Amador County – Joseph Chirco, owner of Rollingwood Estates said he believes he still has the right to subdivide his property, though the Jackson Planning Commission denied his application Monday.

Chirco said Wednesday by phone from Victorville that he was unsure of whether he would appeal the decision to the Jackson City Council, mainly because of how he said he was made to feel by the testimony at the public hearing, after he felt he went out of his way to help people.

He said he helped residents with rent credit and making minimal rent increases, based on the Consumer Price Index. Rollingwood’s property taxes have gone up $20,000 a year in the 15 years he has owned it, and he said he could have passed the cost on in a rent hike but he did not.

The opposition at the public hearing Monday “made it sound like they were going to lose their homes and none of it was true,” Chirco said, adding that it is “too bad for them,” because he tried to “give them the opportunity to buy the land they are on and give their home more value.”

“I guess you can just say everything you want in those meetings,” Chirco said, noting that one man said the rent will go up to $1,100 or $1,200 a month after a subdivision is made. Chirco said: “Where’d they get that?” He said he never said that, and he could not legally charge that amount.

Chirco said a subdivision would eliminate rent control at Rollingwood, and “it would go away after 4 years,” but “if they are on low income, they would stay on that for life,” and they cannot be taken off of that. He said “for all of those people who are low income,” it “would have been a good thing for them.”

He said he knew it would take a few years, and he thought he would sell the park little by little. As far as value, he said he “might be able to get a little bit more over time doing it this way.”

Chirco said whoever did his opposition’s strategy “did a good job, but it really hurt the people a lot.”

He said he was upset at so many “outright lies.” He said two recent prospective home buyers were scared away by people who told them the rent would go up to $1,100 and they would have to build foundations on the house. Chirco said it was not true, but the purchases did not happen.

Chirco said he “thought the commission would understand” how the conversion to individual lots would benefit the mobile home owners. But he said they “never asked how it benefits the residents.”

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Amador County – The Ione City Council voted 5-0 to make no contest of a draft Cease & Desist Order that is scheduled to be considered by the Regional Water Quality Control Board in a hearing Friday in Rancho Cordova.

City Manager Kim Kerr said she and City Attorney Kristen Castanos worked with the Regional Board to iron out language in the Board’s Order that is satisfactory to both sides, and also allow no connection bans to the city wastewater system, if approved by the Regional Board. Kerr said she would be out of town and unable to attend the Regional Board meeting, but Castanos will be in attendance to answer questions.

Kerr attributed the work to Castanos, as she comes from a background of wastewater project work. Castanos recommended the Council “confirm that it wants no contest” of the Cease & Desist Order. She also recommended they appoint a council member to attend the Regional Board’s meeting and officially state that the Ione City Council does not contest the Order.

Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said she would attend. Castanos said the hearing was set for 9 a.m. but may not be held until 1 p.m., so Bonham would have to stay until the item was addressed. Councilman Daniel Epperson said he would also be able to attend.

Kerr said if approved, the Draft Cease & Desist Order would have a strict timeline for a series of accomplishments the city must make with its wastewater system in order to get a new permit and remove the Cease & Desist Order. That begins with developing a “Seepage Discharge Compliance Plan,” which is due Jan. 30, 2012. Kerr said “if we miss that deadline of January 2012, we will be looking at an administrative fine of millions of dollars.”

Kerr said staff recommended the city hire a consultant to answer the seepage plan, and help recommend the most feasible approach and cheapest way to produce an anti-degradation report. The plan will address the stopping of the city’s sewer storage ponds from degrading groundwater that goes into Sutter Creek, and onto non-city land.

Kerr said the Report of Waste Discharge is due in March of 2012, and the city needs to complete its wastewater plant project by October of 2013.

During public comment, Sharon Long complimented staff, who “walked into” and were able handle the “horrendous problem” that began in 2003. Kerr said “Kristen (Castanos) was the lead on this.” Kerr said: “I think this is probably the best deal that we will ever get.”

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Amador County – A new program that is for and about seniors and their families debuted Wednesday morning on TSPN TV.

Sue Slivick, TSPN TV co-owner and vice president said “Today’s Seniors Living Well” will showcase the resources and activities that keep seniors and their families healthy and engaged in their community.

After the first show aired Wednesday, co-producer and co-host Virginia Manner said the show is about “knowing what resources are there and keeping seniors in the community Living Well and thriving.”

Laurie Webb, co-producer and host said the show plans different topics each week for the 13-week morning show series, which airs at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Each show will air fresh mid-week, and run a total of eight times during the week.

