CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday a county supervisor delivered a check to the city of Clearlake to assist with operating a new visitor center.

Supervisor Jeff Smith, whose district includes Clearlake, presented a check for $50,000 to Clearlake Mayor Jeri Spittler at the Clearlake City Council’s Thursday night meeting.

The funds are part of an agreement approved last year between the county of Lake and the city of Clearlake for the operation of the new visitor center, which will be located at 14295 Lakeshore Drive, next to Highlands Park.

“It gives me a great deal of pleasure to finally be able to do this,” said Smith.

Referring to the giant ceremonial check he held, Smith said, “This is actually the first installment.”

Smith said there will be two more payments of $25,000 each.

At one point several years ago the city had tried to purchase the property through an estate sale, Smith said.

He said he was glad that the sale hadn’t taken place at that time, since the city eventually got the property for about a third of the original asking price.

In June 2011 the council approved purchasing the property for $207,199 plus closing costs, as Lake County News has reported. At the time, the property – which was in foreclosure – was valued at $667,250.

Smith said the new center has been a long time in coming, and will be a great improvement for the city.

According to the lease agreement the city council approved last September with the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, the chamber will be housed in the center, with a $1 per year lease.

The city currently is working to bring the building up to code, which includes removing asbestos and lead paint, and will construct curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements.

The lease allows for the lakeside property to be used for chamber events, with weddings and kayak rentals among the other allowed uses.

The chamber also will provide Saturday hours during the “peak” season from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, according to the lease terms.

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