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Tuesday, 20 July 2010 06:35
Sutter Creek Promotions Ok's Bus, Goolge Ad Campaigns
Amador County – The Sutter Creek Promotion Committee last month discussed its new Sacramento-bound bus advertising campaign, and opened a new account with Google, but declined a suggestion to get televised coverage for the city’s Organ Rally. Committee Chairwoman Sandy Anderson reported on the contract for large billboard bus signage that the committee recently contracted for with the Amador Regional Transit System bus. The $260-a-month contract will place a billboard on the ARTS commuter bus that travels to Sacramento 5 days a week. The sign will be at eye-level, just below the back window. The contract is for one year with a 10 percent discount. The committee will buy the sign from Merzlak Signs. A brief discussion took place regarding the need to continue to prioritize the website for attracting tourism to Sutter Creek and Amador County. After discussion, it was unanimously approved to amend the 2010 budget to spend $300 per month on internet marketing with “Google Paper Clicks.” Committee member and Councilman Pat Crosby reportedly asked if the upcoming October Organ Rally would be covered by TSPN, like the Ragtime Festival was recently. Anderson said that any sponsorship of the event would need to be considered by the committee as it was not in the budget for this year. A financial report at the meeting said the committee had a projected a balance of $16,362, including $325 committed to the Monte Verde Store Paint Project. The committee anticipated revenue from the city of $2,669 for the remainder of the fiscal year. The sum included revenue from the Visitor Center of $497. Robert Gordon showed the home page of the committee’s new website and the committee commented favorably on the design. It was strongly suggested by the committee that there be a separate category for wine and wineries as this is probably the largest tourist attraction in the county. Gordon said he would make the change. Anderson said she had a “draft” website policy which will be reviewed when the new site opens. The promotion committee received $600 from a cancelled “Music Academy” summer program by “Friends Of Music.” Organizer Ron Brickman said the project did not materialize primarily because it had targeted the wrong musicians and participants, and the event likely would not return next year. Maureen Funk of the Amador Council of Tourism suggested in the future to target the Student Young Travel Association, (which includes travel agents) and already plans to visit Preston Castle and the Kennedy Mine. The Promotions Committee meets 9:30 a.m. Wednesday (July 21st) at Backroads Coffee Shop. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 20 July 2010 06:31
Congressman Lungren Announces August Town Hall Meetings
Amador County – Amador County representative and 3rd District Congressman Dan Lungren announced last week a series of August town hall meetings in which he’ll address current issues and resident’s concerns. Congressman Dan Lungren serves as Ranking Member on the House Administration Committee in addition to serving on the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. He represents California's 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Sacramento and Solano County, as well as all of Alpine, Amador, and Calaveras Counties. The three announced upcoming meetings take place August 11 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the La Sierra Community Center in Carmichael, August 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the Jackson Civic Center in Jackson, and August 19 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Wackford Community and Apartment Complex in Elk Grove. The public is encouraged to attend a town hall meeting in their area. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Friday, 16 July 2010 02:10
AFPD Hires New Battalion Chief
Amador County - Amador Fire Protection District Chief Jim McCart announced Wednesday that longtime fire service veteran David Bellerive will commence duties as Battalion Chief for the District next Monday (July 19). “The District Board of Directors along with the Fire Chief are excited about Battalion Chief Bellerive joining us in the transition to a paid/volunteer department. His experience, working in both the paid and volunteer fire service will serve us and the community well,” said McCart in a statement. The decision to hire a chief is the latest step in a process that began after the Amador Fire Protection District voted earlier this year to approve a county-wide fire protection plan authored by McCart. Discussions over the best approach for such an agency have been occurring at a city and county level since the Measure M ½ cent sales tax increase for local fire services was approved as part of the November 4, 2008 ballot. McCart said “Bellerive brings a wealth of work experience to the District which includes 23 years (retired) with the California Highway Patrol, 8 years in the Air Force