Amador County – The Jackson City Council on Monday approved seeking Requests For Qualifications for environmental work on three possible solutions to the city’s wastewater non-compliance issue.

A city Sewer Rate Committee met eight times, more than 16 hours total looking at various solutions, many brought forth by the public, said City Manager Mike Daly, as he endorsed the committee’s recommendation.

Daly recommended the “committee focus its efforts on the rate impact evaluation relative to the implementation of the land disposal option,” that is, spraying irrigation water on land. He also recommended the council initiate the state and federal environmental process “which should include the No Project, and a reservoir proposal from Ken Berry as alternative options.”

That process would look at the options under state law and determine the most viable option. The council approved the recommendations, which included “authorizing staff to begin preparation of the California Environmental Quality Act review of the projects by issuing a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) to select the firm best suited to complete the Environmental Impact Report.”

Daly said he would likely have the RFQ out by week’s end, and he hoped the council could choose a firm at its March 28 meeting. He recommended an RFQ to get a potential third-party analysis of work already done by city wastewater consultant, Stantec, formerly the company ECO:LOGIC.

Regional Board regulator Kenneth D. Landau attended the meeting and also sent a letter early Monday to the city. Councilman Keith Sweet said the letter “was pretty ominous in terms of penalties the city would incur” for not meeting national discharge requirements in its effluent released into Jackson Creek.

Landau said: “It was intended to be ominous,” and said fines could be $10 a gallon, or $10,000 a day, or even connection bans. He said connection bans are on the Regional Board’s next agenda concerning wastewater system seepage issues in Ione’s municipal system.

Sweet asked for clarification on penalties and when they were due, and Landau said that was complicated by enforcement law, but there were mandatory minimum penalties that could occur. He said an “enforcement project” would be needed.

Landau said the state allows for a “mandatory minimum penalty” to pay for the compliance project, because levying a big fine on a small city would not help the city pay for a high-priced project.

Sweet asked if an EIR would be required, and Landau said “as the lead agency, you would have to make that decision.” Landau did not think a “negative declaration” would suffice because the project will have impacts, but he said “that does not mean you need a 20-pound EIR document.”

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors has set a public workshop Thursday afternoon to look at financial plans for the Central Amador Water Project and Camanche Water District 7.

The board last week looked toward the workshop after discussing staff work as a “drop dead” date neared for a $5.1 million USDA grant for a proposed “Gravity Supply Line,” in the CAWP water project. The date was July 22 to have the financial plan in place, which includes rate increases, if needed.

Engineering Manager Erik Christesen said with efforts well under way on the project, it was likely USDA would extend that time period on the GSL grant, as it had similarly done for a $2 million grant for the Plymouth pipeline.

AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said Tuesday the financial plans for CAWP and Camanche will be discussed by the board, the public and staff at the workshop, and public hearings would follow as determined necessary. Mancebo said the CAWP service area plan includes a “worst case scenario” for costs of the GSL, other estimates, and the cost of not building the GSL pipeline and instead upgrading CAWP’s pump stations.

The pump station upgrade would cost an estimated $4.7 million and need a 9 percent rate increase the first year, 5 percent the second, and 4 percent the third. The worst case estimated a GSL at $13.9 million with a three years of rate increases of 9, 5 and 3 percent. A best scenario used a GSL estimated cost of $11.9 million, with rate increases of 6, 3, and 3 percent.

The workshop is 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 at the AWA office on Ridge Road.

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Amador County – The Valentines Day fundraiser, “Take a Chance on Love” started kind of slow, but ended up raising $16,420 for Hospice of Amador and Calaveras Counties.

The grand prize was won by Linda Poulos, a Pine Grove resident, who is also a volunteer at the Hospice Thrift Store in Jackson. Poulos won an all-expense paid trip for four people to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, valued at more than $10,000.

Linda Matulich of Ione won the second prize, the “Love Knot” diamond pendant with a 14-karat white gold chain, valued at $2,000.

