News Archive (6192)
Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:08
Catholic Church Aims to Buy Former Prospect Motors Property
Written by Tom
Amador County - Father Tom Seabridge, Pastor of the Amador Catholic Community, confirmed rumors Wednesday that the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento has made an offer to purchase the former home of Prospect Motors in Martell, but stressed that the final sale is pending approval from General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC). During service last month, Seabridge announced the Church’s intention to purchase the property primarily for a youth center and community facility to be utilized by the catholic community. There have been few prospects for the mammoth property ever since the 33-year-old dealership suddenly closed its doors in December of 2008. Located in the heart of the Martell Shopping Center, the now vacant buildings serve as a constant reminder of the effects of the economic recession. Seabridge told TSPN the price tag is “at least $3 million,” but he cannot elaborate because of a confidentiality agreement. Rumors have been spreading about the possible uses for the property and whether or not the Church will provide space for struggling local organizations. “Since the Church is tax-exempt, there should be serious consideration given to utilizing that financial advantage to give back to our community,” said Joyce Bonner, a volcano resident. Caryl Callsen, an upcountry resident, said she hopes “this purchase will not result in division, but rather a way to reach out to all members of the community.” Callsen is a member of Call to Action, a progressive Catholic action organization, and said she has had first-hand experience with the diocese discriminating against certain groups in the past. Others see this as a positive move. “This is certainly a win-win for the community, with a lot of potential applications that would be great for the building,” said Lynda Cook, a Sutter Creek resident and member of the Church. Prospect Motors was well-known as a generous contributor within the community, and had generated a large portion of the city and county tax bases. “As far as the Church not paying taxes, that would be the same no matter where it decides to purchase property,” said Seabridge. He said they will be investigating what space they can provide for the community based on the Church’s tax exempt status. He plans on holding a joint meeting with members of the press once he receives the official papers indicating the deal has been closed. “This will likely be of great future benefit to our community and others,” he said. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey pinned bugles on three men Tuesday in a promotion ceremony, making each a fire captain in the Ione Fire Department. The ceremony began with a stream of male and female firefighters and cadets walking into the Ione City Council meeting and standing along one wall. Mackey read the names of the firemen, who were pinned with their fire captain hardware by family members. Mackey promoted Jim Bennett, Mike Florez and Phil Hererra to be fire captains saying all three trained and studied, took an extensive written test and underwent an “intense on-scene scenario” as part of their certification. Mackey said all three passed with excellent scores. Mackey said the three positions recently opened and the men were able to pass certification for the promotions. He said all three come from fire fighting families. Bennett came to Ione from Upcountry’s Battalion 10 in the Amador Fire Protection District. Also Tuesday, the council approved 2 applications for separate grants for sustainable planning, through the state Proposition 84. One application, at a cost of $5,000, would seek a grant to complete the Ione Business Park’s “Specific Plan.” City Planner Christopher Jordan said one of the park’s four owners, Howard Properties, had been notified of the planning grant application, and asked to share the costs. The city had not yet heard from the Howard family. Jordan said the city would put the specific plan together and the developers “would have to draft the plan and submit it to the city for approval.” City Manager Kim Kerr said the work “would not be done in a vacuum” and the city would meet and work with property owners. Kerr said instead of having the owners try to build a consensus on the plan, city staff “would build a consensus with property owners.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked about a solar farm for the business park. Jordan said they don’t want to “box us in,” but if the council “wants to explore that then that would be part of the analysis.” Bonham wanted to make it clear in approving the application that property owners will be involved in the specific plan work. Jordan said there will be “significant stakeholder outreach with property owners.” The council approved it 4-1 with Councilman Jim Ulm against, and also voted 5-0 to contribute $1,000 toward a county application for the same sustainability planning funds in Prop 84. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:18
AWA Verifies CAWP Rate Protest Successful, Staff Says System is Antiquated
