George “Butch” Buckley passed away Friday, July 28th, 2024, in his home surrounded by family. He was 78 years old.

Butch was born July 3rd, 1946, to Loleta and George Buckley in Eureka, CA. Butch grew up in Loleta, CA with his sister Darlene Buckley on the old Table Bluff Reservation. He spent his younger years on the reservation and near the Pacific Ocean, fishing and eeling.

He moved to San Francisco, CA where he worked for the city health department. He stayed there for 10 years until he returned to Loleta, CA where he lived for the remainder of his life. He worked for his tribe, the Wiyot Tribe, as the water operator for 24 years.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents Loleta and George Buckley. He is survived by his daughters’ Jessica Cantrell of Fort Smith, AR and Mariah Voight-Buckley of Loleta, CA; his sister Darlene Buckley of Loleta, CA; his nieces and nephews Anglea Evenson, Madison Ayala-Flynn, Roxann Dowd, Nikki Dowd, and Guy Dowd; his grandchildren Justin Buckley, Niekoma Cantrell Jr, Eva Cantrell, Layla Powell, Nekwel Karenza Buckley, all of whom he loved dearly.

Butch will be deeply and profoundly missed by his family and friends. If you knew Butch you will remember him sitting on his porch drinking a warm Budweiser enjoying the Humboldt sun or fog. Many will remember the countless games of dominos or cribbage played around his kitchen table. No matter where Butch went, good times were had by all. “Two beers” Buckley will always hold a special and close place in his family and friends’ hearts.

If you would like to celebrate Butch’s life his celebration of life will be Saturday August 3rd, 2024 from 1pm-3pm at the Table Bluff Tribe Center, 1000 Wiyot Way Loleta, CA. The celebration will be potluck style if you wish to join us, bring a dish if you like.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of George “Butch” Buckley’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On June 27, 2024 at about 3:27 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 900 block of Tish Tang Rd., Hoopa for the report of a possible homicide attempt involving a firearm. 

The 17-year-old victim sustained a life-threatening injury and was flown out of the area for treatment. The victim is currently in stable condition. A 16-year-old suspect has been arrested on charges of attempted murder (PC 664 /187(a)) and felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)) in connection with the attempted homicide. The suspect remains in custody at the Humboldt County Juvenile Hall.

The victim and suspect are known to each other and there are no other suspects outstanding at this time. Names are being withheld due to the ages of the parties involved.

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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Mere weeks after John “Punk” Nylander and his nephew Ryan Nylander halted operations at Redwood Meat Co., citing rising utility and insurance costs, John’s three children have filed a lawsuit against the pair, accusing them of grossly mismanaging the family company through fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion and document shredding.

The three litigants — Stephanie Nylander, Rachel Nylander Flores and Russel Nylander — only recently learned that they are minority shareholders of Redwood Meat Co., the only USDA-certified slaughterhouse, processing and delivery service for nearly 200 miles.

Russel Nylander worked at Redwood Meat Co. for more than 30 years, starting when he was just a teenager. In a declaration submitted to the court on Monday, he says that shortly before he learned that the business might close down, his cousin Ryan, who is the company’s secretary and chief financial officer, instructed him to throw away about 80 bankers boxes full of documents.

“Those boxes were thrown into a dumpster and disposed of,” Russel says in his declaration. “Two women who worked in the front office of RMC also shredded documents for a week, which I witnessed. These records appear to be RMC financial records.”

His testimony continues adds that Redwood Meat Co. has apparently racked up about $900,000 in debt to the IRS that’s “believed to be for unpaid payroll taxes,” and Ryan sold a house belonging to the company for $600,000 without notifying shareholders. The proceeds are unaccounted for.

“I have no information about the whereabouts of the monies paid in this transaction despite requests,” the declaration says.

Now, according to Russel and his sisters, their dad and cousin are trying to complete a short sale of the slaughterhouse property at 3114 Myrtle Avenue in Eureka without proper notification and involvement of shareholders.

“The sale of this real property would completely decimate RMC and would make it entirely impossible for the company to be saved from total closure,” Russel says in his declaration.

