Amador County – Ione plans a Main Street Program discussion today at City Hall, hoping to speak with every business and property owner on Main Street and Preston Avenue. The council will hear a status report, and City Manager Kim Kerr said the meeting would focus on the Main Street Program’s organizational structure and other issues. The council will take no action, but could provide direction to staff. The meeting is 5:30 p.m. today in City Hall. Kerr said “We are looking for all business and property owners on Main Street and Preston Avenue to attend.” The city is “looking for interested community members and organizations to participate.” The Main Street Program is part of the Ione Community Preservation Project, which the city council and staff have been studying with public workshops. Once directions are determined for the project, the council can begin to spend $284,775 dollars, which came from 2 defunct Community Development Block Grants from the 1980s. Kerr said: “These grants are closed,” and, according the CDBG, “when there is no open CDBG grant, the funds are considered miscellaneous revenue … and can be used as the City sees fit.” The council has discussed 4 Ione Community Preservation Projects. Those projects and possible funding include the Main Street Program for $80,000 dollars; the Façade Program for $25,000; the Redevelopment Plan for $120,000; and an Economic Study for $60,000. Kerr said public meetings found 15 people interested in helping with the Main Street Program, and there are “different opinions on what the (organizational) structure should be,” and what it should look like initially and in two years. City funds will be used, causing public concern for “accountability and follow-through,” Kerr said, as well as concern for viability after start-up, so that “there is actually some impact in the downtown corridors.” Kerr said once the organizational structure is set, there will be a follow-up meeting with business owners. Mayor Lee Ard said he was still not sure if people wanted the council to carry out the community programs, and he wanted to see some “enthusiasm.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said she had seen enthusiasm at the last meeting. Councilman David Plank said “the second meeting was more rewarding than the first,” but the council was still missing 60 to 70 percent of business and property owners. Kerr agreed, saying it was the city’s goal to get business owners to recruit other business owners to join the project. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.