Tom
Thursday, 09 September 2010 06:23
Ione takes no action on Scully police initiative
Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday took no action on a petition for a voter initiative to do away with the city police force, and also received no public comment on the matter. City Clerk Janice Traverso said no one wanted to speak during the public comment period, when the council considered the clerk’s recommendation to take no action on the petition due to legal error that forced her to not be able to accept and certify the petition. Traverso in a report last week to the council said the petition filed by nearby Amador County resident Jim Scully did not have the required “Notice of Intention to Circulate Initiative Petition” attached to each section of the petition, as required by California election law. The petition received a title from the city attorney as required by law and was called “An Initiative Transferring Responsibility for Providing Law Enforcement Services from the Ione Police Department to the Amador County Sheriff.” The number of valid signatures of registered voters was verified by Amador County Registrar of Voters Sheldon Johnson. The petition was said to have arrived too late to make the November 2010 ballot, and the council would have considered placing it on the 2012 ballot, if not for the legal error. The council also had discussed the legality of the initiative’s subject matter, and was told by City Attorney Kristen Castanos that it appeared to be unconstitutional in requiring the county to take over the policing duties of the city. The council debated filing a suit against the petition, but a motion failed on a 3-2 vote. City Manager Kim Kerr said any discussion of a lawsuit Tuesday would have occurred in closed session. She said it was likely any lawsuit would be defensive in nature, if Scully, or lead petitioner, Ione resident Denise Robertson, chose to sue the city over a decision to not certify the petition. Traverso said the council broke from closed session and reported that no direction was given to staff on the matter. Traverso last week sent a letter to petitioner Robertson notifying her that “the petition is insufficient.” A report to the council by Traverso, Kerr and City Attorney Thomas Henry included a 1986 ruling in a similar case, in favor of San Francisco. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Wednesday, 08 September 2010 06:54
Paul Molinelli - Amador Water Agency Candidate 9-8-10
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News Interview Videos
Thursday, 09 September 2010 06:29
Robert Manassero - Amador Water Agency Dist. 4 Candidate 9-9-10
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News Interview Videos
Wednesday, 08 September 2010 06:58
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 9-8-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Thursday, 09 September 2010 06:36
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 9-9-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Thursday, 09 September 2010 06:36
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 9-9-10
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Video
Thursday, 09 September 2010 06:29
Robert Manassero - Amador Water Agency Dist. 4 Candidate 9-9-10
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Local
Thursday, 09 September 2010 06:25
Sheriff’s Office investigates possible suicide at Silver Lake
Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a possible suicide at Silver Lake where the body of a man with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head was discovered. Last Friday, September 3rd at approximately 1:30 pm, the Sheriff’s Office received a report from an El Dorado Hills couple who discovered the body in the El Dorado National Forest east of Silver Lake. The couple told detectives they had been hiking for about two hours when they located the man in a rocky area between Silver and Granite Lake. Due to the remote location, the Sheriff’s Office called in a CHP helicopter to transport Sheriff’s Detectives to the scene to conduct the investigation. According to a release, detectives “found an approximately 60 year old, white male decedent, with grey hair, wearing a blue shirt, grey shorts and hiking boots. The decedent, was still cradling a cut down shotgun and had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.” The initials “DEV” were scratched into the rocks nearby with a knife that was discovered on the body. The release said “Sheriff’s Deputies have conducted checks of area campgrounds, trail heads and parking areas, and have not yet located an associated vehicle or camp.” A statewide message regarding the decedent was sent out to law enforcement agencies via the CLETS system. They have also contacted the California Department of Justice’s Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit and Finger Print Bureau in an effort to identify the decedent. The man’s body has yet to be identified. Anyone with any information regarding this investigation or the possible identity of the decedent is asked to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Law Enforcement
Thursday, 09 September 2010 06:23
Ione takes no action on Scully police initiative
Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday took no action on a petition for a voter initiative to do away with the city police force, and also received no public comment on the matter. City Clerk Janice Traverso said no one wanted to speak during the public comment period, when the council considered the clerk’s recommendation to take no action on the petition due to legal error that forced her to not be able to accept and certify the petition. Traverso in a report last week to the council said the petition filed by nearby Amador County resident Jim Scully did not have the required “Notice of Intention to Circulate Initiative Petition” attached to each section of the petition, as required by California election law. The petition received a title from the city attorney as required by law and was called “An Initiative Transferring Responsibility for Providing Law Enforcement Services from the Ione Police Department to the Amador County Sheriff.” The number of valid signatures of registered voters was verified by Amador County Registrar of Voters Sheldon Johnson. The petition was said to have arrived too late to make the November 2010 ballot, and the council would have considered placing it on the 2012 ballot, if not for the legal error. The council also had discussed the legality of the initiative’s subject matter, and was told by City Attorney Kristen Castanos that it appeared to be unconstitutional in requiring the county to take over the policing duties of the city. The council debated filing a suit against the petition, but a motion failed on a 3-2 vote. City Manager Kim Kerr said any discussion of a lawsuit Tuesday would have occurred in closed session. She said it was likely any lawsuit would be defensive in nature, if Scully, or lead petitioner, Ione resident Denise Robertson, chose to sue the city over a decision to not certify the petition. Traverso said the council broke from closed session and reported that no direction was given to staff on the matter. Traverso last week sent a letter to petitioner Robertson notifying her that “the petition is insufficient.” A report to the council by Traverso, Kerr and City Attorney Thomas Henry included a 1986 ruling in a similar case, in favor of San Francisco. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Thursday, 09 September 2010 06:20
Jackson Revitalization Committee to review recent “Your Town” workshop
Amador County – The Jackson Revitalization Committee will address a host of issues at its meeting tonight (September 9th), including a review of highlights from the recent Amador Regional Design “Your Town” workshop. Jackson was a partnering agency in a grant obtained by Ione for the workshop, which was held over the course of three days in late August. The grant that funded the event was written by Renee Chapman, a freelance consultant. Chapman’s website says “the workshop highlighted the advantages and methods of preserving community character and how to make our communities more attractive and economically viable.” She said that participants explored and conducted an Amador County SWOT Analysis, which lists community and business strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Workshop participants, who included city and county officials and local business representatives, learned about and discussed what makes a community strong and attractive, community development and design, and main street/downtown designs and historic preservation, among other topics. Over 50 local individuals pre-registered for the event. Jackson City Manager Mike Daly described it as a way to “blend design and economic development to boost the local economy.” Group projects included “Amador County in the Context of California,” “Main Street Downtown Design,” “Historic Preservation and Design,” and the “Ione Community Program.” Tonight’s Jackson Revitalization Committee meeting will also include a continued conversation on Jackson’s gateway signs. The committee will look at a graphic design concept for a new city gateway sign that “clearly lists upcoming events while maintaining space for sponsors,” as described by Daly. The proposed sign’s design and concept were created by Merzlak Signs owner Kam Merzlak. The Jackson Revitalization Committee meeting takes place tonight at 6 pm in the Jackson City Hall. Next month’s meeting of the Jackson Revitalization Committee will be postponed due to a conflict with the kick-off event for the new Jackson Business and Community Association being held at Thomi’s Banquet Room on Thursday, October 14th starting at 5:30 pm. The public is encouraged to attend all meetings. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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