News Archive (6192)
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that $61.2 million will be available nationally in the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program. Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White announced that the financial assistance will help agricultural producers conserve surface and ground water and improve water quality on farmland. White said that by working with partners, “we will see more water conservation on working lands and more opportunities to improve water quality.” Ag Water Enhancement projects are implemented by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with eligible entities, White said. He said NRCS works with the partners to “help landowners plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through the agreements. The USDA said of the $61.2 million, about $40.4 million will be made available to Ag Water Enhancement Program partners whose projects were approved in the last fiscal year, and approximately $20.7 million will be available for new project proposals. White said partnership entities may include federally recognized Indian Tribes, states, units of local government, agricultural associations, irrigation associations, and ag land trusts. When a water enhancement project area has been approved and announced, individual producers may apply for program benefits through their local NRCS office. USDA intends the program to assist water quality and conservation plan development. It also intends to help projects restore or enhance water conservation, quality or quantity; and to enhance the efficiency and quality of irrigation systems. It would help “activities designed to mitigate the effects of drought,” and “activities determined to help achieve water quality or water conservation benefits on agricultural land.” Deadline for partner organizations to submit a proposal is May 17. For information, see www.nrcs.usda.gov. A TSPN TV Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board Thursday will consider internal loans of $3.1 million for 5 water and wastewater systems around the county, and could also direct staff to prepare to run a line of credit to fix “cash flow” problems. The board will consider loan documents for “external funding,” that would be a “safety net” or contingency plan for the board. The board has looked at rate adjustments for the Central Amador Water Project retail system, and now will consider an internal loan for CAWP, and 4 other systems. The loans under discussion will include $1.5 million to 2 Camanche systems, and $800,000 to CAWP. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said the internal loans have been previously discussed by the board, and staff prepared resolutions for board consideration. One would authorize a loan from the Amador Water System’s “replacement reserve account” to CAWP Retail. Mancebo said Tuesday that it would be separate from an “external loan.” Finance Manager Michael Lee recommended the internal loan in a staff report prepared for Thursday’s meeting. The board will also consider the “draft financial plan and rate study” for CAWP, and will consider sending out rate increase notices to CAWP customers, per Proposition 218 requirements. Lee in the report said the CAWP plan has been reviewed several times, and the board will be given a financial plan update for the Amador Water System. Lee’s report said “several systems have not been meeting their cost of operations and have accrued operating deficits.” Resolutions with the item would approve loans and fund transfers from the AWS. The loans would include $800,000 to the CAWP retail system; $700,000 to Lake Camanche Wastewater District Number 11; $600,000 to Wastewater District Number 1; and $200,000 to the La Mel water system. The board will also consider approving a loan of $800,000 from the Martell Wastewater Replacement Reserve Account, to Lake Camanche Water District Number 7. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 14 April 2010 06:08
CA Farm Bureau Reps Take Ag Issues to Washington, D.C.
