Resident tells supervisors he was denied access and alleges negligence in solar permit review

Jeffrey Brandt Downey, who said he moved to Siskiyou County a year ago, told the Board of Supervisors that county staff have not responded to repeated attempts to place him and his attorney on an agenda to present evidence about a disputed solar permit.

"I sent 2 emails, certified mail and 2 phone calls trying to get on the schedule for my attorney and I for the seventeenth and no 1 has returned my call regarding resending a solar permit for fraud and also county's negligence," Downey said during the meeting's public-comment period. He said he brought six pictures and 35 pages of text for the record and that his attorney, Ted Bloomfield, had instructed him to appear.

Downey named county staff he said had received his materials, saying, "Glenn Shaughnessy and Philip Oates" and that "Mike Hanson" conducted a county inspection that, he alleged, signed off on flashing that "wasn't done" and routed conduit "not being routed appropriately." He also said the county assessor was attempting to increase his tax value on a solar system he described as shut down and installed "through fraud, through the negligence and culpability of the county."

The board chair and staff told Downey to leave his materials with county staff so counsel could review them; a staff member offered to take the exhibits and said the clerk would consult with county counsel about jurisdictional issues. Downey requested placement on the board's Feb. 17 agenda and asked for more than the three minutes normally allotted for public comment.

The board did not take action during the meeting on Downey's request; staff said they would review the submitted materials and speak with counsel. The board did not confirm receipt of the exhibits on the record.

The public comment took place near the start of the meeting and the chair invited Downey to leave his evidence with county staff for follow-up.