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency on Wednesday verified that a Proposition 218 protest of a rate increase in the Central Amador Water Project service area was successful. AWA Board Clerk Cris Thompson said she had “finished the verification of signatures for the CAWP rate protest and have determined that this was in fact a successful protest with 1,396 verified signatures.” The signatures were presented in a July 1st meeting. At least one staff member answered with a call for an immediate request for another rate increase in CAWP. In an e-mail Wednesday AWA construction, distribution, canal, and fleet manager Barry Birge said he planned to “immediately request another rate increase on the CAWP system” and finalize rate increases in Lamel and Camanche systems as soon as possible. Birge sent the email to the AWA board of directors and department heads with photographs of multiple ruptures discovered last week in a CAWP water storage tank. With it was a photo from more than a year ago showing the worst of many corrosion-damaged areas on the tank. Birge at the time “requested replacement of this tank,” but it never happened “due to major budget reductions to prevent future rate increases.” Last Thursday (July 15th) the same spot on the tank had water jetting from several rusted holes. Wood, washers, and bolts plugged the holes and Birge said CAWP has “no budget for proper repairs and/or replacements.” The agency has “had a strategic plan in place for years,” he said, but “always struggled to have a budget to support distribution system improvements recommended by staff.” Birge said AWA “passed a death sentence to the CAWP distribution system by not raising the rates.” The AWA board July 1st approved a budget without a rate increase in CAWP, expecting the Prop. 218 protest to succeed. Birge said, “While times are tough right now there has been and always will be an excuse or reason not to raise rates” saying it is “usually political.” He called CAWP an “antiquated, undersized, piecemealed distribution system.” Birge said in his 30-year professional opinion, “we are not doing our job as water purveyors to address the needs and demands of our water systems.” He said in today’s meeting (Thursday, July 22nd) he would urge the board to implement the original, already adopted, 4 percent rate increase for Amador Water System. He said the rate increase would “help ensure that we don’t hand out another death sentence on the most antiquated system that is under the agency’s control.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:09
Ione Joins County-wide Pursuit of Greenhouse Gas Study Grant
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Ione City Council unanimously approved a $1,000 share of a county-wide study that could bring from $100,000 to as much as $1 million to a county and city planning project. The goal is to undertake a greenhouse gas inventory and reduction plan to look at how the gasses are produced and could be reduced across the county. Ione City Planner Christopher Jordan said the “plan would establish a clear roadmap to achieving county-specific reduction targets.” He said the cost to prepare the application is $7,000, and Ione’s share is $1,000, along with the other cities. Jordan said Amador County is taking the lead on the project with one of its consultants. He said it would be determined who would talk with the consultants. Jordan said the county planning department and all of the city planners in the county have been meeting once a month since April, and this grant has been the major focus of their discussion together. City Manager Kim Kerr said planners brought it to their respective administrators and managers, who all thought it was a good idea as a team project, so it was brought to the cities. Plymouth was to consider the grant application at its meeting today (Thursday, July 22nd). Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked if it could be done without Ione. Jordan said it would leave a hole in the data and “it’s a loss for us. We’re still going to have to do it eventually.” The study would help identify ways to reduce greenhouse gasses, as required under the California Environmental Quality Act, which says that “developments must have their greenhouse gasses analyzed.” The county-wide application makes for a better project because of a regional approach, and better use of funds. He said Amador County Planner Susan Grijalva told him earlier Tuesday that Tuolumne and Calaveras counties were interested in a joint application among the 3 counties, which could be looked at even more favorably for its wider regional approach. Jordan said Amador County and its cities would have to decide if that was worth the extra coordination and politics involved in a 3-county application. Councilman Jim Ulm and Bonham asked for a “ballpark figure” on CEQA costs, and Jordan said he could not give one. But he said after the county-wide study produces general elements, the city then will be able to “create a sub-document” with its own plans for gas reduction measures and practices. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 05:45
Amador County Fair's Opening Day to Feature Kid's Day Parade
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Fair once again plans a Kids Parade to mark the start of the fair on Opening Day, Thursday, July 29th. Sign-ups for the parade are 8:15 to 9 a.m. at Plymouth City Hall. Costume judging is 9:15 a.m. and the parade starts at 9:30 a.m. This year’s Kid’s Parade will have a Safari theme to match the Fair’s slogan of “It’s a Jungle Out There.” Admission to the Fair for kids 12 and under is free until 6 p.m only on Kids Day. Every day is “Dress Like a Pirate Day” at the Amador County Fair and anyone dressed like a pirate will be admitted free until 6 p.m. (Captain Jack Sparrow will be “recruiting his crew” throughout the fair). Every child who participates in the parade will be given free carnival tickets courtesy of Ken Johnston, Carnival of Fun. There are plenty of gentler rides for smaller children as well as the bigger rides for older kids. Kids Day will once again be “tobacco free” with no smoking or tobacco use allowed on the fairgrounds. Kids are also encouraged to bring their Grandparents on Friday, Seniors Day. For information see www.amadorcountyfair.com or call (209) 245-6921. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 06:04