The lawsuit filed this week accuses John and Ryan Nylander of breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and unjust enrichment, and a temporary restraining order was requested to prevent them from selling the company headquarters and destroying any more financial records.

Appearing before Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Timothy Canning Wednesday afternoon, attorney Cyndy Day-Wilson, representing the plaintiffs, said time is of the essence, given the possibility of the business being sold out from under her clients.

“Thus the emergency to come in and see you, Your Honor, to stop that sale … to put it on hold to find out what’s going on,” Day-Wilson said.

Neither John Nylander (who’s listed as the company CEO) nor Ryan Nylander showed up for Wednesday’s hearing, and neither did an attorney to represent them. But after confirming that they’d been legally served with notification of the proceedings, Judge Canning granted Day-Wilson’s motion for a temporary restraining order, which prevents the company’s executives from closing the pending property sale or liquidating any assets. A preliminary injunction hearing has been scheduled for later this month.

Calls to Redwood Meat Co. this week have not been answered.

As outlined in an Outpost story last month, Redwood Meat Co. has served the needs of local ranchers, farmers, retailers and deli counter butchers for more than 70 years, offering government-sanctioned kill facilities, packaging and distribution of cattle, lamb, goats, hogs and more. One Humboldt County farmer described the company as “critical infrastructure for local beef,” and its closure has upended operations for many local meat producers, forcing them to transport livestock to the Central Valley, Siskiyou County or beyond for processing.

In the hallway after Wednesday’s hearing, Day-Wilson declined to talk to the Outpost about the case, saying she can’t discuss pending litigation. She did not reply to a subsequent email asking to be put in touch with her clients.

In arguing for the motion in court, Day-Wilson said she and her clients have been trying since May or earlier to get copies of Redwood Meat Co.’s corporate records, but they haven’t gotten much.

“[B]asically, the corporate records stopped in 1994,” she said. “Since 1994 there have been no board meetings, no notice of sales, purchases, anything like that.”

The lawsuit says that the defendants have apparently been using corporate funds to pay for insurance policies on their personal residences, logging activity at their own properties, personal phone bills and more.

“It also appears that Defendants have taken out loans purportedly for the business, which have then been used for their own personal expenses, or have conversely used RMC funds to pay off personal loans,” the suit alleges. “Plaintiffs believe that payments have been purposefully miscategorized in RMC’s books to appear like they are for business expenses … to banks that, to Plaintiffs’ knowledge, Redwood Meat Co. does not have loans with.”

There are other discrepancies in the books, too, including the tally of outstanding shares of the corporation and the record of how those shares have been allotted, transferred and redeemed, the suit says.

“I recently learned that my name is listed on the statement of information as a director [of Redwood Meat Co.],” Russel says in his declaration. “I was never informed of this nor do I consent to it.”

Per the company bylaws, on file with the Secretary of State, Redwood Meat Co. shall have three directors, to be elected an annual shareholder meetings, but there hasn’t been a shareholder meeting in the last three decades, the suit says. 

An agreement from 1984 indicates that Stephanie and Rachel each held 18 shares of company stock, while John and his late brother (Ryan’s dad, Allen “Butch” Nylander) held 405 shares apiece. Russel appears to have inherited 18 shares sometime thereafter. There have been deaths, divorces and family disputes in the intervening 40 years, and with scarce corporate records it’s unclear how many outstanding shares there are, and who owns them, according to the lawsuit.

Despite Russel’s status as a director, neither he nor his shareholder siblings were ever sent notices of board meetings, requests for approval of corporate business decisions or records of sales of company property, according to the suit.

After a series of unfulfilled requests for more detailed records, the plaintiffs and their attorney went directly to the company’s headquarters on May 30 and spoke with Ryan Nylander’s wife, Molly.

“Molly Nylander, who to the minority shareholders’ knowledge is not a shareholder, director, or officer, indicated a stack of files and records that purported to be the corporate records,” the lawsuit reads. “When asked if there were other documents, Molly responded that what was being shown to the minority shareholders and their counsel was the extent of RMC’s corporate records.”

