Tom
Thursday, 13 May 2010 06:01
Plymouth to Test Drive Full Sized Roundabouts At Fairgrounds
Amador County – The company that designed a roundabout proposed for Plymouth’s busiest traffic intersection is offering the city a “test drive” of a similar, life-sized demonstration next weekend at the fairgrounds. Rebecca Lester of Dokken Engineering said Wednesday that her company plans to have a full-sized “roundabout” demonstration and driving display Saturday, May 22nd at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth. Lester said a model she “was using at the farmers market last summer was so effective that we've decided to do a full size demonstration of the roundabout alternative and invite the public to ‘test drive’ it.” Lester said the layout will be set up at the Fairgrounds off Empire Street near Highway 49, at the baseball field. Test drives will be allowed 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 22nd. The Dokken project design team will be there to answer questions and discuss concerns. The company asks people to “bring whatever vehicle you would like” except for “permit loads.” People can also walk around the site and watch. Drivers must be properly licensed for their vehicles, and must sign a liability waiver. Amador County has 11 signalized intersections but no “high volume single lane roundabouts,” Lester said. “A roundabout is a circular intersection where all traffic circulates in a counter clockwise direction, and entering vehicles yield to circulating traffic.” Compared to a traffic signal, speeds are slower through the intersection but there is no waiting for a “green light.” Lester said in addition, “accident rates are lower and collisions tend to be less severe.” She said roundabouts are new to the area, “so before the project-decision is made, we wanted to give you an opportunity to see (and test drive) the roundabout alternative for the Highway 49 and Main Street intersection.” The intersection’s improvement has 4 project options. Those include: building nothing; having a roundabout; putting in a signal; or making minor improvements. The environmental document will be released for a 30-day public review period early this summer, Lester said. At the end of the public review period, a public hearing will take comment. The Plymouth City Council will make a formal recommendation to Caltrans identifying the city’s preferred alternative, and Caltrans will select the final design alternative. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 13 May 2010 06:03
City Manager Duke Looks To tep Aside in Sutter Creek
Amador County – As Sutter Creek continues to work toward balancing its budget, City Manager Rob Duke reportedly plans to urge the city council to allow him to step down from the city manager position and remain as the city police chief. Councilwoman Sandy Anderson said Duke in the past has recommended stepping down from the city manager position, and Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe “is very capable,” and she thought he “would take over” as city manager if Duke stepped down. But she said she can’t talk about personnel matters outside of closed session. Anderson said Duke’s situation was accurately described in a Ledger-Dispatch article Monday, in which he said he will offer to step down as part of a plan to reorganize city finances and personnel. Former City Finance Director Jeff Gardner, in an e-mail press release unaffiliated with the city, said Tuesday that “Sutter Creek staff were informed this morning Rob would be taking a cut in pay and reduce to police chief and Sean would be the new city manager.” Gardner said: “The City would then outsource all departments except the Police who would have little or no impact.” Gardner in the e-mail said: “Rob was sure he had three votes to get this done.” Rabe did not return calls seeking comment on Gardner’s e-mail. Anderson said “Jeff Gardner doesn’t know what happens in closed session,” or in meetings of the Personnel Committee. She said all personnel matters are discussed in closed session, and if City Manager Rob Duke made recommendations to the city council, it would have been done in closed session discussions of personnel matters. Anderson said she cannot discuss closed session matters regarding personnel. She said as far as she knew, Duke has talked to the personnel committee, and it was Duke’s suggestion to the city council to reorganize city administration by stepping down from the city manager position, and remaining as the chief of police. Gardner last week alleged financial improprieties by the council and administrators Duke and Rabe. He made the allegations in an open letter to the city council, part of which he read at the city council meeting last Monday. Gardner’s contract with the city was ended earlier in the day, with the city paying him a month’s salary but terminating his contract immediately. 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
Thursday, 13 May 2010 06:08
Sheldon Johnson - Upcoming Election 5-13-10
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News Interview Videos
Thursday, 13 May 2010 06:13
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 5-13-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Thursday, 13 May 2010 06:03
City Manager Duke Looks To tep Aside in Sutter Creek
Amador County – As Sutter Creek continues to work toward balancing its budget, City Manager Rob Duke reportedly plans to urge the city council to allow him to step down from the city manager position and remain as the city police chief. Councilwoman Sandy Anderson said Duke in the past has recommended stepping down from the city manager position, and Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe “is very capable,” and she thought he “would take over” as city manager if Duke stepped down. But she said she can’t talk about personnel matters outside of closed session. Anderson said Duke’s situation was accurately described in a Ledger-Dispatch article Monday, in which he said he will offer to step down as part of a plan to reorganize city finances and personnel. Former City Finance Director Jeff Gardner, in an e-mail press release unaffiliated with the city, said Tuesday that “Sutter Creek staff were informed this morning Rob would be taking a cut in pay and reduce to police chief and Sean would be the new city manager.” Gardner said: “The City would then outsource all departments except the Police who would have little or no impact.” Gardner in the e-mail said: “Rob was sure he had three votes to get this done.” Rabe did not return calls seeking comment on Gardner’s e-mail. Anderson said “Jeff Gardner doesn’t know what happens in closed session,” or in meetings of the Personnel Committee. She said all personnel matters are discussed in closed session, and if City Manager Rob Duke made recommendations to the city council, it would have been done in closed session discussions of personnel matters. Anderson said she cannot discuss closed session matters regarding personnel. She said as far as she knew, Duke has talked to the personnel committee, and it was Duke’s suggestion to the city council to reorganize city administration by stepping down from the city manager position, and remaining as the chief of police. Gardner last week alleged financial improprieties by the council and administrators Duke and Rabe. He made the allegations in an open letter to the city council, part of which he read at the city council meeting last Monday. Gardner’s contract with the city was ended earlier in the day, with the city paying him a month’s salary but terminating his contract immediately. 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, 13 May 2010 06:01