Written by Tom
Amador County – The California Farm Bureau Board of Directors traveled to Washington, D.C., last month to discuss agricultural issues with elected representatives of California. As reported by the Farm Bureau, directors stressed “issues including water supplies, estate tax reform, food safety and maintaining the economic viability of agriculture.” Discussions took place “with both U.S. senators from California, and with 33 members of the House of Representatives or their staff members.” Jim Spinetta, a grapegrower and vintner from Plymouth, was there representing Amador, El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento counties. He stressed the importance of preserving the estate tax exemption. He said “30 percent of the farms in this country go to a second generation, and fewer than 15 percent of farms pass to a third generation. The number one cause of this loss is the death tax. It isn't because we are bad farmers; it is this death tax that pushes people out.” Spinetta also addressed the gift tax and “the stepped-up basis for determining land value for taxation purposes.” “Both of these will revert back to much more severe levels for landowners if Congress doesn't act,” he said. Spinetta said he brought his wife and kids along on the journey because “it benefits the members of Congress to know that there is another generation of farmers coming up, and…it benefits the children who learn by doing that it is important for agriculture to send its message.” Also on hand were board members Mat Conant, a walnut grower from Rio Oso, Norm Groot, a nursery producer from Asuza, and Norm Yenni, a grain farmer from Sonoma. Conant agreed that “reforming the estate tax is one more tool we would have to preserve ag land in California, which is always under extreme development pressure.” He said it is currently difficult for winegrowers to pass their estates to future generations because their real estate prices are extremely high. “If we're going to keep that in agriculture, we need to keep these estates going and not have them divided into such small areas that they're useless,” he said. Groot said he is “amazed that our country continues to function” because “there seems to be only partisan politics now and we witnessed that firsthand as we observed the process that passed the health care reforms the week we were there.” He said representatives, including U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, are “taking a more active interest in the estate tax issues.” He said the conversations also included “open discussions on invasive pests and funding for eradication programs.” Yenni said they focused a lot on immigration and ways to deal with the issue while benefiting agriculture. Reflecting on the visit, Groot said he believes “that each time we are there the importance of California agriculture registers a bit higher in their collective minds.” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 14 April 2010 06:11
Pioneer Man Arrested For Continuous Sexual Abuse Of a Child
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday released details on a developing sexual abuse case in Pioneer. Pioneer resident Thomas Devaney, 49, was arrested April 1st and booked into the Amador County Jail on a Local Warrant Bail of $1.2 million. He is charged with two counts of violation of California Penal Code related to the continuous sexual abuse of a child. On March 16, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the report of a sexual assault that had occurred in Pioneer. Deputies interviewed two female victims, now young adults, who reported years of molestation since they were children. “The two victims relayed events which started when they were approximately eight years old and continued for several years,” reports Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner. “The victims reported similar instances of being directed to perform lewd acts upon Keith Thomas Devaney, now a 49 year old resident of Pioneer.” Devaney was interviewed and a subsequent investigation was conducted. “During the interview, and upon being confronted with the evidence, Devaney confessed to the unlawful acts,” said Wegner. On April 1st, the Sheriff’s Office obtained a warrant and Devaney was arrested without incidence at Cost Less Foods in Jackson. Since then, detectives have identified two additional juvenile victims. Wegner said “Sheriff’s Detectives are working with prosecutors from the Amador County District Attorney’s Office on additional charges to be filed against Devaney.” 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 – The Plymouth City Council discussed its soon-to-expire agreement with the Amador Fire Protection District Thursday, while wondering about the city’s future of development. City Manager Dixon Flynn said the city had been waiting to see what AFPD’s board would do with its Measure M funding. The issue was decided last week, when AFPD’s board approved hiring of battalion chiefs in Plymouth and Upcountry battalions. AFPD Chief Jim McCart told Plymouth City Council Thursday: “We can’t hire for Battalion 20 until we have a contract.” Flynn said the city attorney drafted terms and conditions for a new contract, and “we kind of caught them by surprise.” McCart said the city’s draft agreement “was given to us yesterday.” It appeared to be “cut and pasted,” with sections missing and numbered wrongly. McCart said Plymouth paid $28,000 for personnel last year, and the draft plan had a 3-person, 24/7 staff, costing $700,000 “just for personnel.” Flynn said draft included a general city fire service plan, but the city does not have revenue to pay for it. The city fire committee, made up of Mayor Patricia Fordyce, Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin