Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday approved another 2-year rollover contract for its existing sewer plant operating firm, but deferred action on a bigger contract with the same firm to design, build, finance and operate the city’s new wastewater treatment plant.

Mayor David Plank said the council approved a contract rollover of another 2 years with PERC Water Incorporated for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the city’s existing sewer facility, but Plank said the “Council could not come together for a decision” to initiate a design-build-operate-finance contract with PERC Water, for the city’s new wastewater treatment plant project. He said two of the Council members were unsure of the decision, and the council “tabled it to the next meeting. It will be one of the early items on the next agenda.”

Plank said the contract “did not include any upfront money to proceed with a 30% design” of the project by PERC. Two council people could not decide, at a meeting that went until 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the item was tabled.

Also Tuesday, the council on a 3-2 vote approved the hiring of Robertson-Bryan Incorporated (RBI) to do the “seepage compliance plan” for the city’s wastewater storage ponds. The plan is part of list of agreements made with the Regional Water Quality Control Board for answering to the release of the sewage, and working to lift the city’s Cease & Desist order. Plank said that plan has to be submitted to the Regional Board by Jan. 12. Vice Mayor Ron Smiley and Councilman Lloyd Oneto dissented in the vote.

On Tuesday, Plank said the City Council received and discussed the auditor’s preliminary report for the city’s finances for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Plank said the preliminary audit was done by Larry Bains, who had also just finished the cash flow statement, which “still needed to be tweaked and revised.”

The good news on the budget, Plank said, showed if “you look at where we started out 4-5 years ago.” He said it showed “we’re much more improved” in using the “proper accounting procedures.”

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