Lake County supervisors decline to send draft letters urging changes to federal naming policies after heated public comment on Kelseyville

The Lake County Board of Supervisors took no action Feb. 4 on proposed letters to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) and the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names (KAGAN) that would recommend changes to federal naming policies after the Jan. 20, 2025, presidential executive order, after a motion to approve the draft letters died for lack of a second.

The letters, discussed as agenda item 6.8, were framed by Supervisor Paiske as a way for the county to "share where we found those policies fell short" when BGN considered an application to rename the populated place of Kelseyville. "This last year has been really difficult for everyone regarding this name change," Supervisor Paiske said, urging the board to "lean on our experience and push this forward." The board instead left the item without approving the countyauthored recommendations.

Why it matters: The letters were meant to advise how BGN and the state advisory committee handle applications affecting populated places after a federal executive order that directs a revision of BGNprinciples, policies and practices. Supporters of the letters said local experience with a high-profile renaming effort could help prevent future…