Residents press Tuolumne supervisors to investigate alleged county water‑line tap by Supervisor Mike Holland; Holland says hydrant donated to county

Several residents used the Oct. 7 public comment period at the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors meeting to call for an investigation into allegations that Supervisor Mike Holland tapped a Tuolumne County or Tuolumne Utility District (TUD) water line for a private construction project.

Christopher Butner, a self‑described community journalist, urged the county to investigate what he said were credible allegations that "Supervisor Holland" tapped a county or TUD water line for a private company project and called for accountability and law‑enforcement review. Another speaker asked the board to investigate alleged misconduct and warned the grand jury might review the matter.

In his board report, Supervisor Holland responded directly. He said he had discussed installing a fire hydrant on the county water line for the project more than two years earlier and that then‑county administrator Tracy Riggs had given permission. Holland characterized the installed hydrant as a public one that the property owner had donated — "a private citizen donate[d] over a $10,000 fire hydrant to the county," he said — and said county records document the arrangement.

Board counsel reminded the room that public comment is not the time for supervisors to engage in protracted discussion of items raised during oral communications; several supervisors later indicated they would address the topic during board reports rather than during public comment.

No formal investigation, motion or vote occurred at the meeting. Multiple members of the public continued to call for investigation; the board did not direct staff at the meeting to open an inquiry.