Reserve, and as an active member of the Suisun City Fire Department since 1983, serving in a supervisory position for the last seven years.” Bellerive said he and his wife Trayce, along with their four children, anticipate moving to the area as soon as possible. He said he is “very excited about the new position and is anxious to begin assisting the District as it moves forward with our paid firefighter program.” Current volunteer Battalion Chief, who has served the community for more than 40 years, said he feels Bellerive will be “a good fit” for working with the volunteers and meeting the goals of the District for fire protection. Bellerive’s primary function as Battalion Chief will be to direct the day to day operations of the District’s paid personnel assigned to various stations under the direction of Fire Chief McCart. The position is both executive and administrative. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Friday, 16 July 2010 02:16
AWA Consumer Confidence Report Lists 5 Violations in 2009
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency last week released its annual Consumer Confidence Report for the 2009 calendar year, noting 5 violations had occurred through the year. Among the violations was a lead content reading in February in the Jackson Water District, with high levels found at 3 locations among 20 sites sampled. Plant adjustments were already made to address the issue. The report also listed a lead violation at 1 home in the Drytown County Water District. It was 1 of 5 homes tested there, and the only one with lead beyond the maximum content level. The AWA board last week discussed the report and asked about that result. General Manager Gene Mancebo said AWA staff “tested the house across the street” and it was clean of lead, so it “appears to be very localized in the plumbing of that house.” The Drytown district also had a copper content violation. The report said adjustments were made to handle both content levels. The Amador Water System in Ione had one violation, the report said. The “Ione system exceeded the total coliform bacteria in August 2009 in 2 samples. No fecal coliform was detected and all subsequent samples were negative.” The Ione “system lines were flushed and the public was notified.” Nine other service districts or areas were reported to have “no violations of the California State maximum Contaminant Levels.” A procedural violation occurred when staff missed a sampling at the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant. The “AWA collected 11 routine total coliform bacteria samples when it was required to collect 12 samples.” The report included a list of source water assessments conducted from 2001 to 2007, looking at wells, the Tiger Creek Reservoir and its After Bay. The assessments are available for review at the California Department of Public Health office in Stockton, at the AWA office on Ridge Road, or online at www.amadorwater.org. In other AWA news, Mancebo said that verification of a Proposition 218 protest of a proposed rate increase in the Central Amador Water Project service area had not yet been completed as of Wednesday. He said vacation time for staff the previous week led to the delay, and this week staff was busy preparing next week’s agenda and related documents. He said the agenda will list the CAWP protest verification, but it may not be completed by next week’s meeting, Thursday, July 22nd. The board next week could return to discussion of its budget. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Friday, 16 July 2010 02:19
ACCNET to See Change in Command
Amador County - Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan announced Wednesday that there will be a change in command for the highly successful Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team. Current ACCNET commander Jackie Long has accepted a promotion by the California Department of Justice. Ryan, who pushed to create ACCNET back in November 2007, handpicked Long to lead the fledgling force and help mold it into what it has become today. Previous to ACCNET, drug enforcement duties were split up between two full-time narcotics officers, detectives and a patrol officer working drug cases. “I wanted someone who could build this operation up from nothing to something that was a great benefit to the community,” said Ryan. “With his skill set, ability to outreach, education and background, Jackie proved to be the right man for the job.” Long will move on to become Supervisor of the California Department of Justice’s Advanced Training Center’s Narcotic and Clandestine Laboratory Training Units. Long said his new duties will focus on training and teaching in post-certification courses on narcotics. He said the new position should be a good fit for him, and it was something he did as an agent back in the 1990s. When asked about his biggest accomplishments, Long said he was most proud of his work with the Drug Endangered Children’s Program, as well an aggressive crackdowns on methamphetamine labs and providing support for local law