Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors approved annexation of East Bay Municipal Utility District property to its Camanche Water Improvement District Number 1 last week, while acknowledging that one of the wells there has been turned off due to foreign material getting into the well.

General Manager Gene Mancebo said Well Number 14 is off-line for testing, and they “cannot speculate on what’s going into the well,” but “it could be a localized problem.”

Engineering Manager Erik Christeson in a staff report said the East Bay Municipal is waiting for finalization of the annexation to turn on the water. Director Gary Thomas said the water that they are now looking at in Camanche Well 14 is “scary,” and they “now have lemonade for water.”

Mancebo said they are working on water and wastewater solutions with the East Bay Municipal Utility District on the annexation, which would be used as the home of the “Camanche Hunt Club.” The report said “staff has determined there is sufficient capacity to serve this request, and the board initiated annexation proceedings on Sept. 7.”

East Bay Municipal had paid “all necessary fees associated with the annexation request.”

Mancebo said Mike Wallace of East Bay Municipal told him he was interested in “looking at long-term needs there,” and Mancebo is following up with Wallace on that offer.

Director Terence Moore said “Well Number 14 is too good a well to walk away from,” despite problems there. Well 14 is off-line, and Well Number 9 at Camanche is supplying the bulk of the water.

Christeson said Number 14 produces water at a rate of 500 gallons a minute, while “Well 9 is the workhorse,” and supplies water at 1,700 gallons a minute.

The requested annexation included 83.53 acres of property for the Camanche Hunt Club, and sought water service to the property for four equivalent dwelling units. East Bay Municipal already had paid district participation fees of $48,700, and a connection fee of $375.

The public hearing included no public comment, and the board approved the annexation 5-0. Per an accompanying resolution, the annexation became effective immediately upon approval.

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Amador County - The Amador County Board of Supervisors today will discuss (Tuesday, Oct. 19) the proposed Wild and Scenic River Designation for the Mokelumne River.

According to the Foothill Conservancy, “The designation would keep the river as it is today and stop new dams and diversions, including the proposed expansion of Pardee Reservoir.” It would also “protect the private property of riverside landowners from the threat of condemnation for new dam construction and reservoir expansion” as well as “ensure the river continues to be accessible to the public for fishing, swimming, water play, picnics, whitewater boating, teaching kids about nature and local history, and as a recreation destination for visitors to our county who spend money in local businesses.”

A number of local residents with concerns about the future of the river were expected to attend the meeting, which began at 9 am this morning.

Foothill Conservancy says that “Without the Wild and Scenic designation, the future of our river will be left up to big water agencies in the East Bay and the Valley and the federal energy bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. who make the final decisions on dams.”

TSPN will report on the outcome of this discussion in a later broadcast.

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Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week looked at council committee assignments, creating one new position and deciding to leave two other committees in place.

Mayor Patricia Fordyce on Thursday led a review and cleanup of the council committee list, making the addition of a “Lodge Hill liaison.” City Clerk Gloria Stoddard said Fordyce appointed Kathleen Johnson, office assistant and code enforcement clerk, to be the Lodge Hill liaison.

The council discussed eliminating the “administration and finance committee,” and also the “community development committee,” both made up of Councilman Jon Colburn and Councilwoman Pat Shackleton. After discussion, the council and Fordyce decided to keep the two committees in place.

Stoddard said City Manager Dixon Flynn requested that the council and mayor leave the two committees in place, so that Flynn has a contact and sounding board on the council if he needs it to check on ideas in daily business.

Stoddard said he can ask them, “do you think that will fly here in Plymouth? – because they live here and he doesn’t,” and they have a better feel for how ideas may be received.

In council reports, Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin reported that as a board member of the Amador Regional Transit System, he recently conducted interviews toward filling the manager position. One of the finalists had taken another job offer, and another turned out to not be qualified for the job.

Baldwin said the ARTS board reopened the job search for new applicants, which closed last Friday, and they will “try to find a candidate that is more suitable for the manager position.”

Baldwin said the Amador County Transportation Commission will have a vacancy to be appointed by the Mayors Select Committee in January, when he steps down, after two years on its administrative board, this last year as president. He said there could be two vacancies, including his, among city seats.

Sutter Creek Councilman Pat Crosby, also an ACTC board member, is not seeking reelection in November.

Colburn reported attended a recent Central Sierra Conservation District meeting, and reported that Mariposa County is joining the group. He said the group is also considering creating a “joint powers authority,” and each member entity is being contacted about that.

Colburn said Mariposa County’s former chief administrative officer is now the head of the state Fish & Game Department, making for a good relationship for the district and for the possible new JPA.

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Amador County - Many Amador County residents are concerned about the rapid spread of Sudden Oak Death in California, but according to officials, no local reports of the pathogen have been made.

But this doesn’t mean there is no reason for concern.

According to Sean Kriletich, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Program Representative, “It is still a concern because occasionally we’ll get firewood that is coming in from the coast that could be potentially carrying remnants of the disease.” Kriletich spoke with TSPN earlier this year.

