Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors on Thursday approved a land purchase agreement with the Gayla Manor Homeowners Association, for 3 acres to be used to expand the Gayla Manor leachfields for wastewater disposal. Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said there is no stimulus funding for land acquisition, but the land is needed to expand the system to meet 100-year flow capacity required by the state. “We did not want to buy the land and pass that cost on to customers,” Mancebo said. “They recognized that as well.” He said after his report was written, he learned that “there was a geotechnical investigation of the property, looking for hazardous waste, and none was found.” He said environmental documentation was done on the project about a year ago, with a negative mitigated impact declaration, when the agency tried to get a “Small Community Grant.” Director Bill Condrashoff asked about the $310,000 in the project that pays for rock, to pave an easement and access road that crosses the field. He asked if a grant pays for the rock. Mancebo said yes, but the agency looks at it as part of the project, to pave the trails and access roads, as well as another part of the agreement, to plant some trees on the property there. Condrashoff said he was “concerned about these, what you call minor costs of this extra work.” He said, “as something paid for by the AWA, as we all know, the AWA has no money, so it would go to the ratepayers.” General Manager Jim Abercrombie said staff would bring a list of the projects, the grant funding and where the funding would go, and you would approve it. He said “we need this agreement” to show the state that the purchase has been made to expand the leachfield and meeting requirements. He said the agency staff’s hope is that then the grants funding will come. AWA Attorney Steve Kronick explained the contract out clause, that says if the 3 acres is not used as a leachfield for 5 consecutive years, the Homeowners Association “can have the property quit-claimed back to them.” The contract changes ownership of the land to the AWA, for no money, but the $310,000 dollars in work to improve the property. The agreement passed, 5-0. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 15 May 2009 00:51
Amador Water Agency
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors on Thursday approved a land purchase agreement with the Gayla Manor Homeowners Association, for 3 acres to be used to expand the Gayla Manor leachfields for wastewater disposal. Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said there is no stimulus funding for land acquisition, but the land is needed to expand the system to meet 100-year flow capacity required by the state. “We did not want to buy the land and pass that cost on to customers,” Mancebo said. “They recognized that as well.” He said after his report was written, he learned that “there was a geotechnical investigation of the property, looking for hazardous waste, and none was found.” He said environmental documentation was done on the project about a year ago, with a negative mitigated impact declaration, when the agency tried to get a “Small Community Grant.” Director Bill Condrashoff asked about the $310,000 in the project that pays for rock, to pave an easement and access road that crosses the field. He asked if a grant pays for the rock. Mancebo said yes, but the agency looks at it as part of the project, to pave the trails and access roads, as well as another part of the agreement, to plant some trees on the property there. Condrashoff said he was “concerned about these, what you call minor costs of this extra work.” He said, “as something paid for by the AWA, as we all know, the AWA has no money, so it would go to the ratepayers.” General Manager Jim Abercrombie said staff would bring a list of the projects, the grant funding and where the funding would go, and you would approve it. He said “we need this agreement” to show the state that the purchase has been made to expand the leachfield and meeting requirements. He said the agency staff’s hope is that then the grants funding will come. AWA Attorney Steve Kronick explained the contract out clause, that says if the 3 acres is not used as a leachfield for 5 consecutive years, the Homeowners Association “can have the property quit-claimed back to them.” The contract changes ownership of the land to the AWA, for no money, but the $310,000 dollars in work to improve the property. The agreement passed, 5-0. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