enforcement agencies and officials. He said what he will miss the most are the friendships he has made. Jeff Cameron, an experienced narcotics enforcement agent in his own right, will take over for Long in August. Cameron currently heads Placer County’s drug force and brings over a decade of narcotics enforcement experience to ACCNET. Ryan said Cameron competed with six other people for the position, but was ultimately selected in part because he has “a combination of skill sets that are great for our team.” Cameron said many of the drug-related issues facing Amador County are similar to problems he has dealt with in Placer County and Lake County earlier in his career. He said that while methamphetamine is the most significant drug in rural counties, other drugs like Oxycontin are also a growing problem. “I feel like I have a good idea of the challenges rural drug operatives face and how to adapt investigations to meet those needs,” he said. Long said he is happy with the selection of Cameron and is fully confident in his ability “to take ACCNET to the next level.” ACCNET is currently chaired by Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe, who said he is looking forward to working with Cameron. “Jackie is leaving some big shoes to fill,” Riebe said. "But from everything I've heard about Jeff, he's up to filling them.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Friday, 16 July 2010 02:07
Plymouth Sees Significant Budget Challenges Ahead
Amador County – The Plymouth City Council late last month received a warning of significant budget challenges over the next 2-4 years, while it could still expect some major milestones in fiscal year 2010-2011. City Manager Dixon Flynn in a preliminary budget report June 30th said the city has gone through significant changes, including this fiscal year’s completion of the city water pipeline, in a partnership with the Amador Water Agency. The city also has begun reconstruction of its sewer system with a recovery grant of $2.8 million, and the 2 projects combined will help lift a state building moratorium the city has faced for 20 years. Flynn said the “city faces significant budget and cash management challenges during the next 24 to 48 months,” due to the building moratorium and a “continued weakened national and state economy accompanying diminished economic activity.” Flynn said the city faces “significant short-term financial challenges.” He recommended several strategies, including limits on service contracts and renegotiating agreements when possible. He recommended not filling 2 vacant maintenance jobs until city finances recover. Strategies included keeping track of spending and revenue, and “reviewing the city’s annual support of community organizations.” He recommended “developing a strategy” for Community Development Block Grants and leveraging the grants “when possible to promote community development.” Flynn said there were nearly a dozen occurrences expected in the city in the coming year, that would help the city’s economics, including finalizing a fire services agreement. He expected the city to finalize “at least one development agreement” for the construction of housing. He said “the city will sign a long-term agreement for the sale of water from the Arroyo Ditch,” and receive a $300,000 Safe Routes to Schools grant. The city will also host a major car show in May and could adopt a new “Housing Element” in its General Plan. Plymouth could also get a grant to finish its firehouse upgrade, or to resume the remodel of Lodge Hill. He said the city should also expect more income with a potentially increased Transient Occupancy Tax. Other projects include replacing the flag pole at Sharkey Begovich Park, paving and lighting the city parking lot next to it, and fully funding an upgrade to the Main Street intersection at Highway 49. Flynn said if all of those are accomplished, it would move the city toward improving its economic base and creating “a foundation on which future jobs may be created.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 19 July 2010 08:09
Amador Council of Toursim to Host Geomapping Workshop
Amador County – The Amador Council of Tourism plans a 3-location workshop next week on a geotourism mapping of Amador County. Maureen Funk, executive director of the Amador Council of Tourism announced the “Geotourism Gatherings” last week, saying the “goal is to capture and convey the essence of the region through the eyes of people who know it best.” Funk said people attending the workshop will learn about Geotourism and how to make nominations for an online Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide, sponsored by National Geographic. Funk said geotourism mapping aims to “capture the history and heritage of Amador County’s favorite destinations, local characters, historic sites, galleries, restaurants, scenic views, lakes, hiking trails and other special places of interest.” Funk said “geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place,” including “its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.” She