Amador County – The Sutter Creek-Gold Rush Implementation Committee heard the status of a lawsuit challenging the Environmental Impact Report of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort on Monday, and staff said it could be a couple of months before the hearing takes place.

City Attorney Derek Cole said both sides of the lawsuit are preparing administrative records, which will probably be completed in the next month or so. Once finished, the parties then will prepare their respective briefs. He expected a hearing to be set for late summer or early fall of this year, and it likely could be heard in about one-half of a day.

Cole said after the hearing, the judge will have 90 days to issue a ruling. In effect, the ruling is not likely to occur until as late as early next year.

Cole said the Gold Rush developers, Bill Bunce and development partner John Telischak, are providing most of the defense, as they are named in the suit. He said the “developers’ attorneys are going to do the lion’s share of the work.” He will look over the documents for the city.

Ken Berry of Martell filed the suit in Feb. 2010 on his own behalf with advice from a San Francisco attorney. The suit was filed and will be heard in Amador County Superior Court.

The committee, made up of Mayor Tim Murphy, and Councilwoman Sandy Anderson, and Planning Commissioners Frank Cunha and Robin Peters, at its first meeting, March 21, asked for a legal update on the status of Gold Rush’s obligations to the city, in light of the lawsuit. Cole and City Manager Sean Rabe reported to Committee Monday that “it is clear that the effect of the litigation on the obligations set forth in the Development Agreement” is that the obligations are “on hold until the litigation is concluded.”

Rabe in a report to the Committee noted that the Development Agreement contained a time extension for the obligations, including building a tertiary wastewater treatment plant. It said: “In the event of a legal challenge to the project or the planning documents this agreement and the dates by which specific steps and actions are to be taken by City Council and/or Developer shall automatically extend by the time necessary to obtain final adjudication of any such challenge.”

The Implementation Committee set its next meeting for June 3.

Story by Jim Reece

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Committee to discuss water issues in the Central Amador Water Project service area will hold its final meetings this week.

AWA is expecting a strong turnout at the last one 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Hall on Buckhorn Ridge Road in Pioneer. Upcountry AWA customers had three more opportunities this week (including 2 today) to meet with the committee on the Gravity Supply Line, and other issues facing the system.

The committee, AWA Directors Robert Manassero and President Don Cooper have held meetings at Upcountry restaurants and coffee shops this month to get feedback from customers on how to address the most pressing issues on the Upcountry water system.

AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo in a release Monday said “about 40 times a year,” the CAWP water system “breaks down. The aging and failing water system suffers from electrical and mechanical failures, computer and communication problems, and power outages,” and its pumps are “subject to increasing electric costs, currently about $300,000 a year.”

Staff said Cooper and Manassero were pleased with turnout in the meetings designed to inform customers about the Upcountry water system, current challenges it faces, what options are being considered, and “how to participate in decision-making for the system that needs to happen soon.”

The “drop dead” date for a USDA loan for the Gravity Supply Line is July 22. That is the date by which USDA requires a financial plan to be in place. At its last meeting, Cooper reported that in the series of coffee shop meetings with CAWP customers, 75-80 percent said they are in favor of the Gravity Supply Line. But they were not supportive of paying for it, and for “future customers.”

Staff last week presented new conceptual plans for funding, which need more study, including formation of an assessment district, or consolidation of water rates. Either plan could require seeking and attaining an extension from the USDA Rural Utilities Service on the $5 million grant. It would also require approval and backing from the Amador County Board of Supervisors, because an extension would also delay repayment of a $900,000 Water Development Fund Loan, which the AWA owes the county. At last week’s meeting, the board asked staff to also get word to Supervisors about the potential new funding plans, and seek their agreement.

AWA Director Art Toy asked Mancebo, “What do your tea leaves tell you” about an RUS extension? Mancebo said” Rural Utilities Service is very supportive of this project,” and such extensions have been given before for other projects.

