Bedhun has seen a lot in 22 years on Planning Commission

Gail Bedhun was surprised when she was first approached about applying for the Colusa County Planning Commission, and is just as surprised that she is about to start her 22nd year on the panel.

"I had no background, and I told them that," said Bedhun, who does not remember who approached her back in 1990 to seek the post.

What Bedhun remembers is people were looking for a change.

"The language is a whole different thing, and I still don't have it completely down," said Bedhun, owner of a tax service in Colusa. "But I did bring the belief agriculture was the biggest industry in the county, and we had to do something to protect that and to keep not only Colusa but all the towns alive."

She was particularly concerned about the subdivision of farm and ranch lands into 10-acre parcels, something that was coveted by many agricultural landowners.

"They said it was for estate reasons, but the real reason was because the land prices were so high back then," Bedhun said.

Agriculture, she said, was the key to the county's economic future. She also believed that the county's wildlife resources and recreational opportunities were critical — and that vision has also proved to be pretty accurate.

Bedhun officially started in January 1991.

She was reappointed to represent District 5 this week by the Board of Supervisors along with Steve Vanderpan of Arbuckle (District 1), John Loudon of Colusa (District 2) and Marion Mathis of Maxwell (District 4).

Vanderpan, former advertising manager for Tri-County Newspapers, was originally appointed in May 2007; Loudon was first appointed in March 2010; Mathis also joined the commission in May 2007.

The seat representing the Williams area (District 3) is vacant, but the Board of Supervisors is expected to consider the appointment of former Williams Councilman Eddie Johnson at its next meeting.

Bedhun said she starts her final four years on the Colusa County Planning Commission with one goal in mind — to finish the General Plan.

"I want to see that get done," Bedhun said.

After that, she said she will call it quits.

In fact, she is surprised no one else has stepped up for co sideration. Had someone raised their hand, she said she likely would have stepped aside if only for change's sake.

Bedhun said the workload is not that much, crediting the county planning staff for carrying the heavy load over the years, but it has had its downside, too.

She once received a call that a bomb had been left in her car, a vehicle that her son was using that day. The man convicted in the case was upset with a vote she had made.

But she admits that was an exception.

In fact, over the years, she said she has only been approached maybe a dozen times by people trying to influence her decision outside the commission chambers.

She has seen two controversial new communities come before her — one proposed for the Wilbur Springs area and the other was the south county project. Both failed.

Bedhun said she also has seen the planning process streamlined over the years, so fewer projects actually have to go through the commission.

However, she admits she has learned to appreciate the regulations that many people call red tape — another surprise.

Coming from a background of tax preparation, Bedhun has long believed that government could be far more efficient.

However, she said she has come to appreciate zoning and other planning regulations that help keep the peace among neighbors, and she does not believe people will necessarily do what is right for their neighbors, their community or the county.

"Most people are there for financial reasons," Bedhun said.

"I have seen the worst of people."