Tod Kimmelshue speaks at the podium during a recent Gridley Rotary Club meeting, where the Butte County District 4 supervisor discussed several local projects and county initiatives. Photo courtesy of Efren Del Rio

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Butte County District 4 Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue recently met with the Gridley Rotary Club for lunch, providing updates on local affairs.

Kimmelshue spoke to Rotarians Thursday at their regular meeting, beginning by thanking the group for volunteering at the funeral of Doug LaMalfa. The local club helped direct parking at the service, which hosted hundreds of people Saturday, Jan. 24.

In recognition of that act of service, Kimmelshue presented attendees with special pins featuring one of LaMalfa’s classic vehicles along with his birth and death years. The pins were specially crafted for the memorial services.

Turning to county business, Kimmelshue discussed the Gridley Veterans Memorial Hall project. After receiving $1.5 million in roof and HVAC repairs, the building has reopened for public use, with the Butte County Fairgrounds handling rental requests. Kimmelshue said he hopes to secure additional funding in the near future to update the hall’s kitchen.

A new county facility is also planned next door to Veterans Memorial Hall on Sycamore Street. A small lot east of the hall, currently unused, will be the site of a future Butte County Behavioral Health building. The project is part of an expanded effort to bring additional support resources to Gridley and the county.

Kimmelshue also provided an update on a youth mental health facility under construction behind Orchard Hospital. The 16-bed facility will operate in cooperation with Butte County and will serve as a secure unit for youth with psychiatric issues who may be a danger to themselves or others. The county hopes to have the facility operational by November.

Other topics included plans for a new county public works yard off West Liberty Road in Gridley and discussion of a large property north of town between Ford Avenue and the Gridley-Biggs Cemetery.

The property, known locally as the former site of the Deniz Dairy, has been a frequent location for homeless camps that have sparked fires requiring responses from local fire departments. According to Kimmelshue, the property has been tied up in bankruptcy proceedings following economic hardships dating back to 2008. He said progress is being made in court and the bankruptcy is expected to be completed next month.

The future use of the property remains uncertain, but Kimmelshue said he is hopeful it will eventually benefit the community.

“For it to just sit like it is now is a real shame,” Kimmelshue said.