Webb said Amador County has a large population of seniors – about 33-36 percent of the population – and she expects it to grow as Baby Boomers age. She said Amador County has the seventh highest percentage of seniors among all California counties.

Webb, executive director of the Amador Senior Center, said what really makes Amador County special is the way its agencies, organizations and service providers are very collaborative, and do not worry about “turf” so much as offering great services. She said there is also a “culture of neighbors watching over neighbors.”

Manner agreed, saying once, one of her Amador Lifeline ATCAA customers actually came out of the hospital and was invited to come live with her neighbors for a few months, until she was able to stay alone. They set up the Lifeline, a personal response service, at the neighbor’s house.

Manner said Amador County is a safe community and seniors stay here because they feel safe, and know that law enforcement and other agencies are looking out for them. She said they may not have felt that safe in their past communities, and that encourages them to stay in Amador.

Webb said that is the type of thing Today’s Seniors Living Well plans to touch on. She and Manner have planned the 13 weeks to have a different weekly topic, with next week being “recreation and leisure.”

Other topics include Area 12 Agency on the Aging programs; home safety and comfort; health and resources; volunteer opportunities; travel; support groups; insurance, Medicare and beyond; scams, sweepstakes and hiring contractors; housing options; dementia; exercise; and gardening.

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El Dorado County - El Dorado County Sheriff's Search & Rescue Team and other responders rescued a San Francisco man from a dangerous "tree well" March 27 after he got trapped while back-country skiing in South Lake Tahoe.

El Dorado Sheriff's Search and Rescue partnered with Douglas County Nevada Search and Rescue, responding to rescue a lost and stranded snowboarder in the backcountry near Waterhouse Peak, on U.S. Forest Service land near the El Dorado and Alpine county line, just south of Christmas Valley in South Lake Tahoe. At the time of the rescue there was very heavy snow, cold temperatures and falling snow.

Deputy Greg Almos Jr., coordinator of the El Dorado Sheriff's Search & Rescue Team, said "Sean Voss from San Francisco and a friend had been backcountry skiing when the two became separated" on Saturday. Voss carried avalanche equipment including a shovel and avalanche beacon, and "was riding a snowboard when he got trapped in a tree well."

A "tree well" is an area of deep and unconsolidated snow which can quickly immobilize a skier. The more the person struggles, the more entrapped they can become in the snow. Skiers or snowboarders may die very quickly from suffocation, in many cases, as quickly as someone can drown in water.

Almos said "in his efforts to free himself," Voss lost his snowboard, as it was not leashed to him. Due to the heavy snow load he could not walk out. At about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Voss called 911 to summon assistance.

Search and Rescue Teams assembled and were able to obtain GPS coordinates of Voss's location from his cellular call to 911. Using ground teams, nordic teams, snowmobiles and snow cats, the teams were able to get to the area where GPS Coordinates placed him.

"In an effort to survive," Almos said Voss "had built a snow cave and was awaiting our arrival." Due to being in a snow cave, Search and Rescue teams located Voss "using their avalanche transceivers."

Despite being very cold and exhausted Voss was in good health and did not require any medical attention. Almos said the incident could have ended in tragedy if Voss did not have his avalanche equipment and the "desire to survive."

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Amador County - Operation Care announced Monday that it has received additional state funding for its domestic violence program.

Local Operation Care director Lynn Sheild said "last year, when Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the budget package containing the full restoration of statewide domestic violence shelter funding, California Emergency Management Agency re-distributed their state general fund allocations, in order to justly distribute the money to all of the agencies providing the mandated services."

There are about 96 agencies statewide, and only three of the agencies, including Operation Care, have never received funding from the state, Sheild said, though they did receive some funding through the Cal-EMA for their domestic violence programs.

Linda Zender, Board President of Operation Care said "Cal-EMA went to bat for Operation Care and the other two agencies that have never received these funds. It just didn't seem equitable to leave us out when we have been providing the same services and programs as the other agencies, with substantially less funding. We are very pleased to finally be able to increase our assistance to those most vulnerable."

The re-distribution of funds was applied to Operation Care's 2010-2011 fiscal year, ending June 30. Sheild said: "Because these are non-competitive grants, as long as the state continues to provide domestic violence shelter funding, these funds should be ongoing for Operation Care."

Zender said the "additional funds are allowing us to increase staffing at the safe house, and to focus on day-to-day client assistance when they need it most." It also allows re-allocation of "other budgets to provide essential community education programs, to increase awareness of family violence, and to make people aware of the services available to them."

