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Exactly six years ago today, the County of Humboldt established a couple of goals for itself:

1. Save some money by owning rather than renting so many properties, and
2. Acquire parcels in close proximity to each other in pursuit of a “county campus concept” that will improve government efficiency.

This morning, the county’s Board of Supervisors sought to advance both of those goals by green-lighting the purchase of three parcels at the corner of Fourth and L Streets in Eureka.

Located less than two blocks from the county courthouse, the three properties — 1101, 1117 and 1119 Fourth Street — are close to several other county-owned buildings, too, as Construction Projects Manager Jake Johnson explained in a staff report.

Take a look at the map below, which shows the parcels intended for purchase outlined in yellow and existing county-owned properties outlined in red.

As noted in yesterday’s meeting preview, the $550,000 price tag includes the $500,000 purchase price plus $50,000 for environmental study, closing costs and various other bureaucratic matters. 

“The county envisions using the subject parcel for some type of municipal office facility, county parking or both,” Johnson explained. He later specified that parking will likely be the property’s short-term use as the county develops a new psychiatric health facility across Fifth Street from the courthouse.

“In the … mid- to longer-term future, this could become another county facility with offices that support our downtown area campus,” Johnson said.

First District Supervisor Rex Bohn reiterated the strategy behind this purchase.

“People have to understand,” he said, “this is driven because we’d like to own our own property rather than lease in a lot of locations.”

Third District Supervisor and Board Chair Mike Wilson agreed. “Most of our facilities are extremely old,” he said, “and we just need the ability to move things around. And so, sometimes ownership comes with control, and what I mean by that is site control so that we can have that flexibility.”

There was no public comment for or against the purchase. The vote allowing Public Works Director Tom Mattson to sign the papers to buy the property was unanimous, 5-0.

What else happened?

• The board unanimously approved an amendment to the county’s Commercial Cannabis Land Use Ordinance expanding allowances for indoor cultivation in buildings constructed since 2016 in certain zones. Here’s a link to the staff report for details.
• The board proclaimed October 2026 Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and an employee of Humboldt Domestic Violence Services reported serving 390 survivors directly, answering 4,748 support-line calls, providing 1,500 shelter bed nights and assisting with 88 temporary restraining orders in 2025–2026.
• A representative of the county’s federal lobbying firm, Paragon Government Relations, offered his analysis of the upcoming year-end congressional session, which he expects to focus on federal funding and must-pass legislation. Local priorities include reauthorization of the ”>Secure Rural Schools Act and a $750,000 public health lab earmark.
• Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo’s appointment to the California State Association of Counties was renewed for next year, and Supervisor Wilson was re-upped as the alternate.
• In happy news, Arroyo revealed that she’s pregnant. Her first child is due to arrive early next year.