and Flynn, will discuss the contract with AFPD. Fordyce said AFPD is “asking for a 10-year commitment,” but “we are going to have development, so we might want to look at this a little bit differently.” Councilman Mike O’Meara agreed. McCart said the agreement is for 10 years, and there is no opt-out after 5 years. Fordyce asked about a provision that the contract terminates in 30 days if land in the city is “taken into federal trust for a casino.” She said it was wrong to have the contract contingent on something decided by the federal government. She thought AFPD should base such a contingency on actions by the city council, such as the Municipal Services Agreement the council signed with the Ione Band of Miwok Indians. She said the federal government or the county could allow the casino and “we wouldn’t be responsible.” McCart said: “The purpose is political, I think.” He said “impacts will be created on and off the casino grounds, so we have to address that.” The current contract expires June 1st. Councilman Jon Colburn said “we can’t afford to pay more than we’re paying.” Mayor Pat Fordyce said: “What about 5 years from now, if the contract lasts that long?” Fordyce said if an agreement can’t be reached, they would likely have to extend the existing contract. 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 Amador Water Agency board of directors voted 5-0 last week to resume a project to replace a floating cover over the “clearwell” at the Tanner water plant on Ridge Road. Staff requested that the board direct them to proceed with the project as previously approved. The board in March requested staff analysis of impacts that could come from delaying the repair of the cover, in an effort to save money on the $111,000 project. The agency received a letter of rebuke from the California Department of Public Health, warning of possible increased requirements if the project did not commence as planned. Joseph Spano of the Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management in a letter April 7th said the Health Department had leaned that AWA “may postpone the replacing of the deteriorated floating cover on the Tanner clearwell until fall of this year.” Spano said the “department strongly opposes this plan and recommends that AWA” replace the cover as originally planned. The letter notified the board that if the project did not commence, AWA would be required to do daily chlorine reporting and daily inspections of the cover; and the state would do weekly analyses for coliform bacteria density. Spano also threatened that if the project was not resumed as planned, AWA would be required to “thoroughly review” its July 2000 Tanner “Clearwell Floating Cover Operation and Maintenance Plan.” The AWA board voted 5-0 to approve staff recommendations, without debate, or a staff presentation. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said the board directed staff to look at a possible delay until fall to ease cashflow issues, and see if any adverse costs would occur. Staff found cost impacts via the contract, and “simultaneously” got the letter from the DHS saying that its requirements that would also add to costs. The report by John Griffin said AWA’s board awarded a contract March 3rd to Layfield Environmental Services, which ordered the new cover and received approval from Public Health for its replacement plan, which included a May 14th completion date. March 25th, the board asked staff to “investigate potential cost implications” of delaying the project until the fall. The board faced paying $50 a day to Layfield for a contract suspension that was not the “fault of the contractor.” In 3 months it would cost $4,500, and 6 months cost $9,000. AWA could also face delay and “extended overhead claims.” After a 60-day suspension, the “contractor has the option of terminating the project,” which would cost the agency to rebid. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 12 April 2010 18:00
California Agriculture Water Summit Looks At State’s Water Needs
Written by Tom
Amador County - A recent California Agriculture Water Summit raised many issues related to California agriculture’s short, intermediate and long-term water needs, but finding solutions for those needs in an ongoing process. Last November, 60 representatives from over 23 Counties throughout California met in Sacramento to voice their concerns and bring solutions to the table. “The goals of this summit were to provide a grassroots forum to discuss issues related to California agriculture’s…water needs, to explore solutions to unify California agriculture, and to strengthen efforts to protect and enhance the future of California agriculture’s water supply,” said Russell van Loben Sels, President of the Sacramento County Farm Bureau, a non-profit association supported by the dues of its 3,000 members. Loben Sels and his group presented information about the Delta, considered to be a key water source for farm lands across the state. The group identified a list of six “key elements needed to develop solutions for improved California agriculture water supply reliability,” said Loben Sels. These are storage, conveyance, alternative supplies, groundwater and watershed management, balancing the economy and science, and public education and unified messaging. “Water conveyance was the top one as far as urgency,” said Charlotte Mitchell, Executive Director of the Sacramento County Farm Bureau. “How do we get water moving south so those farmers can get water while at the same time preserving the Delta? That is an ongoing question,” she said. When determining solutions, participants were asked to consider what the shared purpose is, what input is needed to fully design the change and how decisions should be recommended. Ideas were generated and are still being discussed in ongoing forums and workshops. Although no long-term solutions were agreed upon, Loben Sels said “we all left with a better understanding of the problems, needs, and concerns of other regions and a basis for future interaction to develop positions and programs to enhance and improve the water supply for California agriculture.” Mitchell will appear on TSPN on May 4th to further discuss the issue of Delta water conveyance and the results of the Summit. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 12 April 2010 18:00
