LAKEPORT >> In response to financial strain from two major fires, the Lake County Board of Supervisors cancelled the Hill Road Jail Expansion Project and raised the rates for Clayton and Valley Fire debris dumping at the Eastlake Landfill at its regular meeting on Tuesday.
The jail expansion project, funded by a state-awarded grant worth $20 million, was ultimately terminated due to the increased operational and staffing costs the new facility would require. It also required a 5 percent county match or $1 million.
“There’s no point in feeding this dead horse,” District 5 Supervisor and BOS Chair Rob Brown said. “I think we just need to cut the cord.”
Although Brown’s thoughts won out, he did not receive a full consensus on the board. District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith was the only dissenting vote on the 4-1 outcome. He was concerned about criminals roaming the streets.
“I don’t like kicking more people out of jail,” Smith argued. “The thought of kicking people out of jail because we are too full disgusts me.”
The state will allow the county to reapply for the grant when it is fiscally able to do so, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said.
Eastlake Landfill
The BOS also approved, this time unanimously, the rate increases for fire-related debris dumping at the Eastlake Landfill.
Public Services Director Scott DeLeon presented two resolutions to the board, one urgency ordinance and a regular one for future disasters. Both raised the gate fee at the Clearlake Landfill to $65 per ton or $9.22 per cubic yard. Regular rates weren’t raised.
“It’s not a hit to anyone,” Brown said, addressing some of the public’s negative reception of the proposal. “I don’t know a single person that’s paying for [debris removal] out of pocket, and if they can afford to do it on their own they can afford a $14 increase.”
