Amador County – Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey pinned bugles on three men Tuesday in a promotion ceremony, making each a fire captain in the Ione Fire Department. The ceremony began with a stream of male and female firefighters and cadets walking into the Ione City Council meeting and standing along one wall. Mackey read the names of the firemen, who were pinned with their fire captain hardware by family members. Mackey promoted Jim Bennett, Mike Florez and Phil Hererra to be fire captains saying all three trained and studied, took an extensive written test and underwent an “intense on-scene scenario” as part of their certification. Mackey said all three passed with excellent scores. Mackey said the three positions recently opened and the men were able to pass certification for the promotions. He said all three come from fire fighting families. Bennett came to Ione from Upcountry’s Battalion 10 in the Amador Fire Protection District. Also Tuesday, the council approved 2 applications for separate grants for sustainable planning, through the state Proposition 84. One application, at a cost of $5,000, would seek a grant to complete the Ione Business Park’s “Specific Plan.” City Planner Christopher Jordan said one of the park’s four owners, Howard Properties, had been notified of the planning grant application, and asked to share the costs. The city had not yet heard from the Howard family. Jordan said the city would put the specific plan together and the developers “would have to draft the plan and submit it to the city for approval.” City Manager Kim Kerr said the work “would not be done in a vacuum” and the city would meet and work with property owners. Kerr said instead of having the owners try to build a consensus on the plan, city staff “would build a consensus with property owners.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked about a solar farm for the business park. Jordan said they don’t want to “box us in,” but if the council “wants to explore that then that would be part of the analysis.” Bonham wanted to make it clear in approving the application that property owners will be involved in the specific plan work. Jordan said there will be “significant stakeholder outreach with property owners.” The council approved it 4-1 with Councilman Jim Ulm against, and also voted 5-0 to contribute $1,000 toward a county application for the same sustainability planning funds in Prop 84. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:15
Ione Promotes Three Fire Captains
Amador County – Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey pinned bugles on three men Tuesday in a promotion ceremony, making each a fire captain in the Ione Fire Department. The ceremony began with a stream of male and female firefighters and cadets walking into the Ione City Council meeting and standing along one wall. Mackey read the names of the firemen, who were pinned with their fire captain hardware by family members. Mackey promoted Jim Bennett, Mike Florez and Phil Hererra to be fire captains saying all three trained and studied, took an extensive written test and underwent an “intense on-scene scenario” as part of their certification. Mackey said all three passed with excellent scores. Mackey said the three positions recently opened and the men were able to pass certification for the promotions. He said all three come from fire fighting families. Bennett came to Ione from Upcountry’s Battalion 10 in the Amador Fire Protection District. Also Tuesday, the council approved 2 applications for separate grants for sustainable planning, through the state Proposition 84. One application, at a cost of $5,000, would seek a grant to complete the Ione Business Park’s “Specific Plan.” City Planner Christopher Jordan said one of the park’s four owners, Howard Properties, had been notified of the planning grant application, and asked to share the costs. The city had not yet heard from the Howard family. Jordan said the city would put the specific plan together and the developers “would have to draft the plan and submit it to the city for approval.” City Manager Kim Kerr said the work “would not be done in a vacuum” and the city would meet and work with property owners. Kerr said instead of having the owners try to build a consensus on the plan, city staff “would build a consensus with property owners.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked about a solar farm for the business park. Jordan said they don’t want to “box us in,” but if the council “wants to explore that then that would be part of the analysis.” Bonham wanted to make it clear in approving the application that property owners will be involved in the specific plan work. Jordan said there will be “significant stakeholder outreach with property owners.” The council approved it 4-1 with Councilman Jim Ulm against, and also voted 5-0 to contribute $1,000 toward a county application for the same sustainability planning funds in Prop 84. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Latest from
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