Karen Mason, Hospice executive assistant, said Mayra Lawrence, 99, of Jackson won the third place prize of a golf package, including 16 rounds of golf, complete with golf carts at Mace Meadow, Castle Oaks, La Contenta and Greenhorn Creek, valued at approximately $1,100.

Mason said they found out Tuesday that Lawrence “does not golf, so she has donated the golf package back to Hospice to raise money again.” She said it was for a good cause. Mason said they might include the golf package in the Hospice Art Auction later in the year, which is scheduled to be held in Calaveras County this year.

Nancy Martinelli, a past Hospice volunteer, who lives in Sutter Creek, won the fourth prize in the raffle, a two-night stay for two people in an ocean-side condominium on the Monterey Bay, with a $100 restaurant certificate, and a total value of $900.

Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Ann Metherd said early Tuesday she knew the third annual Valentine’s Day Raffle had raised over $14,000 but they were not sure how much more. She said “it was a slower sales year but we are grateful for everyone pitching in and helping out.”

Metherd said: “The need for our services has grown tremendously over the past few years and we are encouraged by all the support of the general public.” The Valentine Raffle is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Mason said late Tuesday that ticket sales had totaled $16,420. She said a lot volunteers helped sell tickets, some for the first time, and Hospice really appreciated “all the wonderful people who stepped up.” Volunteers sold tickets at storefronts on Super Bowl Sunday, helping the raffle to a strong finish.

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Amador County – The Amador County Historical Society’s dinner to raise funds to reopen the Amador County Museum is a sellout, almost two weeks before the actual event at Thomi’s Banquet Room in Jackson on Saturday, Feb. 26.

Amador Historical Society President Gary Reinoehl said Monday that the “176 available tickets have been taken and the Society is elated at the strong demand to support the Society” in its “Let’s Open Our Museum” campaign.

Reinoehl also announced that several large contributions had been received and those donations will be announced during the event. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour and silent auction. He said “local merchants and individuals have donated many wonderful items to the auction.” As new Society president, Reinoehl will welcome attendees.

Larry Cenotto in a release said the program will be emceed by Frank Halvorson, former owner of Prospect Motors in Jackson. Keynote speaker will be Rich Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer of the Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel. Other speakers will include Jackson City Councilman Pat Crew, the newly elected president of the Jackson Business & Community Association; and District 1 Supervisor John Plasse, chairman of the Amador County Board of Supervisors. Other speakers include Stan Lukowicz, local businessman and Amador Community Foundation director; Maureen Funk, executive manager of the Amador Tourism Council; Mike Daly, city manager of Jackson; and Larry Cenotto, past president of the Society.

Reinoehl said all money raised from the fundraiser dinner will be used exclusively to pay for disability access changes at the museum’s mine model exhibit and for preliminary work at the museum to assess American’s with Disabilities Act requirements and structural deficiencies to eventually reopen the museum.

A Society committee and county officials will be meeting soon to discuss a plan to reopen the county museum facilities.

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Amador County – Jackson City Councilman Pat Crew was voted last week to be president of the Jackson Business and Community Association.

The vote came during the JBCA’s general membership meeting Wednesday, Feb. 9 at Thomi’s Banquet Room in Jackson. Crew announced his selection Monday night during the Jackson City Council meeting, at the behest of City Manager Mike Daly, after the councilman announced the other elected officers.

Daly said it was an “easy slate” as Crew was the only nominee for the president’s positions, but he was a good president and would give the association stability. He said Crew would surely step aside if another candidate wanted to lead the group.

Kellee Davenport was elected Vice President of the JBCA, and Carol Harper was voted to be Secretary. The group’s Treasurer is Kim Schmultzer-Agee. Harper had been acting as interim secretary.

Crew said the executive board decided to meet the first Monday of every month. The JBCA office is at 583 South Highway 49 in Jackson, behind Jose’s Mexican Restaurant. JacksonBCA.org.