With the company in such dire financial straits and a community of longstanding customers invested in its survival, many have hoped that Redwood Meat Co. could be sold to someone else who can keep it in operation.

“The minority shareholders are informed that multiple offers to purchase RMC have been received, but that Ryan and/or John have refused to provide the books and accounts to potential buyers,” the lawsuit says.

On July 16, Day-Wilson sent a list of questions to John and Ryan Nylander, asking for bank statements, tax returns, board meeting minutes, a list of company assets and explanations of various financial mysteries.

“To date, no response to these questions has been received,” she wrote in the suit.

Ferndale’s Foggy Bottoms Boys recently wrote in a Facebook post about how the absence of Redwood Meat Co.’s services has left a gap in the local food system, forcing them and countless other ranchers to alter their operations in numerous ways.

Russel says in his declaration that he and his sisters would like to preserve Redwood Meat Co. for the sake of such farmers and ranchers who have come to rely on it.

“Saving RMC from closure is imperative to both the company itself and the local community,” he writes.

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Since opening in January, a unique new lounge has claimed a spot on the Arcata roster of places to gather, drink and watch sports.

Sitting atop the lavender building on G Street in Northtown, the deck of the Summitt offers outdoor seating, a fireplace and a beautiful view of Cal Poly’s campus stretching up the forested hillside while a peaked roof, flatscreens and mobile/rearrangeable furniture on the interior give cozy clubhouse vibes. 

“I think it’s one of the best seats in the house,” said founder/owner/operator Trey Cartier in a sit-down with the Outpost.

Through August, the Summitt will be showing the Olympics (with a schedule that strongly prioritizes the women’s events). But “sports bar” couldn’t hope to capture the establishment in its entirety. Doubling as a digital art and film gallery, tripling as a queer speakeasy and quadrupling as a creative workspace, the Summitt combines varied, distinct elements that Cartier hopes will “make sense together in an unknowable way.”

The Summitt concept began coming together in 2021. As the Covid-19 pandemic’s robbery of social interaction stretched on, Cartier said she found herself and her community craving gathering spaces lost.

While she initially secured the G Street penthouse as a studio/workspace, Cartier said the property’s commercial zoning kept her ideas of a “sanctuary, supportive vibe” congregation spot humming in the background.

And already, the Summitt is becoming a sanctuary for some. abby hamburg, a regular in the lounge, said that after experiencing harassment in other local drinking establishments as a trans man, he’s grateful for an environment in which everyone is “committed to a safe space.”

“Not wanting to re-perpetuate that [harassment] for others, it’s really nice to have a place where I know I can bring my queer friends or my friends of color or, you know, anyone of any minority community, and not have to worry,” hamburg told the Outpost over the phone.

The name “Summitt” pays homage to former Olympian and women’s college basketball coach Pat Summitt, who had the most career wins in college basketball history at the time of her retirement. The nod – and the eccentric dual focus on art and sport – represents a celebration of the diverse ways in which humans strive and achieve new heights, according to Cartier (who also lectures in film studies and production at the university). 

“The whole essence is to celebrate tenacity and amplify love,” she said.

Artists and athletes share much in common in Cartier’s eyes: they embody essential humanness in an age of artificiality, live to the utmost of what’s possible, drive toward successes not yet seen, raise the bar on human potential, connect others through inspiration and avoid cheating.

“We’re not trying to cheat at finding the right words when we’re doing poetry and we’re not trying to cheat the game when we’re training to do our best,” she said. “It’s figurative, but it’s significant.”

And so, interspersed with televisions airing the hottest women’s sports of the weekend, you will find art adorning the Summitt walls: stills extracted from experimental, conceptual and documentary films as well as other mixed media work. Full films are available through framed QR codes or on the lounge’s website (with membership). 

“It’s almost like an in-person Instagram,” said Cartier, adding that all tips to staff (she is the entirety of “staff” currently) are divvied up for the artists showing work.

You may also roll up to find a special event – queer mixer, silent disco … pop punk queer skate mixer (Aug. 9) – going down.

hamburg, who Cartier described as a “strong co-conspirator of the space” and an involved Summitt event planner, recalled a Pride mixer he recently threw. 

