Amador County – Ione City Council last week asked staff to stop a three-year pursuit to get a flashing warning light in front of the new Fire Station Number 2, due to excessive cost estimates and red tape.

At the previous meeting, Mayor David Plank asked why the light was not installed, at Ione Fire Department station 2, which was finished in 2008. City Planner Christopher Jordan said Caltrans in February told the city it had not followed design standards, to place lights on a pole next to Preston Avenue, which is also State Highway 104.

A redesign submitted in July, came back in August, saying the plans were still not favorable, Jordan said, and Caltrans wanted installation of wires across Preston, to hang the flashing lights. That design would cost several hundred thousand dollars.

Last November, city staff reached out to the regional director. Jordan said options were to keep working with Caltrans administrators and staff in Stockton, or to “just go out and install the darn light.” The latter could have Caltrans say it was in the state right-of-way, and could remove it and bill the city for the costs. Jordan said a third option was to do nothing.

Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey said “this light was not a requirement by anybody’s standard.” He wanted to do it as a warning for neighbors, because out of a courtesy he promised to have no siren noise as vehicles exit the firehouse, until vehicles were going north or south.

Mackey said they still have the warning light, but cannot mount it, and it has been a waste of time and money. Jordan said he spent a couple of hundred dollars’ time on the project. Mackey said firefighters “did all the work, dug the conduit, and got a free light. It was all free until we got to Caltrans.”

Plank asked if they could put the light on a pole on their own property. Jordan said it would cause “line of sight” issues, and light would go into neighboring houses. He said they also “can’t guarantee Caltrans will not come back and say you’ve done an improvement that caused a risk for public safety.”

Resident Jim Nevin said the city is going broke and should use vehicle flashers as they exit.

Resident Elmer Rhode said the project was his fault and his idea. He told the council to “can it, but remember when you have the first accident.” He said he is an old firefighter, and sometimes when trucks go out in the day time, they don’t get their lights on. He said it can happen, and wrecks will happen.

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