LAKEPORT, Calif. – In response to issues arising in the Valley fire area, the Board of Supervisors has approved a proposal to defer enforcing a prohibition on placing shipping containers on properties during construction activities.

Lake County Community Development Department interim Director Scott De Leon asked the board to approve the measure on Tuesday.

At the end of March, a complaint from a Valley fire survivor began circulating on social media regarding shipping containers on properties being red-tagged, with a 30-day requirement to remove them.

Lake County News contacted De Leon about the issue on March 24, and he confirmed at that time that there had been a couple of such situations where a county inspector issued the red tags in the process of enforcing current codes.

De Leon said that he appreciated the need for people to have that storage option while rebuilding, so he was working on a temporary placement policy.

On Tuesday, De Leon went to the board with that proposal.

“As we get into construction and we get into the construction season, we're running into issues,” he said, with one of those issues being the temporary placement of the shipping containers during construction activities.

“We have existing rules, we have existing ordinances,” he said, and in the rebuilding and reconstruction, they are running into situations where those existing rules are problematic.

As a result, he said county staffers are faced with a question – do they enforce the current rules and ordinances on the books or do they overlook them?

“They've taken some abuse over it” in public forums, he said – an apparent reference to the social media posts – but they're doing their job.

De Leon said that, in response, he's crafted what he believes to be a “workaround” for temporarily placing the containers.

Changing the county's zoning ordinance requires a lot of steps and a lot of time, De Leon said. Instead, he proposed the board adopt his measure to give staff and the public some relief from the existing rules.

De Leon said the current zoning ordinance allows for the permanent placement of commercial shipping or cargo containers on properties so long as the containers meet the following conditions:

– They must be screened completely from public view by buildings, fences or walls, or they must be covered with wood siding and a roof.

– The containers must be equipped with a mechanical latch or a similar mechanism to hold the door in an open position when occupied, or be equipped with a mechanism to unlock the door from the inside.

“The current ordinance does not provide any consideration for the temporary placement of these containers,” De Leon said.

He said staff was asking for the board's approval to defer enforcement of that zoning ordinance rule relating to the containers.

De Leon said he wanted to allow for the temporary storage on properties under the following conditions:

– The property owner must have an active building permit with the county for a dwelling, accessory structure or temporary dwelling.
– The container may only be used for the storage of equipment and materials associated with the construction of the permitted structure.
– Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the permitted structure, the container must either be removed from the property or brought into compliance with the conditions of a permanent installation.

De Leon said that containers that are brought in and placed on vacant properties or properties without current building permits will continue to be red-tagged because they do not meet the conditions of either the zoning ordinance or his temporary workaround.

He said the proposal is meant to allow property owners working on construction to use the containers for storage.

Supervisor Jim Steele asked if the temporary placement rules would require the mechanical latch to prevent someone from being locked in. De Leon said it didn't.

Steele was concerned that the requirement was needed for safety and to prevent people from being trapped.

“You can only get trapped in there if somebody intentionally locks you in,” said Board Chair Rob Brown.

Supervisor Jeff Smith pointed out that the containers have a swing lock that has to be locked into place.

Steele then asked about adding a requirement to have the containers locked open during construction work.

Brown said he had never heard of anyone being locked into a storage container. Steele said he had heard of such a case. Supervisor Anthony Farrington joked that it was Steele himself who had been locked in, which caused Steele to laugh and jest he had been trapped for several days.

“You can't regulate stupidity,” said Brown during the discussion on the mechanical latch issue.

Steele said the proposal would get his vote if the safety requirement were added.

At the end of the short discussion, the board voted 4-1, with Steele voting no, to approve De Leon's proposal.

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, Calif. – A vehicle crash involving a power pole on Tuesday afternoon knocked out power to a portion of the city and resulted in a road closure for several hours.

The Lakeport Police Department said the site of the crash – 20th Street at Hartley Street to Hillcrest Drive at Hartley Street – was expected to be closed for several hours.

Reports from the scene indicated a vehicle knocked the pole down, requiring that it be replaced.

There was no immediate word on injuries to the driver. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen told the Lakeport City Council at its Tuesday night meeting that the road was expected to reopen early Wednesday morning.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Carol Huchingson, Valley fire long-term recovery coordinator and Social Services director, assumed the duties of the Lake County administrative officer on Monday.

She was appointed to the position on Feb. 2 by the Board of Supervisors to succeed Matt Perry, whose retirement became effective on Friday.

Huchingson is the first woman to hold the job, a fact confirmed for Lake County News by Kelly Cox, who served for more than three decades in the post and was succeeded in 2012 by Perry.

The county administrative officer is considered the most senior county employee, and is charged with preparing the county budget for board approval and supervising the day-to-day business of the county, subject to policies set by the Board of Supervisors.

