LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As the county of Lake moves forward in the process of pursuing reimbursements from property owners for wildland fire cleanup, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized the county administrative officer to execute agreements with landowners for collecting those funds.
As a result of the board’s passage of the resolution on Tuesday afternoon, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson will be able to execute reimbursement agreements and related documents in order to collect insurance proceeds to go toward the state’s debris cleanup program, carried out by CalRecycle.
County officials reported that in the fall of 2015, Valley fire survivors or their designees authorized the county to enter properties damaged by the fire in order to remove debris. The program required property owners to pay the amount for cleanup covered under their insurance policies.
For months, CalRecycle crews – as well as private contractors hired separately by property owners – worked throughout the Valley fire area, wearing hazmat suits and using heavy equipment to remove debris and scrape down beyond the home foundations. Sites were then tested in order to clear them for the presence of heavy metals and ensure that all hazardous materials were removed.
In June, the county said that it had started receiving invoicing information from CalRecycle, and that the county now was required to move forward with collecting those insurance policy proceeds from property owners in order to reimburse the state.
As part of its rollout of the collection program, the county held three Valley Fire Recovery Task Force meetings in July, distributing to property owners information packets that included a form authorizing the property owner’s insurance company to release information directly to the county if necessary.
The last of the meetings was held on Monday night.
“It really takes a village to pull off a project like we’re pulling off,” Huchingson said of the insurance collection project on Tuesday.
She said the county is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Office of Emergency Service to go back and collect insurance proceeds for the cleanup.
Huchingson told the board that 1,100 people participated in the cleanup program, and 900 of those had insurance. First, the county has pursued reimbursements from the 900 who are insured.
The board had considered hiring a contractor to do the work, but the county decided to do the work with its own staff, she said.
Huchingson said the county wants to offer a payment plan to those who need it, and she asked for permission to pursue such agreements with fire survivors.
She proposed to offer no-interest loans over a 12- or 24-month period to property owners who need time to pay if they already have spent the money. The agreements could include a promissory note attaching the loan to the property, if necessary.
She said a fair number of people had saved the funds from their insurance companies to reimburse the state, but others spent the money.
On average, the debris cleanup alone cost about $100,000 per site, Huchingson said.
However, fire survivors aren’t expected to pay that amount. Rather, they’re only asked to pay the amount provided by their insurance companies, which she said averaged between $12,000 to $15,000. The state and federal government will cover the rest.
She said the county is modeling its procedures on those used in San Diego County several years ago in the wake of a fire disaster.
Supervisor Moke Simon, whose district was devastated by the Valley fire, said he appreciated staff’s work on what he recognized is a “daunting process.”
He said he wanted the loans to be extended to the longer 24-month timeframe.
He said some people have done the right thing and paid, others didn’t understand the problem and still others are settling claims.
Supervisor Tina Scott asked about what is being done for those who are not insured.
Huchingson said those who are uninsured will be covered under a different phase of the project that is about to be launched.
She said about 28 percent of people in the Valley fire were uninsured, which she said was “surprisingly lower” than the 40 percent reported in Calaveras County who were impacted in the Butte fire.
Scott asked if there is pushback on the collections.
“The emotions are so deep,” said Supervisor Rob Brown of handling the situation.
Brown said some property owners have complained about the cleanup costs, and he said the county doesn’t disagree with that concern.
He said in some cases property owners used the funds for other needs, like the new sprinkler systems now required for new homes.
County staff told the board that they are getting three to five payments a day for the cleanup. They also are getting questions from property owners about what is required. They had some alarming phone calls in the first several days after the collection program launched.
Huchingson said staff and a volunteer have been involved in the process of getting the information out to community members. She said even she was involved in assembling the 1,000 packets that were distributed as well as taking phone calls and emails.
The county has considered bringing on additional staff but hasn’t so far. Huchingson said that the project is funded by the California Office of Emergency Services, so they may come back to the board to pursue more staffing depending on how the workload goes.
She said the county’s approach to the collection process will save the taxpayers money. Bids to do the work had ranged between $800,000 and $1 million.
Brown suggested being more flexible and offering payments for up to 36 months. However, Huchingson said the shorter timeframe was suggested due to disaster filing deadlines.
Board Chair Jeff Smith asked if the county verifies with the insurance companies what was paid to property owners for the cleanup.
Huchingson confirmed that collecting such information is part of the process.
