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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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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