Huchingson brings years of government experience to the position and leaves behind a distinguished 22-year career as the Lake County Social Services director.

She also was the second-longest standing Social Services director in the state of California.

Most recently, Huchingson filled the role of the recovery coordinator after the devastating Valley fire that destroyed more than 1,300 homes in the Anderson Springs, Cobb, Hidden Valley and Middletown communities.

A Valley Fire survivor herself, Huchingson took on the role of recovery coordinator after acting as the director of the emergency operation center in Lake County.

She has been working closely with fire survivors, as well as local, state and federal officials to navigate through the complicated rules and regulations of federal and state funding sources to ensure the economic solvency and recovery of Lake County.

“It has been an exciting, but difficult challenge to lead Lake County towards recovery and rebuilding after this catastrophic event,” Huchingson said.

The Valley fire is considered the third worst fire in the history of the state of California. “There are so many Lake County residents and businesses that have experienced overwhelming losses,” Huchingson added.

"Carol has been the rock. She stepped up in one of the county's most challenging times and led the response and recovery efforts during the Valley fire disaster. Now, she's helping to lead the efforts to rebuild local communities,” said state Sen. Mike McGuire.

Under her tenure as the Lake County Social Services director the department evolved from a small, struggling unit to the longstanding success it is known to be today.

Huchingson is a founding and ongoing member of many boards, including the Lake/Mendocino Area Agency on Aging and the Napa/Lake Workforce Investment Board. She also created a unique on-the-job training program through the Lake County Department of Social Services, which has secured many permanent, full-time positions in County service for local CalWORKS recipients.

Huchingson graduated from the Humboldt State University in 1990 with a master’s degree in human services administration, and has a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Rob Brown, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, has worked closely with Huchingson throughout the Valley fire recovery. “Carol’s commitment to the betterment of Lake County and its residents is evident in all she does.”

McGuire added, “Carol is a great choice and I'm excited to continue our partnership in the years to come.”

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will consider approving an agreement to develop a lakefront revitalization plan and pursuing a revenue ballot measure.

The council will meet in closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, to discuss negotiations for a utility easement at 818 Lakeport Blvd. Before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

At the start of the meeting the council will present proclamations designating the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen also will present to the council an update on his department's volunteer hours in 2015.

Under council business, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will take to the council a proposed professional services agreement between the city of Lakeport and the Design Workshop Inc. for the development and implementation of the Lakeport Lakefront Revitalization Plan.

Ingram is asking the council to authorize the agreement and authorize City Manager Margaret Silveira to sign the agreement on behalf of the city of Lakeport.

Also on Tuesday, Finance Director Dan Buffalo will seek the council's direction to prepare a possible revenue ballot measure.

The council is being asked to authorize staff to issue two requests for proposal to select a consultant to assist with a feasibility assessment and select a consultant to develop and implement an education and outreach program.

In other business, the council will introduce an ordinance amending Chapter 2.22 of Title 2 of the Lakeport Municipal Code Regarding the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and set a public hearing for April 19.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on March 15; the March 17 and March 30 warrant registers; and approval of applications for the annual Lake County Aids Walk on Sept. 10, the Wood & Glory Classic boating event at Library Park on June 5, the Walk Talk Autism event at the Library Park Gazebo on April 30 and the League of California Cities' Redwood Empire Division meeting reception on the Lakeport Yacht Club lawn on May 20; and approval of an amendment to the agreement between the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport and the county of Lake relative to operation of a local public, educational, governmental cable television channel, referred to as the PEG Channel.

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, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors will get a report on Lake County's economic outlook, discuss polling results regarding a proposed transportation measure and get updates issues related to the ongoing Valley fire recovery effort.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 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 9:30 a.m., the board will receive the Lake County Economic Profile Report, which was presented to both city councils last month.

At 10:30 a.m., the board will get the polling results for a proposed transportation funding measure.

In an untimed item, the board will consider a resolution of intention to approve the use of a portion of Trailside Park for a dormitory for Hope Crisis Response Network volunteers, who will be assisting with rebuilding homes in the Valley fire area.

In other fire-related matters, in an item timed for 9:15 a.m. the board will consider continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency issued in September by Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait.

The board also will get a staff resort regarding the Hoberg's Resort debris cleanup and a general update from staff on fire recovery matters.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held March 22, 2016.     

7.2: Adopt proclamation designating the week of April 10-16, 2016, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week in Lake County.

7.3: Adopt proclamation designating the week of April 4-10, 2016, as Public Health Awareness Week in Lake County.

7.4: Adopt proclamation designating the month of April 2016 as Alcohol Awareness Month in Lake County.

7.5: Adopt Proclamation designating the month of April 2016 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Lake County.   

7.6: Approve advanced step hiring of Jason Cox as District Attorney Investigator II, Step 5 due to his extraordinary qualifications.   

