Amador County - A federal judge upheld a California Department of Transportation program that supports businesses owned by minorities and women, in a ruling announced April 6.

Matt Rocco, public information officer at Caltrans headquarters in Sacramento announced the results of the ruling recently, saying it was a "victory" for Cal-Trans. A U.S. District Court judge affirmed that the Caltrans "Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Program" was "clearly constitutional."

Rocco said Caltrans implements a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program "as a condition of receiving $3 billion in federal transportation funding annually. The program ensures a level playing field for disadvantaged and small businesses competing for public contracts."

Caltrans Director Cindy McKim said: "This decision affirms that Caltrans' efforts to level the playing field are constitutionally sound and will ensure that billions of dollars in federal transportation funds continue flowing to California."

Kim said: "We will continue to reach out to disadvantaged businesses and hope our program serves as a model for other states to follow."

In 2005, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a ruling on "Western States Paving vs. Washington State Department of Transportation," provided new guidance to states on implementation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise programs. Rocco said "in response, Caltrans conducted a study to identify the existence and scope of discrimination, if any, in the highway transportation contracting industry in California."

The study was completed in 2007 and identified significant disparities in contract dollars awarded to firms owned by African-Americans, Asian Pacific- Americans, Native Americans, and women. To address those disparities, Caltrans proposed the use of both race-neutral and race-conscious means in its contracting programs.

In 2009, the Federal Highway Administration approved the proposal, which includes an overall goal of 13.5 percent Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program involvement.

In June 2009, the Pacific Legal Foundation filed its complaint in federal court on behalf of Associated General Contractors of San Diego, asking the court to declare the Caltrans Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program unconstitutional and order it halted. On March 23rd, Judge Mendez determined that the program satisfied constitutional requirements and denied the plaintiff's request.

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Amador County - The Amador County Elections Department announced that the nomination and filing period opens May 9th for the filing of candidates for an upcoming election in August to fill three seats on the Jackson Valley Irrigation District Board of Directors.

Amador County Elections Supervisor Debbie Smith announced the General District Election in a release Monday, with a statement from Amador County Registrar of Voters and County Clerk Sheldon D. Johnson. Johnson said the "Jackson Valley Irrigation District General District Election is scheduled for August 30, 2011 for the purpose of electing three directors. Candidates must be owners of real property within the District. Such owners need not be residents of the District."

The nomination period opens Monday, May 9, 2011 and closes 5 p.m. Friday, June 3, 2011. Between these dates nomination papers will be available and can be obtained from either the office of the secretary of the district at 6755 Lake Amador Drive in Ione, or at the County Elections Department at 810 Court Street in Jackson.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Election Department at (209) 223-6465.

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Amador County - The Plymouth-Foothills Rotary club held a successful work day last weekend in Plymouth. Rotary Club public information officer Anne Filer announced the successful results Monday via e-mail, saying the "Rotarians at Work Day" was a success.

Filer said "Plymouth-Foothills Rotary Club turned out in force to assist with Plymouth Clean Up Day," which was held last Saturday, April 30th. "Trucks and cars kept driving in with loads of yard waste, old furniture and junk and filled up bins and a trash compactor from Aces Waste Service Incorporated."

Plymouth City Manager Jeff Gardner called it a "big success." Rotarians "assisted the city of Plymouth employees and volunteers in hauling junk into the bins and driving to remote pick-up locations for those who had no way to bring the trash to the drop-off site."

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Amador County - The Plymouth City Council and its Planning Commission will hold a joint work session today on two residential projects, Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge, proposed by Bob Reeder and his partners.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. today, at Plymouth City Hall. Plymouth engineering consultant Richard Prima is scheduled to make a presentation on the Reeder Sutherland project, with a total of 502 single family lots, which would be constructed in phases over the next decade or so.

In a report for today's meeting, Prima said the "purpose of this meeting is to go over the project details and seek individual comments from Council members, Commissioners" and the public. The public is welcomed and encouraged to comment, but the meeting "is not a noticed public hearing, and therefore staff is not requesting any official deliberations or action by city officials at this time." The agenda noted that a public hearing on the Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge projects is to be held May 18th.

