LAKEPORT ? A Clearlake man brought the Lake County Board of Supervisors Tuesday a vase of clear water and another filled with Clear Lake water that had brownish-green muck floating at the top and gathering at the bottom.
John Zellman said he was “disturbed” by the amount of algae in the lake.
“I want to take care of the lake,” Zellman said. “You don”t take care of the lake.”
Supervisor Jeff Smith said he used a surplus Kelseyville Fire Protection District boat to break up algae near Sunset Fishing Resort in Clearlake. The board approved the purchase of that boat Sept. 1. Before that, Smith had been using his boat to turn up the stinky mess.
“We can, and people can do this themselves,” Smith said.
Smith spent about 15 hours during the weekend trying to get rid of algae.
“It”s amazing how many people drove by without their boats, saw how clear it was, then 10 to 15 minutes later came back with their boats,” Smith said.
The board approved a number of projects and requests that members of the public did not speak about.
Board members agreed to send a letter to the governor urging to restoration of funding for the Williamson Act, which lowers taxes for owners using land for agriculture or open space purposes. The board aims to enforce restrictions on the land and not sign new contracts.
The board unanimously voted to spend special projects money for an Upper Lake flood prevention project. Some of the county maintained levees have reduced capacity due to plants, silt and gravel build-up, chairwoman Denise Rushing said.
“I”ve been getting calls saying ?The last time it was like this my house flooded,”” Rushing said.
Board members approved 5-0 an agreement to use an antenna on Mount Konocti for Office of Emergency Services ham radios.
Supervisors approved 5-0 to accept a bid from Granite Construction for $348,796 to repair storm damage on Robinson Road. The board also unanimously voted to approve a $268,554.50 bid by Team Ghilotti to repair storm damage on Bartlett Springs Road.
Sheriff Rod Mitchell announced that the department will have a local vendor fair from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the county jail. Mitchell asked that business representatives attend. Officers will show county businesses what products they use so that the sheriff”s office can buy more products and services from them, rather than out-of-county sellers, Mitchell said. The vendor fair is at 4913 Helbush Drive off Hill Road north of Lakeport.
The board asked the public to fly American flags on Friday in remembrance of 9/11.
At the end of the meeting Zellman spoke with Smith and gave him his phone number so that he can help the supervisor improve the lake.
“The lake should be the No. 1 priority because it brings money here,” Zellman said.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
