Amador County – Ione City Manager Kim Kerr will report today that the city is almost fully compliant in its reports to the state for its wastewater treatment plant testing, though one report will never be made. In a February 11th letter to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, Kerr said Ione “is unable to submit the 2008 first quarter self monitoring Groundwater” report from Castle Oaks Golf Course. “Due to a miscommunication” between City Chief Operator and the city, “the city failed to sample the groundwater monitoring wells associated with Castle Oaks between January 1st and March 31st, 2008.” Kerr said “We believe that the lack of … data for first quarter 2008 has minimal effect on the evaluation of groundwater impacts.” She said irrigation at the golf course stopped November 11, 2007 and did not start again until April 6, 2008, so “the monitoring data during the first quarter 2008 would have reflected a period of time during no irrigation.” She said: “It is also believed that the first quarter report would have shown the same results as second, third, and fourth quarter reports,” which showed “no degradation.”
In a February 9th letter to the Central Valley Board, Kerr explained the reasons for delinquent monitoring reports, noting staffing inconsistencies, ARSA emergencies, staff health issues and work related to wastewater master planning efforts among the reasons. Kerr said: “nonetheless, city management believed that the Chief Operator had the skill and expertise necessary to maintain compliance with the monitoring and reporting program,” while also addressing emergencies and planning. Kerr said it was discovered last February that quarterly reports were going unfiled. City Council approved contracting out quarterly reports. But a request for proposals was not released until Fall of 2008, due to “workload issues and other priorities.” Kerr said in the letter that “city management did not fully appreciate the scope and extent of the delays and expected the chief operator to maintain compliance with reporting requirements until the city could finalize a contract” for quarterly reporting. Kerr said the city is in compliance and will remain so. She said effective immediately, “the city manager will review and sign off on all future monitoring reports,” and “Implement performance standards for submittal of all required reports.” The city is “soliciting proposals for wastewater operators who can manage and perform all required operational tasks.” Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
