Modoc County approves interim ground lease to let Lake City Fire District secure insurance

The Modoc County Board of Supervisors on May 12 approved an interim ground lease allowing the Lake City Fire Protection District to insure its fire station while the county completes a longer property-acquisition process.

Chester Roberts, Administrative Services, told the board the district had difficulty obtaining property insurance because the station sits on land that was not clearly owned by the district or the county; at times the site was thought to be cemetery property or privately owned and is currently within a county road right-of-way. Roberts said the interim lease is intended to let the district bind insurance quickly while the county pursues a road-abandonment and eventual transfer or acquisition.

Roberts described the district’s financial strain: “they had spent about $26,000 of their reserves,” he said, noting the district initially paid only a few thousand dollars a year but incurred higher costs when trying to insure the site. Under the approved terms read into the record, the lease is not to exceed $1 per year, becomes effective upon acquisition of title to the premises, and will remain effective for five years.

Supervisor Coe moved approval of the lease authorization and the motion was seconded; the chair called for the ayes and the motion carried on voice vote.

The board’s action is framed as an interim, administrative step. Roberts said the county will pursue a road-abandonment under the Streets and Highways Code, a process that can result in property passing to adjacent owners; that process will take time and the lease is intended to bridge the insurance gap until long-term ownership is resolved.

The board did not record a roll-call tally in the public transcript; the clerk reported the motion carried.