Grand jury investigates Shasta supervisor over conflict of interest allegations

After complaints against one Shasta County supervisor, the county grand jury has asked county officials to explain to the public when members of the Board of Supervisors should not participate in votes on issues that could create a conflict of interest.

The grand jury's request follows an investigation into two complaints against a member of the board. And in both complaints, the jury cleared the supervisor of allegations of violating conflict of interest laws.

In a report issued earlier this week, the grand jury did not name the supervisor or provide details of the circumstances of the complaints, but Supervisor Patrick Jones acknowledged the jury looked into two complaints against him.

One of the complaints alleged the supervisor did not leave the board chambers after he recused himself on a matter before the board that he had a financial interest in, according to the grand jury report. The supervisor also did not recuse himself "on a matter that could financially benefit the supervisor," according to the report.

Jones said he was involved in both matters.

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In one case, he was accused of participating in a vote on development impact fees when he should have recused himself. Development impact fees are imposed on new construction in the county.

The allegation, he said, was that he should not have participated because he is trying to develop a gun range northeast of Anderson and that he could financially benefit from reducing development impact fees on proposed developments.

When asked about the possible conflict of interest, Jones defended himself, saying the impact fees affect all county residents, not just him.

"If that was the case, I couldn't vote on hardly anything because our decisions affect the entire community, the entire county. So it's obvious when you're doing something for the betterment of the whole, that you don't have to recuse yourself. Otherwise, no board members would ever be able to do anything," Jones said.

Jones said that during board discussions in open session and during public comment on the gun range he stayed on the dais, but did not participate in votes.

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The second complaint alleged Jones should not have been present during closed-door sessions of the board when it discussed a lawsuit filed against him and the county over the supervisor's proposed shooting range.

Because he is a defendant in the lawsuit, which claims the county did not thoroughly study the environmental impacts of the gun range, Jones should not have been present during the meetings. But Jones said he recused himself and did not participate in closed-session meetings about the gun range.

The grand jury report said it investigated both claims, including what state and local laws say about conflicts of interest and that "the grand jury determined there were no violations by the board, and the supervisor appropriately followed the above-mentioned rules and regulations."

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The grand jury typically doesn't issue reports when it does not find wrongdoing. But in this case, it issued a statement because of the controversy and "community distrust" surrounding the allegations against Jones, according to the report.

The grand jury recommended the board adopt a procedure to have the County Counsel's Office explain when supervisors should recuse themselves on issues they consider.

Jones said Friday he wants the county to issue a press release explaining the issue surrounding the grand jury's investigation and his involvement. He also plans to read the grand jury's report at the next supervisor's meeting, he said.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Grand jury investigates Shasta supervisor over conflict allegations