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County supervisors on Tuesday voted to rescind an earlier action to close Walker Road, which leads into Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

Supervisors also asked county staff to work with the Del Norte Office of Emergency Services to send a letter to California State Parks requesting vehicular access to local parks resume for Del Norte residents.

However, County Administrative Officer Jay Sarina, who is also local Office of Emergency Services director, said he would have to do some research to determine the best way to approach California State Parks with that request.

Del Norte County District 3 Supervisor Chris Howard, whose district includes Jed Smith, brought the matter before the Board on Tuesday. He argued that closing parking lots near Damnation Creek, Hiouchi and other trailheads has contributed to congestion in spite of protective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We’ve all gotten phone calls from concerned citizens that outdoor recreation in particular is being stifled for local residents,” he said at the Board of Supervisors’ special meeting. “We’ve seen here in Del Norte County, transients coming from outside to the community has sluffed off, but our residents are left with limited access points to state parks and national parks, forest service lands, to recreate.”

The Board of Supervisors at a special meeting Tuesday before Del Norte District 1 Supervisor Roger Gitlin and local chiropractor Dan Schultz led a protest at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds. The rally drew about 70 people who called for an easing of the safety restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In Del Norte County, two patients that tested positive for the novel coronavirus have recovered, according the Public Health Branch. Of the 252 total tests that have been administered in Del Norte County, 250 have come back with negative results as of 8:03 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Public Health Branch.

At the request of California State Parks, the Board of Supervisors on April 1 agreed to close Walker Road. Though it’s a county highway, the road provides access to trails and parking areas for Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

The Board “found it necessary for the county to close Walker Road at the request of State Parks” on April 1, according to a previous resolution.

According to the county’s resolution the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved on Tuesday, it finds that the road closure is “no longer necessary.”

California State Parks issued “soft closures” on all 280 units following California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s March 19 stay-at-home order, which discouraged non-essential travel, said Supervising Ranger Brett Silver. The agency asked Del Norte County to close Walker Road to prevent people from congregating at trailheads and other places, he said.

Though that order is still in effect, Silver said Howard asked him about the process for exempting state parks in Del Norte County from the soft closures. According to Silver, the best way to do that would be through the Del Norte Emergency Operations Center.

“Probably Kymmie Scott, and make a request to the state operations center, which is the California Office of Emergency Services,” Silver said.

Del Norte County Counsel Liz Cable, however, questioned the Board of Supervisors’ procedure for making such a request. She noted that though the resolution to reopen Walker Road was on Tuesday’s agenda, making a motion for the board take official action or write a letter should also be on the agenda.

“We can direct staff to do something,” she said. “I just don’t know that we can adopt a letter or do a motion for a letter without that portion being on the agenda.”

Howard continued to push for a letter from the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors to request an exemption to reopen state park trailheads in the county.

However, Sarina noted making a request through the Office of Emergency Services isn’t exactly the same thing as writing a letter.

“I’m still a little bit confused as to why we’re going through oES on an order that came down from the governor to state parks,” he said. “We can certainly review that adn see if that’s the best step.”

Board Chair Gerry Hemmingsen also acknowledged complaints he and his colleagues have received about vehicles being barred from access points in local state parks. Though he said he didn’t want to discount the steps State Parks has taken to limit COVID-19 exposure, Hemmingsen argued that Walker Road isn’t well known outside Del Norte County.

“I think the idea was of not wanting to become a destination for other people to flee their area and come to ours because we’re virtually COVID free,” Hemmingsen said, referring to State Parks’ request to close Walker Road. “Walker Road is known mostly by locals.”

Before the Board of Supervisors voted to open Walker Road despite State Parks’ COVID-19 safety measures, it unanimously approved granting temporary paid disaster leave to non-essential employees and paid personal holidays to essential employees.

Sarina said the resolution was in case the county had to go to more limited staffing at the recommendation of the public health officer.

“It allows me to institute it when the need is there,” Sarina said.

Supervisors also unanimously approved a professional services agreement with COWI North America Inc., for a storm damage project on Pebble Beach Drive.

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