LAKEPORT ? Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) authorized the donation of a quagga mussel decontamination station to the City of Lakeport on Tuesday. The donation is contingent upon a use agreement between the county and the city.
The county has four contamination stations. Two of the units are considered for sale to Los Angeles County at 75 percent of the purchase price. The remaining two units, are authorized for surplus; however, the City of Lakeport expressed interest in acquiring one station for use in partnership with a business, which will make the station accessible to the public.
A draft use agreement was presented to the BOS on Tuesday; the agreement is expected to come back before the board on Aug. 3 with an amendment requiring annual use reports as suggested by District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown. The agreement as drafted requires that the decontamination station be located at the High Street Village Shopping Center on High Street. It identifies a public/private partnership venture with the operators of the car wash in the center, who offered to make the decontamination station available for public during normal business hours, seven days per week, with an option to move the station to the Third Street boat launch during special events. Brown said that he would like to see all special events be incorporated into the language of the agreement.
Through the agreement, the county will not be liable for any legal repercussions attached to the operation of the machine. The City of Lakeport will keep the unit in good repair and perform maintenance as required to keep the unit in good running condition.
If Lakeport finds for any reason that it cannot or does not use the station the city will return the station to county for disposal or use as the county see fit.
The City of Lakeport will not use the decontamination unit to decontaminate vessels that are found to have mussel infestation. Per the county ordinance, in accordance with the dictates from the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), infested vessels will be quarantined by the DFG and not allowed to launch in waters of Clear Lake.
Members of the board expressed disappointment in the City of Clearlake”s lack of interest in acquiring the other decontamination station. District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith, whose area includes parts of Clearlake, said that he has spoken with two members of the city council and said the city”s exclusion is primarily a financially-based decision.
“They don”t have the money to get into this,” Smith said. “They are engaged. It”s a financial thing more than anything else.”
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington suggested that the City of Clearlake be contacted one final time before the surplus of the last decontamination station. He offered to join Smith at the next Clearlake City Council meeting to present issue. “I would love to try to change their mind,” he said.
Smith said doesn”t have a problem with asking the Clearlake council to agendize the item in order to get a decision from the entire council.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
