News Archive (6192)
Supervisor Plasse responds to public comments on Public Health Officer’s position
Written by Tom
Amador County – Supervisor Chairman John Plasse briefly addressed a contract agreement with the Amador County Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann, after a member of the public spoke on the issue last week.
Jackson Radiologist Dr. Lincoln Russin read a copy of a letter to the board during “matters not on the agenda” at the Feb. 8 Supervisors’ meeting, stating support for Hartmann. The letter was signed by Dr. Raymond H. Pierson III, chief of medical staff at Sutter Amador Hospital.
According to Pierson’s letter, it was submitted to Supervisors “on behalf of the Sutter Amador Hospital medical staff on Jan. 26.” Pierson in the letter said: “We understand that the Board of Supervisors has offered Dr. Hartmann a six-month renewal contract, rather than continue his contract through 2013.”
Pierson said: “We are concerned that the administration of the Public Health Department is being questioned. We want to indicate our strong support for both the staff of the Public Health Department and in particular, for Dr. Hartmann as Public Health Officer.”
The letter said: “We see no reason to change a well-functioning public service, or to replace an exceptional public servant.” The said they believed “Hartmann should be publicly recognized for the contributions he has made in this field,” and urged Supervisors to sign a long-term contract with Hartmann.
Retired Amador County Mental Health Director Pat Houghton also wrote in support of Hartmann, saying: “Supervisors shortened his contract, and they're still paying him less than the only other doctor employed by the county even though state and federal funds are available to cover his contract.”
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said that the Board of Supervisors had to consider a request by Robert Hartmann for a 37 percent pay increase. He said at the same time, they also had to consider “which people in the room deserve a 10 percent decrease.” Plasse said supervisors by a majority vote agreed to a compromise, giving Hartmann a raise and a one-year contract extension.
Plasse said that if either Dr. Hartmann or Supervisors were unhappy with the contract, “there is a termination clause,” with which either party can end the contract at any time. He said the contract is for an annual salary of $84,000, as a part-time position working 20 hours per week, and if Hartmann was unhappy with it, he could terminate the contract.
He said Supervisors knew the commitment and dedication Hartmann brought to the position.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County – Better late than never, the Amador
Water Agency board of directors heard Thursday that its second quarter
cash amount was helped by a half-million-dollar grant for the Amador
Transmission Pipeline.
Finance Manager Mike Lee said it helped AWA’s cash total $1.47 million as of Jan. 1, and finances are “tracking better than expected.”
Lee said “we did receive a $500,000 grant from the Department of Water Resources,” which was “placed in the Amador Water System reserves.” It was specific to the AWS and came as a “water use efficiency grant,” for the pipeline. He said “it came late but it will still help.”
AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said Assemblywoman Alyson Huber was instrumental in getting that Department of Water Resources grant pushed through, and that “check processed” by the state.
Director Art Toy asked about the sustainability study in Camanche, and Engineering Manager Erik Christesen said it had a $27,000 agency in-kind match, and about $200,000 left on the grant.
Christesen said staff had begun to negotiate easements for the Gravity Supply Line, which he said is going better than he expected, with an excellent job being done by Ken Hunt.
Christesen reported that the application had been finished and submitted for a Proposition 50 grant for the small diameter pipeline in the Amador Canal. The AWA board authorized up to $10,000 in staff time to finish the application, and it was completed at a cost of $1,500. The application seeks a $2 million Prop 50 grant to build the pipeline to serve about 100 customers on the old Amador Canal.
Christesen said staff work was 1 or 2 months behind on GSL work, with the work on Prop 84 and Prop 50 grants coming up. Mancebo said a financial plan needs to be in place by July 22 toward getting the USDA grant for the GSL pipeline. The plans include rate increases, if needed. He said they would “like to have the bids before they go forward.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Ione Police arrest a Burson man for drug and weapon possession
Written by Tom
Amador County – A traffic stop early Tuesday in Ione led to the arrest of a Burson man on multiple felony charges, including possession of methamphetamine for sale, and the possession of a dangerous weapon. ¶ Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson said a traffic stop of vehicle containing a parolee and a man on probation resulted in “dope and possession of dangerous weapon arrests.”
