LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a name change proposal for a section of what used to by Soda Bay Road in unincorporated Lakeport.
The small section of road with several residences between Big Valley Road and Meadow Drive is now called Osprey Court.
The section of road had been referred to as Old Soda Bay Road since a road realignment project was completed earlier this fall.
Osprey Court used to be part of Soda Bay Road, but Soda Bay Road was realigned to avoid two hard 90-degree turns that had been required on that section of the road, according to Lars Ewing, Assistant Public Works Director for Lake County.
Once Soda Bay Road was realigned, the county had to change the name of the old section from Old Soda Bay Road to give it “a unique name” for safety purposes, making it easier for emergency responders, Ewing said.
County staff members posted signs in the area, stating that the road”s name would be changed and asking for public input, Ewing said.
The name Osprey Court was soon developed, designating the road after the local bird of prey.
Ewing told the BOS that the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, the owner of adjacent land, responded early Tuesday morning, asking the county to consider naming the court after the tribe”s traditional name for the osprey.
The tribe”s proposed street name was Xa-Tai-Tai Court. The BOS discussed the tribe”s proposal and determined that Xa-Tai-Tai would be too complex for emergency responders and citizens to spell and pronounce. “Simplicity is probably best,” Chairman Anthony Farrington said.
The BOS officially designated the road as Osprey Court and directed staff to discuss a signage compromise with the tribe.
Ewing said that his staff would look into whether the tribe would want a separate sign in the area that acknowledges the traditional name for osprey. Street signs will be made, reading Osprey Court, and should be posted within the week, Ewing said.