7.7: Approve plans and specifications for the Konocti Road Safe Routes to School Project, Bid No. 15-10 and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.

7.8: Adopt resolution approving right of way certification for Mathews Road/Manning Creek - Bridge Replacement Project - State Agreement No. BRLO-5914 (072).

7.9: Approve plans and specifications for the Foard Road at Anderson Creek Bridge Replacement Project; Bid No. 16-03; Federal Aid Project No. BRLO-5914(068) and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids once authorization to proceed with construction phase is received from Caltrans.

7.10: Approve plans and specifications for the Dry Creek Road at Dry Creek Bridge Replacement Project; Bid No. 16-04, Federal Aid Project No. BRLO-5914(080) and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids once authorization to proceed with construction phase is received from Caltrans.

7.11: Approve utility agreement between the county of Lake and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) for the Mathews Road at Manning Creek Bridge Replacement Project; Federal Aid Project No. BRLO-5914(072), and authorize Public Works director to sign.     

7.12: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and AVS Engineers for Security Electronics Systems Upgrade Design Services for the Hill Road Correctional Facility Expansion, in the amount of $98,670 and authorize the chair to sign.

7.13: Approve plans and specifications for the Mathews Road at Manning Creek Bridge Replacement Project; Bid No. 16-02, Federal Aid Project No. BRLO-5914(072) and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids once authorization to proceed with construction phase is received from Caltrans.

7.14: Approve lease agreement between the county of Lake and the Lake County Fire Protection District for the use of office space in Lower Lake for a sheriff's substation.

7.15: Authorize destruction of closed civil records 1/1/13 - 12/31/13, Payroll timesheets through FY2008/09, various Expenditures through FY 2007/08 and various jail records documents pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 26202 and 26205.   

7.16: Approve purchase of a SuperBat Electronic Listening Device in the amount of $7,600 from the Sheriff's Asset Forfeiture Budget 2214 and authorize the corresponding budget transfer.          

7.17: Approve contract between the Lake County Department of Social Services and the Lake County Office of Education for Probation Family PRO Services, V-2 in the amount of $36,000 terminating on June 30, 2016.

7.18: Approve reporting service subscription agreement for Internet Access to SafeMeasures® for the amount of $21,800 terminating September 2017 and authorize the chair to sign.   

7.19: Adopt resolution declaring intent to sell surplus real property - APN 034-315-17-00 (5795 Grove St., Lucerne, Ca) owned by the county of Lake.     

7.20: Adopt resolution declaring intent to sell surplus real property – APN 034-122-34-00 (6322 Seventh Ave., Lucerne, Ca) owned by the county of Lake.

7.21: Approve agreement with the county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities for Valley fire survivor interim housing assistance, in the amount of $213,287 and authorize the chair to sign.          

7.22: Authorize the Special Districts administrator to sign the advertisement for bids for the Spring Valley water distribution system upgrades.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:10 a.m.: (a) Presentation of proclamation designating the week of April 10-16, 2016 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week in Lake County; (b) presentation of proclamation designating the month of April 2016 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Lake County; (c) presentation of proclamation designating the week of April 4-10, 2016 as Public Health Awareness Week in Lake County; (d) presentation of proclamation designating the month of April 2016 as Alcohol Awareness Month in Lake County.

8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer.

8.4, 9:30 a.m.: Lake County Economic Profile Report.

8.5, 10 a.m.: Consideration of adoption of resolution approving the Lake County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for submittal to the U.S. Department of Commerce- Economic Development Administration.

8.6, 10:30 a.m.: Presentation of polling results for transportation funding measure.

8.7, 10:45 a.m.: Staff report regarding Hoberg's Resort debris cleanup.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Recovery update from staff, assisting agencies and/or community groups, consequent to 2015 wildland fires.

9.3: Consideration of appointment to the Lower Lake Waterworks District One Board of Directors.

9.4: Second reading, consideration of increasing and establishing certain fees in the (a) Assessor-Recorder office; (b) Clerk of the Board office; (c) Community Development Department; and (d) Library Department.

9.5: Consideration of resolution of intention to approve the use of a portion of Trailside Park for a dormitory for Hope Crisis Response Network volunteers.

9.6: Consideration of letter of support for SB 1188 (McGuire) supporting State PILT payments.

9.7: Consideration of letter of endorsement for the Medi-Cal Funding and Accountability Act.

9.8: Consideration of Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2015-119 to Amend the FY 2015-16 Adopted Budget to Transfer General Fund Contingency Monies to the Building and Safety Fund and Amend Resolution No. 2015-120 to Amend the Position Allocation for Budget Unit 2602.

