Tom
Friday, 26 March 2010 01:50
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alan Sprenkel 3-26-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Friday, 26 March 2010 02:02
AWA OKs GSL Project, Negative Declaration
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors voted 3-2 Thursday to approve the Gravity Supply Line project and its Mitigated Negative Declaration. The new leadership of the board, President Bill Condrashoff and Vice President Debbie Dunn voted against both decisions, and Dunn later was accused by Director Terence Moore of prolonging the decisions and throwing up obstacles through the nearly 6-hour meeting Thursday afternoon at Mace Meadow Country Club. Moore, District 5, and Directors Gary Thomas (District 2) and Don Cooper (District 3) voted yes on both actions, with approval of the environmental document first. Cooper made a motion on the second action to approve the Gravity Supply Line project, including a list of 8 preparation items, and another action, to “put the GSL out to bid as soon as possible.” The board discussed the estimated $13.4 million project’s cost to members of the Central Amador Water Project, and representatives of 3 member entities, with AWA, spoke in support of the GSL. Jeffrey Brown of Mace Meadow CSD said he sent 540 letters out to his membership and he “received zero negative comments” on the GSL. A representative of Rabb Park CSD said “we support this project in its entirety.” He said people know it will increase their costs, and they are “looking forward to a more reliable water source.” The Pine Grove CSD also spoke in support. Dunn and Condrashoff worried about a “preliminary engineering report” for the GSL, which listed the project as seeking 9.28 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water flow for the pipeline. That amount was submitted in an application to the USDA for a grant and a loan. The amount this year was changed to 5 cubic feet per second. Condrashoff said several times that he was confused about why the first plan at 9.28 cfs could cost $13.4 million, and a smaller pipeline with a flow of 5 cfs could cost just 12 dollars and 50 cents less than the bigger pipe. Condrashoff was also confused about what size of project they were seeking to approve. Director Moore said it was obvious to him that it was seeking a project for 5 cfs. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said he could not understand why the costs were so similar, and Interim Engineering Manager Erik Christeson said the preliminary estimate was made without a lot of data being known, but it was now known by USDA that the project is 5 cfs. Mancebo said he was asking the board to approve a project based on this alignment and distance based on 5 cfs, and if changes needed to be made later, they could be made. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Water
Friday, 26 March 2010 02:01
Novelli Urges AWA to Pass GSL, Vows to Help Find Funding
Amador County – District 3 Supervisor and former water director Ted Novelli urged the Amador Water Agency board to approve the Gravity Supply Line project Thursday at Mace Meadow Golf Course conference room. Novelli, among nearly 50 people in attendance, said “this GSL is very important. For people Upcountry, it is very, very important.” He disagreed with those who downplayed the need for water to fight fires. He said the current board has put in 150 hours on the GSL, and past boards have also put in hundreds of hours, and counting staff time, more than a million dollars. Novelli said AWA staff has done a good job and he would work with them to try to find funding. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said the agency learned last week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture needed a decision by the AWA by March 28th on whether the agency wanted to pursue a $5.1 million grant for the Gravity Supply Line, which would carry raw water from Tiger Creek Reservoir to the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant. The board approved it 3-2. Director Debbie Dunn, who voted against it, said she was worried that 3,500 people in the Central Amador Water Project system would have to “shoulder a debt service of $13 million over the next 40 years.” Director Gary Thomas said it was really an estimated $8 million project, because of the $5 million grant. He urged the board to decide Thursday, then when bids come in on construction, they can decide if they want to pursue the project or scrap it. Thomas voted with Directors Don Cooper and Terence Moore to approve the GSL project and its negative declaration. Director Bill Condrashoff, who voted against it, said it appeared that speakers Thursday, Foothill Conservancy’s Thomas Infusino, and Martell resident Ken Berry, were not backing down from threats of litigation. He asked AWA attorney Steve Kronick if the agency should try to save money on litigation by first discussing issues they raised, before approving the project. Kronick said: “I don’t know what Ken Berry will do.” And Kronick was confident that when he speaks with the Foothill conservancy to clear up issues, “there will be no litigation.” He said he did not want to speculate on litigation. Supervisor Novelli said: “We’ve had lawsuits on everything the water agency has ever done.” He said in the end, the “people Upcountry are going to have to live with this system, and call you or call me when it’s down.” Kronick said if they wait, they “could jeopardize the $5 million grant from the Rural Utility Service.” Engineering Manager Erik Christeson said AWA’s $5.1 million is the largest grant ever authorized by USDA. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Water