said it “helps travelers to tread lightly and enjoy a locale’s sense of place.” Funk said “nominations can include basically, anything that is authentic to the Sierra Nevada and sustains or enhances the character of the region, acquainting tourists with local culture and traditions and offering them in-depth opportunities to enjoy an area's unique natural beauty and biodiversity.” Nomination categories include natural attractions, outdoor adventures, businesses, festivals, events, museums, interpretive centers, theaters, local points of interest, agritourism, and historic & cultural sites. People can also be nominated, including musicians, craft workers and artists. The map, at sierranevadageotourism.org, already has 11 Amador County listings, including the Gold Country Cruise Car Show in downtown Jackson, which is pending approval. Historic sites or districts already on the map include the Preston Castle in Ione, Roaring Camp in Pine Grove, and the unincorporated town of Volcano, with a mention of the Chaw’Se Grinding Rock. “Geologic Features” listed on the map include the Sutter Gold Mine in Sutter Creek, and the Mokelumne River’s “Electra-Middle Bar” run Devil’s Nose, along with its 1912 Middle Bar Bridge. Also listed are the Tiger Creek Dam, and a notice urging support of the “Wild & Scenic” designation of the Mokelumne River. The workshops are all Tuesday, July 27th. One is 8:30 a.m. at Sutter Creek Community Center. The second is 1:30 p.m. at Ione City Hall, and the third is 5:30 p.m. at the Jackson Civic Center. View the MapGuide at www.sierranevadageotourism.org. Amador County is in the “Tahoe Emigrant Corridor.” Organizers ask for RSVPs of which workshop people would attend, by e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 19 July 2010 08:11
Amador County State Fair Exhibit Wiins Gold
Amador County – Amador County was a gold medal winner in this year’s state fair exhibit competition, as announced last week by the judges at the annual competition. Besides being among the handful of counties to receive a gold ribbon, Amador County was also awarded the “Best Use of Special Effects Award” and the “Best Use of Animation Award.” Amador was one of 30 counties that constructed and entered exhibits over the last month. “The Counties Exhibit has been a longstanding fan favorite and continues to draw crowds of fairgoers every year who support their favorite county,” said fair officials in a statement announcing the award recipients. Supervisors Ted Novelli and John Plasse, along with Maureen Funk of the Amador Council of Tourism, were on hand to receive the award. Funk spread the good news in an announcement of her own last week where she thanked “all who have volunteered this year and our County Supervisors for their continued financial support.” Funk and her council were the lead agency in charge of the booth’s creation. She presented a drawing and 3-D exhibit of the booth in June before the Amador Supervisors in order to receive financial support from the county. After that, most of the booth’s construction was provided by a number of willing volunteers. The booth includes little animated figures standing in balconies and a number of pictures and displays touting what Amador County has to offer. The look of the booth harkens back the 1800’s. Other gold awards went to the Butte County, Calaveras County, Inyo County, Monterey County, Placer County, Sacramento County, San Joaquin County, Solano County, Sonoma County, Sutter County and Tuolumne County. Placer County took the Best of Show award, but other counties followed very closely. El Dorado County was awarded Bronze. The Amador County Fair Exhibit will be on display at the California State Fair until August 1st at the Cal Expo California Building, located at 1600 Exposition Boulevard in Sacramento. According to its website, the Amador Council of Tourism “is the officially recognized destination marketing organization for the county of Amador.” It provides “information on all the great activities and events for travelers to Amador County.” In related news, on July 20 and 27, Californians who can provide proof they’re currently out of work by showing an unemployment check stub can get one free ticket into the Fair! Plus, every Tuesday is Kids Day: children 12 and under get in for free and all carnival rides are $1 each for the entire family. “Summer is usually a time for family vacations and spending quality time together,” said Norbert J. Bartosik, State Fair CEO & General Manager. “The California State Fair is doing its part to ensure that priceless memories are affordable.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 19 July 2010 08:15
Amador County Experiences Leap in Home Sales, Drop in Values
