Shasta County BOS vote 3

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to send a letter to the California State Attorney General to investigate the Zogg Fire settlement.

SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. UPDATE 6:08 P.M. - The Shasta County Board of Supervisors have voted 3-2 in favor of sending a letter to Rob Bonta, the State Attorney General, for an investigation into the Zogg Fire settlement.

Supervisors Mary Rickert and Tim Garman voted against sending the letter.

People who live in the Igo Ono areas spoke during public comment, asking for transparency and urged the supervisors to send the letter to the California Attorney General.

The letter would specifically ask the attorney general why Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett dropped the criminal charges, and how she decided to divide the $50 million - specifically why $7 million of it would go to a non-profit she's on the board of.

One woman expressed concerns over how much money is going back to the community of Igo Ono and said that it's not enough. Several people also claimed that Igo Ono Elementary School doesn't get essential support it needs in the settlement deal.

"My children attend Igo Ono school, which by the way doesn't have a fire hydrant. Let me repeat that, the school in Igo doesn't have a fire hydrant! These were funds for our community, for a fire," one woman said during public comment.

Action News Now called and emailed Igo Ono Elementary School and are waiting to hear back. But in the meantime, checked Google Earth which shows there are no visible fire hydrants on either side of the road or on the front side of the school property.

Action News Now reporter Taylor Helmes spoke to two people who live in the Igo Ono areas and one woman said she is torn on the decision to send the drafted letter to the state attorney general, adding that it was disappointing to see that Supervisor Tim Garman, who represents their area, voted against sending the letter.

Shasta County Supervisor Mary Rickert also voted against sending the drafted letter Tuesday. She expressed concerns over who wrote it and that she preferred a previously drafted version.

Supervisor Kevin Crye claimed he was one of the authors, along with several other attorneys, but would not disclose who those attorneys were.

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The Shasta County Board of Supervisors could approve a letter to the State Attorney General asking for an investigation into the Zogg Fire settlement.

In the letter, the supervisors question why the Shasta County DA Stephanie Bridgett settled the case for $50 million instead of proceeding to trial.

It says it appears in April of the year, PG&E and the Shasta DA engaged in confidential settlement negotiations which the board was not made aware of.

It goes on to say “The funds were predetermined to be distributed to certain entities and charities, many of which suffered no loss in the Zogg Fire.

DA Stephanie Bridgett said her office had asked the families of the victims who died where they wanted the money to go.

Today’s supervisor's meetings started at 9 a.m.