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News

West Nile virus detected in Lake County mosquitoes

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Two mosquito samples collected in Lake County have tested positive for West Nile virus.

The mosquitoes were trapped on July 11 near Lakeport and Kelseyville, according to the Lake County Vector Control District.

“West Nile virus shows up each year in Lake County, usually in July,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “A positive mosquito sample means that West Nile virus could be transmitted by mosquitoes now, and is a reminder to use mosquito repellent outside during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are biting.”

No other West Nile virus has been detected in Lake County in 2023.

Statewide, 21 California counties have detected WNV this year, mainly in mosquitoes and dead birds.

No human cases have been reported in California this year, but one human case of another mosquito virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, was reported in a Kern County resident.

Residents are urged to help reduce their risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases by following these guidelines:

• Dump or drain standing water. Mosquitoes grow in standing water.
• Defend yourself with mosquito repellents containing Picaridin, DEET, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or PMD.
• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are biting, typically dawn and dusk.
• Maintain neglected swimming pools. Just one can produce more than 1 million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
• Report dead birds to the toll-free state hotline, 1-877-968-2473, or online.

The mosquitoes that transmit WNV develop in out-of-service swimming pools and spas, animal watering troughs, ornamental ponds, and other sources of standing water.

The Vector Control District offers free mosquito-eating fish to control mosquitoes in these sources.

Residents are encouraged to contact the district to report neglected pools, request service for mosquito problems, or to get mosquito fish at 707-263-4770 or to fill out a service request online at www.lcvcd.org.

The Lake County Vector Control District traps and tests mosquitoes throughout the county to identify the areas that have the highest risk, and targets those areas for source reduction and treatment using an integrated vector management program.

Residents with questions, or who would like help with a mosquito problem should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 (Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or visit their website.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit https://westnile.ca.gov/.

Information about mosquito repellents can be found on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Scotts Valley Water Conservation District election planned

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office reported that there will be an election this fall for two seats on the Scotts Valley Water Conservation District Board.

The general election, scheduled to be held on Nov. 7, will be for two four-year terms that become vacant on the first Friday in December 2023 or until a successor is elected and qualifies for office.

The two seats up for election are for the board’s Division 1 and Division III seats.

Official declaration of candidacy forms for eligible candidates desiring to file for any of the offices enumerated above may be obtained from the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, located at 325 N Forbes St. in Lakeport during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The filing period began on Monday, July 17, and ends on Friday, Aug. 11, at 5 p.m.

For more information, call the elections office at 707-263-2372 or 888-235-6730.

Golden State Water Co. acquires Crescent Bay water system

Mary Benson, a Crescent Bay Improvement Co. customer, and Keith Ahart, operations superintendent for Golden State Water Co.’s Clearlake system. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The California Public Utilities Commission has approved Golden State Water Co. request to acquire Crescent Bay Improvement Co.

The aging water system will be consolidated into the company’s Clearlake Customer Service Area.

“Golden State Water is committed to using its resources and technical experience to rebuild Crescent Bay’s failed water system,” said Paul Schubert, general manager of Golden State Water Co.’s Northern District. “By investing in the treatment and delivery of water, there will come the day when our new customers will no longer have to think twice about their water quality.”

The Crescent Bay Improvement Company was formed in the 1930s and serves approximately 24 residential service connections. The current source of water is surface water from Clear Lake.

The water system has been unable to meet federal and state water quality standards due to the inability to finance infrastructure improvements critical to the treatment and delivery of water.

“Our water system is simply broken, and the state says our tap water is unsafe to drink,” said Mary Benson, a resident of Crescent Bay. “Our community is thrilled that Golden State Water is committed to replacing an aging water system that cannot provide safe drinking water or fire hydrants critical to protecting our homes.”

As part of the acquisition, Golden State Water will replace the water system’s infrastructure, tanks and treatment plant and install fire hydrants that currently do not exist.

The acquisition helps the State Water Resources Control Board and the CPUC achieve their policy goals of upgrading small water systems throughout the state so that all Californians have access to reliable, quality water regardless of their ZIP code.

Golden State Water is seeking grant funding from the State Water Resources Control Board to pay for the rehabilitation of the water system.

Crescent Bay customers will receive free bottled water from the company until the water system meets federal and state water standards.

All Clearlake customer service area customers have access to the company’s customer assistance program that provides monthly credit for low-income customers.

Supervisors to consider economic development and military equipment matters

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors will discuss economic development and workforce matters and a military equipment report by the sheriff’s office when it meets this week.