Preliminary Stakeholders Meeting Held For Pine Grove 88 Corridor Project
Written by Tom
Amador County – At their first official meeting on June 23rd, the Stakeholders Working Group for the developing Pine Grove/Highway 88 Corridor Project met to introduce themselves and discuss concerns related to the project. At least six community groups, three businesses, and four agencies are represented in the group. Neil Peacock, Program Manager for the Amador County Transportation Commission (ACTC), said the project proposal includes 12 different alternatives for route modifications at a price tag “not to exceed $40 million,” and the stakeholder group will “provide feedback to the technical experts in our consultant team.” ACTC and Caltrans are seeking to guide the project along through the concept of “Context Sensitive Solutions,” which, according to Caltrans, are defined in part as a way “to provide for the needs of all highway users in balance with the needs of the local community and the context of the project.” Gary Reinoehl, a stakeholder representing the Upcountry Community Council (UCC), told TSPN that this process will help ensure “a greater chance of a project that everyone can agree on.” Reinoehl will be acting as a conduit for the concerns of the UCC, who met separately this month to create a list of “transportation issues.” These include sidewalk and pedestrian access, public transit, parking, and traffic concerns. He said perhaps the greatest concern is “safety in general.” He said he is “cautiously optimistic” about being able to address the many concerns upcountry residents have as the project moves forward. Another stakeholder, John Carlson, who was there on behalf of the Pine Grove Community Council, said he thinks the project heads “are making their best effort” to reach out to the community. He said his biggest concern is maintaining public involvement. “The stakeholders committee will work towards finding the preferred alternatives, but the community still needs to be there to provide input on the important decisions,” says Carlson, adding: “Ultimately, this is going to be something they will have to live with.” The next Stakeholders Working Group meeting is July 28th at the Pine Grove Town Hall. ACTC is the “implementing agency” for project management while Caltrans retains “lead agency” status and project oversight. The project must abide by the rules and regulations of the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Protection Act. Project construction is not estimated to take place until 2024. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 06:06
Robert Allen Seeks Sutter Creek Medical Pot Dispensary Permit
Written by Tom
Amador County – The applicant for a medical marijuana dispensary use permit spoke to the Sutter Creek City Council on Monday, saying he did not want to talk about legalizing pot, but rather about the law already in place. Robert Allen said he founded Gold Country Harvest Cooperative with the desire to open up a medical marijuana dispensary. He said medical pot helped his mother increase her appetite for food and extended her life by 2 years. He asked Sutter Creek City Council to “slow down” and not “get on the anti-bandwagon like every other city” in Amador County. Allen said the city should look at Sacramento, which is pursuing the taxing of medical pot. Planning Commissioner Robin Peters asked City Attorney Derek P. Cole if commission approval of a pot dispensary could be seen as an illegal action in the strictest reading of the law. Cole said city laws cannot violate state or federal law. Peters said if the issue was not appealed, the city council would not even act on the conditional use permit, but he also said the permit would not come to the commission for a while. Cole said state law regulates formation of agricultural cooperatives and medical pot co-ops. The co-op members can pay farmers for their time, but not for the marijuana. Councilman Pat Crosby said he knew nothing about the medical benefits of pot and was very disappointed they could not have Walgreens sell pot. (Cole told him earlier that as a pharmacy, Walgreens would be regulated federally, and federal law prohibits marijuana sales.) Crosby said it is an apparent benefit to some people and “if they do not allow it, it would be a disservice” to those people.” Vice Mayor Tim Murphy said medical pot prescriptions are “largely a scam” and anyone could get them. He said the council “should have addressed this a year ago” when he heard Allen’s story “instead of waiting for an application.” Wooten said if it is illegal they should get rid of the code, and Anderson said she had numerous calls, and “no one said they wanted a marijuana co-op.” She worried that Sutter Creek “could be the only legal corridor in the county,” and she did not want that to happen. