Amador County – Supervisors continued an appeal for pet crematorium use permit in Pioneer Tuesday, after the applicant defended his property rights, and neighbors worried about potential impacts to their properties.

When the appeal hearing resumes Oct. 25, Supervisor Chairman John Plasse will have the discretion to determine whether information presented is new and relevant, and whether to allow further public comment.

Amador Memorial Cemetery owner Michael Johnson seeks to put the pet crematorium on cemetery grounds at 25999 Highway 88 in Pioneer, about 1-and-a-half miles east of Pioneer.

Air District Director Mike Boitano said there would be an annual inspection, and “we would also be there to oversee complaints.”

Kirt Dalmau, of Buckhorn, said with animal crematoriums in other counties, none are in residential areas. Planner Nathan Lishman said one in Auburn is in an urban/rural area with apartment complexes nearby.

Supervisor Brian Oneto said if the cremator goes in, and there’s a smell, how do you rectify the problem? Mike Boitano said: “Not very easily. The best thing you can do is be on site when they operate this. You can’t do it after the fact.”

Dalmau said “we literally live above it” and some of the people are 300-400 feet from the smoke stack. Phil Samuel said he hears and sees everything at the cemetery, and “it might be a good project, but it’s a lousy location.” He said “we didn’t sign up for animal incineration.”

Johnson said the “entry level” cremator fits his budget. Its 1,500-degree afterburner removes smoke with a 77/100ths of a second pass-through. “There are no visible emissions or anything else,” and the “topic needs to be excused.” He said “this is my property and I could stand up and claim my rights.” Johnson said it is a public location and “that’s how much confidence I have in it.”

One woman, a five-year resident, worried of the affect on her home’s value, saying it’s “not fair to people who invested a lot of money” in their Pioneer homes.

Dalmau said it could affect thousands of people in Pioneer. He urged supervisors to put the needs and wants of the many over the needs of two business owners. He said Johnson was trying to “make it a commercial venture,” and in plans said he seeks road kill and butchers as customers.

Johnson said he was trying to be up front, honest, forthright and forthcoming about his plans, and “I never said I would burn the maximum” allowed every day. He only asked God to help his business grow, and Supervisors to approve his permit to “operate with conditions you find reasonable.” He said there is no pet crematorium in Amador County, so the services must be sought out-of-county.

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