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Friday, 19 February 2010 00:43
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alan Sprenkel 2-19-10
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Ione City Council Sees Scully Petition To Nix Ione Police Dept.
Amador County – The Ione City Council waived attorney-client privileges Tuesday night to have its attorney explain a voter initiative drive that seeks to transfer law enforcement from the Ione Police Department to the county sheriff. 4 of 5 city council members spoke against the initiative, calling it a waste of city time and an unfounded effort. Mayor Skip Schaufel said that “while the initiative process is a right and we have to follow the letter of the law, I don’t think it is right to misuse it.” Councilman Lee Ard strongly criticized the effort, and Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said as a downtown business owner, she has had numerous positive contacts with Ione Police. She keeps a list near her cash register of all of the Ione police officers’ cell phone numbers, given to her to call if she needs help. Vice Mayor David Plank said: “we’ll do what we have to do to protect our police department.” Councilman Jim Ulm said he would not comment until he sees “how it plays out.” Ione resident and long-time police department critic Jim Scully is mounting the petition drive, with which he seeks to force a city-wide vote to do away with the Ione Police Department and contract law enforcement through the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. City Clerk Janice Traverso said the petition drive must have its signatures and paperwork back to the city by the first week of August. City Manager Kim Kerr said Scully must collect signatures of 10 percent of registered city voters to place the initiative on the ballot. The Amador County Registrar’s office said Wednesday there were 2,042 registered voters in Ione as of February 16th, when the office ran its latest report. The signature drive would take 205 valid signatures to place it on the ballot. Kerr said the council can tell city residents to “not sign the ballot initiative if they truly want to protect the city.” Scully’s effort to transfer law enforcement from the city to the county is not a new idea. She said in 2007, Scully requested the city council to place the same initiative on a city-wide ballot, but the council unanimously declined the request, in the November 2007. The city council discussed the initiative drive in closed session Tuesday, then in open session it waived attorney-client privileges, so City Attorney Kristen Castanos could inform the public about the issue and the process. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Amador Tennis Club Gets $500 from Ione City Council
Amador County – Former Jackson Mayor Rosalie Pryor-Escamilla received a $500 pledge from the Ione City Council Tuesday that will remodel the Argonaut High School tennis facility. Pryor-Escamilla, Amador Tennis Club president, told the council the fund drive goal is $20,000 to refurbish the tennis courts, which were built in 1996 and are showing signs of decay, including hazardous areas for its users. She showed photos of cracks in the court surfaces, and said the courts benefit Ione residents, including players of Junior Team Tennis and at Argonaut High School, as well as any adults burning calories Wednesday and Thursday nights at “drop-in tennis.” She said Junior Team Tennis has introduced 159 kids to tennis, and had 295 kids participate in 3 years. Pryor-Escamilla said 24 percent of Junior Team Tennis players are from Jackson, while 29 percent are from Ione, which does not have its own tennis courts. She asked the council to donate $500 and place a donation form on the city website. She also promised payback. Pryor-Escamilla said: “When you prepare to build tennis courts of your own, I guarantee you the Amador Tennis Club will be there to help you raise money.” She told success stories of Ione girls, including one JTT player who made the Argonaut varsity team as a freshman, and another vying for a varsity spot as a junior. Councilman Lee Ard said the new Howard Park Master Plan includes tennis courts. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham suggested going to the Ione Picnic Committee for other donations, and Mayor Skip Schaufel suggested the Ione Rotary. The council unanimously agreed to donate $500 for the project, and also to post information on the city website. Yesterday, Jackson City Council reportedly also made a donation to the fund drive, giving $1,000 to the cause. Pryor-Escamilla said she would work with City Manager Kim Kerr on possible grants for Ione tennis, and Kerr said they could then turn around and go through the Ione Recreation Commission, because the club can help leverage funding. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Sutter Creek Referendum Checked by City, Gold Rush Says It Will Pay for Election
