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The college is considering a 31-acre parcel located at 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport and owned by Tom Adamson, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based developer who has proposed building a 130-lot subdivision on the site, as Lake County News reported in July.
In July, College Superintendent and President Kathy Lehner wrote to Adamson to express interest in the site.
Lehner told Lake County News in a recent interview that the college is still talking to Adamson about the land. In addition, the college's Board of Trustees held a closed session discussion on the property at its Oct. 10 meeting.
The immediate concern, said Lehner, is getting a new appraisal on the property, which Lake County Assessor's Records value at $1.5 million.
Lehner said the college's board wants to get to a point where they can agree to a price and make an offer.
The purchase process, which would be supervised by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, will be conditional upon a California Environmental Quality Act review and seismic testing, said Lehner.
Earlier this month, Mendocino College officials met with Lakeport City Manager Jerry Gillham to identify alternate Lake Center sites in case the Parallel Drive location doesn't work out, Lehner said.
“My intent is to identify something by the end of the year, Dec. 31, because we would like to get the final project proposal done by next July, and in order to do that we have to have the site,” said Lehner.
Measure W, passed last year by voters, gave the college $67.5 million in bond funding for 30 construction and renovation projects, including a permanent Lake Center.
The first Measure W Bond Program Quarterly Status Report, issued earlier this month, reported that, with the addition of state and other matching funds, the Measure W program has a total projected budget of $97.4 million.
Mendocino College's current Lake Center is located at a rented facility at 1005 Parallel drive.
The center serves about 300 “full-time equivalents,” which translates into more than 300 students when counting part-time enrollees, said Lehner.
The enrollment, she said, includes a “big mix” of adults seeking additional education and first-time college students.
Lehner said the bond measure sets aside $15 million for the land purchase, improvements and the start of building for the Lake Center.
“We may not be able to get everything we want at Lake in our first go around,” said Lehner.
If the land is secured, Lehner said the college will put up the buildings it can afford, which could include portables.
Lehner said the new center will allow the college to fulfill its plans of expanding services to Lake County.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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LAKEPORT – Two people escaped a fire that completely destroyed their house Saturday morning.
Lakeport Fire Protection District Chief Ken Wells said the fire was reported at about 5:45 a.m. at a Sixth Street home.
Two people in the rented single-story home woke up to find it fully involved in fire, said Wells, and were able to escape.
Wells said 10 firefighters from Lakeport Fire, two from Kelseyville Fire Protection District and a total of three engines responded to the fire.
Firefighters were on scene until about 11:30 a.m., Wells said.
The cause of the fire, said Wells, is a cigarette. One of the home's residents had fallen asleep while smoking.
The home is a complete loss, Wells said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH LOCATION INFORMATION.
KELSEYVILLE – An older model single-wide mobile home was gutted Friday night after a fire broke out in the living room area.
The fire broke out at about 8:10 p.m. in the trailer, situated in Space 50 at Live Oak Trailer Park at 5935 Live Oak Drive. The trailer was the home of Bob Roy, who neighbors at the park said is in his 80s.
A neighbor’s Ford Bronco, parked in Roy’s driveway as a courtesy to discourage strangers from parking there, suffered moderate damages in the blaze.
The neighbor and owner of the restored Bronco, Linda Cole, said she has known Roy since 1998, the year she first moved to the park.
Roy had not been able to afford regular propane deliveries and just recently purchased a second portable electric heater which he frequently moved about the home as needed, said Cole.
Kelseyville Fire Protection District Chief Howard Strickler would not speculate nor offer any theory as to the cause of the fire.
Strickler indicated that the fire crew would remain on scene for at least one hour after the blaze was extinguished.
There was no word on the condition of Roy, who was reportedly in the home when the fire started.
E-mail Harold LaBonte at
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Last year, the weekend prior to Halloween, CHP officers arrested 1,258 people throughout the state for driving under the influence (DUI).
“If you’re caught driving under the influence, officers will be treating you to time in the local jail,” said CHP Lt. Dane Hayward of the Clear Lake Area office.
In addition to possible jail time, DUI violators face loss of their driver’s license, alcohol-treatment classes and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.
“One way to help keep your good time this Halloween from becoming a drunk driving nightmare is to designate a sober driver before the drinking begins,” said Hayward.
However, the problem of drunk driving is not just seasonal in California.
DUI is the leading cause of fatal traffic collisions in California. In 2006, 1,597 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes; they represent 38 percent of the overall total. Another sobering statistic, 14 percent of victims killed in alcohol-involved collisions were under age 21.
The CHP encourages motorists to call 9-1-1 to report suspected drunk drivers. Be ready to provide the vehicle’s license plate number, make and model, and location.
In addition to keeping an eye on the road, pedestrian safety is also of paramount concern for the CHP. Last Halloween there were 57 collisions in California involving pedestrians, two were fatal.
“Helping to ensure the safety of trick-or-treaters will take a combined effort from both motorists and parents,” said Hayward. “By taking a few extra precautions, everyone can have a safe and fun Halloween.”
Motorists should watch for children darting out from between parked cars and walking on roadways. Also, when driving, be sure to enter and exit driveways carefully. Parents make sure your child can be seen, especially when it gets dark. Remind the kids to look both ways before crossing the street and to use the crosswalks at intersections.
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With the addition of state and other matching funds, the Measure W program has a total projected budget of $97.4 million.
A presentation of the report was given to the Measure W Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) on Tuesday, Oct. 9, and to the Mendocino-Lake Community College Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Oct. 10.
The report provides a summary of the 30 construction and renovation projects listed under the bond, and provides 16 separate summary sheets for projects in progress. As of August 2007, $1,165,746 has been expended and $677,053 has been encumbered.
“Since last November a great deal of work has gone into program planning, establishing numerous project committees and a Facilities Planning office, setting up financial reporting, and starting projects such as re-roofing, procurement of a new computer system and submitting the Final Plan Proposal for our new Library/Learning Resource Center,” said Superintendent/President Kathy Lehner. “We believe Measure W will open more doors, literally, for student success, and we are very excited about the numerous projects we have moving forward. We will continue to keep the public informed about our activities, through media, our website and the quarterly reports.”
A copy of the report, along with other bond information, is available online at www.mendocino.edu/bond or by contacting the Public Information Office at 468-3012.
Also posted at the same web address are the agendas and minutes for the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee’s quarterly meetings, which are open to the public.
Their next meeting will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008, at the Mendocino College Willits Center, 11 Marin St.
The voters, authorizing $67.5 million of facilities bond funds, passed measure W on Nov. 7, 2006.
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The traffic signal will be activated on Thursday, Nov. 1, according to a report from Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr.
Caltrans reminded motorists to always drive cautiously and courteously, especially while motorists become accustomed to the new signal.
The operational project will improve the movement of traffic through the intersection of Route 29, Route 281 (Soda Bay Road) and Red Hills Road, according to Caltrans.
In addition, officials expect a reduction in the number of collisions involving turning vehicles at the intersection.
The contractor, Steiny and Co. Inc. of Vallejo, began construction on Aug. 30, Frisbie reported.
The Nov. 1 completion date is about one month ahead of schedule, according to Caltrans.
Caltrans previously reported that the stoplight was installed at a cost of just under $500,000.
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