Amador County – Ione City Council on Tuesday deadlocked on extending its wastewater project manager’s contract, which was set for further consideration next week.

Public comment included Dominic Atlan of Castle Oaks Golf Course, which disposes of city wastewater for irrigation. Atlan said he was glad the price of a project has gone down, as recommended by wastewater program manager Art O’Brien, but Atlan said it basically would be a renovation of the existing facility for $6 million.

He suggested seeking a partnership with a developer to build a new plant. He asked the Council to be sure it was not just a five-year fix, and was more long-term. Atlan also said: “What will stop another pond from leaking?” He also asked that the city look at rainwater infiltration, because it is a good way to save money, and the Regional Board does not disagree.

A woman asked the sewer committee, Councilmen Daniel Epperson and David Plank, if they had analyzed the sewer issue. Plank said “we are not sewer experts, by any stretch.” He said “we need experts to look into this complex matter to advise us.”

Dan Sinclair said the city has community members with expertise, “people who want to work for free,” that the city should use, including Jim Scully, Jim Nevin and Gene Riddle.

Scully said this will be the fifth attempt by the city to make a “Report of Waste Discharge” for the city wastewater plant. He said “You don’t have a storage problem. You’ve got a disposal problem.” Mayor Ron Smylie asked: “What is your suggestion?”

Scully said they should get away from storage ponds, because “you have been putting too much water in too small of a place for 30 or 40 years.” He suggested burying the water under ground.

Jerry Sherman said the city has spent $1 million on consultants and “we are right back where we started.” Epperson said “we are getting closer to completing the Seepage Discharge Compliance Plan.”

Some asked what the city would get from hiring O’Brien. City Attorney James Maynard said O’Brien was hired to work with PERC Water. Now without PERC, the city needs him to draft technical reports that are due to the state, including the Seepage Discharge Compliance Plan, due Jan. 30.

O’Brien said he would also conduct a Proposition 218 rate analysis, “a legal requirement that requires any rate analysis to go through this process.” Councilman Lloyd Oneto asked how a Prop 218 analysis would go before they know the project and its cost.

O’Brien said the “rate analysis will have that information,” and “we will know what the project is if we go ahead and retain the (State Revolving Fund) consultant.”

The Council will hold a special meeting workshop regarding the wastewater program contracts 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26.

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