The‌ ‌board will meet beginning ‌at‌ ‌9‌ ‌a.m. Tuesday, July 18, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌ ‌watched‌ ‌live‌ ‌on‌ ‌Channel‌ ‌8, ‌online‌ ‌at‌ ‌https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx‌‌ and‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌county’s‌ ‌Facebook‌ ‌page. ‌Accompanying‌ ‌board‌ ‌documents, ‌the‌ ‌agenda‌ ‌and‌ ‌archived‌ ‌board‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌videos‌ ‌also‌ ‌are‌ ‌available‌ ‌at‌ ‌that‌ ‌link. ‌ ‌

To‌ ‌participate‌ ‌in‌ ‌real-time, ‌join‌ ‌the‌ ‌Zoom‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌by‌ ‌clicking‌ ‌this‌ ‌link‌. ‌ ‌

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌ID‌ ‌is‌ 972 4989 6742, ‌pass code 286213.‌ ‌The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,97249896742#,,,,*286213#.

All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.

At 9:15 a.m., the board will hear a report from Bruce Wilson, executive director of the Workforce Alliance of the Northbay.

That will be followed at 9:45 a.m. by the Lake County Sheriff’s annual “military equipment” report, required under AB 481.

At 10 a.m., there will be a presentation and consideration of the economic development work plan.

In an untimed item, the board will consider establishing just compensation for several properties to be purchased for the Hill Road Slide Repair and Restoration Project in Lakeport.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Approve agreement between county of Lake and California Psychiatric Transitions for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services, inpatient competency restoration services, and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in the amount of $100,000 for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.2: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the MHSA Lake County Family Stabilization Program for Fiscal Years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 in the amount of $796,116 and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.3: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes for Jan. 24, 2023 and June 14 and 15, 2023.

5.4: Approve amendments to the county of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Worksite Protocol and amendments to Chapter 14 of the county of Lake Policies and Procedures.

5.5: Approve contract renewal between the county of Lake Health Services and Sheila McCarthy for occupational therapy services in support of the California Children’s Services Program and the Medical Therapy Program for a term starting July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and a maximum amount of $49,948.80; and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.6: Adopt proclamation designating the week of July 16-22, 2023, as Probation Services Week.

5.7: Approve agreement between county of Lake and State of California for the housing and training of incarcerated individuals for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, for an amount not to exceed $28,714; and authorize the chair to sign.

5.8: a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to county Ordinance 3109 Section 28.2 due to 38.2(3), not in the public interest as competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and, b) approve contract between county of Lake and Five Pasco Brothers Inc. c/o Omarshall, Inc. for lease agreement, in the amount of $49,440.00 per fiscal year from Nov. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2028, and authorize the chair to sign.

5.9: Approve contract between county of Lake and People Services Inc. for yard maintenance, in the amount of $9,656.87 per fiscal year from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.

5.10: Sitting as the Board of Directors, Lake County Watershed Protection District, adopt resolution authorizing the county of Lake Water Resources Director to (a) accept and execute 2023 Nonpoint Source Grant Program - Clean Water Act section 319(h) Planning Grant and Agreement Award for $145,098 (b) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods and services, (c) approve and authorize the Water Resources director to sign the service agreement with California Rural Water Agency and MC Engineering to fulfill the 319(h) Grant deliverables, and (d) Approve and authorize the Water Resources director to sign the attached reimbursement agreements between the district and the cities of (i) Lakeport and (ii) Clearlake to complete the project and authorize the Water Resources director to sign.

5.11: Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, authorize the county of Lake Water Resources director to accept and execute a California Department of Pesticide Regulation Alliance Grant, not to exceed $346,038 for the grant project titled “Using Integrated Pest Management Methods to Create Strong and Sustainable Shorelines on Clear Lake, CA.”

5.12: Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, approve the agreement between the Lake County Watershed Protection District and Bullfrog Underwater Services and authorize the Water Resources director to sign and execute the agreement.

5.13: Sitting as the Board of Directors, Lake County Watershed Protection District, (a) waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2 (2) & (3); (b) approve the agreement between the Lake County Watershed Protection District and Dr. Jeanine Pfeiffer to conduct specialized services to meet grant deliverables, and authorize the Water Resources director to sign and execute the agreement.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:07 a.m.: Pet of the Week.

6.3, 9:08 a.m.: New and noteworthy at the Library.

6.4, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of July 16 to 22, 2023 as Probation Services Week.

6.5, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of Report from Bruce Wilson, executive director of the Workforce Alliance of the Northbay, or WANB.

6.6, 9:45 a.m.: AB481 / Lake County Sheriff’s Annual “Military Equipment” report.

6.7, 10 a.m.: Presentation and consideration of the economic development work plan.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of resolution authorizing cancellation of reserve accounts in the amount of $3,167,543 to provide sufficient cash flow.

7.3: Consideration of the following Advisory Board appointment: Mental Health Board.

7.4: Consideration and establishment of just compensation for properties to be purchased for the Hill Road Slide Repair and Restoration Project.