9.9: Consideration of second amendment to an agreement between the county of Lake and California Association of Environmental Health Administrators for professional debris cleanup services due to wildland fires increasing the total by $70,000, not to exceed $140,360 total and authorizing the Health Services director to sign.

9.10: Consideration of (a) approval of plans and specifications for the Kelseyville Community Skatepark; (b) awarding bid for construction contract to California Landscape and Design for Kelseyville community skatepark, in the amount of $273,945.75; (c) approval of deductive change Order No. 1, in the amount of $8,051.75; and (d) authorization for the interim Public Services director to issue a notice to proceed upon satisfactory review and approval of the plans by the Community Development Department.

9.11: Consideration of deferral of enforcement of Zoning Ordinance Section 21-68.4(a)8 to allow the temporary placement of shipping containers during construction activities.

9.12: Consideration of amendment two to agreement between the county of Lake and Tetra Tech Inc., for Valley fire arboricultural and hazardous tree removal monitoring services.

9.13: Sitting as the Lake County Housing Commission Board of Directors, consideration of approval of letter to the United States Department of Consideration of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requesting a dialogue be opened between the county of Lake and HUD to discuss the availability of additional Section 8 vouchers.

9.14: Sitting as the Lake County Housing Commission Board of Directors consideration to approve Section 8 Administrative Plan update of March 15, 2016.

9.15: Sitting as the Lake County Housing Commission Board of Directors, consideration of approval of Form HUD 50077-Cr: Civil Rights Certification.

9.16: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors consideration of property management guidelines for the Middle Creek Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project.

CLOSED SESSION

10.2, 11 a.m.: Carried over from March 22 and March 15, Employee Disciplinary Appeal (EDA-16-01), Pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54957.

10.3: Appointment of interim director of Public Services (Gov. Code Sec. 54957).

10.4: Public employee evaluation: Animal Care and Control director.

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.

"Unnumbered springs and rills that from the earth
Leap forth in melody,
And take, down mountain-side, and valley sweep,
Their graceful, sinuous way."
– From "In Lake County" by poet Carrie Stevens Walter


MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County's southernmost town, Middletown, sits near the heart of the Loconoma Valley on St. Helena Creek, with beautiful Mt. St. Helena standing watch.

The southwestern portion of Middletown is guarded by the Mayacamas Mountains, which range to southeastern Mendocino County and northeastern Sonoma County.

Our special part of Lake County hosts rocks of the Franciscan assemblage and the Great Valley sequence with their magnificent igneous rock groupings.

Over time, landslides have occurred in association with the unique serpentine terrain here. If you look carefully, evidence of the Tertiary age and its marine sedimentary rocks can be seen, along with Pliocene volcanic rocks, according to Brice 1953; Bedrossian 1980; Wagner and Bortugno 1982.

Middletown is 16 miles from the town of Calistoga and nearly as close to the town of Lower Lake. Since it sits at this halfway juncture it was given the moniker of Middletown. Once upon a time it was known as Middle Station, then it was called Middleton.

In 1871 we were furnished with our own post office. Later, in 1875 our town's name was changed to Middletown.

According to the USGS Geographic Names System, Middletown was founded in 1871. The first house constructed in Middletown was J.H. Berry's home, built in 1870.

Here in Middletown was a thriving mercury, or quicksilver mining industry which was ongoing until the conclusion of the 19th century.

The Bradfords once owned the Mirabel Mine, later selling it to three gentlemen: Mills, Randol and Bell, hence the name "Mirabel" which combined the first parts of the three names.

Mines such as the Great Western, Ida Clayton, Oat Hill and Yellowjacket were being worked. Some, such as the Mirabel mined silver, as well.

While driving in south Lake County, note the names of these old mines on street signs. Also seen on Middletown's street signs are the names Young, Armstrong and Berry.

O. Armstrong opened his saloon in 1870, then a brewery followed, by Muntz and Scott in 1875.

Charles March Young, who hailed from Illinois arrived in Coyote Valley in 1867, then settled in the Middletown region. He learned to plow at a tender age and once dragged 4,000 pounds of spuds to Sonoma.

Young constructed the first hotel in Middletown, a brick building, in 1875, which was the reason for the first brickyard here. He was the proprietor of a general store, as well, but unfortunately it burned down long ago.

The book entitled, “A Description of Lake County, California: Showing its Advantages as a Place of Residence,” published by Authority of the Board of Supervisors 1888, states, “This section possesses superior and peculiar advantages that recommend it to home and health-seekers. The atmosphere is exceedingly pure and bracing and remarkable for a softness caused by the entire absence of sea winds or fogs. Malaria does not exist, and gnats, bugs and mosquitoes are unknown.”

It further expounds on Middletown's wonders: “This location is undoubtedly the sanitarium for asthmatics, consumptives and persons affected with nervous diseases; and in this respect it has no superior on the continent.”

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.