LAKEPORT ? The Lake County Board of Supervisors elected Supervisor Anthony Farrington as chair Tuesday for 2010 with little discussion on the matter.
The board also appointed Supervisor Jim Comstock as vice chair. Supervisor Rob Brown declined Supervisor Jeff Smith”s inquiry to appoint Brown as the vice chair.
Supervisor Denise Rushing then switched from her center seat to Farrington”s vacated spot.
Smith asked to honor former Supervisor Carl M. Larson during the board”s customary moment of silence. Larson died Sunday at the age of 81.
Board members agreed opening a Lowe”s in Clearlake could affect the county and that an environmental impact report (EIR) focused on at least the economic, traffic and sewer would benefit the city and county. Board members decided to send a letter to the City of Clearlake to encourage the city to require a focused environmental impact report for Lowe”s.
“If you look at the report, that report is flawed. It screams it needs an EIR,” Brown said. “This is the biggest development any of us will ever see in Lake County.”
“We have some opportunity to deal with this when it comes to sewers,” Brown said. “We don”t have to accommodate them to help us slit our own wrists.”
Mark Borghesani, general manager of Kelseyville Lumber, said he put $9.5 million into Kelseyville Main Street to support the community.
“The city is trying to generate business and tax dollars with out any consideration for what it will do to Lake County,” Borghesani said.
The board decided on a number of other issues at its meeting.
The board appointed Ron Nagy and Lowell Grant both of Kelseyville to the Lake County Vector Control District Board of Trustees.
Board members unanimously approved a request by the restaurant in Kelseyville Lumber to extend closing hours from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The board voted 4-1 to sign a contract with Susan Jen for a $314,988 grant to create a local food distribution system that revolves around the use of locally grown crops. Brown dissented.
Board members approved the second reading of the ordinance changes to the invasive species water vessel inspection program. The board agreed to appropriate unanticipated revenue to buy property at 1305 Reclamation Cutoff in Upper Lake and remove it from the Middle Creek flood area.
The board unanimously voted to match funds for the offender treatment program at the maximum of $6,025.
Board members approved a request to increase funding to $40 a day for perinatal treatment for Lake County pregnant or parenting women with drug or alcohol problems.
The board voted 4-1 to allow the Public Works director to attend the National Association of County Engineers Annual Conference. Brown voted no. Board members approved out-of-state travel for the Social Services director and her deputy director to attend the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Partnership Grant Special Topics Conference that will be paid for by federal grant funds.
The board unanimously voted to allow the Animal Control officer to attend the National Cruelty Investigators School Level Two in Reno for $250.
Board members also approved an agreement for eradication of arundo donax and monitoring of sites for the plant in Upper Cache Creek Basin. Arundo donax is a plant that weeds off other species, decreases stream flow, increases flood and fire hazards and poses a risk to endangered species.
Farrington reminded supervisors and the public the board will take up the Cristallago development project including a subdivision and golf course at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 26.
The board also decided which supervisors will serve on what committees for 2010.
Rushing will continue to serve on the Area Agency on Aging Committee, Public Authority/In-Home Supportive Services, the Sustainable Energy Policy Working Group and the Sustainable Food Policy Working Group.
Brown will serve on the California Coast Province Advisory Committee, the Caltrans DEAL Committee, Central Dispatch Users Committee, the Emergency Medical Care Committee, the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council and North Coast Emergency Medical Services.
Farrington will continue on the Children”s Council, California State Association of Counties Board of Directors, the Regional Council of Rural Counties, Rural Council of Rural Counties Housing Joint Powers Authority and switch to the Resource Advisory Committee.
Smith will serve on the Financial Audit Committee, Public Education Government Board of Directors and the Proposition 10 Commission. Supervisor Jim Comstock will sit on the Fire Safe Committee, the Health Insurance Committee, the Mental Health Advisory Board and the Treasury Oversight Committee.
Comstock and Smith will continue with the Area Planning Council/Transit Authority, the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Commission and the Lake County Community Action Agency Board of Directors.
Farrington and Comstock will serve on the Lake County Coordinating Resource Management Commission and the Invasive Species Council.
Brown and Smith will sit on the Indian Gaming Local Benefit Committee, the Lake County Water Program Advisory Council, and the Reclassification Committee. Rushing and Comstock will serve on the Local Agency Formation Commission.
Brown and Farrington will continue on the Public Defender Oversight Committee, the Mobile Home Task Force and Yolo County 2 x 2.
Rushing and Brown will serve on the Genetically Engineered Crops Advisory Committee and the Office Space Committee.
Farrington and Smith will continue on the Solid Waste Management Plan Task Force.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
