EAGLEMOUNT — Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioners spent Saturday afternoon at the recently purchased Peterson Lake following a memorial service for Bernard “Bernie” Peterson.
Family and friends gathered at the Peterson home that overlooks Peterson Lake at the end of Peterson Road, south of Discovery Bay and north of state Highway 104, for a barbecue to celebrate the life of Peterson.
Peterson died Oct. 31 at the age of 94 less than a month after he sold the PUD his lake.
Public utility district commissioners attended to honor the man who sold 240 acres of lake property last fall to benefit the community and prevent a developer from subdividing the land.
PUD commissioners signed documents in October agreeing to pay $2.22 million for the property homesteaded by Peterson’s grandfather in 1889.
After several years of a declining utility district tax rate, commissioners now have to consider increasing the tax rate up to 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to pay for the lake’s acquisition.
Under the property purchase agreement, the utility district pays $225,000 down and $14,300 a month at 6 percent annual interest to the Petersons.
Peterson signed the purchase and sale agreement on Oct. 3.
