Jean Lynch appreciates, hopes to guide Blue Lake By Matt Kapko Eye Correspondent The Arcata Eye 09-24-2002 Having lived in and around Blue Lake for most of her life, Jean Lynch now hopes to help manage its affairs as part of the City Council. Lynch, a full-charge bookkeeper, wants to maintain the small-town feeling of Blue Lake.“Having moved and then moving back has made me appreciate living in this small sheltered town,” Lynch said. Her primary goal is to assist with the disaster planning the council has already undertaken. Lynch has taken disaster training from the Red Cross and considers planning for potential disasters very important to the community. Lynch wants people in and around Blue Lake to be more aware of their neighbors and willing to help one another. “We have had major quakes in this town. It is said that during one the Mad River actually ran backwards,” Lynch said. Ricca/Rigge When conflicts arise within City Council, Lynch wants the needs of the community to be taken into consideration. Lynch said she understands City Councilmember Alex Ricca’s position about council and city staff oversights, but understands that City Manager Duane Rigge was given significant authority when his position was formed. “For the good of the community the conflict should end,” she said, offering no specifics on how a resolution might be reached. Casino support Lynch is very pleased with the new Blue Lake Casino and thinks it is “probably the safest place in our little area.” “I think my friends at the Rancheria have done a wonderful job,” she said, “they have created jobs and made a nice gathering place for us to go to. “They have spent a fortune on security and everyone that works there has to take drug testing.” Lynch is also glad to see some local kids working there. Levee access Lynch is sympathetic with landowner Manuel Morias, whose ranch neighbors the Mad River Levee, a longtime easement which he wishes to block recreational users from accessing due to alleged vandalism problems. Lynch said she has lived on the river and although she enjoys walking on the levee she is aware of liability problems and the mess that some people can leave behind. “The matter is going to court to see if the rightful property owner, Mr. Morias, has the right to keep people off of it,” Lynch said. “It would be wonderful if an agreement could be reached,” she added. Annie & Mary Trail Being concerned with issues of property rights, Lynch is as interested in the Annie & Mary Rail-Trail as she is in the Mad River Levee dispute. Lynch said she has discussed the issue with Jennifer Rice, project coordinator at Natural Resources Services of the Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA), the North Coast Railroad Authority, and several of the property owners along the route. “The rail line is in need of a lot of repair if it were to be a rail line or a trail,” she said. Lynch noted there is a feasibility study being conducted by the RCAA, slated for completion sometime this fall. Crime, neighborhoods “Blue Lake has been fortunate to have a very active police department and we have enjoyed the lack of many problems that have occurred in past years,” Lynch said. She is very concerned with the financial shortfalls the state of California is now facing. Lynch said people need to be vigilant in town and aware of any problems that may arise due to any lack of funding. “I would like to see a neighborhood-watch program and a community-display board that would report any problems,” she said. “We have many areas that are of interest to a variety of people and we should keep these in good shape,” Lynch said. Lynch would also like the seating area in Prasch Park to be fixed and better maintenance of the horse arena. Home