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Lakeport Police logs: Saturday, Jan. 10
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
00:00 EXTRA PATROL 2601100001
Occurred at Lake County Law Library on 3D....
State and county leaders to update community on Valley fire recovery and rebuilding efforts June 23
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblyman Bill Dodd are joining state agency officials, Lake County representatives and nonprofit leaders in Middletown on the evening of Thursday, June 23, for the “Lake County Strong Town Hall: A Community Update on Valley Fire Recovery & Rebuilding Efforts.”
The town hall will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road.
A free hot dog barbecue hosted by Calpine will take place before the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
“Since the devastating Valley fire hit south Lake County, thousands have mobilized and over $100 million has been invested in the recovery and rebuilding efforts,” Sen. McGuire said. “While we’ve made significant progress, there is a lot of work in front of us and we’re looking forward to the conversation at our June 23 town hall.”
In total, the deadly Valley Fire scorched more than 76,000 acres, caused $1.2 billion in damage, destroyed 1,330 homes, and nearly 1,900 businesses and agricultural buildings were lost, 20,000 people were evacuated in a matter of hours.
The fire also cost four Lake County residents their lives.
The town hall will be an opportunity for all residents to participate in an important conversation and hear updates from McGuire; Dodd; Nancy Ward, California Office of Emergency Services chief deputy director and Charles Rabamad, OES assistant director for recovery; Scott Smithline, director of CalRecycle, the agency charged with cleanup efforts; and Chief Scott Upton of the Cal Fire Northern Region.
There also will be reports from the county of Lake, including Board of Supervisors Chairman Rob Brown, Sheriff Brian Martin, Lake County Public Works Director Scott De Leon, Lake County Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski and the Lake County Planning and Building Department.
Also providing updates will be representatives from local nonprofit organizations to discuss donation distribution since the Valley fire.
They will include Brett Martinez and Steve Falk, Lake County Fire Victims Relief Fund; Patty Bruder, North Coast Opportunities, Lake County Fire Relief Fund; John Ruiz, Red Cross, Northern California Coast Region; and Kaj Ahlmann, Lake County Rising.
“From day one, we have been active and engaged in the massive recovery and rebuilding process and we’re looking forward to bringing all of the agencies back together, to provide the community a comprehensive update on the state and county’s work over these past nine months,” McGuire said.
Supervisors put off decision on crane abatement repayment agreement
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors put off making a decision on a proposed agreement to repay the county for removing a crane that went into Clear Lake nearly six years ago.
The crane in question belonged to Martin Scheel, who at the time was working as a marine contractor on Clear Lake.
In November 2010, Scheel was using the crane to build a boat lift near Clearlake Park when it slipped from its barge during a storm and went into the lake, where it was reported to be in about 50 feet of water. A barge and a push boat also sank but were moved a month later, as Lake County News has reported.
In 2012 Scheel was elected to the Lakeport City Council and is now running to succeed Anthony Farrington as the District 4 representative on the Board of Supervisors.
The matter has become an election year issue, with Farrington using it to attack Scheel after Scheel announced his candidacy late last year. Farrington has provided support for Tina Scott with a monetary campaign donation and by placing signage supporting Scott on his business but says he has not endorsed. Based on preliminary election results Scott will be in a runoff with Scheel this fall for the seat and who was at the meeting.
Farrington said that Scheel should already have paid the county back for the abatement, while Scheel has said he has attempted to get a full accounting from the county and a bill, but until now hasn't received one.
In January 2011, the Board of Supervisors voted to have the crane removed. During that meeting, Scheel told the supervisors that he did not have the means to recover the crane on his own.
Public Works Director Scott De Leon's memo to the board for the Tuesday meeting reported that the county contracted with Meridian Construction in 2011 to remove the crane.
The total cost of the abatement was $59,945.07, with De Leon reporting that, once retrieved, the crane was sold to a salvage company. The county applied those proceeds – $4,039 – to the account, for a final abatement cost of $55,906.07.
De Leon presented to the board a proposed agreement in which Scheel will make equal biannual installments of $2,795.30 over the coming 10 years. The full balance is due immediately if he misses the payments, which are due on or before April 10 and Dec. 10 of each year.
“This is being brought to you as a draft for your consideration and discussion,” De Leon told the board Tuesday morning.
Scheel was present but did not speak during the discussion.