Prima said the Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge "projects have nearly completed the Environmental Review process and will be brought to the Planning Commission and City Council for final review and consideration of approval" in May or June.

He said: "Many project details, through the course of the lengthy review process which started in 2006 … have been amended based on the General Plan adopted in 2009, the Draft (Environmental Impact Report) and comments received in the 2010, Circulation Plan Update adopted in 2011 and other inputs." Both projects "have a number of documents that would be considered for adoption as part of the project approval process," and the documents were given to the City Council and Commission members in mid-April. The documents are available on the city's website, and today's meeting will focus on the Tentative Map, the Development Plan, Design Guidelines and Conditions of Approval.

Prima noted that "one important part of the project documentation is yet to be completed," the Development Agreement, which gives "an opportunity for the city and the developer to agree upon specific project details that are outside the city's current codes and policies."

He said the Development Agreement contains "various fiscal and other administrative measures, such as provisions for ongoing maintenance of all project improvements by the developer" or homeowners. It is "dependent on the fiscal elements of the project which are, in turn, dependent on the project design elements." He said "it is useful that these design elements be understood beforehand."

He noted that the "fiscal elements also are dependent on a tax-sharing agreement between the city" and Amador County.

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Amador County – The Ione City Council closed the book Tuesday on trying to compare their policing costs to a possible contract from the Amador County Sheriff, taking no action and effectively tabling the matter.

City Manager Kim Kerr said in a letter April 25th, Sheriff Martin Ryan said he cannot give the city a price quote because of policy differences between his department and what Ione wants. He said he would pursue making a cost estimate if asked to do so, and if a list of conditions were agreed to.

Ryan said 12-hour shifts (desired by Ione) violated employee agreements. He also would not give up hiring control, or staffing hour determinations. He also said it would be at least a year before he could take over city policing because he was working with the Buena Vista Flying Cloud Casino toward its opening and law enforcement.

Ryan said he would not overlap shifts unless he saw it necessary, though Ione wanted automatic overlaps. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said “that was a red flag for me because I’m not sure how they would address that if we do go back to them. I think they are flat out telling us they won’t do it.”

Councilman Dan Epperson said the Sheriff’s Department offers a “different scope of work. We need local police and a local department.” Bonham agreed, saying “they do patrol more than street beat.”

Councilman Lloyd Oneto said: “I can’t see how we can get an honest commitment from Sheriff Ryan.” He said: “I don’t think the Sheriff’s Department wants to come down here.” Kerr said that sentiment was stated in the letter’s first paragraph, and similarly stated at the Ione Police forum last March, when Ryan said the best approach to police coverage is local police departments coordinating with the Sheriff’s Department.

Mayor David Plank said comparing law enforcement costs was born from “a ballot issue that never made it to the ballot,” with a few citizens trying to get the Ione Police Department disbanded. Plank said the passion and “overwhelming support” given IPD at the forum showed that losing the Police Department is “not really desired by this community at large.”

Plank said they cannot get what they want from the Sheriff as far as police coverage by contract, and he thought they should “stop any further progress in this matter.” The City Council agreed in consensus, effectively taking no action and tabling the issue.

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Amador County – Sutter Gold Mining Incorporated announced Monday that it has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment of its Lincoln Gold Mine project in Sutter Creek, saying it “indicates positive economic potential” for the former Sutter Gold Mine.

The Lincoln-Comet portion of the project was assessed by the independent engineering firm, Mine Development Associates of Reno, Nevada. Sutter Gold Mining announced the results Monday, but included cautionary notes about “forward-looking information,” saying such assessment “are not statements of historical fact.”

It also said “mineral resource figures referred to in this press release are estimates, and no assurances can be given that the indicated levels of gold will be produced. Such estimates are expressions of judgment based on knowledge, mining experience, analysis of drilling results and industry practices.”

