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Amador County – A group of residents forming a committee of the “Amador Catholic Center” on Monday (July 26th) announced the “pending purchase” of the former Prospect Motors building and land adjacent to the Italian Picnic Grounds in Martell, to house a new chapel and banquet hall. Charles Spinetta, co-chair of the Amador Catholic Center, announced the pending purchase in an e-mail Monday, and also sent a “very tentative set of floor plans and renderings.” Spinetta said: “The largest building will serve as the new Amador Catholic Center,” with a “threefold purpose.” First, Spinetta said, “it will serve as a chapel with enough room to celebrate mass together as one large Amador Catholic family with much needed improved access and facilities for our older participants.” Secondly, “the new Amador Catholic Center will contain lots of space devoted to activities for our Catholic youths and their friends.” The Catholic Center will also feature a kitchen and an adjacent large hall where parishioners will be able to spend time together after mass and hold special events. Spinetta said: “We are currently inspecting the buildings and doing due diligence studies,” and “we hope escrow will close at the end of August.” He said prior to the close of escrow, the group plans to invite the “Bishop and all Amador Catholics for a sneak preview of our tentative plans and a tour of the new Amador Catholic Center.” Details of the event will appear in the Church bulletin. Father Thomas Seabridge in the release said he “hopes this new Catholic Church will bring home Catholics who have drifted away from the Church.” He sees it as a “new beginning” for the Amador County Catholic community. The chief financial officer of the diocese is working with a committee of Amador County parishioners, co-chaired by Spinetta and John Gonsalves, with 15 or more other members. Spinetta said: “Before the new ACC is completed, we plan to have most of the Amador parishioners involved in this project.” He said “members of the committee unanimously agree that occupying these buildings will improve business for our new neighbors.” He said the “occupied, active building will deter vandalism and theft in the area.” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Tuesday, 27 July 2010 06:27

AWA Approves a 4 Percent Rate Increase in the Amador Water System

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors approved a rate increase in the Amador Water System last week, and set about trying to cut the agency budget by another $200,000 in salary and benefits. General Manager Gene Mancebo said “the board did approve the 4 percent rate increase for the Amador Water System.” He said “this is something that was not fully implemented a year ago.” The agency had approved a 12 percent increase, but during budget work decided to make only an 8 percent increase. Mancebo said Friday that “the board was simply implementing the balance of a rate increase that was not done at that time.” Mancebo said the board must now get together with employees and brainstorm on ways to find additional cost savings, by a minimum of $200,000. Mancebo said the 4 percent increase could generate $169,000 in the AWS, which already had significant cuts, with the only thing left to cut being salaries and benefits. Vice President Debbie Dunn and President Bill Condrashoff urged not increasing the AWS rates. Dunn suggested furloughs “closing the agency once a week.” Condrashoff sided with Jackson Councilman Keith Sweet, who in a letter said AWS was not getting specific benefits from the increase. Dunn said AWS has a “ton of money” but the board put it in other systems, and that was “not a reason to raise rates.” Condrashoff thought it was “illegal” without a nexus study. Director Terence Moore said the rate increase was a month overdue, and he was tired of hearing that they were “raising AWS rates to support other systems.” He said the 12 percent increase approved for last year was lowered too much by the board, and it was found at the end of the year that it “did not meet the debt ratio” for AWS. Without the increase, Moore said $140,000 in cuts would still be needed, or the equivalent of 4 full-time jobs. Director Don Cooper said they are definitely in a “price-cost squeeze,” and he urged getting citizens, employees and the AWA board to look at the budget as a committee. Mancebo said all employee bargaining units and managers were prepared to discuss the cuts needed, if the agency board showed its support with the 4 percent increase in the AWS. The agency workforce has been reduced by 20 employees in 2 years, including 11 field workers. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Water