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Amador County – The Mountain Ranch community and surrounding areas is planning a forum to discuss a rash of burglaries that has affected residents in the area in Calaveras County.

Mike Falvey of Mountain Ranch said it was the second meeting that has been scheduled to address the issue, with Calaveras County Sheriff Gary Kuntz, this time appearing with Calaveras District Attorney Barbara Yook. Falvey hoped Yook “will be able to tell us the crimes charged and the criminal disposition of any of the cases resulting from the rash of burglaries many of us have experienced in the last few months.”

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, February 28 at Mountain Ranch Community Hall.

A representative from the Bureau of Land Management will also attend, and explain “the new fire suppression program which gives people the right to clear 200 feet onto adjoining BLM land for fire safety.” There will be forms to fill out if people are interested in participating.

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Amador County – The Upcountry Community Council meets from 6-8 p.m. today, Tuesday, Feb. 15 at the Veterans Memorial Hall on Buckhorn Ridge Road in Pioneer.

Chair Lynn Morgan announced the meeting agenda last week, saying it included a new discussion item to be “led by Nora Coryell regarding whether there is any interest in an Upcountry Business Organization.”

The meeting will include presentations and then time allotted for questions and answers. District 3 Supervisor Ted Novelli will give an update on County Board of Supervisors actions and issues.

Gary Reinoehl is also scheduled to give an update on Upcountry transportation issues. In a related development, the group’s website, UCCAmador listed a statement from Morgan. It said: “I am happy to report that the UCC letter to the Amador County Transportation Commission regarding our strong urging that they continue support of the Pine Grove corridor Project Stakeholders roundtable appears to have had a positive impact.” She said the ACTC board “voted to continue the Stakeholders group with funding for facilitators.”

District 3 Director of the Amador Water Agency board of directors is also scheduled to give a status report on Amador Water Agency business. And Nora Coryell will lead a discussion of the possibility of having an Upcountry business association.

Fire Protection Committee member Rich Farrington is also scheduled to give a report, and Rebecca Brown will report from the attendance of the Amador County Regional Planning Committee.

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Amador County – A Veterans Memorial Park is being planned in Ione to honor local men and women in the Ione and Camanche areas, veterans who live or lived in the 95640 zip code area.

A board and committee of local residents has been formed to plan and implement a two-phase Veteran’s Memorial Park project, Sharon Long said in a release Monday. The park will honor men and women “who have honorably served our country in all branches of the military.”

Phase 1 will include a granite or marble base, with a bronze statue of a “battle cross,” and space to memorialize Ione service men or women killed in action. The monument is dedicated to those killed in action during the war in Iraq and forward. The first person to be honored will be PFC Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins, who was killed in Iraq on April 28, 2007.

In Phase 2, behind the statue will be placed a three sided memorial Veteran’s wall that will hold a brick for each service man or woman who lived in Ione at the time of their military service, or who has moved to the area. All Ione veterans who have served honorably will have a brick donated by the project fund. Each brick will have the name, branch of service, and dates of service.

A wooden sign listing the names of Ione area veterans who served during World War II will be placed on the west wall of the Bank of Amador building, facing the Memorial Park. The sign is a replica of one that was in place in the late 1940s, a sign which stood for many years, on the side of the building that is now Ione City Hall. The Bank of Amador has approved this placement.

Two flag poles will fly flags representing the United States of America and the MIA/POW, which will be lit and placed in the park. Security cameras will be installed throughout the park. Both landscape and walkways will be used to enhance the park.

A dedication ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. Sunday, April 30 in the small park, at the corner of Main Street and Preston Avenues. The ceremony will feature a flyover, honor guards, bagpipers, taps and a 21-gun salute. Dignitaries from throughout the area will be present and the public is invited to attend.

Sponsors and donations are being sought. All proceeds will go toward construction of the park and are tax deductible.

For information, call Sharon Long at 209-304-5118, or Jerry Cassesi at 209-601-4079.

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