Amador City – The Amador County Transportation Commission sat two new board members last week and turned down backing a new recreation sign until they get more information. Sutter Creek Councilman Pat Crosby and Ione Councilman David Plank both attended their first meeting, with other board members, Supervisor Richard Forster, Supervisor and ACTC board Chairman Louis Boitano, Plymouth City Councilman Greg Baldwin and Caltrans District 10 appointee, Dave Richards. Patrick Ireland, Amador Regional Transit Authority director, reported on Amador County Recreation Agency’s effort to place an informational sign near the former Safeway site in Jackson. Part of the project would be seeking CALTRANS approval. ACRA asked for ACTC funding, which was deferred because too many questions were unanswered. Crosby asked if the sign, with a 4-foot snowboarder on top, was going to advertise only Kirkwood Mountain Ski Resort, urging that it would be good for promoting other recreation in the county. Jackson Councilman Keith Sweet said he heard a presentation by ACRA Director Tracy Towner-Yep, and the sign will change seasonally. Sweet said the snowboarder on top of the sign is designed to rotate, spinning on a little motor. But because of its motor, the sign violates the Jackson city sign ordinance, and is why the Jackson Council took no action, pending variances. The board approved the purchase of an extension bus, “not to exceed $80,000.” Ireland said ARTS needs the bus because they will have 8 buses on the road simultaneously now, and the extra will be needed to give relief to the other buses. Forster asked if the bus would meet air quality standards and Boitano asked if it was another gasoline-powered bus, and Ireland said yes to both. ACTC Director Charles Field invited Crosby and Plank to a new board members’ staff workshop, to help them get up to speed on the ACTC board’s work and business. The two new board members will be able to ask as many questions as they would like, Field said. Story by Jim Reece