Johnson said Ione Police Department spotted a traffic infraction on a black Chevy Blazer at it passed by at about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8 in Ione. “The vehicle, occupied by three male adults, yielded without incident as the officer approached to investigate.”
After obtaining identification information from the three men, the officer “was quickly alerted by dispatch that one of the occupants was a felony probationer” and another was on active parole with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
An Amador County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a Jackson Police Department officer responded to assist, Johnson said. “All occupants were removed from the vehicle and a search ensued.”
“Bags of methamphetamine, digital scales, packaging material” and other indications “of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances were located inside the vehicle,” Johnson said. “An illegal and dangerous weapon was also removed from the vehicle.”
Joseph Fisher, age 32, of Burson was placed in custody on multiple felonies of transportation of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances for sales, possession of controlled substances, and possession of an illegal dangerous weapon.
26-year-old Jimmy Rayburn of Valley Springs was placed in custody on a violation of parole. Both subjects were booked into the Amador County Jail, Johnson said, and the vehicle was released to the custody of the third male adult.
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Amador County – A water main in Busi Field at Busi
Ranch in Jackson was ruptured by a heavy equipment operator Thursday,
leading to a spray of water, and emergency repairs.
Larry White of the city of Jackson Public Works said that workers were digging to install a sewer line when they encountered the old city water line, which is a 10-inch diameter pipe. He said the water line was not labeled in the city’s infrastructure system, and it was not detected before the digging equipment hit the line and caused the rupture.
White said the leaking line was
isolated and turned off, and one customer was left without service
pending repairs, but that customer was out of town.
Supervisors discuss state encroachment on local enforcement
Written by Tom
Amador County – Supervisors on Tuesday discussed the recent Mother Lode Tea Party meeting held last weekend, including addressing interpretation of existing rules.
Leroy Carlin, a former county planning commissioner, initiated the discussion during matters not on the agenda, saying he had seen a couple of supervisors there. He said he learned that “they now declare milk as a hazardous waste.” Supervisor Brian Oneto said: “Tell that to my dog.”
Carlin criticized the county “building luxury things for entertainment” through Proposition 40 recreation funding, saying he would “liken it to the orchestra playing during the sinking of the Titanic.”
Oneto said a “20 percent increase in staff” at the Air Resources Board seemed to indicate the board was preparing to come after businesses over air quality code violations, “while people are trying to survive.”
Supervisor Richard Forster said he went to the Tea Party presentation to hear about changes with the 1602 permit process, and how Fish & Game has been enforcing law in Siskiyou County, on the Oregon border. Forster said Siskiyou is “the poster child” for new “strong arm tactics,” because “Fish & Game needs revenue” and this is their new process.”
Forster said the 1602 water discharge permit is a good law and has been around for a long time. It protects streams from impacts such as bulldozer work. He said “Fish & Game has reinterpreted it” and when a man in Siskiyou County was weed-whacking berry bushes beside a stream, he was “fined $20,000 for impacting the stream.” Forster said the Regional Council of Rural Counties is engaged in analyzing counties that are engaged in this tactic.
Supervisor Louis Boitano said there are other sides to the issue that are relevant, but not always published. But Boitano said “I cannot disagree with you about the Air Resources Board” and its bureaucracy level.
Oneto likened it to when the “king sends forth his legions of minions.” He said large corporations can adjust to the changes, but “when you add up all the impacts on small businesses, they cannot do it.”
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said it is the state getting involved in local-level enforcement. Plasse gave an example, saying that since September 2010, the Central Sierra Regional Water Quality Control Board has made three surprise inspections on a business in Plymouth.
He said they never contacted the owner, including once finishing a surprise inspection before accepting the owner’s contact information. Plasse said the Regional Water Quality Board has “now slapped them with a storm water discharge permit requirement” that would cost $1,000 a year and would probably put them out of business.
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ACRA remodel projects not stymied by the elements but by permits
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors heard that $1.2 million in remodeling work through state recreation grants was finding some blockage to progress, though the elements were not yet among the causes.
