News Archive (6192)
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 01:54
Common Ground Senior Services Granted Funding by Board of Supervisors
Written by Tom
Amador County – Common Ground Senior Services was granted $15,000 Tuesday by the Amador County Board of Supervisors. In her annual report, Executive Director Elizabeth Thompson outlined some of the many ways the food delivery and senior service agency contributes to the welfare of the community. She said she is seeing a huge increase in clients for a variety of services. One of the agency’s biggest services is the Meals On Wheels program for homebound seniors. Most of the meals are hot, with some frozen meals offered on weekend deliveries. In addition, they have congregate eating sites in various areas. Through recent funding allocations, Thompson said the hospital provided funding to acquire a ten-passenger van for senior transportation. She said the biggest increase is in “medical transportation” and clients, mostly 75 and older, needing physical therapy. She said last year they also contracted with Amador Transit for a “reserve a ride” program on Saturdays, mostly to provide transportation to physically or developmentally disabled clients. Thompson stressed the importance of the county’s contribution in her agency’s annual budget. “As far as I’m concerned, it is money well spent,” said Supervisor Richard Forster. “A lot of people would not even have one hot meal a day if it wasn’t for this service.” He said funding is important to maintain consistent service because “once a service disappears, it is hard to bring people back.” Supervisor John Plasse said the supervisors last year discussed giving Common Ground the profits from the Prescription Discount Card Program through the county’s private partner, Coast2Coast Rx, which he brought to the county last summer. He said that program has “resulted in $3000 in royalties.” The Supervisors unanimously approved a motion to approve the $15,000 allocation and the royalties from the prescription program for Common Ground. Thompson agreed to follow up with a written report detailing how the funding will be used. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 March 2010 02:02
Supervisors Support Another Developing Broadband Expansion Plan
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors formally expressed support on Tuesday for one of three developing plans aimed at expanding broadband internet service in the Central Valley and Sierra foothills. The Central Valley Next Generation Broadband Plan, as proposed by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC), would encompass a service area of 18 counties, or 24 percent of the state’s geography. Frank Leschinsky, Public Sector Manager for Volcano Communications Group, said his and other companies in the partnership aim to extend existing fiber optic broadband cables from the Central Valley to both the Amador County Office of Education and the County Library. “The FCC is developing new broadband plans. It is essential to this county and other counties that high capacity infrastructure is built to support this demand,” said Leschinsky. The CENIC plan differs from two similar proposals presented in recent weeks by Mother Lode Internet and the Central Sierra Economic Development District. All three plans aim to secure a piece of the $7.2 billion in federal stimulus funds dedicated to broadband expansion. The Supervisors have made clear that they will not support any project over another. “The best case scenario is that all three projects are funded, encouraging competition and driving costs down,” said Supervisor John Plasse. Supervisor Ted Novelli noted that any project will generate much-needed local jobs. Leschinsky assured Supervisors that the various project backers consider “all projects as complimentary, not competing.” Once the awarded broadband project is completed, numerous internet service providers will be able tap in to the network and then expand service to more rural areas of the county using various modes of transmission. Leschinsky said the educational broadband network provided through CENIC also would allow for greater interconnectivity between educational institutions. He said professors from major schools like UC Berkeley could one day be transmitting lectures online to students at a future Community College in our area. The board unanimously approved to draft a letter of support for the CENIC project. Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved the final draft of a letter of support for a plan proposed by Mother Lode Internet. That support letter was tabled at the previous meeting in order to make language changes. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 17 March 2010 02:04
Buena Vista Biomass Agrees to a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report
Written by Tom
