Tom
Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:09
Ione Joins County-wide Pursuit of Greenhouse Gas Study Grant
Amador County – The Ione City Council unanimously approved a $1,000 share of a county-wide study that could bring from $100,000 to as much as $1 million to a county and city planning project. The goal is to undertake a greenhouse gas inventory and reduction plan to look at how the gasses are produced and could be reduced across the county. Ione City Planner Christopher Jordan said the “plan would establish a clear roadmap to achieving county-specific reduction targets.” He said the cost to prepare the application is $7,000, and Ione’s share is $1,000, along with the other cities. Jordan said Amador County is taking the lead on the project with one of its consultants. He said it would be determined who would talk with the consultants. Jordan said the county planning department and all of the city planners in the county have been meeting once a month since April, and this grant has been the major focus of their discussion together. City Manager Kim Kerr said planners brought it to their respective administrators and managers, who all thought it was a good idea as a team project, so it was brought to the cities. Plymouth was to consider the grant application at its meeting today (Thursday, July 22nd). Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked if it could be done without Ione. Jordan said it would leave a hole in the data and “it’s a loss for us. We’re still going to have to do it eventually.” The study would help identify ways to reduce greenhouse gasses, as required under the California Environmental Quality Act, which says that “developments must have their greenhouse gasses analyzed.” The county-wide application makes for a better project because of a regional approach, and better use of funds. He said Amador County Planner Susan Grijalva told him earlier Tuesday that Tuolumne and Calaveras counties were interested in a joint application among the 3 counties, which could be looked at even more favorably for its wider regional approach. Jordan said Amador County and its cities would have to decide if that was worth the extra coordination and politics involved in a 3-county application. Councilman Jim Ulm and Bonham asked for a “ballpark figure” on CEQA costs, and Jordan said he could not give one. But he said after the county-wide study produces general elements, the city then will be able to “create a sub-document” with its own plans for gas reduction measures and practices. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:22
Jim McHargue - Oil Recycling Center, Plymouth 7-22-10
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News Interview Videos
Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:28
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 7-22-10
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Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:22
Jim McHargue - Oil Recycling Center, Plymouth 7-22-10
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Local
Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:18
AWA Verifies CAWP Rate Protest Successful, Staff Says System is Antiquated
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency on Wednesday verified that a Proposition 218 protest of a rate increase in the Central Amador Water Project service area was successful. AWA Board Clerk Cris Thompson said she had “finished the verification of signatures for the CAWP rate protest and have determined that this was in fact a successful protest with 1,396 verified signatures.” The signatures were presented in a July 1st meeting. At least one staff member answered with a call for an immediate request for another rate increase in CAWP. In an e-mail Wednesday AWA construction, distribution, canal, and fleet manager Barry Birge said he planned to “immediately request another rate increase on the CAWP system” and finalize rate increases in Lamel and Camanche systems as soon as possible. Birge sent the email to the AWA board of directors and department heads with photographs of multiple ruptures discovered last week in a CAWP water storage tank. With it was a photo from more than a year ago showing the worst of many corrosion-damaged areas on the tank. Birge at the time “requested replacement of this tank,” but it never happened “due to major budget reductions to prevent future rate increases.” Last Thursday (July 15th) the same spot on the tank had water jetting from several rusted holes. Wood, washers, and bolts plugged the holes and Birge said CAWP has “no budget for proper repairs and/or replacements.” The agency has “had a strategic plan in place for years,” he said, but “always struggled to have a budget to support distribution system improvements recommended by staff.” Birge said AWA “passed a death sentence to the CAWP distribution system by not raising the rates.” The AWA board July 1st approved a budget without a rate increase in CAWP, expecting the Prop. 218 protest to succeed. Birge said, “While times are tough right now there has been and always will be an excuse or reason not to raise rates” saying it is “usually political.” He called CAWP an “antiquated, undersized, piecemealed distribution system.” Birge said in his 30-year professional opinion, “we are not doing our job as water purveyors to address the needs and demands of our water systems.” He said in today’s meeting (Thursday, July 22nd) he would urge the board to implement the original, already adopted, 4 percent rate increase for Amador Water System. He said the rate increase would “help ensure that we don’t hand out another death sentence on the most antiquated system that is under the agency’s control.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Water
Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:15
Ione Promotes Three Fire Captains
Amador County – Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey pinned bugles on three men Tuesday in a promotion ceremony, making each a fire captain in the Ione Fire Department. The ceremony began with a stream of male and female firefighters and cadets walking into the Ione City Council meeting and standing along one wall. Mackey read the names of the firemen, who were pinned with their fire captain hardware by family members. Mackey promoted Jim Bennett, Mike Florez and Phil Hererra to be fire captains saying all three trained and studied, took an extensive written test and underwent an “intense on-scene scenario” as part of their certification. Mackey said all three passed with excellent scores. Mackey said the three positions recently opened and the men were able to pass certification for the promotions. He said all three come from fire fighting families. Bennett came to Ione from Upcountry’s Battalion 10 in the Amador Fire Protection District. Also Tuesday, the council approved 2 applications for separate grants for sustainable planning, through the state Proposition 84. One application, at a cost of $5,000, would seek a grant to complete the Ione Business Park’s “Specific Plan.” City Planner Christopher Jordan said one of the park’s four owners, Howard Properties, had been notified of the planning grant application, and asked to share the costs. The city had not yet heard from the Howard family. Jordan said the city would put the specific plan together and the developers “would have to draft the plan and submit it to the city for approval.” City Manager Kim Kerr said the work “would not be done in a vacuum” and the city would meet and work with property owners. Kerr said instead of having the owners try to build a consensus on the plan, city staff “would build a consensus with property owners.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked about a solar farm for the business park. Jordan said they don’t want to “box us in,” but if the council “wants to explore that then that would be part of the analysis.” Bonham wanted to make it clear in approving the application that property owners will be involved in the specific plan work. Jordan said there will be “significant stakeholder outreach with property owners.” The council approved it 4-1 with Councilman Jim Ulm against, and also voted 5-0 to contribute $1,000 toward a county application for the same sustainability planning funds in Prop 84. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Fire
Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:09
Ione Joins County-wide Pursuit of Greenhouse Gas Study Grant
Amador County – The Ione City Council unanimously approved a $1,000 share of a county-wide study that could bring from $100,000 to as much as $1 million to a county and city planning project. The goal is to undertake a greenhouse gas inventory and reduction plan to look at how the gasses are produced and could be reduced across the county. Ione City Planner Christopher Jordan said the “plan would establish a clear roadmap to achieving county-specific reduction targets.” He said the cost to prepare the application is $7,000, and Ione’s share is $1,000, along with the other cities. Jordan said Amador County is taking the lead on the project with one of its consultants. He said it would be determined who would talk with the consultants. Jordan said the county planning department and all of the city planners in the county have been meeting once a month since April, and this grant has been the major focus of their discussion together. City Manager Kim Kerr said planners brought it to their respective administrators and managers, who all thought it was a good idea as a team project, so it was brought to the cities. Plymouth was to consider the grant application at its meeting today (Thursday, July 22nd). Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked if it could be done without Ione. Jordan said it would leave a hole in the data and “it’s a loss for us. We’re still going to have to do it eventually.” The study would help identify ways to reduce greenhouse gasses, as required under the California Environmental Quality Act, which says that “developments must have their greenhouse gasses analyzed.” The county-wide application makes for a better project because of a regional approach, and better use of funds. He said Amador County Planner Susan Grijalva told him earlier Tuesday that Tuolumne and Calaveras counties were interested in a joint application among the 3 counties, which could be looked at even more favorably for its wider regional approach. Jordan said Amador County and its cities would have to decide if that was worth the extra coordination and politics involved in a 3-county application. Councilman Jim Ulm and Bonham asked for a “ballpark figure” on CEQA costs, and Jordan said he could not give one. But he said after the county-wide study produces general elements, the city then will be able to “create a sub-document” with its own plans for gas reduction measures and practices. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 05:45
Amador County Fair's Opening Day to Feature Kid's Day Parade
Amador County – The Amador County Fair once again plans a Kids Parade to mark the start of the fair on Opening Day, Thursday, July 29th. Sign-ups for the parade are 8:15 to 9 a.m. at Plymouth City Hall. Costume judging is 9:15 a.m. and the parade starts at 9:30 a.m. This year’s Kid’s Parade will have a Safari theme to match the Fair’s slogan of “It’s a Jungle Out There.” Admission to the Fair for kids 12 and under is free until 6 p.m only on Kids Day. Every day is “Dress Like a Pirate Day” at the Amador County Fair and anyone dressed like a pirate will be admitted free until 6 p.m. (Captain Jack Sparrow will be “recruiting his crew” throughout the fair). Every child who participates in the parade will be given free carnival tickets courtesy of Ken Johnston, Carnival of Fun. There are plenty of gentler rides for smaller children as well as the bigger rides for older kids. Kids Day will once again be “tobacco free” with no smoking or tobacco use allowed on the fairgrounds. Kids are also encouraged to bring their Grandparents on Friday, Seniors Day. For information see www.amadorcountyfair.com or call (209) 245-6921. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 06:04
Preliminary Stakeholders Meeting Held For Pine Grove 88 Corridor Project
Amador County – At their first official meeting on June 23rd, the Stakeholders Working Group for the developing Pine Grove/Highway 88 Corridor Project met to introduce themselves and discuss concerns related to the project. At least six community groups, three businesses, and four agencies are represented in the group. Neil Peacock, Program Manager for the Amador County Transportation Commission (ACTC), said the project proposal includes 12 different alternatives for route modifications at a price tag “not to exceed $40 million,” and the stakeholder group will “provide feedback to the technical experts in our consultant team.” ACTC and Caltrans are seeking to guide the project along through the concept of “Context Sensitive Solutions,” which, according to Caltrans, are defined in part as a way “to provide for the needs of all highway users in balance with the needs of the local community and the context of the project.” Gary Reinoehl, a stakeholder representing the Upcountry Community Council (UCC), told TSPN that this process will help ensure “a greater chance of a project that everyone can agree on.” Reinoehl will be acting as a conduit for the concerns of the UCC, who met separately this month to create a list of “transportation issues.” These include sidewalk and pedestrian access, public transit, parking, and traffic concerns. He said perhaps the greatest concern is “safety in general.” He said he is “cautiously optimistic” about being able to address the many concerns upcountry residents have as the project moves forward. Another stakeholder, John Carlson, who was there on behalf of the Pine Grove Community Council, said he thinks the project heads “are making their best effort” to reach out to the community. He said his biggest concern is maintaining public involvement. “The stakeholders committee will work towards finding the preferred alternatives, but the community still needs to be there to provide input on the important decisions,” says Carlson, adding: “Ultimately, this is going to be something they will have to live with.” The next Stakeholders Working Group meeting is July 28th at the Pine Grove Town Hall. ACTC is the “implementing agency” for project management while Caltrans retains “lead agency” status and project oversight. The project must abide by the rules and regulations of the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Protection Act. Project construction is not estimated to take place until 2024. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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