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Public commenters warn of federal cuts’ local impact and criticize cannabis variance denials
Summary
During public comment Trinity County residents urged the board to plan for federal funding cuts that could affect grant‑funded services and criticized a local cannabis variance denial they say harms long‑time, legal farms; the planning commission recently heard an ordinance adjustment on the subject.
Two public commentators used the March 18 Trinity County Board of Supervisors meeting to raise economic and regulatory concerns affecting local services and agriculture.
Michael Palice, reading a letter from Trinity Alps Indivisible, warned that proposed federal 'efficiency' plans could lead to layoffs among grant‑funded county positions and threaten services that residents rely on, including fire abatement, social services and health care. "The tentative cutbacks ... will be devastating for a large number of constituents," Palice said, urging the county to plan a greater safety net for people who live and work in the county.
Ben Kellogg of Weaverville addressed the board about cannabis regulation after a long‑time local grower was denied a variance. Kellogg said the denial punished an established operator and undermined local economic development, arguing the county should revise ordinances sooner than a 2026 timeline to avoid further harm. "This is absolutely ridiculous," he said, adding that the county needs to be neutral or pro‑cannabis in action if not in words.
County staff later told the board the planning commission had heard an ordinance adjustment on March 13 intended to address related public concerns; that item will come forward to the board for consideration in the near future. The CAO also reported that staff are tracking the issue and will bring the planning commission action back to the board.
No formal board action on federal funding policy or cannabis ordinance revisions was taken at the March 18 meeting; both topics were raised during public comment and in staff reports.