Plymouth to Test Drive Full Sized Roundabouts At Fairgrounds
Amador County – The company that designed a roundabout proposed for Plymouth’s busiest traffic intersection is offering the city a “test drive” of a similar, life-sized demonstration next weekend at the fairgrounds. Rebecca Lester of Dokken Engineering said Wednesday that her company plans to have a full-sized “roundabout” demonstration and driving display Saturday, May 22nd at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth. Lester said a model she “was using at the farmers market last summer was so effective that we've decided to do a full size demonstration of the roundabout alternative and invite the public to ‘test drive’ it.” Lester said the layout will be set up at the Fairgrounds off Empire Street near Highway 49, at the baseball field. Test drives will be allowed 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 22nd. The Dokken project design team will be there to answer questions and discuss concerns. The company asks people to “bring whatever vehicle you would like” except for “permit loads.” People can also walk around the site and watch. Drivers must be properly licensed for their vehicles, and must sign a liability waiver. Amador County has 11 signalized intersections but no “high volume single lane roundabouts,” Lester said. “A roundabout is a circular intersection where all traffic circulates in a counter clockwise direction, and entering vehicles yield to circulating traffic.” Compared to a traffic signal, speeds are slower through the intersection but there is no waiting for a “green light.” Lester said in addition, “accident rates are lower and collisions tend to be less severe.” She said roundabouts are new to the area, “so before the project-decision is made, we wanted to give you an opportunity to see (and test drive) the roundabout alternative for the Highway 49 and Main Street intersection.” The intersection’s improvement has 4 project options. Those include: building nothing; having a roundabout; putting in a signal; or making minor improvements. The environmental document will be released for a 30-day public review period early this summer, Lester said. At the end of the public review period, a public hearing will take comment. The Plymouth City Council will make a formal recommendation to Caltrans identifying the city’s preferred alternative, and Caltrans will select the final design alternative. 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, 13 May 2010 06:00
Jackson Ok's $90K for Sutter Street, Begins Process to Disestablish Business Improvement District
Amador County – The Jackson City Council on Monday approved a motion to authorize $90,000 for specific environmental services necessary for the Sutter Street Extension project, as well as a motion to begin the process of disestablishing the Business Improvement Council. Jackson City Manager Mike Daly said in a memo that “the path of travel of (the Sutter Street Extension) connector route is across property previously used by the Argonaut Mining Company as a tailings storage area and previous studies have identified elevated levels of arsenic, an element commonly associated with mine waste deposits.” Jackson and the Amador County Transportation Commission have been working together to formulate a work authorization agreement with Carleton Engineering, with whom the City previously worked with in 2006 to assist with similar services related to the acquisition of the Oro De Amador property. The project was discussed last year in a series of public meetings. The council unanimously approved to move forward with environmental work. Also, the Council passed a motion that will disestablish the Business Improvement District (BID), created in 1995 to provide a funding source for the Historic Jackson Business Association (HJBA) for its share of participation in the Main Street program. Daly said: “Everyone was in general agreement that it was time for a change, especially with momentum building towards creating a citywide business association.” A public survey of business owners in Jackson conducted by the steering committee for the new association found that many felt a change toward a citywide association is necessary. As a result, Daly said the BID Advisory Board has recommended eliminating the BID to “provide new opportunities for businesses within the historical district and outlying areas to participate in a single, more encompassing and more effective organization.” A public hearing will be held on June 7th, at which time it is expected the council will officially adopt the ordinance. Any remaining assets of the association will returned to the businesses that paid those dues. Daly said the steering committee intends to fund the new citywide association with voluntary dues. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 13 May 2010 05:58
Amador Sheriff Dispatcher Reports Suspicious Circumstances
Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a possible animal cruelty case, and took reports of suspicious circumstances and trespassing at local businesses and homes. On April 29th, an extra patrol was requested on Sutter Creek Road, after suspicious circumstances were noticed by the reporting party, who was taking care of a home and business while the owners were out of town. The reporting party said “for the past several days, lights have been turned on and doors have been unlocked.” He also saw “dirt tracks inside.” A suspected case of cruelty to animals was reported April 29th. The caller said a known person on East Main Street was “playing with a dead cat on Facebook,” and “per rumors,” the “reporting party heard he shot the cat.” Trespassing was reported at about 7 p.m. Friday, April 30th at the Jackson Rancheria Casino. Security reported that a male subject had been asked to leave but was “out jumping in bushes and will not leave.” The casino dispatch said the “subject is known to carry knives.” The report noted that he is on probation for violence until 2015. On May 2nd, a caller reported a disturbance on Pioneer Creek Road. A male (who had been drinking) knocked on her door “and yelled at her.” The male left toward the corner, and was described as 5-foot-8, 150 pounds. He was accompanied by a dog. Also May 2nd, a contractor reportedly went to work at 9 a.m. at a cabin on High Trees Drive and “found the front door open. He did not see anyone around and did not go in,” but instead left to call the reporting party and advised her of his findings. At about 9:42 p.m. Monday, May 3rd, a disturbance was reported on Willow Creek Road, where loud party noise was coming from a foreclosed home. The caller said an abandoned winery was also at the location, near Highway 124. The caller said no lights were seen, due to trees, but the gate was open, when it had been closed earlier in the day. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Law Enforcement