“By the end of it, I think it was just like four or five trans and non-binary folks sitting around talking about, like, top surgery doctors … who’s a good doctor, what’s the process, where to go,” hamburg said. “The natural community support [that] came out of that first event was so inspiring for me that I just was like, ‘Okay, what’s next? How can we do more of this? How can we keep these conversations happening?’”

Anyone uninterested in sports, art, mixing or discoing but who seeks reliable internet, charging stations and a chill space to work, perhaps with a craft beer in hand, can pop in and be “introverted in an extroverted space” (in Cartier’s words). 

Besides the unusual combination of offerings, the Summitt also operates differently than a typical drink-serving enterprise. 

“We’re just trying to be self-sustainable,” Cartier said, adding that the aim is to create a “safe space” with good energy and an unusual mix of people – art geeks, sports fans and all others in between and beyond – rather than turn a profit.

hamburg, who works in suicide prevention locally and is organizing a team for the Summitt at Arcata’s Sept. 8 Out of the Darkness Community Walk, said that being able to access a communal space without the pressure of buying something can be “healing” – especially for members of the queer community, who attempt suicide at higher rates. 

“When people are going through a heavy depression, there can often be fiscal limits and boundaries, and so they feel like they can’t go out and do anything,” hamburg said. “Come and sit in the sun and get a little bit of social interaction without the pressure of anything. Come and listen to other people and just be present with other folks in the space, not even necessarily engaging or contributing.” 

“To me, that’s what suicide prevention looks like,” he concluded.

The deck. Photo: Gillen Tener Martin.

For those who are looking to purchase, the Summitt offers beer, wine, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages, and patrons are welcome to bring in outside food. 

“We had a whole crew bring in some pizza on Saturday for the women’s soccer game,” Cartier said. “There’s so many great local businesses around … scoop something up, bring it over.”

All (over 21) are welcome during operating hours, and monthly passes and membership offer discounts and perks for those looking to make the Summitt a regular haunt – including free use of the space for private events. hamburg shared that he’s hosted his book club in the lounge since becoming a member.

Membership is offered on a sliding scale, with trans and women athletes as well as queer community members offered lower rates in an attempt to be creative on how to “give space back and really center certain people that don’t usually have space,” Cartier explained. She said that memberships are intended to symbolize “co-creation” in what the Summitt is becoming rather than exclusivity, and that she hopes members feel the Summitt is a place they can count on. 

“It really is an open space,” hamburg said.

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Press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services:

As summer starts to wind down, officials are reminding residents to keep an eye out for and avoid contact with cyanobacteria while recreating at area rivers and lakes.

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can be present in any fresh water body, and looks like dark green, blue-green, black, orange or brown scum, foam or mats on the riverbed or floating on the water. Cyanobacteria can produce harmful compounds, such as toxins and taste and odors, that cause health risks to humans and animals. Warm water and abundant nutrients can cause cyanobacteria to grow more rapidly than usual causing “blooms.” These blooms are termed “harmful algal blooms.” Typically, cyanobacteria warnings come out between late July and early August, coinciding with low flows and sustained high temperatures in the inland areas which may contribute to cyanobacteria growth in local rivers and lagoons.

Supervising Environmental Health Specialist Ben Dolf with the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services Environmental Health Division (DEH), said, “Visual indicators are key to identifying areas impacted by harmful algal blooms. Citizen surveillance is key, and DEH staff will investigate any potential blooms reported by the public.

While most cyanobacteria do not affect animals or people, some are capable of producing toxins that can be harmful to animals and humans. Dogs and children are most likely to be affected because of their smaller body size and tendency to stay in the water for longer periods of time.