Supervisor Jim Steele questioned the county's policy of making loans to people, noting that the repayment plan did not include interest or collateral.
“I'm not aware of any policy,” said De Leon, who pointed out that county service areas that offer road maintenance services make interest-free loans.
“This seems a little strange, that we're going to have an unsecured loan, no collateral,” said Steele.
De Leon replied, “There isn't property to apply the lien to,” referring to his memo that explained that the crane was sold for scrap.
Farrington said the board doesn't generally police the handling of abatement agreements, and questioned County Counsel Anita Grant about whether it would require a court judgment to place a lien on real property and if a nexus could be established to affix such a lien to property not related to an abatement.
Grant said that in abatements, the method of collection is determined by the board at a cost recovery hearing, where the board can then hear objections.
Farrington added that he hopes the board will look at permit requirements or bonding to work on the lake, which Board Chair Rob Brown said was something he had raised with the matter five years ago.
Finley resident Phil Murphy, who also had run in the District 4 race, repeatedly questioned the board about why the matter hadn't been resolved previously.
Brown told him, “I don't have an answer.” He added, “It ends here,” and the board was to blame.
Murphy questioned why the board wasn't asking about what went wrong. “Don't you have to have an understanding of what failed in order to correct that problem?”
“We're human,” said Brown, adding that it slipped through the cracks.
Supervisor Jeff Smith said he thought it was taken care of five years ago. “It was the only abatement like that we've ever seen.”
Smith added, “We screwed up, what else do you want to hear?”
Murphy asked if, in past abatements, someone had been offered a payment plan. Smith said yes, that he had asked the same thing that morning of staff. Such plans didn't have interest.
Brown added that anyone who owes the county money can repay it in installments.
Smith said he wanted to bring back for review county policy on such agreements and look at collecting interest.
Farrington disagreed with Brown and Smith that the county was to blame, saying Scheel was fully aware of the money he owed the county.
“I'm trying not to bring the politics into this,” Farrington said, adding that he hoped the matter would be put right.
He said there should be interest and collateral, and Scheel should be treated like anyone else, without concessions.
Another community member, Mike Dunlap, suggested they should ask Scheel to go out and try to get a loan in order to pay the amount off in full. If he can't, then the matter should be brought back for negotiation, Dunlap said.
The board agreed to give Scheel 30 days to seek out another avenue of financing, with Brown scheduling the matter to be brought back on July 12.
Scheel told Lake County News later on Tuesday that he had hoped the matter would have been resolved that day.
He said he has previously attempted to get a loan to cover the amount but has been unsuccessful in doing so.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
State of Jefferson update: Lassen County residents vote down joining Jefferson, supporters plan assembly
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The effort to create a 51st state from parts of Northern California hit another obstacle on Tuesday, although supporters are indicating they are pressing on and still making progress.
Measure G, which asked Lassen County voters if they wanted to separate from California and join the State of Jefferson movement, was rejected 58 to 42 percent, based on preliminary election results.
Lassen was reported to be the only remaining county to include the question of separation from the state on their ballot.
“All across the board, the politics of fear were rejected by the politics of hope and the ‘Jeffersonians’ were soundly trounced,” said Lassen County Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Chapman.
With the defeat in Lassen County, “They have no coastline on the west and have lost half of their border with Nevada,” Chapman said.
“We applaud the tremendous local grassroots effort to counter Measure G, as well as Lassen County voters for recognizing Measure G was misguided. The plan would leave the county financially devastated and severely at-risk, and Lassen families more vulnerable,” said Keep It California Chair Cindy Ellsmore.
She added, “There are certainly challenges, but increasing our region’s influence in Sacramento can only be accomplished through collaborative advocacy, focused education, and bridge-building. We look forward to working with Lassen County leaders and communities to make our voice louder in Sacramento, and improve life for all Northern California families.”
The defeat of Measure G was the latest development in the Jefferson movement, which has been debated in counties across Northern California over the last several years.
In April, an advisory vote on joining the State of Jefferson failed to qualify for the November ballot in Nevada County.
In December, the Lake County Board of Supervisors rescinded a resolution to place a State of Jefferson advisory vote on the November ballot, with the Plumas County Board of Supervisors taking similar action in January.
Del Norte's voters rejected joining the State of Jefferson, and the boards of supervisors of Alpine, Shasta, Sierra and Trinity would not approve a resolution supporting the new state.
