LAKEPORT – At the end of an anxious day Friday, the county's escrow on acreage on Mt. Konocti closed.
County Public Services Director Kim Clymire, County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox, County Counsel Anita Grant and Deputy County Counsel Lloyd Guintivano joined Marsy Harrell from First American Title to sign the escrow documents for the 1,344 acres shortly after 5 p.m. Friday.
Afterward, a relieved and excited Clymire issued a whoop of joy. “This is just awesome.”
The documents will be recorded Monday, he said.
At the signing Cox handed over the $2.5 million check for the land. He said the county has made many property purchases over the years, but this was the largest.
Cox – known for his careful fiscal management of the county's budget – joked that the check almost had to be pried out of his hands.
The process to purchase the land began in November 2007, when the Fowler family approached the county and offered the first chance at the land, as Lake County News has reported.
Escrow had to begin by this past Sept. 15 and end by this Sunday or else the county lost the option, according to the agreement terms.
Issues were still being worked out at the 11th hour, making for what Clymire called a “pretty anxious day.”
On Friday Clymire and Community Development Director Rick Coel were up on the mountain working out some easement issues with Mike Fowler, Clymire said.
Still, “It's all come to fruition,” he said.
Clymire gave credit to community members for supporting what he said was a grassroots effort. He also thanked the Board of Supervisors and other county officials for their work.
“It took a lot of work by everybody,” he said.
Clearlake Oaks residents Holly Harris and Chuck Lamb also were on Clymire's recognition list. The couple has supported the effort through, among other things, creation of the www.preservekonocti.org Web site.
Harris and Lamb called the completion of the sale “momentous,” noting it's “one of those moments which will go down in Lake County history.”
They credited county officials with having the foresight, creativity and drive – despite a tough economy – to make the purchase a reality.
Harris and Lamb added that the Clymire, Cox, Grant, the supervisors and those Lake County employees working behind the scene deserved a standing ovation from the public.
Clymire said the work is far from over in making the land into a county park.
On Thursday a master plan committee met for the first time. The group will help determine how the land will be used. The county isn't hiring a high-priced consultant for the work, Clymire added.
He said they'll meet once a month until April, at which time they'll hopefully have a completed draft with policies and procedures.
“We want to take it slow and make it right,” he said.
The county reported that the park is tentatively scheduled to officially open in May of 2010, following the completion of some land improvements for pedestrian access and a road realignment away from Mike Fowler's residence.
Other improvements – parking, benches and tables, and signage – also are planned as soon as possible, according to the county.
The county will pay for park maintenance with the proceeds of telecommunications contracts generated on the 176-acre Buckingham Peak site, which the county previously purchased from the Fowlers for $1.2 million.
Clymire said the land currently is generating $104,000 annually, thanks to the supervisors' recent approval of a contract with T-Mobile.
One-time geothermal funds generated from the largest geothermal lease in US history – paid for a lease on property on Cobb Mountain – along with community donations made the purchase possible, Cox said in a previous interview.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