Zender said: "We are excited about the opportunity to increase our program support at the safe house and at the office. Over the past few years, our team has been stretched very thin, and though we were able to provide basic services to all victims, we are now able to extend the one-on-one assistance so important to an individual in crisis."

She said it was important to note the organization's "recently appointed Executive Director Clara Osborne resigned her position last week, to move out of the area to be closer to her fiancé."

Zender said it "will in no way affect the services provided," and its direct service staff, guided by our Deputy Director Tammie Crabtree, remain devoted to their work and will seamlessly continue providing services to those in need".

Operation Care is at 619 New York Ranch Road in Jackson.

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Amador County - Jackson City Council members cut a ribbon Saturday as part of the Amador County Little League Opening Day ceremonies.

Vice Mayor Wayne Garibaldi cut the ribbon, as Council members Pat Crew, Keith Sweet and Marilyn Lewis held the held the ribbon, with the help of City Inspector Larry White and Project Manager Paul Accinelli.

City Manager Mike Daly released a statement prepared for the ribbon cutting, detailing the history and costs behind the new snack shack.

Daly said the project was funded by the 2002 Resources Bond Act, part of Proposition 40 approved by California voters in 2002. Daly said "the City used some of this money in 2005 to re-plaster the city pool and resurface the deck. The remaining $181,496 was allocated to this building construction and parking lot paving by the City Council in November and the bid for the snack shack and rest room facility was awarded to James Arthur Construction in December."

The architectural design for the project was donated by local architect, Errol Esbit. Construction began just before the end of the year and the building was completed last month.

Daly said "Paul Accinelli was the project manager and ensured that all worksmanship was top notch." The paving contract was awarded to John Hertzig, General Contractor, and completed just in time for the Dandelion Days High School Softball Tournament.

The City also received donations from Ikon Builders, contractor for rehabilitation of the Jackson Hills Apartments on New York Ranch Road. Ikon donated refrigerators, and Mel & Faye's Diner donated a used sink and tables. Jackson Rancheria Casino also donated to the project.

Daly said the "building brings the City into compliance with ADA requirements and greatly improves the dilapidated facilities that were demolished by city crews at the beginning of the project."

The Public Works Department also assisted with bringing upgraded utilities needed for the new building. City Inspector Larry White was on-hand during all phases of the project to keep the city's contractors on task in order to meet the tight deadlines for the project.

Saturday's Little League opening day had been postponed a week due to inclement weather. It also coincided with the opening day of the local girls softball league in Ione.

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Amador County - Amador County roads suffered up to $1.6 million in damage in a mid-March heavy rainstorm, and the Board of Supervisors ratified a declaration of an emergency in a special meeting Tuesday, in the start to seeking federal relief funds.

Undersheriff Jim Wegner, acting as Deputy Director of Emergency Services, declared an emergency on Friday, April 1, and the declaration was pending Supervisors' ratification. That approval was given unanimously, along with a request through the California Emergency Management Association (EMA) and the Governor to make a request for a Presidential declaration.

Wegner said the declaration was the first step toward getting federal funding, should it become available. He said the state threshold is $44 million for the state to be able to get the funding. Wegner made the declaration because of the amount of damage to county roads, and the resulting "conditions of extreme peril."

The storm hit March 16 and dropped several inches of rain in a short period and caused damage in multiple counties. Dana Owens, of the California Emergency Management Agency said there were about 14 counties in the state that were in the same situation due to that storm, including Tuolumne, Mariposa and some Bay Area counties. She said Santa Cruz had the most damage, with about $17 million in estimated costs. She said the state will pass the $44 million threshold.

Wegner said he thought the county should present all of the damage it can find and try to get as much reimbursement as possible. He gave supervisors a list of 26 county roads with damage and repair cost estimates. The County list included an estimated $280,000 in damage to Stony Creek Road, with "clay pumping up through paved surface" and shoulders washed out in various locations.

The full extent of the damage was not uncovered and could increase the repair costs. Wegner also submitted a report from Plymouth City Manager Jeff Gardner, which listed seven roads damaged in the storm, with a repair cost estimated at $51,000. The biggest cost was $25,000 for damage to Old Sacramento Road at the sewer plant, where an "overflowing creek degraded and undermined road base."

Wegner said he requested road damage reports from the five cities. He had not heard from Jackson or Amador City, while Sutter Creek and Ione were still making assessments.

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