7.5: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, consideration of resolution revising the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Adopted Budget of the county of Lake by canceling reserves in Fund 255 NW Regional Sewer System O&M Reserve Designation, in the amount of $150,000 to make appropriations in the Budget Unit 8355, Object Code 785.30-00 Utilities to pay for sewer utility costs.

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Conference with legal counsel: initiation of litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(4) – One potential case.

8.2: Public Employee Appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b) (1): Interviews for Public Health officer; appointment of Public Health officer.

8.3: Addendum, conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.

8.4: Addendum, public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b) (1): Interviews for chief public defender, appointment of chief public defender.

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 City Council to hold public hearing on water and sewer expansion program fees

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council will hold a public hearing on utility fees when it meets this week.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The agenda can be found here.

The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.

If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.

The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.

Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the city clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18.

On the agenda is a public hearing for adoption of a resolution to confirm and approve the utility billing delinquency list and the associated resolution and direct staff to submit the list to the Lake County Auditor-Controller for inclusion on the property tax roll.

Under council business, Assistant City Manager Nick Walker will ask the council to adopt a resolution changing the capacity charges collected for the water and sewer expansion fee program.

In other news, City Manager Kevin Ingram will ask the council to nominate voting delegates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference, to be held Sept. 20 to 22.

On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are warrants; ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on June 20; approval of application 2023-021, with staff recommendations, for the Recovery Happens event; receipt and filing of the third quarter financial update; approval and authorization for the city manager to execute the proposed professional services agreement with Paul Curren dba Curren Consulting; adoption of an ordinance amending Chapter 2.48, Personnel System, of the Lakeport Municipal Code; and approval of a resolution rescinding Resolution 2900 (2023) and revising the Master Pay Schedule in conformance with California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 570.5.

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.

Lodoga fire reported following lightning strikes

NORTH COAST, Calif. — Lightning may have sparked a fire that began on Sunday night in Colusa County.

The Lodoga fire was first reported at around 9:45 p.m. Sunday south of East Park Reservoir in Colusa County, off Leesville Lodoga Road and Cook Springs Road.

The fire was reported on a ridge in an area where lightning strikes had occurred shortly beforehand as the result of a brief lightning storm that had passed through the region.

Initial estimates of the fire’s size put it at about three acres.

Cal Fire reported overnight that the fire is in a remote area and burning in grass and oak woodland. Firefighters were challenged in their attempts to find better access to it.

Copter 102 flew the incident after midnight and estimated the fire was between 20 and 25 acres. Radio reports said they hoped to hold it at that size.

At that point the fire resources at the scene were making their way to the fire’s perimeter, Cal Fire said, with more engines requested to respond.

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.
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Community

  • Lake County Wine Alliance offers sponsor update; beneficiary applications open 

  • Mendocino National Forest announces seasonal hiring for upcoming field season

Public Safety

  • Lakeport Police logs: Thursday, Jan. 15

  • Lakeport Police logs: Wednesday, Jan. 14

Education

  • Woodland Community College receives maximum eight-year reaffirmation of accreditation from ACCJC

  • SNHU announces Fall 2025 President's List

Health

  • California ranks 24th in America’s Health Rankings Annual Report from United Health Foundation

  • Healthy blood donors especially vital during active flu season

Business

  • Two Lake County Mediacom employees earn company’s top service awards

  • Redwood Credit Union launches holiday gift and porch-to-pantry food drives

Obituaries

  • Rufino ‘Ray’ Pato

  • Patty Lee Smith

Opinion & Letters

  • The benefits of music for students

  • How to ease the burden of high electric bills

Veterans

  • CalVet and CSU Long Beach team up to improve data collection related to veteran suicides

  • A ‘Big Step Forward’ for Gulf War Veterans

Recreation

  • Wet weather trail closure in effect on Upper Lake Ranger District

  • Mendocino National Forest seeking public input on OHV grant applications

  • State Parks announces 2026 Anderson Marsh nature walk schedule 

  • BLM lifts seasonal fire restrictions in central California

Religion

  • Kelseyville Presbyterian to host Ash Wednesday service and Lenten dinner Feb. 18

  • Kelseyville Presbyterian Church to hold ‘Longest Night’ service Dec. 21

Arts & Life

  • Auditions announced for original musical ‘Even In Shadow’ set for March 21 and 28

  • ‘The Rip’ action heist; ‘Steal’ grounded in a crime thriller

Government & Politics

  • Lake County Democrats issue endorsements in local races for the June California Primary

  • County negotiates money-saving power purchase agreement

Legals

  • March 3 hearing on ordinance amending code for commercial cannabis uses

  • Feb. 12 public hearing on resolution to establish standards for agricultural roads

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