LAKE COUNTY — The Board of Supervisors (BOS) talked about the issue of water service for southern Lakeport on Tuesday before deciding the public discussion should continue in two weeks.
The supervisors were considering whether the county should contract with Lakeport-based Ruzicka Associates for a study to determine the feasibility of a public water system in unincorporated Lakeport from the city limits south to near Manning Creek.
Lake County Special Districts currently supplies sewer service along the South Main Street and Soda Bay Road corridor but parcel owners rely on individual wells for water, according to administrator Mark Dellinger.
The City of Lakeport hopes to annex the corridor, which is within its sphere of influence.
Lakeport Community Development Director Richard Knoll, who was one of two city staff members to attend the BOS meeting, said the city has devoted some funds to looking at extending its water service to the proposed annexation area.
Lake County Supervisor Anthony Farrington, whose district includes the corridor, said that from his perspective, the main issue was making sure the property owners receive the service. “It”s about getting water out there,” he said.
District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith shared similar sentiments, saying, “We need to work together. It”s about serving the public out there.”
Rather than decide on the proposed contract with Ruzicka Associates Tuesday, the BOS chose to postpone the conversation for a couple of weeks to allow county and city staff to discuss relevant issues.
Farrington said he wouldn”t want the county to spend money on a feasibility study if water service became an aspect of an annexation agreement.
County and city officials have had ongoing negotiations regarding a possible annexation resolution for about nine months to a year, Farrington said after the BOS meeting.
There has been “no real consensus” to date and the county anticipates receiving a new counterproposal from city staff soon, he added.
The supervisors scheduled the feasibility study discussion for March 27. Farrington said he expects the BOS to also talk about the possibility of an annexation agreement that day.
In other business during Tuesday”s meeting at the Lake County Courthouse, the BOS presented a pair of proclamations.
The first designated March as Meals on Wheels Month. The proclamation stated more than 100,000 meals “are delivered annually to homebound seniors in Lake County, so they may live independently in their homes for as long as possible.”
The second voiced BOS support for the inaugural “Lake County CAN!” food drive, which seeks to collect donations on behalf of food pantries and the “Stuff the Backpack” program for local schools. For more information on the effort, visit www.LakeCountyCAN.org.
A third proclamation appeared on Tuesday”s agenda but the BOS rescheduled the presentation for next week”s meeting.
The decree thanked and recognized volunteers and several agencies for assisting with marijuana grow-site reclamation in the Mendocino National Forest in early January. It will be read aloud March 20 at 9:10 a.m.
The supervisors unanimously approved appointments to two county committees.
Willowoak Istarwood, Marilyn Johnson and Inez Wenckus were assigned positions on the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Advisory Committee. Claudia Ann Helmes filled one of four vacancies on the Emergency Medical Care Committee.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