Tuesday, 27 July 2010 06:24

Amador County Unemployment Rates Increase Slightly Above the State Average

Amador County - Although unemployment rates in California are falling, Amador County’s numbers are on a steady rise, according to the most recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of June, 2010, County rates were 12.6 percent- slightly higher than the statewide rate of 12.3 percent. Amador’s rate has been climbing continuously since September of 2007, when it was 5.5 percent. The state’s overall unemployment rate fell even after 27,600 payroll jobs were eliminated. The overall slow pace of job recovery is linked by experts to a general feeling that another major downturn in the economy is soon to come. The good news is that unemployed individuals should see some relief after the Senate finally approved an extension of unemployment benefits. About 400,000 Californians whose extended unemployment benefits ended prematurely when federal funding ran out June 2nd could resume getting checks within a few weeks. The legislation cleared a major procedural hurdle and ended months of debate on July 20th after Democrats captured the 60 votes necessary to overcome GOP opposition. In a surprising rebellion against tradition, Republicans joined together to argue that the $34 billion cost of the proposal will add to much to the deficit. Two Republicans - Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins – voted for the legislation, while one Democrat, Nebraska’s Ben Nelson, opposed it. The legislation, which was supported by President Obama, will extend benefits for those who have already used their standard 26 weeks of unemployment. The bill also modifies a rule that was seen as discouraging some from working because it caused a reduction in weekly benefits for people who get part-time or temporary work. Some Senate members saw this as a disincentive. Nationwide, unemployment rates have dropped slightly to 9.5 percent and are unchanged since one year before. Nevada registers the highest rate at 14.2 percent, with Michigan second at 13.2 percent. 39 states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases in June, while 5 states had increases and 6 states had no change, 24 states recorded unemployment rate increases over the year previous, 22 states and the District of Columbia saw decreases, and 4 states had no change. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Tuesday, 27 July 2010 06:21

Ione Disagrees With the Grand Jury on Its Building Inspector

Amador County – The Ione City Council last week responded to the Amador County Grand Jury with an agreement and a disagreement. The council heard its staff is checking permit fee amounts charged since 2005. The action is a response to findings by the Grand Jury of inconsistent fee charges by the city building department. City Manager Kim Kerr said it is also a reaction to problems found by a city audit in 2007, looking at fiscal year 2005-2006 fees and charges. Kerr said analysis showed that changed city standards made a higher fee correct, and showed the auditor in error, due to not being given all of the information. The council voted unanimously to respond that it is aware of inconsistencies, and will try to find all of them. The Grand Jury also recommended the city eliminate a full-time building inspector and hire contractors for the work. The council unanimously agreed with Kerr’s recommended response, that employment decisions are “up to the city council,” and involve employee unions. Dominic Atlan in public comment applauded the council response that “it is inappropriate for the Grand Jury to tell the city what to do with its employees.” The council also unanimously appointed Karl Knobelauch to its Parks & Recreation Commission. The council selected Knobelauch from a list of candidates considered at its last appointment, when Knobelauch and Susan Priest were considered, and Priest was selected because she lived inside city limits. Knobelauch lives outside the city, said City Manager Kim Kerr, because city code allows up to 2 commission members to live outside of city limits. The council decided not to advertise the open position and make the appointment, because Kerr said the “last couple of times, we have had no people respond to advertisements.” The appointment was needed after Commission Chairman Russell Baldwin resigned, due to a work promotion. Kerr said Knobelauch “was on the list before and still wants to do it.” The former Amador County Undersheriff is also the current board president of the Amador School District. Knobelauch is now a member of the Amador County Recreation Agency board of directors, representing the school district, but Kerr said “he would rather represent us.” Councilman David Plank said at first he wanted to change municipal code to require all Parks & Recreation Commissioners to live inside city limits, “but Karl only lives down the road,” like a lot of people. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said “if you live in Willow Creek or Camanche, you live in Ione” and “Ione is still your town.” The commission meets 6 p.m. today (July 27th) at city hall, and its first meeting will include a selection of a commission chair and vice chair. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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