She said the county already has a list of people interested in the repayment plan, and they will need to make appointments in order to have people come in and execute the agreement.
The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution authorizing Huchingson to move forward on collecting the funds for the debris removal.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to move forward on selling the Holiday Harbor marina in Nice.
The board passed a resolution amending a previous one that originally had been passed in January 2016, declaring the marina surplus property and allowing for its sale.
The county’s former redevelopment agency purchased Holiday Harbor for $2 million in 2008. The property includes 400 feet of lake frontage, docks, boat slips, a duplex and several buildings.
The matter had been brought up in July but held over while staff researched specifics about the parcel and access to a nearby public beach, which they said is shared, not exclusive to the property.
At the July meeting county staff also had suggested the property be listed for $850,000, with a minimum bid of $650,000.
However, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said that, based on an updated appraisal, they recommended raising the minimum bid to $750,000, with the asking price to remain at $850,000.
Realtor Dave Hughes will be the listing agent. If the project is sold, Hughes will get a 2.5-percent commission, with the selling broker receiving a 3-percent commission Huchingson said.
The bid opening is proposed to take place before the board on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Huchingson said they can reject bids they don’t like.
The selected bidder would have to deposit 4 percent earnest money into an escrow account on the day of bid opening.
District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele moved to approve the resolution, which the board approved.
This is the second county property – both on the Northshore – that the board has voted to move forward on selling in the past month.
In July, the board voted unanimously to sell the former Lucerne visitor center on Highway 20. Hughes also is listing that building, which a minimum asking price of $260,000 and a listing price of $365,000.
The marina is shown in the video above, created by a former listing agent.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With the Lake County Fair just weeks away, tickets for this year’s event are now on sale.
This year’s fair takes place from Thursday, Aug. 31, through Sunday, Sept. 3, at the fairgrounds at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.
This year’s theme is, “It’s Boots N Bling.”
Fair officials said presale tickets and carnival pay-one-price coupons are now on sale, with presale admission tickets offering savings of 25 percent and more on general admission gate prices. Savings of up to 33 percent are available on carnival rides when pay one price coupons are purchased in advance.
The public can take advantage of these savings now through Aug. 31 at the following locations:
- Lakeport: Rainbow Ag, Umpqua Bank and Lake County Chamber; - Kelseyville: Kelseyville Drug and John’s Market; - Clear Lake Riviera: Riviera Foods; - Middletown: Hardester’s Market and CJS Ranch Supply; - Clearlake: Food Etc., Safeway and Grocery Outlet; - Clearlake Oaks: Red & White Market; - Lucerne: Lakeview Market; - Nice: Sentry Market; - Upper Lake: Hi-Way Grocery; - Hidden Valley Lake: Hardester’s Market; - Cobb: Hardester’s Market.
This week, fair entries also are due. The deadline is Saturday, Aug. 5.
The fair is one of Lake County’s favorite summertime events enjoyed by more than 38,000 people each year, and featuring a variety of free entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, livestock shows and the world largest aquarium.
The main grandstand will host an opening night performance of the Fiesta of the Horse on Thursday, the Mud Bogs on Friday, Motorcycle TT and Flattrack Races on Saturday and dirt track auto and the infamous boat races on Sunday.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Local officials are exploring a potential collaboration to bring a range of new health and fitness facilities to Clearlake.
The partnership proposal between the city of Clearlake and Adventist Health Clear Lake was presented to the Clearlake City Council at its Thursday meeting. It begins at the 2:09:30 mark in the video above.
City Manager Greg Folsom told the council that both he and Councilwoman Joyce Overton had spoken with Adventist Health representative Rebecca Southwick about the idea, and wanted to present them to council members.
Southwick was on hand to share with the council her vision, which she said included a property owned by the city – the city’s senior and community center on Bowers Avenue.
The project would be paired with Adventist Health’s Live Well program, based at its health clinic on Lakeshore Drive. Southwick said it’s one of the busiest clinics in the nation, and expects to see 150,000 people this year.
She said the YMCA of Sonoma County is interested in expanding its footprint in Lake County, but needs to do a market feasibility study. At the same time, Southwick said she doesn’t do a fundraising campaign until she conducts a donor feasibility study.
She said her vision for an expanded facility includes a large, indoor heated swimming pool – Olympic size, if possible – plus an indoor basketball court and other fitness amenities, an industrial kitchen and educational space.
