By Supervisor Heidi Hall, 2025 chair of the Board of Supervisors

2025 was the Year of Youth: a year centered on empowering the next generation and making sure the work we do today sets the foundation for decades to come.

From the beginning of the year, we were intentional about listening to young people and turning their ideas into action. Nevada County has always believed in investing in youth - through our libraries, programs, and community partnerships - but the Year of Youth gave us a chance to really focus that effort. 

A powerful example of that commitment came directly from the Nevada County Youth Commission. For the first time, youth commissioners brought forward a formal recommendation to this Board: free bus fares for youth. They told us transportation was a real barrier to getting to school, work, and activities and we listened. Because of their advocacy, youth across Nevada County can now ride the bus for free, expanding access and opportunity countywide. When we invest in youth voices, we strengthen our entire community.

That same spirit of listening and action carried through many of the Board’s priorities this year.

Housing continued to be a top priority for our community. We identified housing as the highest and best use for the former courthouse building, and we heard extensive public feedback on our tiny homes on wheels ordinance. That feedback led us to direct staff to also explore RVs as another housing solution. We also reduced costs for owner-built homes, cutting costs by up to 25% and later lowering permitting costs by another $1,000.

We opened The Commons Resource Center next to Hospitality House - a goal more than five years in the making - to provide daytime support for people experiencing homelessness. We also secured a $23.7 million grant to build a local psychiatric treatment center so residents can get care closer to home and closer to family.

We invested in critical infrastructure across the county, dedicating more than $1 million in grant funding to expand high-speed internet to hundreds of unserved rural households, advancing wildfire mitigation projects along roadsides and across thousands of acres of public and private land in areas where fires could be most destructive and completed renovations at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station to allow for new composting mandates and reduce wait times.

We completed new recreation projects, partnering to create new recreation parking near Fire Station 82 off Scotts Flat Road, opening the Combie Road Trail connecting residents to schools and shopping areas and held our first-ever Recreation Fair. 

 In animal services, we launched a pilot spay and neuter program, serving hundreds of pets so far, and took over management of the animal shelter.

 Additionally, I was appointed to the National Association of Counties Board by the California State Association of Counties and am proud that I will be continuing my work as an appointee to the NACo Disaster Relief Task Force which was created to enhance disaster mitigation, response, and recovery capabilities across the nation.

All of this work reflects what’s possible when we listen to our community, partner with residents and organizations, and stay focused on long-term needs. I want to thank our staff, our community partners, and my fellow supervisors for their dedication. And especially our young people, whose voices helped shape this Year of Youth and the future of Nevada County.