Christine Pelosi to Speak At Next Democratic Club Meeting
Written by Tom
Amador County – Christine Pelosi, a daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is scheduled to speak at an upcoming meeting of the Amador Democratic Central Committee. Pelosi will discuss her new book, “Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders,” based in part on her work as an attorney and activist for the Democratic Party. The book spans a period from 2006 to 2008 in which Pelosi followed different Congressional candidates in their quest to unseat incumbents. She directs the AFSCME PEOPLE/New House PAC Congressional Candidates Boot Camp and has helped 23 Democratic challengers get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Her other experience includes service as Deputy City Attorney and Assistant District Attorney for the City of San Francisco; Executive Director and Platform Chair of the California Democratic Party; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Special Counsel in the Clinton/Gore Administration; and Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative John F. Tierney. She is also a superdelegate for the Democratic Party and was one of the few votes that helped Barack Obama secure the democratic nomination on June 3, 2008. The Amador event takes place at 6 p.m. on April 23 in Thomi’s Banquet Room, 627 South Highway 49 in Jackson. For more information, call the Democratic Central Committee at 257-1397. 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 - The unusual rash of wet and cold weather this spring is concerning many Amador vintners and grape growers who say frost could damage their young and fragile grape crop. In recent weeks, temperatures have dipped lower than average and snow has reached lower elevations. Across the Shenandoah Valley, buds are blooming on grape vines that will eventually become Merlot, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and any number of other wine varieties. Frost damage at this time of year generally begins to occur at 31 degrees after half an hour. Over the last couple weeks, temperatures have dipped a couple times into the 30s and lower. Scott Oneto, University of California Cooperative Extension Amador Farm Advisor, told the Sacramento bee that frost damage should remain at a minimum in Amador County vineyards. He said the past weeks have been troublesome, but “those growers with wind machines have been well-protected.” A number of growers have said they are putting out giant wind fans to help circulate the air across the plants. Oneto said growers have different ways to help prevent damage, including ground covers, chemicals and keep soil disking to a minimum. Paul Sobon of Sobon winery says this is a fragile time for the plants when buds can turn black from the frost. He said his crop is ranging from 25 to 50 percent of normal. Sobon said the risk of frost damage will continue until about the second week of May for wine fields in the Mother Lode area. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 12 April 2010 01:58
Ione Special meeting to Look At Fire Services Staffing Plan
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Ione City Council will hold a special meeting at 2:30 p.m. today (Monday, April 12th) to discuss city fire department staffing, salaries and benefits. The council will discuss the city’s plan, a members plan for the Amador Fire Protection Authority and Measure M funding. City Manager Kim Kerr (CURR) gave background information in a report to the board last week. She said the city has received more than $210,000 for the past year from the statewide Proposition 172 and Measure M, both ½-cent sales taxes. Measure M money was allocated by the AFPA and approved by the Amador Board of Supervisors last year, and Ione started receiving money last November. In July 2008, Ione adopted a Fire Engineer job description. Kerr said the “pay range for Fire Engineer needs to be established, but a 2008 salary survey recommended the range of $3,206 to $3,897 a month, plus benefits. Staff will present additional information at the meeting today on staff levels and costs. Kerr said: “Overall, staff is not recommending 100 percent staffing or spending 100 percent of the revenues from Measure M and Proposition 172 at this time due to the volatility in sales tax revenues.” She said “the city’s general fund does not have funds to support the fire staffing if there is not sufficient revenues to cover the employee and operational costs.” Currently, Ione Fire Department has a Duty Officer scheduled around the clock – for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. The on-duty Duty Officer “has to be within 5 miles” of Ione at all times. Ione Fire staff includes a Fire Chief, an Assistant Fire Chief, 7 Captains, and 26 fire fighters/engineers, plus support staff. Kerr said staff is “reviewing various staffing options that will build on the current” structure in place at the department. Fire Chief Ken Mackey and Kerr will present additional information to the city council at the meeting today and answer any questions. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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