Friday, 26 March 2010 01:59
River Pines Man Arrested on Violence, Sexual Battery Charges
Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Department yesterday released the details of a domestic assault and battery case in the River Pines area between a man and his estranged girlfriend. On March 21, at approximately 12:08 p.m., Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to multiple reports of a possible domestic dispute at a residence in River Pines. Upon arrival to the scene deputies contacted the resident along with Eric James Holt, 31, of River Pines. During the course of the investigation it was determined that Holt had come to the residence of his estranged girlfriend in an effort to reconcile the relationship. The victim would not allow Holt into her residence to discuss the relationship. In response and unbeknownst to the victim, Holt obtained a large knife from his vehicle and pried his way through a locked rear door. Holt then confronted the victim, brandished the knife, and threatened to cut her throat. The victim attempted to flee the residence but was restrained by Holt. The victim reported that Holt then sexually battered her. Holt was arrested by Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies and booked into the Amador County Jail charged with a sexual battery, false imprisonment, brandishing a deadly weapon, burglary, criminal threats, and domestic violence. Holt’s bail was set at $200,000. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Law Enforcement
Friday, 26 March 2010 01:57
Amador Supes Request Reduction in AB900 Matching Funds
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to request reductions in the amount of matching funds they must provide if they are to accept AB900 funds to build a new county jail. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation granted a conditional award last November in the amount of $22.7 million that requires a 25 percent match by the County. If all goes as envisioned, the new state-of-the-art facility would be constructed on the former 201-acre site of the Wicklow Way development project, which the county purchased for $1.8 million last October after the housing project faltered. In a memorandum, General Services Association Director Jon Hopkins said the County’s $1.8 million land purchase “increased the unfunded portion to an estimated range of $15.9 to $16.2 million.” Hopkins reminded the board that there are a number of potential complications that could prevent or delay the County’s apportionment, including sale of State bonds, the State’s credit rating, specific requirements as to where and for what the money is used and a commitment to fully build should the funds be accepted. He said “full commitment from the State occurs when they sell the bonds, not anytime sooner.” Speaking directly to the board, Hopkins said monies would come in on a quarterly basis depending on the amount spent, so the amount received would change with every four to six month period. Chairman Brian Oneto questioned how they could proceed with a project if they have no ability to provide matching funds. “I don’t see any way to make this palatable with the economic times we are in,” he said. Sheriff Martin Ryan made a strong show of support for the proposed facility, saying it will enhance security and prevent overcrowding. He said the current jail facility is far beyond capacity and understaffed. “Right now we’re trying to make a decision based on fuzzy math because we’re not sure what the (State) is going to do,” he said. The Supervisors questioned what additional costs for staff and other infrastructure may be incurred during the transition between the old and new facility. Ryan said additional staff would eventually be needed, but technological advances at the new jail would cut long term costs down. He said “we must show determination because there is a real need for a jail facility in this county.” Hopkins suggested the board “do nothing, take this back to staff and then see where it goes.” The board unanimously approved a motion to direct staff, specifically Ryan and Hopkins, to meet with the Corrections Standard Authority board to request a reduction in the County’s in kind match requirement. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Friday, 26 March 2010 01:50
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alan Sprenkel 3-26-10
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Video
Thursday, 25 March 2010 06:05
Supervisor Ted Novelli - Gravity Supply Line 3-25-10
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