Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday briefly discussed the future of the Preston Youth Correctional Facility, and will be working on a list of possible uses they might want to see there.

Supervisor Ted Novelli reported in matters not on the agenda that Senator Ted Gaines and his staffer, Steve Davies have inquired about Preston, and urged the county to create a “priority list with what we would like to see with regards to Preston, once it is closed.” Novelli said that could include “letting people occupy” the facilities.

He said Gaines asked that Supervisors “voice our concerns” about what we would like to see out there. Supervisor Chairman John Plasse asked if they should be concepts or lists, and Novelli said the latter.

Novelli said Gaines’ office asked if they would “construct this list of what we would like to see,” and that could entail using some of the “29-32 buildings out there,” including the “one closest to the road,” and maybe it could be used to keep people out of the elements.

District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster said the Board of Supervisors should work closely with the city of Ione on the list. He said Ione has discussed some maintenance obligations which the city may be going to take over, with some kind of compensation from the state.

Ione City Manager Kim Kerr said Wednesday that she has had contact with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation about working on some care of the property. Kerr said she has given them a quote and was waiting to receive a response from the CDCR.

Supervisor Louis Boitano on Tuesday said Supervisors should wait until they see the agreement, before they proceed.

Also at Tuesday’s Supervisors’ meeting, Novelli reported that the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority executive director Rob Alcott had contacted him and said that East Bay Municipal Utility District has decided to pay 60 percent of the share of membership costs for the Upper Mokelumne Authority, in effect paying a portion of Amador County’s cost. Novelli in the last two months reported that he had asked East Bay MUD to pay more costs of membership in the Upper Mokelumne Authority, to make up for Amador County’s contributions in providing the nine-member Authority with legal counsel.

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