Shasta's top planner leaving after 6 years to take job in another California county

Shasta County’s top planner is leaving to take a similar position with another county in California.

Paul Hellman became Shasta’s resource management director in August 2018, about a month after the catastrophic Carr Fire started, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the county’s history.

Hellman came to Shasta County from Redding, where he was the city’s planning manager for nearly three years. “My history has been that I don’t stay in one position for too long,” Hellman said. “I feel like people can get stale and finding a new challenge is important to me.”

Hellman said next to his 11 years as principal planner for the city of Bakersfield, the six years as resource management director in Shasta County was his second-longest tenure in one position.

Hellman’s resignation in Shasta County is effective Sept. 3. His first day at his new job is Sept. 9. He declined to say what California county he is going to or the job title there.

"As I reflect on those six years, I am both thankful and proud. I am thankful for all of the outstanding people I have had the pleasure to work with and to serve and am proud of the Department of Resource Management's accomplishments during that time," Hellman wrote in his resignation letter.

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Hellman joins a string of top administrators who have left the county in about the last two or so years.

Since the recall of Supervisor Leonard Moty in February 2022 , which ushered in a new more conservative majority on the Board of Supervisors, several high-ranking administrators have departed. The board leaned even further right when Supervisors Kevin Crye and Chris Kelstrom took office in January 2023.

Hellman is at least the second top administrator to leave to work for another county or city in the state.

Matt Pontes , who resigned as Shasta’s chief operating officer in May 2022 after little more than three years on the job, is now the county administrative officer in San Luis Obispo County. Pontes left Shasta County to work for Sierra Pacific Industries before taking the job on the Central Coast earlier this year.

Also, former Shasta County acting counsel Matt McOmber left last year and is now the Rocklin City Attorney.

“Why are these people looking around (for other jobs)? I know (Hellman’s) aim was for a different opportunity but why are they looking? We are not doing something right because we have a lot of staff that is leaving. It could be the pay scale is too low, could be politics, could be a number of things,” Supervisor Tim Garman said.

But Hellman said politics did not drive him out of Shasta County.

“No, not at all. I haven’t had any issues dealing with the board. They have not mistreated me or done anything else that I would consider an issue for me personally,” he said.

In addition to resource manager, the county is looking for a mental health services director, Health and Human Services Agency chief fiscal officer and a veterans’ service officer.

“Well, I am very disappointed that we are losing another very talented and dedicated director of a department in Shasta County,” Supervisor Mary Rickert said.

Both Garman and Supervisor Mary Rickert said Hellman’s leadership in the county’s fight to stop the Fountain Wind renewable energy project will be greatly missed. The project is in Rickert’s district in eastern Shasta County.

“One thing about Paul, he was always extremely responsive and I was especially appreciative that he was willing to fight Sacramento with the Fountain Wind project opposition,” Rickert said. “That is going to be a huge loss for the county’s effort to counteract that.”

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In the news release announcing Hellman’s resignation, the county said like the Carr Fire, which reshaped the area’s landscape, Hellman reshaped the Department of Resource Management “with his unwavering dedication, expertise, and work ethic.”

Hellman’s work included creating cannabis and industrial hemp ordinances, the adoption of a commercial wireless telecommunication ordinance and his leadership in wildfire disaster recovery ordinances.

“He came in during the Carr Fire and he just hit the ground running and he hasn’t stopped,” Assistant Resource Management Director Adam Fieseler said. “He gets things done, he has helped reorganize our department so it’s successful well into the future.”

In his letter of resignation, Hellman recommends Fieseler be promoted to resource management director. Fieseler has worked for the county 18 years, the last two and a half as assistant resource management director.

“Adam is uniquely qualified for the position based on his thorough working knowledge of the department which he has gained as a result of working in three of the department’s four divisions as Assistant Planner, Air Pollution Inspector, Permit Center Manager, and Planning Division Manager prior to becoming Assistant Director,” Hellman says in his letter.

Fieseler said he does plan to apply for the position, but he would have big shoes to fill.

"Paul has been amazing," Fieseler 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.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta's top planner leaving after 6 years to take job in another California county