The analysis estimated a “pretax cash flow” of $12.2 million to as much as $26.2 million, based on production of 22,300 ounces of gold annually, and market pricing. It also estimated an “internal rate of return” of 20-50 percent.

The “Preliminary Economic Assessment is based on a mine plan containing 244,800 tons of potentially mine-able material,” an “initial startup capital of $19.9 million with working capital of $3.2 million,” and an “underground mining operation” with a “five-year mine life processing 150 tons per day, 360 days per year.”

Chief Operating Officer Matt Collins said the results are “very encouraging, and support what Sutter Gold Mining has believed and worked toward for many years,” which is “that the Lincoln Mine Project has the potential to be a profitable gold mining venture, while maintaining a low-impact environmental footprint.”

Collins said the company looks “forward to developing a new gold mine in the historic California Mother Lode that will provide the cornerstone to further development of the company’s already significant resource base.”

Sutter Gold Mining controls roughly 3.6 miles of the “Mother Lode Gold Belt” in Amador County, and the company last October said 90 percent of the property is still unexplored, and they believe the potential exists for gold “at depth” and above, at “known mineralized zones.”

The 120-mile long Mother Lode Gold Belt produced more than 13 million ounces of gold historically, with 7.9 million ounces originating from the 10-mile segment between Jackson and Plymouth, where the Lincoln Project is located.

Sutter Gold Mining, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, is looking to resume hard rock gold mining in Sutter Creek, where the operation could create as many as 150 jobs in two or more years.

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Amador County – With more than 150 years in service, the Ione Fire Department passed the milestone of getting its first paid fire fighters Tuesday, when two volunteers took oaths of service, then were pinned and given collar brass.

Chief Ken Mackey said the Ione Fire Department was formed in 1849 and operated since then as a volunteer brigade, then on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, they “have finally added two paid fire staff.” He said “it shows how far we have all come.”

City Clerk Janice Traverso administered the oath of office for Cody Gold and James Bennett, who were then ceremonially pinned by family members. IFD Fire Captain Troy Gold pinned his son, Cody, and Smokey Bennett, pinned his son, James. Mackey said the elder Bennett, a 12-year assistant chief at the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department “beat a lot of sense into me,” as a member of the JVFD.

Mackey said the younger Bennett and Gold will take the position and titles of “fire apparatus engineer.” The first of Ione’s paid fire staff, after passage in 2008 of Measure M, a sales tax for fire and emergency personnel.

He told city of Ione staff that “without your help, this would have never happened,” and he also thanked the Amador County Board of Supervisors, and other fire brigades and cities in the county for supporting the Measure to finally “see this night happen.”

Mackey said he was also asked to make a statement about the Ione fire Department. He said “these two individuals add to the 35 current volunteer fire fighters” and officers, who continue to operate the department. He said there are 56 total personnel involved in the department, including 21 total made up of youth cadets and administrative staff. He said Gold and Bennett “came from within our own ranks (of volunteers) and were trained and ready to hit the road from the beginning.”

Mayor David Plank said “we’re proud of you.” A standing-room only crowd took pictures and video as Gold and Bennett were pinned, and Mackey affixed each man’s collar brass, a bugle, symbolic of old days when fire fighters called each other with the horns.

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Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-4-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Local Business man Stan Lukowicz to discuss the resteration and re-opening of the National Hotel in Jackson.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-5-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Sherry Curtis of the Upcountry Community Council to discuss the UCC’s upcoming meeting on Monday, May 9 at the Buckhorn Veterans’ Hall.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-4-11

·   Plymouth City Council and Planning Commission will hold a work session today on Reeder Sutherland's pair of residential developments.

·   The final snowpack survey of the season showed water content 144% of the April 1 full season average.

·   A federal judge upheld a California Department of Transportation program that supports businesses owned by minorities and women.

·   The Plymouth-Foothills Rotary club held a successful work day last weekend in Plymouth.

·   Nominations start May 9 for three seats on the Jackson Valley Irrigation District board of directors.