Officials recommend the following guidelines for recreational users of fresh water areas:

• Keep children, pets and livestock from swimming in or drinking water containing algal scums or mats.
• Adults should also avoid wading and swimming in water containing algal blooms. Try not to swallow or inhale water spray in an algal bloom area.
• If no algal scums or mats are visible, you should still carefully watch young children and warn them not to swallow any water.
• Fish should be consumed only after removing the guts and liver and rinsing fillets in tap water.
• Never drink, cook with or wash dishes with water from rivers, streams or lakes.
• Get medical attention immediately if you think that you, your pet or livestock might have been poisoned by cyanobacteria toxins. Be sure to tell the doctor or veterinarian about possible contact with cyanobacteria or algal blooms.
• Join or support one of the many watershed and river organizations.

To learn more about cyanobacteria and harmful algal blooms, visit the state of California’s website at www.mywaterquality.ca.gov/habs/index.html.

To report a bloom, e-mail CyanoHAB.Reports@waterboards.ca.gov or call 844-729-6466 (toll free). Blooms can also be reported via the “bloomWatch” app which is available for free download on iTunes or Google play.

For information on conditions in Humboldt County, contact the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services Division of Environmental Health at 707-445-6215 or 800-963-9241. Photos of suspected blooms can also be emailed to envhealth@co.humboldt.ca.us.

Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) North Edge: Business Financing & Community Development press release:

After 46 years of service to the community, Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is changing their name to North Edge: Business Financing & Community Development. The new name represents the organization’s mission and service area while staying true to its core commitment to support small businesses and foster community development across Northern California.

When North Edge—formerly known as AEDC—was first established in 1978, it provided lending services exclusively to the City of Arcata to support housing rehabilitation and small business development. Since then, they’ve expanded their service area from Arcata to a six-county region and increased their services beyond lending.

“We’ve expanded to serve Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties,” said Susan Seaman, Program Director. “Before our name change, folks in these communities didn’t see themselves in our name, so we wanted to go with something more inclusive.”

The transformation from AEDC to North Edge: Business Financing and Community Development reflects their commitment to bringing the northernmost parts of California to the forefront of equitable economic prosperity. It’s not just a name change; it’s a step towards uplifting the region and giving small business owners the financial edge they need to grow. 

As a nonprofit Economic Development Corporation (EDC), North Edge prioritizes providing affordable loans to those who need them most. The organization offers a range of financing options, including SBA 504 Loans, USDA Rural Development IRP funds, and SBA Microloans, ensuring that businesses in Northern California have the capital they need to operate.

North Edge is more than just a lender; they also partner with various community organizations to promote a resilient and equitable rural economy across Northern California. Initiatives such as the Redwood Region RISE, an initiative of California Jobs First and the Redwood Coast Region Economic Development Summit highlight North Edge’s commitment to regional economic prosperity.

“We’re not just about business loans—we’re really about overall community development and engagement,” explained Hannah Joy, business development and loan officer. “The name North Edge better captures our mission, the area we serve, and the people that we’re here to support. Our name is changing, but our services are not. North Edge is just the next chapter of the story.” 

To learn more about the services offered, visit their new website at northedgefinancing.org.

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The State of California’s massive firefighting agency, CalFire, wants to move its North Coast regional headquarters into the sleepy City of Rio Dell, which has long sought ways to boost economic development. Given the city’s struggles, you might expect its leaders to welcome such a big-time tenant with open arms, but city officials worry that the state’s plans could eliminate important opportunities for future development and tax revenues.

For decades, the city has looked at the 17.9-acre site – two adjoining parcels known locally as the “Todd Property” – as a “vital location” for future residential and commercial development in Rio Dell. The city has tried to buy the property from the Todd family at least three times over the last 40 years but, for one reason or another, negotiations never panned out. 

The state bought the property a year and a half ago with plans to relocate CalFire’s current North Coast headquarters in Fortuna, forcing the city to scrap its plans for the site. The city has asked if CalFire (and the state agency negotiating on its behalf, the California Department of General Services) would be willing to surplus a few acres at the south end of the site to help the city meet state-mandated housing requirements. But, so far, the state hasn’t budged.

“We believe that there is a win-win scenario for everybody here,” Rio Dell City Manager Kyle Knopp told the Outpost during a recent phone interview. “I think it’s a great thing that CalFire wants to relocate to Rio Dell, but it limits [the city’s] opportunities. This [property] is about 75 percent of our available, commercially developable land. … I think there’s plenty of room for everybody to get everything that they want.”

