Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors today will discuss fire suppression fees for new homes, and also will get a presentation on the use of a special tax for its Gravity Supply Line and the infrastructure of the Amador Water System.

The AWA has a regular meeting scheduled for today to discuss a staff recommendation by General Manager Gene Mancebo to direct staff “to charge residential fire suppression system water service connections based on a standard 5/8ths-inch participation fee and monthly service charge.” In a report for today’s meeting, Mancebo also recommended staff be directed to “review water use in accordance” with “water code for water used based on fees paid,” and work on “standard backflow prevention requirements” and public policy for fire suppression systems.

Mancebo in the report said California Building Code effective Jan. 1 requires “automatic sprinkler systems in all new construction of one- and two-family dwellings,” excluding townhouses. He said staff determined that flow of 30 gallons a minute would be needed for sprinklers in new homes, along with 5 gallons a minute flow for domestic use. He said the city of Ione has already enacted code that requires new homes to have the systems, and the AWA now has requests from Ione for the sprinkler service.

The report said staff determined that the flow needed would be a 5/8ths-inch line, and that the new home participation fees for a 5/8ths-inch line would be $11,000, based on the Amador Water System fee structure, compared to a 1-inch line participation fee of $27,500. He said AWS also has a service charge that would apply, of $25 a month for the smaller line, and $49 a month for the larger line.

Also today, the AWA board is scheduled to get a presentation from legal counsel on the use of “Special Tax Fees.” In particular, the presentation would discuss the use of a special tax for the AWA’s proposed Gravity Supply Line project, and for the infrastructure of the Amador Water System.

The board today is also scheduled to get a report from Human Resources Director Karen Gish on new job classifications based on the agency reorganization plan, approved at the last meeting. The AWA’s regular board meeting was to start at 9 a.m. today.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.