Amador County – Developers of Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort have said they will foot the bill for a special election if one is needed in a referendum aiming at undoing Sutter Creek City Council action paving the way for the development. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe told the council Tuesday that the referendum has been certified by the County Registrar. He said a short time remains to get the referendum on the June primary ballot. Rabe said the next step that the city council needs to decide is whether the “letter of the law was followed” in circulating of the petition and its attachments. The election must be noticed within 88 days of the June 8th primary, to make it on that ballot. Rabe said: “That means the city would have to have all of its arguments for the ballot ready by March 8th.” Rabe and City Attorney Dennis Crabb will visit the county election office this week, and Rabe asked the council to adjourn the item to next week, to see if questions can be answered about the petition’s legality. Councilman Pat Crosby asked if it would be on the June ballot, and Crabb said “that will be part of the discussion.” Rabe said the council can call a special election between the primary and the November regular election, if needed. Crosby asked about the petitioners’ arguments for the ballot, and Crabb said the city only must supply its own arguments, and “the only thing the proponents have to do or not do is file an argument” for the ballot. Crosby also asked if it was possible to make the June ballot, and Crabb said: “It’s going to be a serious challenge.” Councilwoman Linda Rianda said she did not want to push staff in making legal assessments of the petition, but she “would like to see it done sooner than later.” Mayor Gary Wooten said he thought “there may be reason for a special election” but he would like to see the city get it on the June ballot. Planning Commissioner Corte Strandberg asked about the cost of the vote, and Crabb said: “The developer has agreed they will pick up the costs of the election.” One man, who said he helped in the petition drive, asked that the council not use a special election, because he thought it would affect turnout and he thought it was “very important for people to be heard.” Wooten criticized the comment. The council adjourned the referendum agenda item to 7 p.m. next Tuesday, February 23rd. The item includes discussion and possible action. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Jackson Planning Considers Bottle Shop Move
Amador County - Despite objections from surrounding business owners, the Jackson Planning Commission saw few reasons Tuesday not to approve an application by owners of the Bottle Shop liquor store to relocate to the former location of the Kitchen Store on North Main Street. Nevertheless, the commission voted to table their approval until they can further investigate “visibility aspects” and gather comments from vacationing commissioner Kathryn Devlin. Some North Main Street merchants have voiced protests against the proposed move since word spread that Bottle Shop co-owner Gurdev Ghuane requested a Conditional Use Permit in February to move his business from its current location further downtown. Co-owner Max Ghuane said his family is trying to find a better location for their business with “more exposure.” He said the store will expand to sell more products like souvenirs, fishing bait and additional candy and food products. Most comments against the move echoed concerns that the Bottle Shop will attract and display loiterers who already give the struggling downtown a bad reputation. Hein & Company bookstore owner Wolf Hein said he is a regular victim of vandalism. “I have concerns about this becoming a hangout,” he said. Sharon Merzlak of Merzlak Signs questioned whether it is wise to open up a liquor store on what she considers to be a main thoroughfare for school children on their way to and from Jackson Elementary and Jackson Junior High. Kitchen Store co-owner Janie Williams said that while she loves the Bottle Shop, she believes the “poor electrical” in the historic building will not support heavy demands like consistent refrigeration. She also said there is a propensity for accidents at the 3-way intersection and the planter boxes in front of the store were run into no less than 15 times during her time there. Her son Travis Williams said in the last six years he has seen “two people watch other people get hit by cars.” Jackson lawyer Robert Schell supported the move. He referred to unwanted loiterers by saying “roaches are afraid of the light” and “more visibility will result in less negative impact.” He said the “real problem with downtown is…there is nothing going on and there are not a lot of people.” Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison also spoke in support of the business, saying he has responded to 51 calls to the area of the Bottle Shop over the last ten years and none of those have been felony related. He said his daughter was accosted in the area of the Bottle Shop, but he doesn’t believe it was related in any way to the business. He said “whichever way the commission decides, I want to work with them to make any venue as safe as possible.” Chairman Leticia Sexton said she would approve of the move with some minor amendments. “As a regional business, they have every right to move and better their business,” she said. Butow said he is concerned that there is no crosswalk across North Main Street to the location. He also pointed out that the restaurant across the street, soon to reopen as Agave Mexican Dining, will also have a liquor license. The matter will be discussed further at the next Jackson Planning Commission meeting on March 15th. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 18 February 2010 04:59
Susan Grijalva - Amador County Planning Director 2-18-10
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News Interview Videos
Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 2-18-10
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Thursday, 18 February 2010 04:59
Susan Grijalva - Amador County Planning Director 2-18-10
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Local
Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Ione City Council Sees Scully Petition To Nix Ione Police Dept.