If you look at an aerial view of the site, as shown in the map above, it’s easy to see why it’s such a hot commodity. It’s the biggest slab of vacant land in Rio Dell; it’s centrally located – just south of Davis Street between the heart of town and the west side of Highway 101; and it’s almost completely vacant, aside from a modest home with a garage and barn.

The city made its first attempt to buy the property back in 1985. At that time, city leaders wanted to transform the site into “Rio Dell Village,” a mixed-use development with a motel and restaurant. However, then-property owner Leroy Todd decided to back out of the deal “over a change in the development plan he was not informed about,” according to an overview of the site’s history.

The city tried to buy the property again in 2011. By that time, Leroy Todd had died and left the property to his daughter, Linda Todd. The city held a few community meetings to introduce the concept of “Rio Dell Plaza,” a proposal to turn the site into a town center. Former Rio Dell City Manager Ron Henrickson had “several meetings” with Linda Todd to negotiate the terms of the purchase but, again, negotiations failed.

Over the course of the next decade, the city kept in touch with the property owner and reworked its plans for the site. In January 2021, the city secured $225,000 in Regional Early Action (REAP) funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for design and pre-permitting. The rendering included plans for high-density multi-family housing, medium-density senior housing, commercial highway-serving uses, a new city hall, a police station and a library. 

In May 2021, Linda Todd said she would be willing to accept a proposal for the site, and the city had it appraised a few months later. Around that time, there were rumors of other interested buyers – such as Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), a firm interested in turning the property into a solar panel field, as well as a large private contractor – none of whom were affiliated with CalFire. 

The city was aware that CalFire was looking for land to build a new regional headquarters but, as far as Knopp knew, the state wasn’t looking at any properties around Rio Dell. “The first mention of CalFire’s interest in the property to me was [in] March 2022,” Knopp said. “Shortly thereafter, we met with the local Del Norte Humboldt Unit Chief [Kurt McCray]. It was clear at that time the state was looking at various other sites, other sites that seemed to be preferred.”

But knowing that CalFire had at least some interest in the site, Knopp asked whether the agency would be willing to surplus a portion of it — five to seven acres of the site — to help the city generate additional tax revenue. 

With the previously planned commercial development, the city was expecting to rake in more than $100,000 per year in transient occupancy tax [TOT] and sales tax revenues, according to an overview from the city.  CalFire’s plans, on the other hand, would result in only about $32,000 per year in property taxes – zilch in either sales tax or TOT revenues.

“This is significant for a City that is designated a severely economically disadvantaged community,” the city’s analysis says.

In a follow-up email exchange between several CalFire officials, obtained through a Public Records Act (PRA) request submitted by the City of Rio Dell, McCray was sympathetic to the city’s position on the matter but said, “I believe our purchase of the entire property would not align with the City’s vision.”

“In my opinion, all of their points were presented to find a workable solution while keeping as much City control in the development of the entire Todd Property,” McCray wrote in the Mar. 31, 2022 email. “I don’t fault them for their interest in the Todd Property, but Chief [Derrick] Misner and I believe that acquiring five to seven acres of the Todd Property would not allow the needed space for current and future Unit needs. … At this time, I believe it would be beneficial for some or all of you to meet with the City of Rio Dell to better explain our needs and consideration of the Todd Property.”

At the beginning of June 2022, the city submitted a $1.17 million offer – $200,000 over the appraised market value – to then-owner Linda Todd. The offer was rejected.

The state had the site appraised later that month and offered to buy the property for $1.82 million, which was accepted. The State Public Works Board approved the purchase request in March of 2023, and DGS closed the deal a month later.

After the property sale was approved, the city set up another meeting with CalFire and DGS to discuss its plans for the site. Once again, the city stressed the site’s economic significance and encouraged shared use of the parcel to help the city meet state-mandated housing requirements outlined in its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Knopp said that the city also asked for some mock-ups of the proposed facility but never heard back. 

