LAKEPORT — So far, the Main Street Association has put in 33 decorative lamp posts in downtown Lakeport.
Now the group has a set of 10 new lights all paid for as the city gets ready for a project this spring to re-do Third Street east of Main Street.
But at the eleventh hour, the group needs its eleventh lamp post paid for. This year, each carries a price tag of $4,800. Anyone can sponsor a fixture and dedicate the lamp”s plaque to a person or business.
“Our main fundraiser is the Taste of Lakeport (a food and wine tasting event held each October) and then through memberships. The lights have all been sponsored, either by a family member dedicating the plaque to a loved one who has passed away, and in some cases private parties and businesses,” Main Street Association Director Jan Bruns said.
The group is evolving and growing, having just created its first paid position for Bruns and establishing an office in the Carnegie Library located on Park Street across from City Hall. The city is also occupying new office space in the old library, as is the newly-formed Clear Lake Foundation, a group of business leaders, and city and county officials tasked with environmental stewardship of the county”s crown jewel.
The 40-member association has worked with the city to pay for all of the light fixtures and flower baskets that hang from them, the city is a partner in the effort by paying for installation and underground work.
“The 11 more are phase three. They”ll go down Third Street from Main to the lake and turn right on Park Street. At the same time they”re doing the parking lot (next to City Hall and across the street from On the Waterfront) and it will be re-done with plants, trees and new sidewalks,” Bruns said.
Community Development Director Richard Knoll said plans for the project have been completed by the engineering firm Pavement Engineering, and that once the engineer submits some specifications the city lacks, then “it should be a matter of days until we put the project out to bid.”
City Engineer Scott Harter said the bid period for the project will be 30 days.
The project will be paid for by “well over $1 million” in Redevelopment Agency tax increment funds, plus “some 2004 bond proceeds that are also available for public purposes,” Knoll said. The city does not yet have an estimated engineer”s cost for the project. In response to whether the $1 million-plus funds will cover the project”s construction, Knoll said, “I”m sure it will.”
Bruns said anyone who is interested in sponsoring the remaining lamp can contact her at 263-3418.
“It will be really beautiful and really welcoming for tourists coming from the boat ramps to the park to see those lights. It will create a nice pathway to the park for different functions like Fourth of July and Friday night concerts,” Bruns said.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