Amador County Recreation Agency Director Tracy Towner-Yep said the Proposition 40 grant funds were likely to be extended another year on about $700,000 in project funding, for various building remodels around the county. Some of those will have to be completed by March 31 to keep the funding alive. One of those is the remodeling of the Pine Grove Town Hall, and the other is a remodel at the Volcano Armory.
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said he was worried about meeting the March 31 deadline. He said these are “expensive projects that need to be finished on time.”
Towner-Yep said a county building permit was not yet issued for the Pine Grove Town Hall job because the Amador Water Agency “threw us a curve” and needed $650 to review the plans. Once that paperwork is given, the building permit will be issued. She said demolition has begun at the Town Hall. Supervisor Louis Boitano suggested she talk with AWA’s official in District 4, Robert Manassero.
Supervisors also wondered about the jobs being won by non-local contractors. Towner-Yep said: “We did advertise up here,” and “it’s against the law for us to call people and say ‘Bid on this job.’ ” She said most of these guys are hiring local contractors and buy local materials, so some of the money is staying in the county.
She said the Pine Grove Town Hall may need unexpected drywall to reinforce it, as recommended by the contractor. She said Supervisors had loaned ACRA $200,000 that the state owes the agency for the projects, and Plymouth City Council had loaned another $90,000. Work locations include Pioneer Park, Plymouth, River Pines and Volcano.
Supervisor Ted Novelli asked why nobody was working last week to lay brick or block on one project, with good weather in which to work. Towner-Yep said the bricklayer had guaranteed that he would start work on Tuesday. Supervisor Richard Forster said they “need to call the bricklayer and tell him the Super Bowl party is over.” Plasse said rain was forecast for this weekend.
Towner-Yep said boulders in Volcano that crumbled to the touch were an issue, causing a redesign of the Armory remodel. She said it was decided that it would be better to build around them. Novelli said that “change orders need to be brought immediately.”
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Assemblywoman Huber urges parents to see the “critical window” for children’s health insurance
Written by Tom
Amador County – A new law ensures affordable health insurance coverage for children, regardless of pre-existing conditions, and enrollment is now open.
Assemblywoman Alyson Huber in a release Wednesday said she “wants to make sure parents know about a critical open enrollment period occurring right now for children with pre-existing conditions that ends on March 1.” During the open enrollment period, parents can sign up for more affordable health insurance for their children.
She said: “As a result of the federal health care reform,” children “with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage – they also cannot be charged rates that are more than double the rates of healthy kids.”
Huber said “parents of healthy children without insurance should also sign their kids up,” otherwise they may be subject to a 20 percent surcharge on their insurance rates for a full year.
She said: “Allowing children with pre-existing conditions to get health coverage is a positive change in our health care system.”
Huber said: “The law allows kids to receive the health care they need, at a price their parents can afford,” and “if parents don’t act by March 1, coverage for their kids could be significantly more expensive.”
Last year, California Assembly Bill 2244 was passed and signed into law to implement this component of federal health care reform in California, Huber said. The new law has been in effect since Jan. 1, and it “gives California children access to affordable care by ensuring that certain children cannot be denied coverage or priced out of the market. It also prohibits insurers that sell individual market policies in California from refusing to sell or renew coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.”
Parents should be aware of a number of important educational resources on how to obtain health coverage for children during and after the open enrollment period. Parents are encouraged to check the website of the California Department of Insurance to find fact sheets on how to insure their children.
For info, call CDI at 1-800-927-HELP or the state health insurance hotline at 1-888-466-2219.
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Man pleads guilty to vehicular homicide of his father
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Calaveras County District Attorney announced Tuesday that a guilty plea had been entered in a DUI-related vehicular manslaughter case that occurred in July 2010 in which a man driving under the influence of alcohol caused the death of his father in a Calaveras County vehicle accident.
On Monday, Feb. 7, the “defendant Matthew Ryan Thein pled guilty in the Calaveras County Superior Court to vehicular manslaughter” and he also “admitted violating his probation in three other cases,” said Calaveras District Attorney Barbara M. Yook, adding that Thein faces an 11-year prison sentence.
