Watchdog has doubts about Conaway deal; Eminent domain trial slated for Aug. 23

By Elisabeth Sherwin/Enterprise staff writer

WOODLAND - Dudley Holman, president of the Yolo County Taxpayers Association, tangled with county supervisors Tuesday over matters regarding the Conaway Ranch.

Holman, the former mayor of Woodland, is well known in political circles for keeping elected boards and councils honest by asking pointed questions on myriad matters of public concern, from pay raises for elected officials to General Fund expenditures.

On Tuesday, he represented citizens concerned with business dealings between the county and the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, owners of the Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks.

The matter at hand was the Yolo County Board of Supervisors' support of language and legislation to be sponsored by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Davis, which would allow the tribe to join the Conaway Ranch Joint Powers Authority.

Holman wanted answers about what agreements the tribe and the county may have made behind closed doors in violation of the state's Brown Act governing open meetings.

The board announced on May 17 that it had found a financial partner to help buy the 17,300-acre ranch between Davis and Woodland, valued at more than $60 million.

The market price of the ranch has not been determined. The county initiated eminent domain proceedings 11 months ago to force the sale of the land.

The Conaway Ranch JPA, which would manage the ranch, is not holding public meetings until the issue of eminent domain is resolved by the Yolo County Superior Court. The trial is set for Aug. 23.

The Yolo County Taxpayers Association, the Yolo County Farm Bureau and the Sacramento-based People's Advocate have opposed the county's use of eminent domain to acquire the property and did not want any General Fund dollars used to buy it.

"The tribe is coming in with no strings attached," Supervisor Mike McGowan, chairman of the Conaway Ranch JPA, told Holman on Tuesday. "The tribe has requested to be involved (in the JPA) and we think it's appropriate."

Holman wanted to know if plans to finance the purchase of the ranch, following the court's ruling, would be developed in public or behind closed doors.

"It depends," responded Helen Thomson, board chairwoman.

"The Yolo County Taxpayers Association is concerned with openness," Holman said.

He complained that the public does not know what agreement the county has with the tribe in terms of the Conaway purchase.

"There is no agreement," Thomson said.

McGowan tried to explain his position.

"If that land remains in the hands of the people who own it now (the Conaway Preservation Group) it will not be used to the best advantage," McGowan said. The supervisor said he is being driven by a desire for the best public use of the land "in compliance with law and morality."

Still, Holman was concerned that the public would be notified only after a deal is struck.

"Will the public be advised far in advance?" he pressed.

Holman returned later in the meeting to question the board about county efforts to finance the purchase of the Conaway Ranch.

Holman said he understood the county cannot discuss eminent domain proceedings, which are before the court.

"But the other issue is financing," he said.

County Counsel Steve Basha said closed-session meetings of the board allow attorney/client discussions over existing litigation such as the eminent domain proceedings and challenges to those proceedings.

The question of fair market value, and the question of whether the county has a right to claim eminent domain, are issues now set for trial at Yolo County Superior Court in August.

"In an adversarial relationship, my advice is to keep everything close to the vest," Basha added.

Also on Tuesday, the Yolo County Taxpayers Association announced it has a new Web site at www.yolotaxpayers.com designed to communicate the benefits of public participation in public policy matters. Visitors can sign up for electronic alerts on issues that impact their pocketbooks.

- Reach Elisabeth Sherwin at gizmo@dcn.org