LAKEPORT >> Considering the recent rain, the Lake County Board of Supervisors turned attention toward the Lakeside Heights landslide problem on Tuesday. Hill Road, the primary route to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, has been closed since Thursday.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington requested the discussion.
“I think the timing is proper and appropriate,” Farrington said. “This road closure has a regional impact, not just in my district.”
Access to Sutter Lakeside was a primary concern cited by Farrington.
Conditions, prevention, public safety and potential grants were all topics included in the discussion.
Last week”s storm resulted in further movement of the slide, according to Lake County Public Works Director Scott De Leon.
“The slide is presently out to the center line of Hill Road. It is just slowly progressing out into the road,” De Leon said.
However, emergency access to the subdivision is available on Lakeshore Boulevard.
Additionally, De Leon submitted a notice of intent to the state for a “hazard elimination grant program” to install a Gabion wall.
“It”s basically a series of baskets that are filled with stones ? they are relatively free draining,” De Leon explained.
The grant would total a little more than $225,000, with a 25-percent match on the county”s part. If accepted, the roads department would pay the match, according to De Leon.
As for preventative actions, Lake County Community Development and Code Enforcement Director Richard Coel said “the smart thing to do at this point, unfortunately, is to let it be.”
“There is a number of challenges with getting to it and we don”t want to make things worse,” Coel said.
Citing the use of heavy equipment and current road conditions, Coel said he “wasn”t comfortable” with working on the slide.
No members of the public offered comment on the issue.
No action was taken by the board, as the discussion was aimed at updating board members on current conditions and establishing a plan for addressing the problem.