Also known as Phytophthora Ramorum, the previously unknown and recently introduced non-native pathogen has killed hundreds of thousands of tan and oak trees in 14 coastal California counties.

A number of dying trees have been reported upcountry, but Kriletich said these deaths are due to other factors. He said these deaths were “likely due to the long-term and persistent drought conditions in our region” or other, less serious pathogens.

“If we do have it here this is truly worrisome and we need to act as soon as possible,” he said.

Earlier this month, researchers at UC Berkeley created a map that tracks the Sudden Oak Death pathogen in order to assist scientists who study the disease. The map allows residents to see whether they are within a 50,000-yard range of an infected oak tree so they can take preventative measures, such as spraying chemical compounds to boost the immunity of the oak trees.

Scientists say most infected oak trees can live up to 11 years unless beetles attack them, cutting the life span down to three years.

To view the UC Berkeley map and track the pathogen’s progress, go to www.dailycal.org.

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Amador County - An upcoming Teen Driver Night will look to make parents and teens aware of the many trials and tribulations involved with teen driving and encourage parent involvement.

Sponsored by Amador Teen Driver, the event will feature presentations from Amador County Health Officer Dr. Bob Hartmann, 4th year Medical Student Dan Stein, CHP Officer Craig Harmon, Anne Lintz of State Farm Insurance, Tina Wurzburger and a representative of the Amador County Narcotics Office. It will include a raffle grand prize of one behind the wheel session at Gold Country Driving School as the grand prize. Two winners will be drawn at the event.

“Our goal is to help parents and teens understand the many issues surrounding the pressures on the teen driver as well as offer safety ideas and tips,” said Anne Lintz. “It is clear that the more parents involve themselves in the activities of their teen drivers, the fewer accidents occur.”

National teen driving statistics show motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15-20 year-olds. 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.16-year-olds are also three times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than the average of all drivers. In total, 2,739 drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2008, down 13.7 percent from 3,174 in 2007 and down 20.2 percent from 3,431 in 1998. In 2006 when the latest data was available, crashes involving 15-17-year-olds cost more than $34 billion nationwide in medical treatment, property damage and other costs, according to an American Automobile Association (AAA) analysis.

The Teen Driver Night is open to both current and future drivers. Extra credit will be provided in many classes for attendance. It takes place Wednesday, Oct. 20 from 7-8:30 pm in the multipurpose room at Argonaugt High School. For more information, please contact Anne Lintz at 223-1631.

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Sacramento - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this month signed into law legislation that will make it an infraction to posses an ounce or less of pot.

The law, Senate Bill 1449, which takes effect Jan. 1, means the minimal marijuana possession will no longer appear on a person’s criminal record, nor can they be booked into jail or finger-printed.

Schwarzenegger argues that lowered penalties will free up limited law enforcement services and allow them to focus attention on more serious criminal matters. “Because it is a misdemeanor [to possess up to an ounce], a criminal defendant is entitled to a jury trial and a defense attorney,” Schwarzenegger wrote in a signing statement. “In this time of drastic budget cuts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and the courts cannot afford to expend limited resources prosecuting a crime that carries the same punishment as a traffic ticket.”

The move was a big win for marijuana smokers, who hope to completely decriminalize the drug through the passage of Proposition 19 this November.

At this point, the momentum is clearly on the side of legislation. According to a survey conducted shortly before Schwarzenegger’s decision, 52 percent of voters say they are likely to back Prop. 19, while only 41 percent say they are likely to vote "no,” making it the only measure on the ballot to attract significant majority support. There is a clear distinction in support among different age groups. 70 percent of 18-34 year olds support the proposition while those above that age are more evenly split. Pollsters said Latinos are also now more likely than whites to back legalization, according to the survey, at 63 percent versus 50 percent at the time of the poll.

Current figures gathered from other pollsters indicate support remains strong. A Field Poll released last week shows the ballot measure with a 7-point lead, at 49 percent support.

All this flies in the face of staunch opposition from almost every top Republican and Democrat politician in the state.

Schwarzenegger seems to be listening to the people, but he also made clear that he still opposes Prop. 19. “I am opposed to decriminalizing the possession and recreational use of marijuana and oppose Proposition 19,” he said. “Unfortunately, Proposition 19 is a deeply flawed measure that, if passed, will adversely impact California’s businesses without bringing in the tax revenues to the state promised by its proponents.”

On Nov. 2, we’ll find out if voters agree.

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Calaveras County - Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek), former Lieutenant Governor and member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, visited last week’s meeting of the California Transportation Commission to rally support for a bill designed to guarantee more transportation products are produced in America.

The meeting took place in Murphys last Thursday, and Garamendi said he was glad to return home to what is his native county.

Garamendi said the “Buses, Rail Cars, Ferryboats: Make it in America Act of 2010” will eliminate certain waivers and obligate federal funding for capital public transportation projects only if they use homegrown manufactured goods like steel and iron.

“Whether they realize it or not, every transportation agency represented in this room is on the frontlines of one of the most important battles of the 21st century,” said Garamendi. “With your procurement decisions, you decide whether America will thrive in the decades ahead or if we’ll witness a slow decline.”

