Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors at its Nov. 22 meeting approved a funding request for the Amador County Chamber of Commerce for $20,000, falling short of the full request for $30,000.

The action took a reconsideration to finalize when, at the end of the meeting, Deputy County Counsel Greg Gillott said a modification of the budget required a 4/5ths vote. The Board approved a motion to reconsider, and discussed the funding previously thought approved, which would have spent $15,000 budgeted generally for economic development, and another $5,000 budgeted specifically for the Amador Economic Development Corporation.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse and Supervisor Brian Oneto had dissented earlier in the 3-2 vote. Plasse during reconsideration said that last year, Supervisors granted funds to Amador Economic Development Corporation to cover overhead costs because of month-to-month rent. Plasse said “we offered them space” in the admin building, with phones, and they declined because they said they had a long-term rent agreement.

Plasse said AEDC was also asked to give regular reports, and they have not done so. Plasse said now the county finds that AEDC is $5,500 in arrears for two years’ back rent. A motion to fund the Chamber with the economic development and AEDC funds failed, then the board voted 4-1 to fund the Chamber with $20,000 from the contingency fund.

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