LAKE COUNTY — Sheriff Frank Rivero has long desired to put a new substation in the south county on Highway 29, and Tuesday the Board of Supervisors (BOS) supported staff pursuing acquisition of vacant property in Middletown for that purpose.
“I think it is a good choice,” District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said of the old Coldwell Banker site on Highway 29 across from the future Middletown Senior Center and Library. The property currently has two empty buildings.
Rivero said he originally wanted the substation between Hidden Valley Lake and north of downtown Middletown on Highway 29, but no appropriate properties could be found. He called the proposed location “a good compromise.”
The long-term goal is to have four Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) stations strategically located throughout the county, according to Rivero, who seeks a spot for a Clearlake Oaks substation to join the main station in Lakeport, existing Lucerne substation and planned Middletown site.
The BOS unanimously approved the county pursuing the Middletown purchase. Staff began closed-session negations with seller representatives later in Tuesday”s meeting.
A final sale agreement would need BOS approval in open session.
In other business, the BOS approved a letter to the state”s Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Court Facilities Working Group regarding the new Lakeport courthouse project.
The BOS took up the issue as an extra item, receiving a request for comment from the AOC after the posting of Tuesday”s agenda. Written comments needed to be submitted by today.
The BOS letter acknowledges that funding issues could force the AOC to put some of its planned projects on hold. The supervisors wanted the state to know they support the Lakeport project moving forward as soon as possible.
“The current courthouse facility in Lakeport lacks adequate security, is severely overcrowded, is in poor physical condition and creates an unsafe environment for staff and the public that do business with the courts,” the letter stated.
Later in the meeting, the BOS adopted three sets of proclamations.
Brown presented the first to a group of local 4-H members to honor National 4-H Week.
The second proclamation commended retiring County Clerk/Auditor-Controller Pam Cochrane for 31 years of county service. Cochrane started with Lake County government as an accountant in February 1980 and rose to her current position in 1998.
A third batch of proclamations recognized the actions of LCSO deputies Mike Curran and Gary Frace and LCSO Sgt. Andy Davidson during a September shooting incident in Kelseyville.
Brown presented the decrees to Curran and Frace. Rivero accepted the honor on behalf of Davidson. District Attorney Don Anderson also gave the three officers letters of appreciation Tuesday. They had previously received sheriff”s commendations.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