In Tehama County, voters approved joining Jefferson, and the supervisors in Glenn, Modoc, Siskiyou, Sutter and Yuba also were supportive of separation resolutions.
In several more counties that would be included in the outline of the new state – Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Humboldt, Mendocino, Placer and Tuolumne – no formal action by county boards has been reported.
However, State of Jefferson proponents appear to be pushing forward.
Earlier this year, hundreds of State of Jefferson supporters went to Sacramento to rally and submit declarations for 21 out of 23 counties in the proposed new state's territory. Those counties include Lake and other counties that have turned down joining the effort, according to a map on the State of Jefferson Web site.
The two counties not included are Del Norte and Humboldt, with the latter reported to have working support committees.
Despite the more recent setbacks, the State of Jefferson Party reported on its Facebook page that it intends to hold the first Jefferson formation assembly on July 23 in Live Oak.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Supervisors to consider crane abatement repayment contract, hear Westside Community Park update
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will consider an agreement for repayment of removal of a construction crane that went into the lake in 2010 and get an update on plans at Westside Community Park.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, 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 and online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
At 9:45 a.m., the board will consider approving an agreement with Martin Scheel to repay abatement costs associated with the removal of a submerged crane in Clear Lake in 2011.
Scheel, currently a Lakeport City Council member and a District 4 supervisorial candidate, had been working as a contractor on the lake when the crane went into the lake in November 2010, as Lake County News has reported: www.bit.ly/1Ub0sHj .
The crane was removed in August 2011 at a cost of $55,906.07. Scheel has agreed to pay that amount over the course of 10 years in equal biannual installments of $2,795.30, which are to be made on or before April 10 and December 10 of each year until the amount is paid in full.
If he fails to make the payments, the full amount shall be immediately due, based on the contract language.
In an untimed item, there will be a presentation on the Westside Community Park and update on plans for skate park.
A public hearing on the appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission's denial of a major use permit for a Dollar General store in Middletown – which had been set for the Tuesday meeting – has been continued to 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 10.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held May 10, May 17 and May 24, 2016.
7.2: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Lake Family Resource Center for a program to assist victims of domestic violence and authorize the chair to sign.
7.3: Authorize the county administrative officer to send a letter to the US General Services Administration in order to inform said office of Lake County’s intent to not acquire the property known as “Coast Guard LORAN Station Middletown.”
7.4: Approve reissuance of tax refund check to Samuel & Katherine Boucher in the amount of $1,511.62.
7.5: Approve the first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Edgewood Center for Children and Families for Specialty Mental Health Services for Fiscal Year 2015-16 for a decrease of $30,000 and a new contract maximum of $20,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.6: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2015-119 to amend the FY 2015-16 Adopted Budget by adjusting reserves and fund balance carry overs.
7.7: Approve contract between county of Lake and Trina Maia for physical therapy services in support of the California Children's Services Program and the Medical Therapy Program for a contract maximum of $54,250 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.8: (a) Waive the competitive bidding process; and (b) approve the purchase of a 4052R Compact Utility Tractor through John Deere & Company; and (c) authorize the Public Services director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order in the amount of $42,151.84 to John Deere & Co.
7.9: Approve award bid for Lake County Fire Damage Sign Replacement Project, Lake County, CA Bid No. 15-16, to Statewide Traffic Safety and Signs Inc, in the amount of $105,939.48 and authorize the chair to sign agreement and notice of award.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:30 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, LCAQMD FY 16/17 Draft Budget Hearing, Budget Units #8799 & #8798.
8.3, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of an agreement between the county of Lake and Martin Scheel for the repayment of abatement costs associated with the removal of a submerged crane in Clear Lake.
8.4, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, continued to July 10 at 10 a.m. – consideration of Appeal (AB 16-02) of Planning Commission's denial of major use permit (UP 15-08, IS 15-10) and mitigated negative declaration to allow construction of a 9,100 square foot Dollar General Store; Appellant is Cross Development LLC; project located at 20900 State Highway 29, Middletown (APN 024-301-18) .
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of continuing the proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency due to wildfire conditions.
9.3: Presentation on the Westside Community Park and update on plans for skate park .
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Significant Exposure to Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9 I(d)(2)(e)(1) – One potential claim.
10.3: Public Employee Evaluations Title: Public Works director.
Email Elizabeth Larson at