Thein’s father, Michael G. Thein and Karen Lundy died on July 28, 2010, when the van that Matthew Thein was driving crashed while he was under the influence of alcohol. Thein allowed the van to cross the center dividing line and crashed into an oncoming vehicle on Gold Strike Road near San Andreas. Yook said “also suffering serious injuries in the crash were Leah Montoya and her daughter.” During an investigation following the crash, “Thein was found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.”
District Attorney Yook said “in a plea agreement, Matthew Thein pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter and admitted causing injury to multiple victims. Thein also admitted violating his probation conditions in three other cases where he had been granted probation for burglary, vandalism and receiving stolen property.”
Thein’s case will return to Calaveras Superior court on March 14, for a probation department report and for sentencing.
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Local business and revitalization groups meet today in Jackson and Sutter Creek
Written by Tom
Amador County – Local business organizations are slated to meet today, that is Thursday, Feb. 10, in Jackson and Sutter Creek.
The Jackson Revitalization Committee meets at 6 p.m. today at the Jackson Civic Center at 33 Broadway.
The committee set goals for completing three projects this year, including new gateway signage, a creek-walk project connecting the city’s parking lot next to Mel & Faye’s with the south end of Main Street (under Highway 49/88) and placement of historic information plaques on buildings in the downtown area.
Another item on the agenda is a request from the Central Sierra Resource Conservation & Development Council to gather information for possible future uses of the old Amador County court house.
The committee meets the second Thursday of every month, and the public is welcomed and encouraged to attend.
The Sutter Creek Business & Professional Association meets at 5:30 p.m. today feb. 10 at “Cinque”, the Serra Fina wine tasting room, on Main Street.
It is the Sutter Creek Merchants general meeting, and will include complimentary finger food and wine tasting. Wine by the glass will be available for purchase.
The Sutter Creek Business & Professional Association owns the website, SutterCreek.org, and it hosts a golf tournament annually, among its regular events and activities.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council on Monday discussed preliminary plans for its Main Street bridge project, with a consensus to remove a public plaza from the bridge sidewalks and place it in front of City Hall.
The council agreed to have Dokken Engineering work on new designs to try to incorporate a public plaza area in front of the City Hall on Main Street, and asked that the rough design illustrations be brought back to the council again, before the Planning Commission works on finer details, such as railing styles.
Councilman Jim Swift said he was not in favor of permanently eliminating parking on the east side of the bridge, which showed in plans that came forward from community meetings on the bridge plans. It also included a “bottleneck” with curbs, to give space on the sidewalk for public booths or a plaza, and guide traffic through in two lanes.
Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha said the idea of putting the plaza area on the bridge was to give visitors a common area to sit and eat a taco or ice cream. He said the only place like that now was two tables in front of Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium, which are always filled.
Councilwoman Sandy Anderson said the Visitors Bureau regularly had inquiries from people asking where they can rest in downtown. She said she would gladly give up a few parking spots for a public plaza.
In public comment, one man said he thought “the evolution of the bridge is creating a great amenity for the city.” Ray Brusatori said he did “not want to lose three parking spaces.”
Al Bierce thought they should install temporary barriers of some sort to simulate the design and see if citizens really liked the idea, because once they start the project, they cannot change it. Bierce said: “I don’t particularly care for it.”
Councilman Gary Wooten said he agreed that they need parking, and he wondered how emergency vehicles would be accommodated with the “bottlenecking to 24 feet” on the bridge. He said “we should look at this more closely before we pour a ton of concrete.”
Mayor Tim Murphy agreed, suggesting use of the temporary barriers. He said a gathering place or plaza is very important, and if not on the bridge, then elsewhere. He suggested and the council agreed to have Dokken work up plans to “incorporate the City Hall frontage,” then bring it back to the City Council, before it goes back to the Planning Commission.
Dokken’s Rebecca Neilon said she would probably return in 2 months. Wooten later suggested they have Dokken work on a grant application for a City Hall plaza.
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