Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to adjust a memorandum of understanding for the Amador County Recreation Agency that could more easily allow the agency to seek a tax ballot or a bond issuance initiative for funding. ACRA Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep said she thought it was unlikely that the agency would seek to have a voter-approved tax, but it was a power that she believed the agency already has as a Joint Power Authority. Towner-Yep said the language of the MOU that outlines the JPA’s “powers needs to be adjusted to more adequately allow for the possibility of an assessment to finance the development, maintenance and operations of new facilities.” Supervisor Richard Forster asked if another issue, involving Lake Camanche Community Service Area Number 3 (CSA-3) had been resolved. Towner-Yep said it is up to the county attorney, who said that CSA-3 “is a water purveyor, but they sit on” the ACRA board of directors. County attorney Martha Shaver said she was “not sure why CSA-3 is an enumerated member of ACRA,” considering the “anomaly, that CSA-3 was not authorized to offer recreation services.” Shaver said to be a member, CSA-3 “must be authorized to offer recreation.” Supervisor John Plasse, also an ACRA board member, said he took issue at the MOU draft language giving ACRA “the ability to levy a tax,” and encouraged calling it an “authority to impose a special tax subject to voter approval.” Shaver said “a Joint Power Authority has any power in its agreement and that includes any power that they all share or that are willing to put in.” Towner-Yep said the JPA allowed ACRA to finance itself, but Shaver said she was “not sure taxes fall within the word ‘finance.’” Board Chairman Ted Novelli said: “I think we all know how hard Tracey works, and none of us want ACRA to go away.” Plasse said it was the supervisors’ “job to weigh” consequences of their actions, and “a JPA can also exercise eminent domain.” Forster said: “You can’t fear too much. Some people getting elected may favor eminent domain. In this county at least, that has not been an issue with bodies wanting to exercise eminent domain.” Plasse said he was worried about the JPA’s long-term power. Shaver said the ACRA JPA agreement said its “members will have only the power to offer recreation.” The board approved the changed MOU language 5-0. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.