the change in General Managers is not expected to impact PUDs input/support.
    • Site-specific Solar (vs. micro-grid) – this was loosely considered. Funding sources appeared to be limited for this purpose. Less easily scalable when new development takes place.
    • Site-specific Connection Costs – estimated at $11,000 per property to connect. This doesn’t cover costs within the dwelling(s).

 

B. PUBLIC COMMENT
  • Post Mountain Energy – support offered for the work reflected in the previous presentation.
  • Post Mountain Energy – shared his understanding that PG&E previously proposed bringing power to this area and it was declined. Shared concerns regarding the ability to get approval of lines underground. Appreciated the questions asked by Supervisors.
  • Cannabis – shared concern that cannabis operations do not receive equal treatment in application of regulations, etc.
  • Post Mountain – shared perspective that this area is one of the higher concentrations of taxable properties – yet they receive lower levels of support from the county.
  • Zoning Code – repeated written suggestion that the listening sessions scheduled for today and tomorrow be delayed since Planning Commission input was not fully reflected in this draft. Encouraged the county to take the time and spend the money needed to do this correctly.
  • Burnt Ranch – following up on concerns raised during a previous board meeting. Shared concerns of ongoing violence, robbery, etc in this area. Feels the county is failing the community. Shared there has been no response to her concerns.
  • Lowden Park Pool & LaGrange Classic – the pool is open and there will be a pool party in conjunction with the mountain biking event.

 

C. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

C.1. Report from Department Heads

  • Sheriff Saxon
    • Will follow up with Supervisor Carpenter-Harris regarding the Burnt Ranch public comment
    • Staffing – three graduates coming soon. Provided updates on several fronts.
    • Weapon-less Defense training – team members attended and will bring information back to the team.
    • Correctional Deputies – three applicants
    • Emergency Communications System
      • The current focus is on the components of the system that have the greatest impact, while also reviewing the long term requirements.
      • Oregon Mountain is the first priority. Work completed that has already made significant improvements. Additional work planned that includes components, improvements to the structure, etc.
      • Estimated costs available today
        • $65,000 – grounding and bonding
        • $155,000 – radio equipment
      • Funding Status – working with the original $165,000 and have identified another $180,000 via several sources.
      • Hayfork Bally – next area of focus. Ongoing work to determine specific needs. Possible that NEPA work would be required for antennae replacement since it is on USFS land.
      • Community Support – Supervisor Carpenter-Harris mentioned the possibility of donation of materials to lower the costs of repairs to structures.

 

C.2. Report from County Administrative Officer

  • I missed taking notes during this update.

C.3. Reports from Members of the Board of Supervisors

  • District 1 | Ric Leutwyler
    • Viridon – joined meeting to discuss plans for the construction of high capacity power lines through Trinity County.
    • Community Meetings – three meetings are scheduled to discuss the public drafts of the Zoning Code and Zoning Map.
    • NoRTEC – continue to meet with co-chair on a weekly basis
    • Economic Summit Planning – participated in another planning session.
    • CSAC – will miss the first day of the CSAC Legislative Conference due to the special meetings of the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission.
    • PSA2 – participated in the meeting this week.
    • Airport Advisory Committee – participated in the meeting on May 13th.
  • District 2 | Jill Cox
    • No out of county travel
    • PSA2 & Fire Chiefs Association Meeting
    • Trinity County Collaborative – considering ways in which their input can be shared without the hurdles of it being considered representative of the board of supervisors.
    • Weaverville Community Meeting on Zoning
    • Airport Advisory Committee – strongest community involvement in years.
    • Congressman Huffman – shared concerns about larger and heavier trucks on our roads.
    • Viridon Meeting
  • District 3 | Liam Gogan
    • No out of county travel
    • Town Hall Meeting in Hayfork
      • Positive feedback regarding work on “compound.”
      • Cemetery – Probation Department provided support.
    • Salmon Season Update – limited fishing has been formally approved.
  • District 4 | Heidi Carpenter-Harris
    • Viridon Meeting
    • Community Meetings – three meetings focused on the Zoning Ordinance and other matters.
    • Recreation Meeting with the Trinity County Collaborative
    • Trinity County Collaborative Meeting
    • Congressional Candidate – met with candidate who visited Trinity County
    • Wilderness Academy – focus on legacy land use.
  • District 5 | Julia Brownfield
    • Viridon Meeting
    • Town Hall Meetings – three held to discuss the Zoning Ordinance.
    • No out of county travel

C.4. Reports from Ad Hocs

• Tourism Funding

  • A strong opportunity focused on cultural tourism as presented to the Trinity County Chamber of Commerce for funding consideration. The group is working to schedule their next quarterly meeting.

 

D. CONSENT CALENDAR

Public Comment

  • Referenced grant funding that can help our youth. Shared interest in learning more about how these grant funds will be used, and how the community might be able to feed into how they are used.

The board approved all items on the Consent Calendar as presented.

 

E. COUNTY MATTERS

E.1. General Services – Approve a budget adjustment for FY 25/26 for Vehicle Abatement – Dept. 2950 decreasing Revenues by $650 and increasing Transfers In by $4,575, Interfund Expenses by $3,902 and Salary and Benefits by $23; approve a budget adjustment for FY 25/26 for Contributions to Others – Dept 1990 increasing Transfers Out by $4,575 and approve a budget adjustment for FY 25/26 for General Fund Contingency – Dept 9901 decreasing Appropriations for Contingency by $4,575. Increase in General Fund appropriations in the amount of $4,575; current cash balance in Vehicle Abatement – Fund 174 is -$8,182.12; current balance of General Fund Contingency is $555,000.

  • CAO Tuthill presented this matter. State funding is insufficient to cover annual costs. An RV that was burned generated high expense. This covers the cost of vehicles abated year-to-date.
  • The board approved this matter as presented

 

Prior Closed Session
  • Chair Carpenter-Harris provided an update on items handled under closed session during the last meeting.

 

F. CLOSED SESSION

 

F.1. Government Code Section 54954.5(b) – Real Property Negotiations Property: 1450 Main Street Agency Negotiator: Elizabeth Hamilton, Margaret Long and Trent Tuthill Negotiating Parties: Rick Raffanti Under Negotiations: Price and Terms of Payment

F.2. Government Code Section 54954.5(e) – Public Employee Evaluation: County Administrative Officer

ADJOURN

 

Sharing Information  |  Encouraging Engagement

Please use this form to let me know if you would like to be added to the distribution list for updates. Check the box next to the type of updates you would like to receive.