The idea would have Adventist Health running its Live Well program while the YMCA would oversee the fitness and recreation portions, she said.
Southwick said she believes such a facility could bring the entire community together, and that it could draw people from other communities around the lake.
She said Lake County does have wealthy people. They don’t live, wear or drive their wealth, but they’re willing to support such causes.
Southwick said she wanted to know if the council is interested in having the senior and community center considered as a site for the project.
Folsom said he also wanted to know if the council was interested before doing any feasibility studies.
“The idea of this is overwhelmingly exciting for me,” said Councilman Phil Harris.
Harris said he grew up in Clearlake “economically challenged,” and didn’t learn to swim until he was 16. As such, he said that a pool would have a huge impact on local youth.
He agreed with Southwick that it could draw in people from other communities around the lake.
Harris said his concern was that the community center location had a limitation on parking, and he said he wanted to see an architectural drawing of how the expanded center might look. But he added that he would be in support of the project “one million percent” if all of the parts came together.
Vice Mayor Bruno Sabatier said he hoped Adventist Health also would look at other city-owned properties, such as a 29-acre location on Highway 53.
Councilman Nick Bennett said he drives his daughter to the Middletown pool, which is open during the summer.
He agreed with Harris that the project would be a wonderful thing for Clearlake.
Southwick said Adventist Health wants to do a survey of 600 homes throughout Lake County about whether they would use the facility as part of studying the project proposal.
Harris said that the current times in Lake County are exciting, and even more so for Clearlake.
The council gave consensus to city staff to explore the matter further with Adventist Health.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Congressman Mike Thompson. Courtesy photo. LAKEPORT, Calif. – Congressman Mike Thompson will hold a “Coffee with our Congressman” on Thursday, Aug. 10, in Lakeport.
Thompson will host the event from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Lake County Board of Supervisors of Chambers, located on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse at 255 N. Forbes St.
Lakeport residents will have the opportunity to meet and speak with Thompson and to learn about the services available to constituents through his offices.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, and chairs the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force as well as the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several new dogs ready for their new homes this week.
This week’s available dogs include mixes of border collie, Chihuahua, German Shepherd, husky, Labrador Retriever, miniature pinscher and pit bull.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
This male retriever mix is in kennel No. 5, ID No. 7970. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male retriever mix
This male retriever mix has a short red and white coat.
Shelter staff said he has already been altered, and he sits on command. He is well-mannered and would do best with children ages 12 and above. He was assessed with other dogs and did fine, not growling or fighting, but does exhibit dominant behavior.
He already has been altered.
He’s in kennel No. 5, ID No. 7970.
“Tiki” is a female miniature pinscher mix in kennel No. 6, ID No. 8054. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Tiki’
“Tiki” is a female miniature pinscher mix with a short brindle and white coat.
She’s in kennel No. 6, ID No. 8054.
This young female German Shepherd is in kennel No. 8, ID No. 7986. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female German Shepherd
This young female German Shepherd has a long black and brown coat.
Shelter staff said she would benefit from obedience training and will make a great family pet with some work.
She would do best in a home with no small dogs or cats until she is trained. She is good with children ages 12 and up.
She’s in kennel No. 8, ID No. 7986.
This female Chihuahua mix is in kennel No. 9, ID No. 8083. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female Chihuahua mix
This female Chihuahua mix has a short black and white coat.
She already has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 9, ID No. 8083.
This male Labrador Retriever mix is in kennel No. 11, ID No. 7999. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male Labrador Retriever mix
This male Labrador Retriever mix has a short tan and white coat.
He already has been neutered.
Shelter staff said he has been assessed with other dogs, both male and female, and did fine with all of them.
He’s in kennel No. 11, ID No. 7999.
This female border collie mix is in kennel No. 12, ID No. 8091. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Female border collie mix
This female border collie mix has a medium-length tricolor coat.
Shelter staff said she loves to give hugs.
She’s in kennel No. 12, ID No. 8091.
This male Labrador Retriever-pit bull terrier mix is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 8089. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Labrador Retriever-pit bull terrier
This male Labrador Retriever-pit bull terrier mix has a short black coat with white markings.
He’s in kennel No. 18, ID No. 8089.
This male husky is in kennel No. 19, ID No. 8090. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.Male husky
This male husky has a medium-length gray and white coat.
He’s in kennel No. 19, ID No. 8090.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
