Amador County – Cuts in some “extra help” personnel were among the discussion Tuesday during budget work by the Amador County Board of Supervisors.
General Services Administration Director John Hopkins presented the various departments in the GSA, with department heads. Animal Control Officer John Vail said “two extra help positions are marked to be eliminated,” including an animal care technician, and an animal control officer position held by Jennifer Mason. Instead of eliminating the position, supervisors chose to remove funding, but leave the position, to make it easier if they need to bring her back, because it would leave the department with only one animal control officer.
Vail said Mason has much experience and can typically handle an after-hours call by herself, and knows the livestock owners all around the county. Supervisor Brian Oneto agreed, saying that Mason could look at the animals and know that the owner might be at the coffee shop, or elsewhere to find them, and “that’s invaluable experience.” Oneto said they should hold the budget line for her.
County Administrative Officer Chuck Iley said they can leave one position open, and remove the funding and “they will have met their goal,” to meet and not exceed last year’s budget reductions.
Hopkins said they can leave the position vacant and not funded, and then if they need to, “they can come back to Chuck and say: We really need the body.” He said leaving the vacancy means they would not need to re-advertise to fill it.
Supervisors also discussed the Amador County Airport budget, and Hopkins said it is the only “enterprise fund” that the county has, meaning it “has to be self-sustaining.”
Supervisor Ted Novelli said the gas tank is the biggest cost difficulty for the Airport, whose Director Dave Shephard said the tank debt has a balance of $70,598, at 5 percent interest. Oneto asked about fuels sales, and Shepherd said they are not selling more fuel, it just costs more. Aviation gas is $5.70 a gallon, and jet fuel is $5.20 a gallon.
He said the Airport has benefited from improvements and renting by CAL-STAR helicopter ambulance service. Shepherd said he is also looking for Federal Aviation Administration grants, for which he is able to fill matches with the department.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
