LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave approval to staff to begin negotiations with the goal of acquiring property for a new road through Mt. Konocti Park.
Public Services Director Caroline Chavez went to the board to get approval to negotiate with a neighboring property owner of the 1,520-acre mountaintop park.
Late last month Mike Fowler and Emily Ford, who sold the county the property for $3.6 million, filed suit against the county and Lake Transit over an easement road through their property being used for occasional bus trips for those who couldn’t otherwise visit the park, as Lake County News has reported.
Chavez said county staff had found an old road that comes off the upper parking lot and skirts around the Fowlers’ property, which could be used for a new road. Most of that road is on county-owned property, but about 20 to 25 percent of it is on an adjacent property.
“I’m looking for some direction and possible appointment of negotiators,” Chavez said.
Board Chair Rob Brown said he fully supported negotiating for the property for the new road. “It’s unfortunate that it got to this point with the Fowlers.”
Brown said he couldn’t believe that the Fowlers didn’t know that there was going to be some use other than hiking on the mountain at some point.
He said the mountain was an important investment, generates about $100,000 annually in income from the communications towers and also helps local businesses that are benefiting from visitors to Mt. Konocti.
“This is about protecting our investment,” said Brown, adding, “I think we did real well by the taxpayers on this.”
Supervisor Jim Comstock said he totally supported giving citizens access to the top of the mountain, and was dismayed by the Fowlers’ actions.
Chavez said the bus program has allowed many older people and those with physical challenges to see the park.
Having a new access route may help the county continue the bus program without having more problems, she suggested.
Tom Nixon, a retired State Parks ranger who helped develop the bus tours program, told the board that the new road would offer an important alternative.
The current alternative trail that hikers take to the top of the mountain “is really not a very good trail,” and the most difficult climb of whole mountain, he said.
It consists of steep stairs, and Nixon said erosion will be a problem. He said it is not a longterm solution to getting people to the mountaintop.
Nixon said he’s been inspired by the mountain, and said it’s a hugely important thing for the county.
Comstock agreed. “We need this to go forward.”
The board unanimously approved appointing Brown, Chavez, interim County Administrative Officer Matt Perry, County Counsel Anita Grant and Public Works staffer Kurt Ackermann – who is a right-of-way expert – to be on the negotiating team for the new road property.
The county previously had agreed to sell some parcels on Mt. Konocti to the Bureau of Land Management, which also owns a large amount of property on the mountain.
Chavez said during the Tuesday discussion that income from that sale would help fund the purchase of the additional road property.
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