Amador County – Sutter Creek Mayor Gary Wooten apologized last week for an outburst he made July 6th in a council meeting, saying he was caught up in the moment. Wooten apologized to those in attendance July 6th,
When he said Chris Seyboldt was making a “low-life comment” about an issue being discussed. Wooten said the council was being grilled about the recent Grand Jury report, and when he gets passionate about issues, he gets very intense. He said: “I have trouble intimidating my wife and my 3-year-old grandchild.” Wooten said the Grand Jury finding that the council rules with “intimidation” was not true, that he was not trying to intimidate people at Sutter Creek City Council meetings and he was sorry if he did intimidate them. Wooten said none of the Grand Jury findings are major, and “all of them have been corrected.” Sutter Creek resident Ed Arata disagreed, and urged the city to “investigate further and consider possible legal action” on 20 of the findings. Arata admitted to submitting a 4-page, 8-item complaint to the Grand Jury about Sutter Creek city government, which launched the jury’s probe of Sutter Creek. Arata, in a letter to the city council, said the council should “immediately rotate the mayor position to a council member who is more responsive to the citizens” and “who does not badger and attempt to intimidate the citizens speaking at public meetings.” City Manager Sean Rabe and Mayor Pro Tempore Tim Murphy are working on a draft response, which the council could consider at its August 6th meeting. Ed Swift in public comment asked the council to consider making downtown sidewalks safer, instead of simply addressing liability. He noted that the city was liable for this now that Caltrans had relinquished Old Highway 49 to the city, after completion of the bypass. Swift also said the “city spent highway money for other purposes,” and “I think it’s wrong.” Wooten said “Caltrans did give Sutter Creek $3 million when it relinquished the highway to the city.” He said that money was not specifically designated to be used on anything. He said it was spent as the city needed it, and was not misused. City Finance Director Joe Aguilar agreed, saying “there is no restriction on the use of that money.” Councilwoman Linda Rianda said the council passed a crosswalks ordinance, but still must address sidewalk liability. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday, 26 July 2010 06:12
Sutter Creek Mayor Apologizes, AWA Asked ABout Water Capacity Limits
Written by Tom-
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Amador County – Sutter Creek Mayor Gary Wooten apologized last week for an outburst he made July 6th in a council meeting, saying he was caught up in the moment. Wooten apologized to those in attendance July 6th,
When he said Chris Seyboldt was making a “low-life comment” about an issue being discussed. Wooten said the council was being grilled about the recent Grand Jury report, and when he gets passionate about issues, he gets very intense. He said: “I have trouble intimidating my wife and my 3-year-old grandchild.” Wooten said the Grand Jury finding that the council rules with “intimidation” was not true, that he was not trying to intimidate people at Sutter Creek City Council meetings and he was sorry if he did intimidate them. Wooten said none of the Grand Jury findings are major, and “all of them have been corrected.” Sutter Creek resident Ed Arata disagreed, and urged the city to “investigate further and consider possible legal action” on 20 of the findings. Arata admitted to submitting a 4-page, 8-item complaint to the Grand Jury about Sutter Creek city government, which launched the jury’s probe of Sutter Creek. Arata, in a letter to the city council, said the council should “immediately rotate the mayor position to a council member who is more responsive to the citizens” and “who does not badger and attempt to intimidate the citizens speaking at public meetings.” City Manager Sean Rabe and Mayor Pro Tempore Tim Murphy are working on a draft response, which the council could consider at its August 6th meeting. Ed Swift in public comment asked the council to consider making downtown sidewalks safer, instead of simply addressing liability. He noted that the city was liable for this now that Caltrans had relinquished Old Highway 49 to the city, after completion of the bypass. Swift also said the “city spent highway money for other purposes,” and “I think it’s wrong.” Wooten said “Caltrans did give Sutter Creek $3 million when it relinquished the highway to the city.” He said that money was not specifically designated to be used on anything. He said it was spent as the city needed it, and was not misused. City Finance Director Joe Aguilar agreed, saying “there is no restriction on the use of that money.” Councilwoman Linda Rianda said the council passed a crosswalks ordinance, but still must address sidewalk liability. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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