LAKE COUNTY >> In another chapter of the Soda Bay Road Corridor saga, the Lake County Board of Supervisors decided not to pass a resolution that would fully oppose the City of Lakeport’s annexation of the area.
District 4 Supervisor and BOS Chair Anthony Farrington brought the item to the council, citing opposition by the region’s landowners and arguing that Lake County and Lakeport would be harmed if the annex succeeded.
“The city’s proposal to annex this corridor provides zero benefit to the county,” Farrington wrote in his memo to the board. “I will continue to stand by these business and property owners, many of which have ties to each of our supervisorial districts.”
This issue, which has been has been in the region’s political consciousness for more than a decade, is by some accounts tied to the board’s previous debate over a South Main Street water project that would shift water districts.
There are currently two options for this project. The first one would be an out-of-area agreement where Lakeport provides the water with a reimbursement from the county.
“It’s a win, win,” Farrington said. “There’s potential for the city council to lower water rates.”
However, according to Farrington, the city will not agree to that plan unless something is done about the annexation proposal.
Due to the more than $400,000 loss in tax revenue, some of his fellow board members shared his position, such as District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele, but they did not agree with adopting the resolution. Instead, they recommended that talk of annexation be taken off the negotiating table and sole focus be placed on the water.
“I’ve dealt with this for 16 years,” District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith said. “This is a no-brainer … We need water for that area.”
Resident Phil Murphy also expressed his frustration over the matter.
“The public has been sitting on the sidelines watching you go back and forth on this,” Murphy said. “Both the council and this board have not expended the energy or effort to resolve this issue.”
Farrington responded to Murphy’s comments and added later that $2 million has been set aside for a stand-alone project if the first option doesn’t come to fruition.
That project has already started its initial phases. Prior to the annexation discussion, Mark Dellinger of Special Districts gave a status report of it and said that the environmental study is almost complete.
But before the construction begins, the board wants to see if a compromise can be made.
It will discuss sending two board members to negotiate with the Lakeport City Council at a special meeting next Tuesday. Farrington said he will not be involved in the negotiations, which could begin in January, if annexation is part of the process.
Lakeport Mayor Martin Scheel and Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Mettina were also in attendance at the meeting.
“I think the board took the appropriate action in not passing the resolution,” he said.
