LAKEPORT — Measures to provide solutions to two long-term problems the county has been facing were discussed at the supervisors meeting Tuesday morning.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) addressed budgeting issues for projects involving Lakeside Heights and a long-term funding measure for projects involving Clear Lake.
The BOS approved the conversion of $49,020 for the completion of the sewer relocation project in Lakeside Heights.
The money would come from a $350,000 loan that was approved by the board in April for water and sewer infrastructure projects, according to a document submitted to the BOS by Administrator and Compliance Coordinator Mark Dellinger. As part of the deal, a cap of $250,000 per project was placed. The sewer relocation project is predicted to cost $299,020.
“There is a public interest in approving this request due to the fact that the temporary sewer system is at a significant risk of overflow,” the document read.
According to the document, geotechnical investigators found that the area were the sewage system was initially going to be place is comprised of “very stiff and dense deposits,” making drilling in the area slower.
Because of the findings, it was proposed that manholes in place be left where they are, but the remainder of the plan should be adjusted to the findings.
Water and sewage problems as a result of a landslide in April caused millions of dollars of damage.
In an item that did not require action by the BOS, the department of Water Resources led a workshop to discuss the development of Measure E, an ordinance that would place a special, retail sales tax on the county aimed at raising funds for programs and projects related to Clear Lake. The measure, which would is planned to be included in the June 2014 ballot, would implement a .5-percent tax on the entire county, according to a memorandum submitted by Water Resources Director Scott De Leon. Notably, the tax would only be applied to retail transactions and uses and not be implemented on purchases of groceries and rent or mortgage payments, among other transactions. De Leon said Tuesday during the BOS meeting that the county needs more funds if it wants to keep the lake free of invasive species and combat problems with algae.
“If we need to work on a fixed pot of money we”re going to need to cut some services,” De Leon said.
According to the memorandum, the measure is predicted to raise roughly $2.4 million per year and an estimated $24 million during a 10-year span. When questioned about inflation by a community member, Supervisor Jeff Smith noted that inflation may add roughly $2 million during the 10-year period, and added that inflation would likely to expenditures as well.
In order for the measure to pass, two thirds of voters would have to vote in favor of it. If passed, it would go into action as soon as 110 days after passed, according to the memorandum.
Money raised from the tax would be deposited to the Water Quality, Aquatic Invasive Species, and Aquatic Weed and Algae Prevention and Control Fund.
“In enacting this ordinance, it is the intent of the county to fund an Expenditure Plan, which will augment the increasingly limited funding available to promote the long term health of Clear Lake ? and other water bodies in the county,” the document reads. Once collected, funds would be used primarily to prevent introduction of quagga and zebra mussels to the lake and combatting algae problems.
To keep mussels out of the lake, the plan includes improved water vessel inspection, development of sanitation and quarantine facilities and development of tighter control on Lake access, according to the memorandum. Funding will also go to developing tests to study algae presence in the lake and implementing procedures to address algae-related problems.
After the workshop, the proposal is expected to be further developed by a committee that was made up of several community representatives.
Bob Minenna/minennaphotography.com
The Lakeside Heights subdivision issue was addressed at Tuesday”s Board of Supervisors meeting.
