CLEARLAKE >> The City of Clearlake received numerous donations to organizations from the County’s District Attorney’s office after the recent settlement of a lawsuit.
Provisions of the settlement included over $15,000 to the Clearlake Fire Department and donations to charities of Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson’s choice in the total of $50,000.
“Usually our positions have a negative connotation to it, but tonight we are here to give away money,” Anderson said. “Because it was an environmental crime, I talked to a lot of city officials and I was looking for organizations that really help the community.”
The case began with a complaint that was filed in 2016 against the Wiseda Resort alleging environmental damage. The resort suffered a fire and burned down in February of 2013. The owners did not clean up the property in the fire’s aftermath.
The settlement required funds go toward organizations in the city of Clearlake or the surrounding area, related to homelessness or the environment.
The Lake Conservation District received $15,000, Hope Rising received $5,000, Citizens Caring for Clearlake (CC4C) received $6,000, Lake County Vet Connect received $6,000, Lower Lake Community Action group received $6,000, Clearlake Senior Center received $6,000 and another $6,000 to the Animal Coalition
“I would like to do this more often and we only have one stipulation about giving this money out, they can’t go to Las Vegas on it,” Anderson said jokingly
City Manager Greg Folsom said this effort was able to be accomplished by having the participation of multiple agencies that included not only the city and the DA office but also the County, the Health Department, Fish and Wildlife, the Fire District and others.
“Property owners have to be responsible for cleaning their properties and this particular property owner was not being responsible. So he was forced to tear it down thanks to the efforts of Don and his team,” Folsom said.
These nonprofits and community organizations will be able to use these funds to continue their efforts in keeping the city and county clean and welcoming.
