Will Yreka City Council ever decide on a place for homeless to camp?
After weeks of fruitless discussion, the Yreka City Council hopes to settle on a temporary spot to move two homeless camps at its next meeting on Thursday, July 22. At their special meeting on Thursday, two sites rose to the top of the list as possibilities. The most promising is the site of the old Pine Mountain Lumber Company, located behind Burger King and the new Chevron gas station off Moonlit Oaks Drive, which is favorable due to its central location and proximity to services and current campsites. More:Homelessness in Yreka: Here's where the council decided to put a temporary campsite  More:Beacon of Hope's homeless shelter in Yreka is 'a labor of love,' should be ready in 2022  The second possible location is off of Sharps Road, below Rain Rock Casino, and is owned by the Karuk Tribe. It's the site the old Pine Ridge Mill, explained Yreka Mayor Duane Kegg. The Karuk Tribe is broaching the topic with their tribal council, Kegg said, while the owner of the site off of Moonlit is receptive. The key now, Kegg said, is making sure the insurance is in place. The council will will have a better idea at its next meeting. Essential services, including porta-potties, hand sanitizing stations, garbage pickup and other essential would be provided at whatever temporary site is decided upon. More:These two places are being considered as a temporary campsite for Yreka-area homeless  More:Homelessness in Yreka: Campsite location nixed, search for suitable location continues  The council also discussed a new potential site owned by the city on the corner of East Greenhorn Road and Mill Street. Kegg said the building there is currently being rented for storage space. It would take time for the current tenant to move, so the site is probably not feasible. Eventually, a permanent urban campsite will be established next to the Beacon of Hope's future homeless shelter, which is being built off of Foothill Drive, in the area of the now-abandoned Yreka Western Railroad's Blue Goose Excursion Train site. Kegg said on Friday morning, they hope the permeant location can start being used in October.