Amador County – Proponents for the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant on Coal Mine Road must conduct a “Subsequent Environmental Impact Report” for the company’s plan to revive permitting and power production at the former Co-Gen plant. Mike Boitano, acting director of the Amador County Air District, said proponents of the internal combustion power generating plant have agreed to do a Subsequent EIR, and the Amador County Planning Commission has taken over those duties. The county Technical Advisory Committee decided March 10th that the best plan to answer concerns over reopening the plant would be to go through with the Subsequent EIR. Nate Lishman, a planner for Amador County said the planning department was preparing notices Tuesday for a public scoping meeting as the starting point for the Subsequent EIR. The scoping session is set for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 31st at the board chambers on Court Street in Jackson. Lishman said “any concerned residents as well as agencies can come” and they will be able to express their concerns about the power plant, and help to guide the Environmental Impact Report. Lishman said it was the only meeting scheduled, then the department will start the EIR process. He said it would “probably be 4-6 months before we hear about the environmental work.” The basis for TAC’s decision included issues raised in meetings discussing permits for the plant. Lishman said “there was concern over greenhouse gas analysis,” especially in light of current legislative regulations. The company seeks to remove lignite from its list of fuels to burn, and operate on “100 percent renewable woody biomass fuel sources,” including forest, agriculture, and clean urban waste. 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 County Sheriff’s Office announced late Monday it has positively identified the individual responsible in a gang-related shooting at the Jackson Rancheria Casino on Sunday. Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner said Gilbert Zaragoza, 19, of Stockton has been booked into the Amador County Jail on two counts of attempted murder for shooting two alleged members of an opposing gang inside the Jackson Rancheria Casino on March 14th at approximately 5:30 am. Wegner said Zaragoza is a documented member of the Lathrop Hispanic Pride gang. Two Hispanic male victims, one an 18-year-old man and the other a 15-year-old boy, were shot in the neck or face during the shooting. They were subsequently transported to area hospitals and both individuals are reportedly in stable condition. Surveillance video shows Zaragoza and others enter the casino and open fire on the victims in what was apparently a confrontation between rival gangs from the Stockton area. Video footage from multiple angles shows the shooting take place within a small area in the casino’s restaurant. The suspects fled into the casino’s multi-level parking garage immediately following the shooting. “Surveillance video was critical in my opinion. Not only for the quick and rapid apprehension of the suspects, but for giving us where to look inside that massive parking structure," said Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan to CW13 News in Sacramento. Wegner said “Sheriff’s Deputies, assisted by Jackson Rancheria Casino Security, and officers from the Jackson and Sutter Creek Police Departments established a perimeter around the casino parking structure where the suspect and several associates were observed fleeing.” Amador County Sheriff’s SWAT Team members apprehended four individuals and two associated vehicles in the structure. Two more suspects were later apprehended on Highway 88 after exiting the brush in the area near Dalton Road. Wegner said “Sheriff’s Detectives who had been at the scene conducting the initial investigation responded and with the use of the surveillance video of the incident were able to confirm the two subjects were involved in the shooting, one of them being the shooter.” An evidentiary search of one of the suspect vehicles revealed a .22 caliber revolver, the firearm believed to be utilized in the shooting. Zaragoza is being held without bail at the Amador County Jail. 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 – Donations and a “gift of the community” were marked in a ribbon cutting last Monday for the new $25,000 Ione Elementary School computer lab in Ione. Amador County Unified School District and Rancho Arroyo Seco announced the opening of the classroom and computer lab in a press release Monday. Rancho Arroyo Seco Project Chairwoman Sharon Long said the lab has 32 work stations that were built with funds contributed by the community and matching funds from Rancho Arroyo Seco. Long said “more than 500 students, faculty and community members attended the ribbon cutting and grand opening” of the lab. Bill Bunce, managing partner for Rancho Arroyo Seco toured the facility with Ione Elementary Student Body President Joe Linker and Principal Laurie Amick. A joint press release from the school district and Rancho Arroyo Seco announced lab opening, calling it “a gift from the community,” and a “partnership between business, community, and the school district.” Bunce said the “grand opening event really helps us understand the impact a community can have on the life of so many young people.” He said seeing the excitement of students was “heartwarming,” and Rancho Arroyo Seco was “pleased to be a part of this.” Donations from a fundraiser held last October at the “Big Red Barn” at Rancho Arroyo Seco, support from major contributors and matching funds of $10,000 from Rancho Arroyo Seco, resulted in more than $25,000 spent on the project. The Amador County Unified School District IT department handled the software and technical assistance required for the lab. The school district contributed the facility, furniture and technology set up for the lab. Each classroom at the school will have regular weekly time in the computer lab. Principal Amick said it was “truly a gift that will serve students for many years, and provide them the tools needed to succeed in the future.” Students in kindergarten up to 5th grade will use “district technology curriculum” already in place to “reinforce basic skills and support an understanding of word processing, keyboarding and introduction to graphics and database software.” School Superintendent Dick Glock said the district was pleased and supportive of “such a successful program that will serve to enhance the learning experience of our students.” 