Amador County – Amador County has experienced the biggest leap in the number of escrows closed in the seven county Sacramento region, according to recently released June statistics from research company MDA Dataquick. Between June 0f 2009 and June of 2010, Amador County saw a 41.9 percent jump in total escrows closed on all homes. Coming in a distant second was Placer County with a 28.4 percent increase. The number of escrows closed on resale detached homes in Amador also increased 51.9 percent over the year, although it should be noted that Amador County home sales include resale condos; the county does not break them out separately. The bad news is that median prices for all homes in the county dropped by 10.4 percent over one year previous at the same time that strong investment activity has driven Sacramento region home sales to a new 20-month high. Dataquick Analyst Andrew LePage told the Sacramento Bee that this sales trend can be seen statewide. "In many mid- to high-end neighborhoods you have sellers being more realistic,” he said. Amador, El Dorado, Nevada and Placer counties all saw housing sales gains and are all consider pricier counties in the region. Median prices in Amador have dropped from $210,000 in June of 2009 to $188,100 last month, while Nevada Placer and Yuba counties also saw declining values. El Dorado, Sacramento, Sutter and Yolo counties saw slight increases in home values over that same period. The rising prices reflect fewer bank repo sales and more move-up houses in the market mix. Dataquick said investors are fueling many of the new investments, and especially in Sacramento County, where they bought about one in four houses sold. New investments have been aided by the $8000 federal tax credit for first time home buyers and encouraged by California’s homebuyer tax credit launched in March. In some Amador County properties, combined rebates can equal as much as $25,000. As of last Wednesday, the California Franchise Tax Board had taken 26,670 applications from first-time buyers for $100 million. The tax agency said it has taken 9,630 applications for another $100 million in credits for people who buy new unoccupied houses. The board said it will cut off applications after reaching 28,000. Dataquick said the next two months will be critical in determining whether sales growth is due in large part to stimulus opportunities. An estimated 43,964 new and resale houses and condos were sold statewide last month. Statewide, foreclosure activity has declined somewhat but remains high by historical standards. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 19 July 2010 08:18
Ione to Look at Draft Grand Jury Response
Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday will consider a draft response to the 2009-2010 civil Grand Jury report that in part recommended reducing the city’s building inspector position. City Manager Kim Kerr and staff prepared a response, but did not address the staffing recommendation because she was unable to schedule a meeting with the building inspector to discuss the draft response. She said she would update the council at the meeting. Background information in the staff report noted that staff had identified in 2007 that “the city had not collected fees consistently.” The issue was discovered in the city’s financial audit of fiscal year 2005-2006, including “specific findings related to the building department. Kerr said she “has been working with all city departments that have a fee associated with building permits, sewer connections” and planning entitlements to ensure that Ione “is assessing and collecting the appropriate fee for each building permit, sewer connection fee,” or planning project. Kerr said in 2008-2009, the council adopted the city “Framework for Planning, Entitlement Review and Development,” which incorporates the “fees associated with any type of permit or application involving real property or projects” in the city. The framework “documented the process for permit approval and combined all impact fees into one location,” the draft response said. In January 2009, an internal staff memo was used to help “apply the appropriate fee on certain types of building permits.” Kerr said “some building permit fees are based on the project costs and others are a set fee without considering the project cost.” An audit in late 2009 and early 2010 showed “the city had not been collecting the fees consistently, but there had been significant improvement.” Kerr in a memo last month said she “will review all permits to ensure the appropriate fees are assessed and collected based on the specific project. The council will discuss the draft response and could correct it if necessary. If finalized, the council could authorize Mayor Skip Schaufel to sign the response. The council on Tuesday will also consider an appointment to the city Parks & Recreation Commission. The council could consider appointing School Board President Karl Knobelauch to replace Commissioner Baldwin, who will be stepping down. The council previously considered Knobelauch for the position, but believed only 1 out-of-town resident could sit on the commission. Staff reported that the city code actually requires that only 3 of the 5 park and recreation commissioners live inside city limits. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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