Amador County – Supervisors on Tuesday approved offering a $150,000 grant to the Amador Water Agency infrastructure repair on the Camanche water system, with funds to come from the Water Development Fund.

In a motion, Supervisor Richard Forster said the board recognizes significant infrastructure need in Camanche, and also recognizes that residents there need to help balance their budget. He motioned that the $150,000 grant be used to support prioritized infrastructure improvements, and that the improvements and costs be listed and brought to the Amador County Administrative Committee for approval. Forster said “there will be a lot of scrutiny” before that Committee.

Craig Walling, Camanche Homeowners Association secretary, speaking personally, said he supported the 10 percent rate increase, which AWA has been discussing in workshops in District 2. Walling said there “has to be a rate increase to keep up with costs.” He asked if Supervisors anticipated that the grant would be held back, dependent on the 10 percent going forward.

Forster said “people need to take care of their system.” He said hydrants are paramount, but the likely number one issue is getting Well 14 back online. AWA General Manger Gene Mancebo said costs could be $30,000 to $100,000 to get Well 14 “rehabilitated,” ridding it of suspended solids and iron bacteria.

Mancebo said tanks are failing, and another 200 service connection lines need replaced, due to faulty material or bad installation in the water system. Forster said if they just fix the well, “the budget is still out of whack,” and the grant cannot fix the whole system, but with a rate increase, they “may be able to build up reserves.”

Forster said he believed the grant should be “predicated on the requested rate increase being approved.” He told Walling to tell Camanche homeowners that they “need to take care of their budget first, and I think the board is inclined to support that too.” Supervisors Brian Oneto, Louis Boitano and Plasse said they agreed.

Boitano earlier said “it would have to be a loan for me to support it,” but later changed his mind, after Mancebo made a presentation of the many problems. Boitano said: “I’d like to see the people down there work on this as well, in the form of a rate increase.”

Plasse agreed, saying that the “county is willing to help those that are willing to help themselves.” He said if they continue to reject rate increases and stick their heads in the sand, “I’m fine with watching them go to rationing.”

Mancebo said the 10 percent rate increase would amount to about $3.80 per month to the typical customer.

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