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 – Amador County Animal Control and the Amador County Health Department said Monday they have quarantined the dog that was responsible for bighting a child in Pioneer. The child was riding a bicycle on Buckhorn Ridge Road near Pioneer Park and was chased and bitten by the dog, described by the child as a brown Pit Bull or similar type dog with black and white markings. The dog was with its owners, a woman with red hair, and a man. The owners immediately put the dog in a blue Ford SUV and left the
area. The owners are believed to live in the Pioneer area. Public Health said that if the dog remains healthy by the end of quarantine, the child will not need to undergo a series of rabies shots. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – 11 people filed for the Democratic Party and 4 filed for the Republican Party last Friday as the primary election filing period closed for their respective Central Committees. Republican and Democratic political party central committees declared candidacies, but the positions will not be contested because the number of candidates did not exceed the number of vacancies, said Deborah Smith of the county election office. All of the filed candidates have been confirmed as eligible for their Central Committees posts, the office said Monday. Democrats left 10 vacancies in the 5 Supervisor Districts, while Republicans left 21 vacancies. The election office said the respective Central Committees must appoint someone to fill the vacancies. Last Friday was the final day for filing declarations of candidacy, and while the rest of the county administration building was closed for Furlough Friday, Clerk/Registrar Sheldon Johnson kept the election office was open all day, with a button at the doors to alert the office when people arrived for filings. The filings had to be made Friday for the candidates to be on the June 8th primary ballot. Republicans had 1 candidate file in each of 4 district. District One ( with 5 seats) was filed for by Lois E. McDonald of Jackson. District 2 ( also with 5 seats) was filed for by Clayton R. Sharps of Ione. District 3, with 5 seats had no qualified candidates. District 4 (also 5 seats available) had 1 filing, by Ralph H. Harder of Jackson. District 5, with 6 seats, had one filing by John Pulice of Plymouth. Democrats filled 3 of 4 seats in District 1, including Helen Orene Page, Keith Sweet, and Kathleen Trenam, all of Jackson. District 2 had 1 filing, Antonia Bach of Ione, and left 3 vacancies. District 3 filled 3 of 4 seats, all with Pioneer residents: Caryl Callsen, Brian Gray, and Bob Laurent. District 4 had 1 filing by Elizabeth T.D. McCullogh of Sutter Creek, and left 3 positions open. District 5, with 5 seats to fill, had 3 filed. They were Lola Blevins of Volcano, Judy Hotchkiss of Pine Grove, and Sally Trestrail of Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 15 March 2010 18:00
Mental Health Service Act Funding Plans Seek Public Input
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador County Behavioral Health hosts a pair of meetings, including 1 this week that will take public comments on Mental Health Services Act planning as preparation to receive state funding in the county. Consultants Resource Development Associates of Oakland announced the meetings on behalf of the department. This week’s meeting includes a presentation by RDA to the Mental Health Board, and a public review of consultant’s draft “Prevention & Early Intervention” plan. The meeting is 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Jennifer Susskind and Rima Spight of RDA announced the meetings last week. Susskind said the Prevention and Early Intervention component (of the Mental Health Services Act) “funds programs to identify and treat mental health issues as early as possible.” It also helps “alleviate the need for more intensive services,” and help “individuals needing ongoing treatment into the mental health system.” At the meeting, the consultants will present the proposed PEI plan to the volunteer board members, and provide an opportunity for community members who did not previously submit comments to “share their thoughts.” Susskind said the proposed plan is a result of more than 5 months of “community planning” involving more than 260 people “who chose to share their experience and expertise.” Amador County last June learned that it is eligible for $5.7 million in MHSA funding, and the public sessions are part of the process to qualify. Susskind also announced a April 21st board and public review of the annual “Community Services and Supports Update.” The component of MHSA “funds programs that provide direct, integrated services to individuals with serious and persistent mental health issues.” Susskind said Amador Behavioral Health’s 3-year CSS plan was approved in 2007, and this year’s update will be posted on the county website for public review in early April. The Mental Health Board meeting will be held on April 21st. Both meetings follow 30-day public review periods, and include presentations to the board, and a forum for further community discussion. Both Meetings will be held at the Amador Behavioral Health Building at 10877 Conductor Blvd., in Sutter Creek. For information, call Lynn Thomas at (209) 223-6814. 