Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors weathered a storm of criticism aimed mostly at District 3 Director and Board President Don Cooper.

Former past president of the board, Bill Condrashoff, during “matters not on the agenda” told the board he suffered a delay of information after making requests from the agency. He said these were related to a staff meeting with Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

Condrashoff, who lost reelection District 1 in November, said he felt like he was not being treated well, as former board president. He said he made two requests for information in one day. Requests sought an agenda for the meeting, and a participants list.

Condrashoff also provided a copy of the San Joaquin County tax assessment on a property owned by Cooper. Condrashoff asked Cooper if he was a resident of Lodi, because he claimed a homeowners exemption there, stating that it was his primary residence.

Cooper said Condrashoff’s “comments are harassment.” He said he built his home in Mace Meadow in 1991, and when he registered to vote in Amador County, he told them of his home here and the one in Lodi. Cooper said due to medical concerns, he often traveled from one home to the other and stayed there for long periods. He said the elections department was OK with his residency. Cooper said he transferred his residency to Amador County to vote in the county, and felt he met the requirements to be registered to vote.

Jack Georgette of Jackson asked Cooper if he lived in Lodi. Georgette also asked the AWA attorney’s opinion on Cooper’s residency.

AWA attorney Stephen Kronick said the “residence of a director is much more complicated than you might think,” with factors to consider, including voting and residency. Kronick said to give an opinion of the issue, he would have to speak with Cooper about it.

Cooper said the county elections department was accepting of his having two residences, and said it would not be a problem with his voting in Amador County.

General Manager Gene Mancebo said he thought the water agency has a “decent track record in turning around information requested” by the public.

David Evitt said he thought Cooper had “webbed feet and a lot of yellow feathers.” Evitt later said “you are constantly being lied to by this general manager. He’s lying to you and he’s lying to the public.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.