Tehama County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tehama County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Juvenile detention housing contracts with Glenn and Trinity counties
The Sheriff's Office was scheduled to seek funding to hire the first three of twelve correctional deputy positions approved by the Board of State and Community Corrections for the new jail expansion. This affects public safety staffing levels and county payroll going forward.
Mental health services contracts worth up to $4.2 million
The county is spending up to $780,000 over two years on telehealth psychiatry for adults and children through Iris Telehealth. Services can happen at home or in the office and are largely reimbursed through Medi-Cal.
Animal services spay and neuter program
A $100,000 agreement with Valley Veterinary Clinic RB, Inc. would fund dog and cat spay-and-neuter services for a year, helping control the stray and unwanted animal population in the county.
Sheriff and jail budget growth tied to jail expansion
The jail's daily population jumped from about 125 to 175 inmates, and the 64-bed expansion will push costs up another $269,000. Twelve correctional deputy positions were added mid-year but remain unbudgeted — roughly $1.5 million in future salary the county will phase in.
Domestic Violence Shelter Services Funding
Empower Tehama served 1,701 people last year and is expanding services to Corning, with candlelight walks in both communities this month.
Invasive mosquito found in Red Bluff
Health officials confirmed West Nile virus in sentinel chickens in Tehama County, with deaths already reported in Butte and Glenn counties. Officials urge DEET repellent, staying in at dawn and dusk, tight screens, draining standing water — and vaccinating horses, which are highly susceptible.
Ambulance dispatch services agreement with St. Elizabeth Community Hospital
The Fire Department was seeking Board approval of a dispatch-services agreement with St. Elizabeth Community Hospital for ambulance transport, costing $214,156 per year with 4% annual increases through September 2028. Dispatch quality affects how quickly 911 ambulance calls get routed.
Cal-ID program status
Sheriff Kain reported the county is hiring a consultant with Proposition 26 expertise to determine whether the Cal-ID program can move forward legally.
Flock camera program expansion
A resident objected to FLOCK automatic license plate reader cameras installed without a public vote, citing Fourth Amendment concerns and documented law enforcement misuse elsewhere, and asked that they be removed.
Secure Rural Schools wildfire and search-and-rescue funding
Roughly $166,000 in federal Title III money is going to fire prevention staffing, Search and Rescue equipment, and community wildfire protection work — including free defensible-space help for elderly and disabled property owners.
Sheriff's Office staffing and operations
Five separate action items under Sheriff Dave Kain were on the agenda, likely covering staffing, contracts, and purchasing for the Sheriff's Office. Details are unknown without the meeting record.
Meals on Wheels service funding
The Board was scheduled to consider an interagency MOU funding up to $245,562 for Meals on Wheels meals through the Community Action Agency and Probation for the fiscal year. This program delivers meals to homebound residents.
Grand Jury Report response
The grand jury found intimidation, bullying and poor communication in county leadership, and recommended mediation between the sheriff and chief administrator plus an ombudsman process. The board agreed to independent mediation by November 2 but signaled it won't promise what it can't deliver when elected officials have autonomy. A caller said the real problem is that existing rules go unenforced.
Public Health Advisory Board appointments
The Board was scheduled to appoint several voting members and alternates to the Public Health Advisory Board, representing Rolling Hills Clinic, Social Services, and Environmental Health, plus accept a resignation.
Board and district appointments
The Board considered appointments to the Air Pollution Control District Hearing Board and the Public Health Advisory Board.
AB 481 Military Equipment Transparency
The sheriff's annual military equipment list — drones, ammo and more — was adopted 4-0. Sheriff Kain says most items are routine gear, the online public meeting drew no attendees and no complaints, and the full list is on the sheriff's website.
Public safety ordinance
The Sheriff, District Attorney, and Probation Department jointly brought forward an ordinance for the Board's consideration. Details weren't available in the materials provided, but it's a coordinated public-safety measure worth watching.
Animal Care Center medical donation
The Animal Care Center stood to receive a $19,560.40 donation from the Paschek Living Trust for its medical fund — money that helps pay care costs for shelter animals. A nice boost for the county's animal services without touching the county budget.
Human trafficking victim advocacy grant
The District Attorney's office planned to apply for a $147,000 CalOES grant to support human trafficking advocacy work. Grant money means more victim services without raising local costs.
Suicide Prevention and Teen Mental Health
A grieving mother told the board suicide is 'all too common' among local teens and asked for more than a month of recognition — more outreach, a safe place for teens to turn. The board adopted the awareness month proclamation, the sheriff pledged school-based prevention training, and Supervisor Walker pointed her to the Path Center's planned teen center.
Behavioral health funding withhold resolved
The state threatened to withhold about $31,360 from the county's behavioral health funding over gaps in children's and adult outpatient psychiatric provider reporting. After a meet-and-confer and submitting 31 contracts, the county reached a preliminary resolution — no money lost.
Permit costs for sheds, carports and small structures
Building Official Patrick Ewald laid out why a $1,300 carport can cost $500-plus in permit and review fees — and pitched fixes: right-sized fees, pre-approved plans, and a streamlined plot-plan review. Supervisors want to make compliance cheaper and easier, and the state's new virtual inspections could help starting next July.
Cannabis Issues
A resident raised cannabis issues during public comment; no board action was taken.
