LAKE COUNTY – With the county's purchase of land on top of Mt. Konocti now in escrow, the department that will oversee the land is beginning the work of forming a new committee that will oversee development of a master use plan.

Public Services Director Kim Clymire said Tuesday that the county is seeking applications from community members interested in taking part in the Mt. Konocti Focused Master Plan Development Committee.

He said the group will develop a master plan with policies and procedures for use for the more than 1,500 acres on Mt. Konocti that the county is currently purchasing from the Fowler family for a day use, nonmotorized trails and a county park.

The county entered into escrow on Sept. 15 for 1,344 acres, with escrow scheduled to end in November. Last year, the county purchased the 176-acre Buckingham Peak site, the location of several telecommunications towers, as Lake County News has reported.

Clymire said the park is scheduled to officially open in the spring of 2010. A master plan – or at least a draft master plan – needs to be developed in the interim to govern the park’s use.

He said that applications for representatives from several groups are being solicited and appointments will be made by the end of October with the first meeting in November.

They include:

• A recreation users representative;

• Two fire management representatives – one from Cal Fire and Kelseyville Fire Protection District;

• An environmental tribal representative;

• A flora and fauna representative with a degree in biology, botany, or related field;

• A Bureau of Land Management representative;

• A Land Trust, Sierra Club or Redbud Audubon Society member representative;

• A representative from the Countywide Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee;

• A seller's representative;

• A Public Services Department representative.

For an application, contact the Public Services Department at 333 2nd St. in Lakeport, or call 707-262-1618.