Amador County – The Ione City Council waived attorney-client privileges Tuesday night to have its attorney explain a voter initiative drive that seeks to transfer law enforcement from the Ione Police Department to the county sheriff. 4 of 5 city council members spoke against the initiative, calling it a waste of city time and an unfounded effort. Mayor Skip Schaufel said that “while the initiative process is a right and we have to follow the letter of the law, I don’t think it is right to misuse it.” Councilman Lee Ard strongly criticized the effort, and Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said as a downtown business owner, she has had numerous positive contacts with Ione Police. She keeps a list near her cash register of all of the Ione police officers’ cell phone numbers, given to her to call if she needs help. Vice Mayor David Plank said: “we’ll do what we have to do to protect our police department.” Councilman Jim Ulm said he would not comment until he sees “how it plays out.” Ione resident and long-time police department critic Jim Scully is mounting the petition drive, with which he seeks to force a city-wide vote to do away with the Ione Police Department and contract law enforcement through the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. City Clerk Janice Traverso said the petition drive must have its signatures and paperwork back to the city by the first week of August. City Manager Kim Kerr said Scully must collect signatures of 10 percent of registered city voters to place the initiative on the ballot. The Amador County Registrar’s office said Wednesday there were 2,042 registered voters in Ione as of February 16th, when the office ran its latest report. The signature drive would take 205 valid signatures to place it on the ballot. Kerr said the council can tell city residents to “not sign the ballot initiative if they truly want to protect the city.” Scully’s effort to transfer law enforcement from the city to the county is not a new idea. She said in 2007, Scully requested the city council to place the same initiative on a city-wide ballot, but the council unanimously declined the request, in the November 2007. The city council discussed the initiative drive in closed session Tuesday, then in open session it waived attorney-client privileges, so City Attorney Kristen Castanos could inform the public about the issue and the process. 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
Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:00
Jackson Planning Considers Bottle Shop Move
Amador County - Despite objections from surrounding business owners, the Jackson Planning Commission saw few reasons Tuesday not to approve an application by owners of the Bottle Shop liquor store to relocate to the former location of the Kitchen Store on North Main Street. Nevertheless, the commission voted to table their approval until they can further investigate “visibility aspects” and gather comments from vacationing commissioner Kathryn Devlin. Some North Main Street merchants have voiced protests against the proposed move since word spread that Bottle Shop co-owner Gurdev Ghuane requested a Conditional Use Permit in February to move his business from its current location further downtown. Co-owner Max Ghuane said his family is trying to find a better location for their business with “more exposure.” He said the store will expand to sell more products like souvenirs, fishing bait and additional candy and food products. Most comments against the move echoed concerns that the Bottle Shop will attract and display loiterers who already give the struggling downtown a bad reputation. Hein & Company bookstore owner Wolf Hein said he is a regular victim of vandalism. “I have concerns about this becoming a hangout,” he said. Sharon Merzlak of Merzlak Signs questioned whether it is wise to open up a liquor store on what she considers to be a main thoroughfare for school children on their way to and from Jackson Elementary and Jackson Junior High. Kitchen Store co-owner Janie Williams said that while she loves the Bottle Shop, she believes the “poor electrical” in the historic building will not support heavy demands like consistent refrigeration. She also said there is a propensity for accidents at the 3-way intersection and the planter boxes in front of the store were run into no less than 15 times during her time there. Her son Travis Williams said in the last six years he has seen “two people watch other people get hit by cars.” Jackson lawyer Robert Schell supported the move. He referred to unwanted loiterers by saying “roaches are afraid of the light” and “more visibility will result in less negative impact.” He said the “real problem with downtown is…there is nothing going on and there are not a lot of people.” Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison also spoke in support of the business, saying he has responded to 51 calls to the area of the Bottle Shop over the last ten years and none of those have been felony related. He said his daughter was accosted in the area of the Bottle Shop, but he doesn’t believe it was related in any way to the business. He said “whichever way the commission decides, I want to work with them to make any venue as safe as possible.” Chairman Leticia Sexton said she would approve of the move with some minor amendments. “As a regional business, they have every right to move and better their business,” she said. Butow said he is concerned that there is no crosswalk across North Main Street to the location. He also pointed out that the restaurant across the street, soon to reopen as Agave Mexican Dining, will also have a liquor license. The matter will be discussed further at the next Jackson Planning Commission meeting on March 15th. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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