Countywide emergency radio communications project
The county set up a dedicated reserve account for upgrading emergency radio communications, anchoring a $550,000 federal Community Project Funding award and requiring board sign-off on future spending.
DUI enforcement grant funding
The Sheriff's Office accepted $104,100 from the Cannabis Tax Fund grant program for DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols and drug-recognition training, in coordination with CHP and neighboring agencies.
Health Services Agency staffing realignment
A consent item would create new Community Health Worker and Peer Support Specialist classifications and reclassify seven positions, retroactive to January 1, 2025 — affecting staffing in mental health and drug and alcohol services.
TinderSmart Tehama wildfire preparedness
Stephanie Dickerson of the Resource Conservation District was scheduled to give a presentation on the TinderSmart Tehama wildfire program. Wildfire preparedness is a perennial concern in Tehama County.
Welfare and IHSS fraud investigations agreement
A consent item would have Social Services and the District Attorney sign a shared agreement for fraud investigations, with up to $505,000 in compensation for fiscal year 2026-27.
Executive Director appointment, Health Services Agency
The county is moving on filling its top Health Services Agency job — the person who oversees public health services residents depend on. The Board met privately on the appointment and only said it gave direction to staff; no name or decision was announced.
Public Guardian office placement
A resident asked whether the Public Guardian/Public Administrator might be moved under the District Attorney's Office. The department considered it but decided to keep the function where it is.
Certification of June 2, 2026 Primary Election Results
The Board made the June primary results official, declaring who won each county office — including two of its own members, Supervisors Zane and Hansen. This formally locks in county leadership for the coming term.
Public nuisance enforcement at 5639 Hwy 99W, Corning
The commission was scheduled to hold hearings on Case No. CE-26-6 involving property at 5639 Highway 99W in Corning owned by Frank Johnson, including an appeal of a Notice of Violation and a proposed abatement resolution. If a nuisance were declared, the county could order cleanup and bill the owner for costs.
Jail communications tower replacement
The county is spending about $118,000 to replace the radio tower at the Tehama County Jail, and Sheriff Kain wants a dedicated fund for countywide radio funding.
Board code of conduct enforcement
A public commenter accused Supervisor Hansen of violating the board's own code of conduct by making derogatory remarks about a waste management task force volunteer, and asked what consequences the board will impose.
Morgue HVAC upgrade
The coroner's office gets a long-needed HVAC upgrade to cut the risk of system failure and contamination, with bids opening July 9.
Adult Protective Services technology upgrade
Social Services marked Elder Abuse Awareness Month, reporting 960 abuse responses in the past year by just five social workers, plus a success story of a vandalized-home victim restored to his house.
Social Services office security agreement
The Board was scheduled to consider an agreement with the District Attorney's office to station security personnel at the Red Bluff Social Services office for up to $130,040 in 2026-27 — a workplace safety measure for staff and visitors.
Fire Department funding and equipment replacement
The Fire Department needs about $1.6 million in carry-over funds next year, and faces steep replacement costs — a new fire engine now runs over $1.2 million and a water tender about $800,000. Volunteer recruitment and radio upgrades are ongoing concerns.
Donations to Child Protective Services
The Red Bluff Elks Lodge gave $2,000 in Walmart gift cards and $2,000 in clothing and essentials for children served by CPS.
Youth drug & alcohol prevention programs
An amended agreement with the Tehama County Department of Education would boost funding for Club Live and Friday Night Live — school-based youth prevention programs — to $88,073 per year.
Mental health agreement amendments
The Board had a cluster of agreements scheduled on consent for psychiatric inpatient care and residential mental health treatment — including Vista Pacifica (up to $985,000) and Willow Glen Care Center (up to $1.6 million total). These contracts fund where county residents go for inpatient and residential care.
Code enforcement public hearings
Eleven separate code enforcement cases went before the Board in public hearings, presented by Environmental Health staff. These hearings can result in orders affecting property owners across the county.
Sheriff staffing
Two personnel items from Sheriff Dave Kain were on the action agenda. Sheriff's Office staffing affects response times and patrol coverage across the county.
Public Health presentation
Health Services Agency leaders Jayme S. Bottke and Minnie Sagar were scheduled to present on Public Health matters to the board.
Boating safety enforcement funding
The Sheriff's Office was slated to accept up to $94,427.18 in state boating safety aid for the 2026–27 season, funding boating enforcement on local waterways.
DEA cannabis eradication funding
The Sheriff's Office sought acceptance of $40,000 in DEA funding for locating and eradicating illicit cannabis plants through September 2026.
Local Emergency Proclamation Continuation
The Board was asked to determine that the county's local emergency remains in effect, keeping emergency response powers and funding channels active.
Continuation of local emergency proclamation
The Board was asked to determine that the county's local emergency remains in effect, keeping emergency response powers and funding channels active.
Public nuisance abatement at 18975 Jewell Rd., Cottonwood
The Board was scheduled to hold a public hearing on a code enforcement case declaring a public nuisance on a Cottonwood property and ordering its abatement. If the owner doesn't clean it up, the county can abate it and bill the costs back to the property.
Sheriff's Office staffing and operations actions
Sheriff Dave Kain brought five separate items to the regular agenda — a personnel resolution and four action items — covering sheriff's office staffing and operational needs.