County officials want answers on Tahoe estate

Monday, July 12, 1999 | 1:22 a.m.

On Thursday, county commissioners will meet with Juan Palma, chief of the Forest Service's Tahoe unit, to discuss several issues. One includes pending legislation to funnel $300 million during the next decade to save the lake and designate the Tahoe Basin as a National Scenic Forest and Recreation Area.

But the focus likely will be on the Zephyr Cove estate, the site of the Forest Service's most expensive land swap and the subject of a recently concluded criminal probe.

In a report released last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's inspector general concluded the land exchange was flawed but involved no criminal conduct. Commissioners are hoping Palma can shed some light on the fate of the lakeside mansion and other buildings on the property, which remain privately owned by Park Cattle Co.

Park Cattle hopes for a permit to operate a business at the mansion but company representatives fear the Forest Service will treat the company as a trespasser and order the structure demolished.

Palma told commissioners last month he couldn't support demolition of the buildings but said Friday the issue is out of his hands. He referred questions to superiors at the Forest Service's regional office in Vallejo, Calif.

"I really don't know where we're headed at this moment ," Palma said. "I honestly don't know."

With the government's criminal investigation over, the time has arrived for some conclusive answers, commissioners insist.

"It's time to cut to the quick and find out what their intent is," said Jacques Etchegoyhen, commission chairman. "We need to just hear one story and then act on that story."