Kelo-ing Conaway Proves Costly

The rudderless ship known as the Yolo County(California) Board of Supervisors seems hell-bent on acquiring the 16,300-acre Conway Ranch via eminent domain. So bent, that they have amassed nearly 2 million dollars in legal and consultant fees. All this before the projected theft acquisition price of 60 million dollars. I have commented on this many times in the past, and I am still amazed that people whose jobs depend on the mood of the electorate would want to be associated in any way with the words "eminent domain." The Davis Enterprise reports:

WOODLAND - Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting was marked by at-times angry exchanges about the mounting legal costs - creeping close to $2 million - of acquiring the Conaway Ranch. At issue was an item from the county counsel's office on the board's consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda are routinely approved by the board with little or no discussion. This time, however, the item was taken off consent by the chair, Frank Sieferman Jr., to allow nine people to speak in opposition to the payment of up to $687,000 from the county's General Fund to the Sacramento law firm of Somach, Simmons & Dunn. The money will be used chiefly to pay for the county's continuing effort to buy 16,300 acres of the Conaway Ranch by eminent domain.

As of Monday, the county had spent $1.26 million on legal fees (primarily to the Somach law firm) and on professional fees to financial consultants, land appraisers and public relations firms. With the addition of the $687,000 approved on Tuesday, the county is coming very close to spending $2 million on a lawsuit that will, at its conclusion, allow the county to spend a minimum of $60 million to become the ranch's owner.

A valuation trial by jury has been set for June 13 by Yolo County Superior Judge Tim Fall, who ruled in November that the county had a right to buy the ranch from an unwilling seller, the Conaway Preservation Group. Attorney Stuart Somach represented the county at the court trial. County Counsel Steve Basha told the board Tuesday that he would pursue settlement discussions. A pretrial settlement conference has been set for April 13.

Ernie Head of Davis and Dudley Holman of Woodland spoke to the board. Both men belong to the Yolo Taxpayers' Association.

"This is a mistake,"” said Holman, former Woodland mayor, regarding the purchase of the ranch.

"I'm trying to restrain my anger,"” he added, pointing out that the county has many immediate needs it cannot afford to address, while the purchase of the Conaway Ranch will put the county in debt. "“The debt can only be paid by selling the assets you profess to want to secure,"” he said.

"It just seems you don't know where to stop on this issue,"” added Blake Harlan of Woodland, who argued with Supervisor Mike McGowan over the definition of a farmer vs. a developer.

These "evil developers" rightfully purchased the land for future use as mitigation lands to offset impacts from development in other areas. In addition, a majority of the Conway Ranch is located within the federal floodplain, which makes it off limits to development without crossing MAJOR hurdles.

"“Your arrogance as usual is overwhelming,"” he said to the supervisor.

"“I think you owe the public an economic analysis of the purchase and the return to the taxpayers,"” said Stan Lester of Winters. "“This is all being done behind closed doors - it's very scary."”

"The business plan is still in the works and we are not at liberty to discuss it,"” said Sharon Jensen, chief administrative officer for the county.

Supervisor Chamberlain said he would not approve the additional expenditure.

"“I'm against buying Conaway Ranch to begin with,"” he said.

Chamberlain said he wanted the county to make a deal with the ranch owners without lawyers and judges getting involved in the negotiations.

"“We need roads and levees,"” he said. He said the county's money should be spent on lawyers to approve a deal after the negotiations take place.

McGowan listened to the public comment and then summarized the county's history with the ranch and blasted the current owners.

"“Their intention is not to protect the ranch,"” he said. "“I believe this to the core of my being."”

The supervisor said if the county had not stepped in to buy the ranch, the same people who are criticizing him today would watch the land being sold and the water being shipped south and would say: "“How could you let this happen?

Another interseting fact, the ranch enjoys massive water rights. Aside from the fact that polls have shown that nearly 70 percent of the registered voters in Yolo County opposed the theft acquisition, a huge portion of this fiasco would be financed by the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, which happens to own the nearby Cache Creek Casino. Hmmm, a local governmental agency accepting financial contributions from a sovereign nation to steal land from the rightful owners? What could possibly go wrong? It is not like the tribe is looking for approval of a massive expansion of their resort, including the construction of a new golf course that would need gobs of water are they. Oh, that's right, they already have approval for that project. How do you spell quid-pro-quo? At least McGowan didn't try to day that the egrets, ducks and other waterfowl were a blight.

Supervisor Mariko Yamada of Davis also refused to be moved by critics of the purchase.

"I will stand my ground," she said.

Sieferman agreed with Chamberlain on the need for a negotiated settlement.

"If we could remove the emotion, that's where we'll find a solution,"” he said.

The board approved the expenditure of $687,000 on a 4-1 vote with Chamberlain dissenting.

Still, the Supervisors of Yolo County are steamrolling towards acquisition of the land from "evil land developers" despite polls to the contrary, taxpayer groups and one lone supervisor dissenting, a former mayor restraining and a Governor possibly veto-ing.

Amazed as I am, it is happening daily -- an auto repair shop in Oakland (CA), a Baptist Church in Long beach (CA), a successful diner in Arcadia (CA), single-family residences in Long Branch (NJ), commercial property in Seattle (WA) and the list goes on and on.

For shame.

Open Post Thanks to Jo's Cafe, Don Surber, Stop the ACLU and Right Wing Nation.