Amador County – A project a year in the making, trimmed with 12-year-old paperwork, has led to a grant of almost $600,000 to build a protective structure around the last remaining Kennedy Mine Tailing Wheel Number 4.
Jackson Vice Mayor Keith Sweet abstained when the Amador County Transportation Commission voted 5-0-1 last Wednesday to conditionally approve the Caltrans Transportation Enhancement grant.
Sweet said the application utilizes part of studies for a successful Transportation Enhancement grant in 2000 to rehabilitate Tailing Wheel No. 4. He “figured the project was dead in the water” late Wednesday afternoon, before Daly called and said Caltrans would accept part of that 12-year-old grant application. That acceptance brought the total project cost from about $1 million to about $700,000.
Caltrans Representative John Gedney said not a lot has happened in the last 10 years at the Kennedy Tailing Wheel Park. They are concerned about elderberry bushes, but “I think it’s a go.” He reiterated the need for better communications.
Sweet spent a year promoting the project, making 13 presentations to civic and municipal bodies around the county. He also led a contingent of politicians in a visit with District 10 Director Carrie Bowen last Monday, including representatives for Senator Ted Gaines and Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, and City Manager Mike Daly and Planner Susan Peters.
The group met for 15 minutes. Afterward, Caltrans said they would decide by Wednesday. Sweet said at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, he told his wife he might have to pull the agenda item. Then at 4:41 p.m., Daly called saying “they’ll accept most of it.” They would not accept the biology, and we will have to do some of the others studies, such as archaeology.
Dana Jorgensen of Sen. Gaines’ office attended and “it was a very positive meeting. I think we can work together with Caltrans on this project.” Jorgensen said: “This tailing wheel is the last one, and if we don’t do something, it will go away.”
The project will rebuild a structure similar to the original buildings that covered the wheels, but will have a see-though wall to allow visitors to see the wheel inside.
ACTC Executive Director Charles Field said the grant “already has verbal approval from the Caltrans Transportation Enhancement director.” The $596,000 grant is conditioned on Jackson City Council passing a resolution to match funds with $71,000, pay overrun costs, and manage the project consistent with Caltrans regulations.
Jackson City Manager Mike Daly told the commission the city has “in lieu fees” for overruns. He said Friday the resolution is on the Council’s agenda tonight.
Daly said “ADA accessibility is a nice part of this project that we can do so that everybody can get up there and see the facility.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
