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- Signature Healthcare Services is proceeding with its application for a $150 million state grant for a behavioral health campus.
- Despite the board’s opposition, the project has support from many community leaders and residents.
- A demonstration is planned to protest the supervisors’ decision before their next meeting.
Despite what it says was a stunning rebuke by a narrow majority of Shasta County supervisors, the company behind a $200 million behavioral health campus that would serve the North State is moving forward.
Signature Healthcare Services said in a news release Monday afternoon that it still plans to apply for a $150 million state grant to bring the campus here. The application deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 28.
“I was stunned by the county’s actions as well as the disregard for both the urgency of the need and the extraordinary regional support behind this project,” Alan Eaks, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Signature, said in a news release. “What was most disheartening was hearing statements implying that Signature does not provide high-acuity behavioral health care — statements that contradict both our capabilities and our conversations with HHSA (Health and Human Services Agency).”
During a special meeting last Friday, Oct. 24, a divided board of supervisors voted 3-2 to support a letter of opposition to the health campus. The vote came after some three hours of debate and public comments.
All but five of the 33 people who spoke at the meeting supported the campus.
At the meeting, Eaks of Signature Healthcare said the company would be the sole applicant. Signature Healthcare also would put up the $50 million that would be matched by $150 million in state Behavioral health Continuum Infrastructure Program funds for a $200 million project.
“We are fully responsible for the application and the financial responsibility that comes behind it,” Eaks said.
Supervisor Matt Plummer said at the meeting that it was an embarrassing day for Shasta County, criticizing the vote as a lack of vision and leadership.
Supervisor Kevin Crye led the charge to oppose the project at Friday’s meeting, calling it a “boondoggle” and at one point “evil.”
But the campus also has the support of other county officials, such as Shasta Sheriff Michael Johnson, Shasta Community Health Center CEO Brandon Thornock, Shasta Office of Education Superintendent Mike Freeman and State Sen. Megan Dahle.
Eric Kim, senior vice president of strategy and planning for Signature Healthcare, said they are submitting their application on Tuesday, adding that if they get the grant, their decision to accept the money will depend on working with county Health and Human Services Agency officials on a path forward.
“This region deserves the same access to care as every other part of California, and we will continue to do our part,” he said.
The controversial decision by supervisors to not support the health campus galvanized many in the community.
Shasta Coalition and Save Our Shasta will team up before Tuesday evening’s Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting to demonstrate at the county Administration building on Court Street in downtown Redding at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.
“We are appalled by the decision made by (Supervisors) Kevin Crye, Chris Kelstrom and Corky Harmon. It deprives this county of badly needed help with a serious and growing crisis. It is also the last best chance in the foreseeable future for us to access $200 (million) in critical funding,” the news release announcing the demonstration said.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
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