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 Amador Water Agency discussed and approved up to 60 hours of engineering work to look at solar power for the agency last week. Steve Dollens of SunnyCal Solar gave a preliminary estimate of agency needs, and took questions. He said degradation of solar panels is 1/10th of 1 percent a year, and some panels in service are 20 years old. Their panels come with 10-year warranties and 25-year guarantees on power output. About $150,000 investment would “probably have payback in about 13 years,” he said. Director Don Cooper said they would need to consider additional fees to cover eventual replacement. Director Gary Thomas asked if the agency can sell power, if there is excess power produced. Wade Kriletich of SunnyCal said one client, a water company, sells excess power to PG&E, with revenue paying 70-80 percent of their employees’ wages. Dollens recommended more in-depth study, with AWA identifying an “internal champion,” possibly Brandt Cook, investing “40-80 man-hours of your own work.” President Bill Condrashoff said he wanted to minimize expenses and did not “want to invest a lot of internal engineering.” Cooper agreed with the concept, but the timing was off, because in May the agency needs to take a line of credit to make a nearly $1 million payment on its debt for the Amador Transmission Pipeline. He said the 40-60 hours of engineering is $7,000 to $10,000. Vice President Debbie Dunn said the board at its last meeting approved a $130,000 study that was “300 houses away from being needed.” Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said they are concerned about the engineering job costs, and where money would come from. The board approved 60 hours of internal engineering work, with the source of funding to be determined during budget meetings. Mancebo said he was unsure of legal parameters. Attorney Steve Kronick said the “Agency Act” referred only to hydroelectric power generation and sales, which the agency can do. He said the Agency Act can be amended, and he has worked on several amendments himself. 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 County Unified School District discussed the option Wednesday of moving forward with a 5-member board for both the District and the County Office of Education, in part because of concerns over violating the California Voting Rights Act of 2001. The agenda states “the intent of this process would be to elect Governing Board members by trustee area, with only that area’s residents voting on the respective area’s/district’s representative.” ACUSD Attorney David Girard said trustee areas would be coterminous with supervisorial districts to ensure more accurate representation. He said the readjustment would require multiple steps, including the assembly of a new County Committee on School District Organization, a public hearing, committee approval by a two-thirds vote, approval from the Board of Supervisors and final approval by public vote during the next election of board members. Under state education code, the governing board itself would constitute the committee because the county is included in a single school district. Girard said the potential savings from all this could be upwards of $10,000 annually in governing board personnel costs. He said that under law, the board may, after public review, may request the State Board of Education waive public election requirements. Board member Walser recommended they submit for state approval rather than wait for the next election because the “process should begin as soon as possible.” Board member David Dutra disagreed, saying “the voters 20 years ago set up these districts and they should…have their word on it.”
Dutra asked if they were currently in violation of the California Voting Rights Act. Girard said he is “not aware this board has any exposure to litigation.” He made the board aware of the possibility that minority groups falling into “protected classes” can sue under the California Voting Rights Act if they feel “a majority, voting along racial or ethnic lines, would be able to elect all members of the governing body.” Board member Wally Upper said that “regardless of the legal implications, I think it’s a good idea (so we can) save some money.” Girard also said there is no specific provision as to how to determine which two trustee seats would be eliminated, but the change would only occur after those trustees had served out their terms. The board tabled the item for further discussion. A proposed reduction in board members must be made in writing to the Board of Supervisors no later than March 1st. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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