Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors in a special meeting Monday approved $50,000 in consultant work toward qualifying for federal funding for a Gravity Supply Line project proposed in the Upcountry.

The 4-0 vote with Director Paul Molinelli Senior absent set staff also working to try to satisfy or extend existing easements for right-of-ways for the water pipeline that would carry water from the Tiger Creek fore-bay to the Buckhorn water treatment plant and serve 3,500 customers of the Central Amador Water Project.

District 3 Director Rich Farrington, appointed to his office last week, said because of the failing pumps and pipeline, the Gravity Supply Line (GSL) is the best project to avoid a catastrophic failure that would dry up the water to homes and hundreds of fire hydrants.

He said it is a green project, and will reduce costs, according to the Reed Group’s financial analysis. Farrington said to him, the GSL would be doing what the critics want, and that is saving the ratepayers money.

AWA President Gary Thomas said “to do nothing is not an option” and the people up there need that project. He said: “I’ll hang my reputation on the GSL any day over pumps,” and fixing the existing system.

Thomas said the GSL project is why the agency is working to create two Community Facilities Districts, to get the project funded and to pay the debt service on the Amador Transmission Pipeline. He said it beats solar and it beats everything.

AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said the estimated 224 staff hours as part of the list of work would cost, on the high end, about $100,000 including benefits, but the agency will pay staff regardless and no additional money will be spent. It is just the hours worked and where you put your staff.

Director Robert Manassero said the cash outlays were not the same as staff outlays, and “we would use that staff time as best we can.” He said at coffee shop meetings last year when AWA directors discussed the GSL, 80 percent of the people who attended were in support of the GSL.

Farrington said reprioritizing work is not a cash outlay, and they would only outlay $50,000 on the work, including a list of some tasks from the USDA to meet in order to secure a $5.1 million grant and a $8 million long-term loan for the GSL. Farrington said $25,000 of what they would approve was work, such as easement re-negotiations, which have to be redone. He also noted that they need to make the spring survey of wildlife and raptors or lose another year on the project.

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