“We’ve been a little disappointed and confused by the lack of communication coming from the state. We’ve had to have [state] Senator Mike McGuire and his staff intervene to get any dialog or communication going with the decision-makers at these two state agencies,” Knopp said. The city also sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office seeking assistance. “[DGS and CalFire are] continuing to insist that Rio Dell will be involved at some point in the future, but they don’t really clarify when that will be. I think their position really is to keep the local community out of the design process which, to me, is a bit of a red flag.”

The city got ahold of a trove of documents and emails relating to the project through a PRA request, which allows the public to request information from California government agencies. In a follow-up request submitted earlier this year, the city finally got to see a few preliminary renderings of the project and what appears to be a more finalized version, as seen below. (Click here for a more detailed version of the rendering.)

The site plan includes a fire station, administrative office, emergency command center, service center, auto shop, fitness and training facilities, as well as ample parking and storage for CalFire equipment. The draft plan also includes two acres of solar panels and 1.5 acres of stormwater retention basin. Under the current plan, existing buildings on the property would be demolished and the entire 17.9 acres would be paved over.

“We want to see a smarter development that is efficient with land use, not a big asphalt parking lot,” Knopp said, noting that all of the buildings on the site appear to be single-story. “When you look at the design, you know, it’s using every single nook and cranny … and really spreading the design out laterally as much as possible. To me, that’s not a good starting point.”

The site design should be finalized by March 2026, according to the project description found in this staff report. Construction is slated to begin in August 2026 and wrap up by April 2028. The entire project is expected to cost $57.4 million.

The Outpost contacted a CalFire spokesperson and Humboldt-Del Norte Unit Chief Kurt McCray for additional comment on the project but our inquiry was directed to DGS. Asked for a more general statement on the matter, the spokesperson reiterated that the project is under the authority of the state but said, “The growth of CAL FIRE, both in operational capacity and personnel staffing levels, as well as future growth, is a driving factor in the need for this move.”

Reached via email, DGS spokesperson Fallon Okwuosa emphasized that CalFire is “in the very early stages” of the planning process and said the city will have an opportunity to provide a formal comment on the project when it goes through the environmental review process. 

“While the city has asked for information, we informed them that the state had not yet begun any environmental reviews and was only beginning to work with our selected architect on basic site concepts,” Okwuosa told the Outpost. “The city elected to file [PRA] requests to receive highly conceptual, mock test fits of CalFire’s program at the site despite the project being in its earliest stages of development, and CalFire still determining what their needs are at the facility.”

Asked if the state would be willing to surplus a few acres of the property to the city, she reiterated that the “determinations about the utilization of the site are some time away.” In other words: It’s too soon to tell.

“CalFire is working with DGS and the selected architect to evaluate the department’s current needs,” she continued. “The project has not been provided with the seismic studies, geotechnical, and other design criteria to determine the configuration of the essential services facilities or usable land available and restrictions for buildings within the property.”

Okwuosa also disputed the assertion that the state has been unwilling to collaborate with the City of Rio Dell.

“The state is committed to being communicative with the city throughout the project’s lifecycle,” she said. “CalFire will continue to communicate through appropriate channels with the city in a public and professional way as we work to formalize the design process and have adequately assessed the property.”

While it may be too soon to work out some of the details of the project, Knopp emphasized the importance of respecting the people who live in Rio Dell.

“I think that this is a story that is told over and over again,” he said. “There is a history of large, bureaucratic organizations – both public and private – coming into this community and really not paying attention to or respecting the local community. … We believe that there is a win-win scenario here for everybody, but our obligation is to look out for the community of Rio Dell and its future interests, and we will continue to do that at every turn.”

Mayor Debra Garnes told the Outpost that she’s optimistic that the city and state will be able to find “something that works for everybody.”

“We’re not trying to be antagonistic; we’re just trying to make a case for surplus using the land,” Garnes said “I’d like to reiterate the fact that we want them here and we understand it is their land. The idea that we can all win and we can all benefit – that’s really what we are pushing forward. … It’s our job as city staff to do what’s best for our community. If we can share that space, I think it’ll be very, very good for everybody.”

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