Tehama County Supervisors Discuss Bridge Repairs, Planning Commission, and Budget

Updates on the Newville Bridge, a new planning commissioner appointment, and a mid-year budget presentation were among the key topics at the recent Tehama County Supervisors meeting.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Tehama County Supervisors had a packed agenda this week, covering a range of issues including an update on the repair work for the Newville Bridge, the appointment of a new planning commissioner, and a presentation on the county's mid-year budget. The Newville Bridge, which was damaged over a year ago in the February 2025 storms, is expected to reopen within the next six weeks once specialized materials arrive. The board also appointed a new planning commissioner despite some public pushback. Additionally, the county's fiscal manager outlined plans to overhaul the budget process for the next fiscal year, including a shift to a zero-based budgeting approach.

Why it matters

The Newville Bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure in the Black Butte Lake area near the Tehama-Glenn county line. Its closure has impacted residents and businesses in the region, so its timely repair is important. The planning commission appointment and budget discussions also highlight the county's efforts to address key administrative and financial matters. These decisions will have broader implications for the community.

The details

The Interim Public Works Director, Tom Provine, reported that the specialized materials needed to install a Bailey bridge and reopen the Newville Bridge are scheduled to arrive next week. Once the materials are on site, crews will work to get the temporary bridge installed within six weeks, weather permitting. The Newville Bridge was damaged over a year ago during the February 2025 storms, and the county has been working to secure disaster funding to cover the repair costs. The board also appointed a new planning commissioner, Tim Potanovic, to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of a previous supervisor. This decision faced some public pushback, with residents arguing that the appointment did not adequately represent their district. Finally, the county's Fiscal Manager, Orepa Mamea, presented a mid-year budget update and outlined plans to overhaul the budget process for the next fiscal year. This will include a shift to a zero-based budgeting approach, where departments will have to justify every budget request rather than building off the previous year's allocations.

  • The Newville Bridge was damaged over a year ago in the February 2025 storms.
  • The specialized materials needed to install the Bailey bridge are scheduled to arrive next week.
  • The county is aiming to have the Newville Bridge and road reopened within six weeks, weather permitting.
  • The planning commission is scheduled to meet next on March 19 at 9 a.m.

The players

Tom Provine

Interim Public Works Director for Tehama County.

Tim Potanovic

The new planning commissioner appointed by the Tehama County Supervisors.

Orepa Mamea

Fiscal Manager for Tehama County.

Dave Kain

Sheriff of Tehama County.

Tom Moss

Agricultural Commissioner for Tehama County.

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What they’re saying

“There has been some work at the site, but the major structure has not been put out there yet. We are aiming for having that bridge and the road reopened within six weeks, as long as weather conditions and other conditions allow.”

— Tom Provine, Interim Public Works Director (redbluffdailynews.com)

“We're really going to, as a county, we're going to have to buckle down and really look at the budget and what the board's priorities are. So there's a lot of wants, there's a lot of needs, and then there's a lot of things that we just absolutely have to get done.”

— Orepa Mamea, Fiscal Manager (redbluffdailynews.com)

What’s next

The Tehama County Supervisors will continue to monitor the progress of the Newville Bridge repair work, with the goal of having the bridge and road reopened within the next six weeks. The new planning commissioner, Tim Potanovic, will begin his term at the next planning commission meeting on March 19.

The takeaway

The Tehama County Supervisors' meeting highlighted the county's efforts to address critical infrastructure needs, administrative matters, and financial planning. The timely repair of the Newville Bridge, the appointment of a new planning commissioner, and the overhaul of the budget process all demonstrate the county's commitment to serving the needs of its residents and businesses.