LAKE COUNTY ? A Public Works discussion and consideration of a request to authorize the use of up to $100,000 for the Orchard Shores zone of benefit project brought Michael Dunlap to the lectern for public input at the Tuesday Board of Supervisor”s meeting in Lakeport.
Dunlap, who lives on North Drive outside the city limits of Clearlake in the unincorporated part of Lake County, vehemently opposes the entire concept of zones of benefit.
A zone of benefit is a geographic area, formed under county service area law to provide extended services not already being provided by any other entity. This is a fee-based program.
“We don”t have weeds growing, we have trees growing in our V-ditches,” Dunlap said.
Public Works Director Brent Siemer said his department has fallen behind on standard maintenance.
Dunlap said the road maintenance in his neighborhood amounted to a yellow line down the center of 17th Street.
“Somebody explain to me how that”s fair,” Dunlap said.
Supervisor Jeff Smith said, “We need to get caught up somehow.”
Supervisor Anthony Farrington said, “The board needs to be very cautious about advancing any more money for any newly established zone of benefit created for road improvement purposes to get through the budget cycle on the local and state level.”
Supervisor Rob Brown said, “I agree everyone pays enough as it is, but the state and federal government don”t return enough money to fix the roads adequately. We have to come up with our own solutions and zones of benefit happen to be one of the solutions.”
Supervisor Denise Rushing said she thinks the jury is still out on zones of benefit.
In other actions, a bid was awarded in the amount of $448,485, to Bouthillier”s Construction for construction of a storm damage repair project on Bartlett Springs Road.
Additionally a bid was awarded in amount of $142,755.65 to Bouthillier”s Construction for construction on Soda Bay Road for a storm damage repair project.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or call her directly 263-5636 ext. 32.