Toy said he would “rather unhinge the time constraint with the cost,” before looking at other funding paths. He ultimately dissented in the 4-1 approval, but supported going to bid on the GSL right away.

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Amador County – An Alabama-based luxury property seller will auction 511 acres of land near Sutter Creek in May, including a 380-acre parcel that has a frontage along Sutter Creek.

The company, Albert Burney Auction Company, based in Huntsville, Alabama said the property is located between Ione and Sutter Creek, at 7000 Sutter-Ione Road in unincorporated Amador County. Albert Burney Office Manager Caroline Kennedy said earlier this month that the property is owned by Michael Grasso, who had plans to develop the large property, and now is planning to sell it at auction and give someone else the chance to develop it.

The property is available to view and tour starting May 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 511 acres is “selling as an entirety or in tracts,” and is billed as a rarity with more than “three-quarters of a mile of frontage on Sutter Creek in addition to a pond and seasonal creeks located throughout the property.” Both parcels are comprised of pastures, wooded areas, and rolling hills.

Albert Burney President Warren Ward said the land has “360-degree views, scenic meadows, and ancient oaks.” He called it “a private retreat in one of the nation’s most desirable areas, with access to shopping, casinos, and fine dining.”

Both parcels are entirely fenced-in, with gated entrances. One parcel is 132 acres and has 2,600 feet of frontage on Sutter-Ione Road. The second parcel is 380 acres with more than three-quarters of a mile of frontage on Sutter Creek, and views of Mount Diablo.

The auction is 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14 at 7000 Sutter-Ione Road, with registration starting at 10 a.m.

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Amador County – A dedication ceremony for the Ione Veterans Memorial Park will feature a full military ceremony to honor Ione-area locals who have served and sacrificed for their country.

The public is invited to the Ione Memorial Park Dedication April 30 at the park, at corner of Main Street and Preston Avenues in downtown Ione.

Dedication co-organizer Sharon Long said a full military ceremony is planned and will include patriot guard riders, an honor guard, a flyover, a 21-gun salute, and patriotic music. Long said the “program will include dignitaries from throughout the county as well as State Senator Ted Gaines.”

Long said any veteran who served honorably in the armed services and who lived, or is living in the 95640 zip code area is encouraged to complete an application form so they are included on the Veterans Wall. Each veteran will be represented with a brick with his or her name, service date and branch of service. This phase of the project will continue through the end of the year.

A monument honoring those killed in action will be a part of the dedication. PFC Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins, was killed on April 28, 2007 and will have a plaque in his honor displayed on a monument. He was the first solider in Amador County killed during the Iraq war.

The park is funded by individual donations. Donations can be made payable to the Ione Veterans Memorial Park, through the Bank of Amador in Ione. This project is sponsored by the Amador Community Foundation.

All donations are tax deductible. For additional information, contact Long at (209) 304-5118, or Jerry Cassesi at (209) 601-4079.

The Ione Memorial Park Dedication is 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30 on Main Street in Ione. A Veterans walk is schedule at 10 a.m. starting at Ione Junior High School and ending at the Veterans Park.

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Amador County – Cal Fire’s Amador County unit urged people to burn safely while working on defensible space around their homes.

Defensible space is established with a 100 foot brush-free barrier around homes and outbuildings on property, and Cal Fire considers it is the best defense against a wildfire. Local Air Quality Management Districts govern whether there is a “burn day” or a “no burn day”, and residents can call those local Air Quality offices to get the local burn status. Cal Fire urged people to make sure they call the burn information line immediately prior to burning.

Local Air Quality districts may require a permit for burning. Call the Amador County Air Quality Management Districts at (209) 223-6246. Other Air Quality district offices are in El Dorado County, Sacramento and Alpine Counties.

To get a burn permit in Amador County, call the Sutter Hill Cal Fire office at (209) 267-5215. Online, see fire.ca.gov.

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