LAKEPORT— Following months of inquiries, a proposal to lease a Lake County property to serve as base for the Rodeo came before the Board of Supervisors this week. The supervisors expressed enthusiasm and now the proposal awaits further parley by organizers before a commitment will be made.
Scott Harter, county special districts administrator informed the Board of Supervisors Tuesday of a concept he has had under discussion for the prior 8 months. “My deputy was approached by a member of the Rodeo board for potentially locating the rodeo on our facility,” he said “We have 1,200 acres and the Rodeo board was looking for long-term home for their facilities. It would also be able to be used in conjunction with Parks (department) as a stadium ground for potentially equestrian trails, a trail head and multi-use.”
And he added that he had been in talks with Jonathan Armas, animal care and control director about the possibility of using those future grounds as a large animal staging ground for future evacuations during emergencies. “I met with members of the Rodeo board on the site about four times over the last eight months, and talked through where the concept could go and what potential impact that would have on our operations, if any and what that would look like,” Harter said. “It reached the point where it looked like it made sense, so before negotiating leases we want to make sure the Board is supportive, and if so, we can move forward with the next phases of the project.”
Aaron Hiatt, Rodeo Association director noted he was the one who contacted Harter. “The Rodeo has been around for 93 years and every year we put panels up and then take them down and I couldn’t understand why we were without a home of our own,” he said. “I finally contacted Harter and I’ve looked at the site many times and it’s something we’d be very much interested in. But there is one more part of this, if possible, we’d like to purchase the property so it could be a permanent home rather than just a lease. Hopefully we can move forward with leasing the property and doing the infrastructure needed to put on an event every year.”
District 4 Supervisor Michaeal Green was amenable to the project and noted it is a unique property as is the larger property, the Northwest Treatment Plant. “The Rodeo Board is right, they need a permanent home,” he said. “Examining this prospect is appropriate. And if the hope to have this property as the proposed interim use it has a lot of potential.”
District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier the Rodeo’s inquiry was appropriate yet he had a greater concern, whether the 7,000 acres of properties the county already has are parcels they do not need. The properties may be an opportunity for development or private enterprise. “But we’re not doing those things on these properties that are still vacant and possibly useless to us, but we own those because they are properties we bought.” he said. “But at this moment I look forward to moving forward on this project.”
District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon said they all knew young people who are qualifying for the National Rodeo competitions and he looks forward to supporting the project in the long term. “I’m excited to see what comes back to the board one way or another, as a lease or look at a potential purchase,” he said. “I’m in complete support.”
Jessica Pyska, chair of the Board noted she has nieces and nephews who have qualified for the Rodeo Nationals. “To have a facility you can hold big events at, only benefits everybody,” she said. “I’m in full support.”
“The Rodeo is a big part of who we are,” District 3 Supervisor Ed Crandell said. “It borders my district and Michael’s, and a lot of folks also ride horses on Hogback Ridge; so, this is a nice area to connect to. So, I’m n complete support of it.”
Pyska noted they had a consensus and Harter thanked the board and added when organizers are ready to moved forward with the project, they will keep the board posted.
