Amador County – The Ione City Council heard a report on a search for a new city engineering firm last week and also discussed the city’s wastewater recycling options. City Manager Kim Kerr said last Tuesday that she had spoken with 10 firms about requests for proposals for the city engineering position. Inquiries included questions, such as whether the position would include being a water engineer, and Kerr said it did not. She said she sent information to clarify the requests and expected duties, which included telling the firms that they would be working with the city planner on California Environmental Quality Act issues. Kerr said the position in Ione is being looked at “by some big firms working around the state,” including at least one that would move an office into town and pay someone in the city rent for office space. Kerr said the next steps included narrowing down the candidates to those who would come for interviews and make proposals to the city council. Mayor Lee Ard asked Kerr that when she returned, if she could include what the city paid in the last 2 years for engineering, “so that they can compare that with the what we expect we will be spending with these new folks.” Ard said he was mainly interested in what went to City Engineer Roark Weber. In her city manager’s report, Kerr told the council she attended last week’s Amador County Joint Water Committee, made up of 2 members each of the Amador County Board of Supervisors and the Amador Water Agency board of directors. She said it seemed like the committee was “trying to decide what their role is,” and they met for 2-and-a-half hours but really didn’t “do anything in-depth.” Sutter Creek resident Ed Arata gave a presentation during the meeting, promoting a regional approach to wastewater treatment solutions. Kerr noted that Amador County does not handle wastewater treatment, and she questioned why the regional approach seems to leave out 3 jurisdictions. She said there is some differing “philosophy” involved. Kerr also noted that Ione held its wastewater master plan public meetings, and if people did not attend, they should “not come tell us that we need to do something.” Arata in an October letter to Ione and other organizations said “based on recent exploratory talks with local wastewater engineers, the consensus is that a regional wastewater plan must be developed that includes Amador City, Sutter Creek, Martell, Jackson and Ione.” Arata said he believed Ione needs Amador Regional Sanitation Authority “water into the future.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.