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council gave staff direction Monday to work on a city ordinance on medical marijuana dispensaries. Councilwoman Linda Rianda asked the new city attorney for a status update on city marijuana code and possible options. Rianda said the city’s historic area had a prohibition on medical pot dispensaries, but zoning on Sutter Hill allowed it according to acting City Manager Sean Rabe. Rianda said she had some concerns and had been following related litigation in municipalities across the state. City Attorney Derek P. Cole said courts had ruled in favor of the Southern California cities of Claremont and Corona, who had prohibited medical marijuana dispensaries. He said those rulings found that state law (created by Senate Bill 420) did not affect cities’ power to regulate or prohibit dispensaries within its city limits. Cole said another ruling was expected Monday (July 19th) in Anaheim, but the decision was deferred for 30 days. He said the Anaheim verdict was expected to deliver a “definitive ruling” on the law. Cole said the legalization of marijuana in California began with the 1996 passage of Proposition 215, creating the “Compassionate Use Act,” which allowed marijuana possession of a “reasonable amount.” He said a new statewide ballot measure (Proposition 19), if successful in November, would allow a person to possess up to but not more than 1 ounce of marijuana and would allow for people to cultivate up to 25 square feet of marijuana in their residences. He said its passage would likely cause a wave of litigation, taking years to resolve. Cole said “any city cannot pass an ordinance that violates state or federal law,” and federal and state law both prohibit marijuana, but in California, medicinal marijuana is legal. He said the Obama administration has decreed that federal authorities will not prosecute people who are following their state law, such as simply using medical marijuana in California and the state attorney general is not going to get involved. Cole said there is an application for a medical marijuana dispensary pending in Sutter Creek’s planning department. Cole said the city’s code allows application for a conditional use permit to open a pot dispensary. Cole said by the letter of the law, the current city code is illegal. Rianda supported removing that code, and Councilman Tim Murphy, Mayor Gary Wooten and Councilwoman Sandy Anderson agreed. Rianda said they should have Cole draft an ordinance to remove the city code and then if the law changed in November, they could revisit the issue. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 06:11
Amador County Appeals Approval of Buena Vista Gaming Compact
Written by Tom
Amador County - The County of Amador has filed an appeal in the Untied State Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in its long-standing litigation challenging approval by the Secretary of the Interior of an amendment to the gaming compact between the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians and the State of California that allows the construction of a casino in the unincorporated area of Amador County. The County’s lawsuit was filed on April 1, 2005. After a lengthy delay, the trial court dismissed the case on January 8, 2009. The County filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider his ruling, which was denied on July 12, 2010. “The court’s ruling dismissing the case was on procedural grounds. The court stated that the Secretary’s ‘approval by inaction’ of the compact amendment was not reviewable by a court. We believe this decision is wrong and welcome the chance to submit our case to the Court of Appeals,” said County Counsel Martha Shaver. The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians owns land south of the City of Ione in the unincorporated area of Amador County. The Tribe is moving forward with its efforts to construct a Class III casino on the property. The County’s lawsuit argues that the land is ineligible for gaming under Federal law. Via Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Sacramento - Thousands of state workers are fuming as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stands behind his attempt to reduce their pay to the federal minimum wage until California’s budget is passed. Demonstrations in front of the capitol and heckles from fairgoers during the governor’s tour of the State Fair this week only highlighted the frustration felt by over 200,000 state employees who would end up making $7.25 an hour should he have his way. While unveiling his budget in January, Schwarzenegger said he appreciates all state workers do but “the public sector also has to take a haircut” because of “the economic crisis worldwide.” He has called it a matter of law. Without a budget, he says, the state should pay its workers minimum wage based on a 2003 court ruling. Schwarzenegger’s order, should it take effect, would impact hundreds of foothill residents – including many here in Amador County – who are state employees. Last Friday, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette denied Schwarzenegger’s request for an injunction compelling Controller John Chiang to lower state salaries while there is no budget. Chiang has very public stated his opposition to Schwarzenegger’s plan, arguing that he can’t recalculate the wages because of technical obstacles and calling the state’s antiquated computer system an “unsolvable puzzle.” Chiang appealed the court’s approval of Schwarzenegger’s order earlier this month. Judge Patrick has ordered the two sides back to court next month to argue the feasibility of reprogramming the computers. Until then, at least, state workers will continue to receive their normal pay and benefits. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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