Garamendi referred to the “Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge boondoggle” as an example “of American jobs thrown away with the help of public money.” He said the project has been marred in delays and cost overruns caused by shoddy steel manufacturing from China.

“Can countries with atrocious labor and environmental standards sometimes produce goods a little bit cheaper than American workers? Sure, but that’s a shallow way of looking at our economy,” said Garamendi. “As we saw with the Bay Bridge, sometimes you get what you pay for. Even more importantly, supply chains matter. American workers pay American taxes and spend money at local businesses. With increased demand, these businesses expand and hire new workers, creating even more local demand along with tax revenues that can then be used in additional infrastructure. This cycle of growth and prosperity must be our nation’s priority in the years ahead.”

Currently, well over 12 percent of California workers are struggling to find employment. Garamendi said approximately 12,000 to 20,000 American jobs are offshored every month.

“With the local, state, and federal tax dollars you receive, you need to Make it in America to save the America we love,” said Garamendi. “If we don’t Make it in America, we won’t make it in America. Manufacturing matters.”

The bill was introduced in July and will be discussed by Congress later this year.

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Amador County – The Motherlode Taxed Enough Already Party opened a storefront office on Main Street in Jackson last week with an open house and recently released its recommendations on the upcoming statewide propositions.

Public Relations coordinator Virginia Manner said the group has had large turnouts and many people interested in learning more about the group.

The group does not have a president, but has a “facilitator,” in Austin Ford Junior. Manner said Ford stepped down from the Republican Central Committee after taking over as head of the TEA Party.

She said the party locally does not have candidates, or endorse candidates, but it has conducted a candidate forum for the Amador Water Agency board race.

While not taking sides in political office seats in Amador County, Manner said the party has released a list of opinions on how to vote for the statewide voter propositions on the ballot in the November 2nd election.

The Motherlode TEA Party website recommends a “no” vote on Proposition 19, which would legalize and tax marijuana. They also recommend a “no” vote on Prop 21, which would “increase vehicle license fees by $18 a year to fund state parks.

It recommends voting against Prop 22, which prohibits the state government “from taking designated type of local funds.” They also recommend “no” on Prop 24, which “eliminates three business tax breaks,” and Prop 25, which would allow state budget and tax increases to “be passed with a simple majority vote” rather than the current two-thirds majority requirement.

The website recommends voting “no” on Prop 27, which would “return the task of redistricting to the California State Legislature,” and repeal Prop 11. In a similar recommendation, Motherlode TEA Patriots recommend a “yes” vote on Proposition 20, allowing “Congressional district lines to be redrawn by a committee.”

Motherlode TEA Party recommends a “yes” vote on Prop 23, which “suspends AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, until unemployment falls below 5.5 percent.” It also recommends a “yes” vote on Prop 26, saying “voters must give permission before any new taxes can be imposed.”

The storefront office at 118 North Main Street in Jackson was funded by passing around the hat at some of the TEA Party functions held locally, where Manner said attendance has been strong. The party office hands out pocket copies of the U.S. Constitution, and is gathering books for a lending library.

She said privately funded T-shirts are for sale. The party has a website, mlteaparty.org, and a Facebook page.

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Amador County – Plymouth renewed its 18-year relationship with the Amador Fire Protection District for 10 more years last week by signing a fire services contract, with one of the auspices being that the non-profit corporation will work to help Plymouth create its own fire department.

City Manager Dixon Flynn said Thursday that the city has spent three years working on the agreement, and in the process looked at volunteer services, but saw that “the city of Plymouth doesn’t have the money to make a volunteer fire department viable at this time.”

Flynn said they have made part of the agreement that AFPD will help the city work toward forming its own fire department. He said AFPD’s board of directors and Chief Jim McCart have been working patiently with the city.

The city has worked with AFPD for 18 years and he has not heard any complaints. Flynn said the controversy has been the attempt to get a volunteer fire department.

He said “people hear the word volunteer and think it’s free,” but there’s training costs, stipends are paid and other costs. Flynn said he met with supervisors, who make up the AFPD board, and talked about services.

The council voted 3-0 to authorize Flynn to sign the contract with AFPD. Mike O’Meara and Pat Shackleton were absent.

Councilman Greg Baldwin asked if wildland fire training can be done on private property. McCart said “it can be done and has been done.”

Mayor Pat Fordcye said the city “did its due diligence as a council” to see what it could do with a volunteer department, including inviting Ione Fire Department and its city manager to make a presentation of serving the city.

Also Thursday, consultant Richard Prima gave a presentation on Proposition 1B money, totaling roughly $400,000 due the city. The one-time money was tabbed for the city in 2006, and the city was going to use it on our Main Street,” said City Clerk Gloria Stoddard. Now it will go to whatever Prima “can come up with on a maintenance program.”

Prima discussed several streets, talking about what could be repaired and with what techniques, including slurry, or new material used for overlay.

The city council directed Prima to bring back a proposal for maintenance on the city street, with a plan and a priority list.

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