Del Norte County supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution extending temporary closures of portions of Union Street, Broad Street, National Boulevard and Madison Avenue, citing public-safety and nuisance concerns in the South Bend area.

Supporters said the barricades and K-rail placements reduced emergency responses and illegal activity in the short term, but supervisors and residents pressed county staff to clarify enforcement, maintenance and emergency access procedures.

Supervisor Short, the item’s sponsor, told the board the closures are a renewal of action taken 18 months earlier and that the county is authorized to continue the measures under state law. “The vehicle code requires that we reaffirm this action every 18 months and we can do it up to 9 times,” Short said. He moved adoption of the resolution and the board approved it unanimously.

Why it matters: The closures have been part of the county’s efforts to address recurring illegal dumping, squatting and fires in South Bend. Residents and property owners said obstacles to access and limited follow-up enforcement have undermined the effort’s effectiveness.

Board and public discussion focused on three practical issues: whether the closures actually reduced calls for emergency services, how to maintain and secure K-rails or gates against vandalism, and how emergency responders would access the area when needed. Supervisor Short said the county’s fire department previously responded to the area “just under 52 times” in a prior year and that after the first closure the department’s responses dropped markedly. He and others said some recent fires and renewed activity indicate barricades alone are not a long-term solution.

County staff and supervisors also discussed attempts to install gates versus removable K-rails. Staff said attempts to secure gates in the past were thwarted by vandals who cut or removed hardware; staff noted that if gates are installed they would provide keys to emergency services and that vehicle-code provisions allow emergency access. Supervisors and residents argued that if a gate will not remain functional, the county should not spend money on it without a reliable maintenance and enforcement plan.

Public commenters described mixed results: some residents and volunteers said the barriers reduced theft and dumping for a time but that areas were re‑occupied after enforcement and staffing changes. Randy Pinkham, who lives nearby and has worked on cleanups, called the closures “a band aid,” saying barricades helped temporarily but did not stop people from returning when enforcement waned. Other speakers urged stronger follow-through, more code‑enforcement staffing and a clear plan for removing repeat offenders.

What the board decided: The board adopted the resolution to extend the temporary closures as requested by Supervisor Short. The motion passed unanimously. Supervisors directed Community Development staff to proceed with implementation and to maintain funding for K-rail placement and related upkeep. The board also asked staff to provide clearer follow-up information to supervisors about enforcement activity, illegal‑dumping response and whether additional gates or permanent solutions are feasible.

Next steps: Supervisors asked staff to return with implementation details about where funds will be used to maintain barriers and with a clearer accounting of code‑enforcement activity and emergency‑response metrics so the board can assess whether closures should be continued beyond the next review period.

Ending: The extension is procedural under the California Vehicle Code and will remain in effect as the county evaluates enforcement and maintenance options. The board did not set new, specific deadlines for gate installation, but asked staff to report back with data on enforcement and on whether gates can be maintained and kept secure.