LAKEPORT — Expansions for Lampson Field are on the horizon following a unanimous vote by the Lake County Board of Supervisors Tuesday to negotiate to buy approximately 4.41 acres bordering the southeastern corner of the county”s airport property.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington, whose district includes the airport, said the approximately $3 million purchase would create between $15,000 and $18,000 per month in profit to the county from current leases on the land.
“That would free up $60,000 per year for other public services,” Farrington said.
Farrington said the county uses general fund money for upkeep, and the revenue would help move the airport toward self-sufficiency. He said the revenue would also go to pay part of the county”s approximately $300,000 contribution to the purchase, a 10-percent match in the event the county receives a Federal Aviation Administration grant for the purchase.
The property includes hangars, a restaurant, office space and six businesses, according to Lake County Public Works Director Brent Siemer.
In other business, the board also unanimously passed a measure to stabilize rent for mobile home park residents. The board adopted a resolution encouraging park owners to voluntarily use a lease that would require mobile home park owners to get more than 50 percent approval for improvement projects from park residents, and to disclose maintenance costs passed on to residents.
Gregory Cavness was one of more than 60 park dwellers, owners and interested parties who attended. Cavness said the measure offered “about as much protection as a fig leaf in a hurricane,” and asked how many park owners would have to use the lease before the board considered the measure successful.
Supervisor Anthony Farrington said the board would make the lease mandatory if the all park owners do not voluntarily offer the lease to park residents. The lease will be mailed to park owners in the county”s unincorporated areas, and are asked to reveal whether they plan to comply.
The board postponed a decision about the possibility of increasing sewer and water rates countywide. Based on a study his firm conducted, Greg Clumpner of Foresight Consulting recommended the county impose incremental rate increases during five years to fund improvements and growth for all of the 10 water systems and six sewer systems the county manages.
Supervisors Denise Rushing and Farrington said before proposing increases, the county needed to follow the consultant”s recommendation to build more financial accountability into the county”s management of the systems.
An offshoot discussion developed about how the proposed hike would affect nearly 500 residents in the Spring Valley subdivision in the northern portion of the county.
James Hershey, president of the area”s water advisory board, said Clumpner”s study used inaccurate figures from a 2006 study performed by CH2M Hill, and that the state Department of Public Health recommended improving the water system at a lower cost. Spring Valley”s concerns will be discussed Oct. 7.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
