News Archive (6192)
Wednesday, 03 March 2010 17:00
Freedom of Speech, Brown Act Central to AWA Discussion of GSL Paper
Written by Tom
Amador County – Three Amador Water Agency board members cited First Amendments rights to free speech in last week’s discussion of a paper published by District 3 Director Don Cooper in late January with information about the proposed Gravity Supply Line project. District 4 Director Debbie Dunn requested the issue be placed on last Thursday’s agenda and criticized Cooper for sending a 4-page e-mail co-directors of the Upcountry Community Council, who passed the papers on to their group’s members before Cooper spoke to UCC in early February. Dunn, co-founder and former co-director of Upcountry Council, was admonished by 2 current UCC members, including Linda Stroh and Sherry Curtis. Stroh said Dunn was “very unprofessional and “verbally abusive” to Cooper at the meeting.” She said Dunn singled out 4 of Cooper’s issues and used UCC as a platform “to address this paper and slam Mr. Cooper.” Dunn said “what I did was, I stood up as a board member” to “make sure the public has the truth” and facts and knows the source of the information. Dunn said she wanted UCC to know Cooper’s paper did not represent the AWA board on the GSL. Dunn said one of the items was “PG&E rate conditional increases and hearings” regarding “class-action lawsuits that raise rates.” Cooper said “there was a lot of first-person intensity” in his writing, but UCC requested some information they “could utilize as generating discussion.” He noted the council’s limited time, and said he wanted UCC’s to see GSL information that would generate discussion. Cooper said: “I did not do this all by myself.” He said per existing board policy, anything they do as board members should be run through the General Manger, and he did that. He said he wrote the document and exchanged it 3 or 4 times with Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo for review. He said he thought “it was appropriate in a business sense to be able to do that,” and that sharing it with all board members would be a violation of the Brown Act “and I did not think that was absolutely necessary.” Curtis said “The way that this was brought up here, and in Upcountry, was a disgrace.” She said UCC “knew that our request was not an official position of AWA.” She said Dunn could have submitted her own report on the issue before the UCC meeting, and had time to do so, but chose to address Cooper instead. 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 last week discussed a paper prepared by District 3 Director Don Cooper that gave information about the pending Gravity Supply Line project, then discussed public relations policy and board conduct. District 4 Director Debbie Dunn requested the board review Cooper’s document discussing Central Amador Water Project issues, which he prepared in advance of a presentation he gave at a February meeting of the Upcountry Community Council. Dunn also requested the board discuss and possibly direct staff “regarding policy for board members addressing the public as citizens versus a board member representing the agency.” Dunn said “it was not about singling out a particular director.” She said: “What I would like to see come from this is for us to update our own policy and our own code of ethics.” Dunn said she “would also like to possibly determine if there was any need for corrective action,” likening the situation to “a newspaper that has published something in error” and presenting a “statement of correction.” Dunn said “Cooper chose to publish a 4-page document” with “32 points” called “What Don Cooper Knows About the Gravity Supply Line.” Cooper e-mailed his paper to Upcountry Community Council’s co-directors, Lynn Morgan and Bob Curral, who e-mailed it to others, including Sutter Creek bulk e-mailer Loraine Davis, who “chose not to send it on,” Dunn said, adding that Supervisor John Plasse of District 1 asked Davis “specifically in support of it to please publish it to the world because this was the director that knew all about it.” Dunn said “when 4,000 people” on Davis’ list “get that paper, the probability that another director sitting up here saw it was very good.” Cooper thought that was the crux of the issue, saying for individual directors, “Freedom of speech is a constitutional right,” and he thought the board would not assume his paper represented the board’s opinion. Cooper said: “I will never give up my American right and freedom relative to that, I don’t care what kind of policy comes before this board.” He said: “If it got the wide spread that it did, so be it. I think there’s a lot of good information for a lot of good discussion.” Directors Terence Moore called the issue a “witch hunt” and moved to “table this item forever.” Moore and Director Gary Thomas both supported Cooper’s paper as a First Amendment guarantee. The issue was eventually tabled until later in the meeting, but not resumed. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 17:00
Ione to Consider Lawsuit Against Police Department Initiative
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Ione City Council Tuesday discussed a potential lawsuit against a petition drive aimed at getting rid of the Ione Police Department, and voted to place the issue on its March 16th agenda. The council heard that proponents for the “law enforcement services” initiative must gather 206 signatures by August 14th to place it on the November ballot. The council discussed whether to sue to stop the petition, after the city attorney advised that the proposed measure would violate the California Constitution. Vice Mayor David Plank motioned to file a lawsuit against the initiative, and Councilman Lee Ard seconded the motion, leading to a discussion. The initiative would disband the Ione Police Department and hand over municipal policing duties to the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. Plank “thought it might be appropriate to file a lawsuit now because we feel it is unconstitutional.” City Manager Kim Kerr said it is unconstitutional, in part, because the sheriff cannot be compelled to take over. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham “had additional questions and wasn’t ready to go there yet.” She wondered what would be the last date for a petition to make it on the November ballot, if a lawsuit were to stop the petition. Kerr said they also wanted to confirm who would be sued. That would be the proponent living in Ione, Denise Robertson. The petition’s other signature gatherer, Jim Scully, lives outside of Ione. After discussion, Bonham moved to agendize (for the next meeting) the question of whether to pursue the lawsuit. The 2nd motion passed 3-2 and the first motion was moot and not voted on. Kerr said Plank and Ard voted “no” because “their feeling is they would like to pursue (the lawsuit) now.” The council sought more information on the initiative and the absolute final filing date, should a lawsuit stop the initiative. Kerr said the lawsuit would “ask the court to rule whether it is constitutionally sound based on the way it is written.” She said Ione City Council “does not want the sheriff to provide police services. They want their own police department.” The council is trying to pursue its options logically so they don’t react out of anger and “jump the gun,” she said. The question will be on the March 16th agenda. Kerr said they will hear from the public about “what they want us to do.” She said: “We could be doing this in closed session,” but they will continue discussing it in open session because they “want the public to hear what their reasoning is, if they decide to pursue litigation.” 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 – A Volcano man sought by police on felony charges was captured last week in the Oregon town of McMinnville. Richard Thomas Hoofard, Jr., 35, was arraigned last Thursday in Yamhill County Circuit Court on one count each of first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, possession of methamphetamine, attempt to elude a police officer and reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person. The driving-related charges stemmed from a chase that ensued after police in the Oregon city confirmed that a vehicle with California plates registered to Hoofard had checked into a local Motel 6 last Wednesday. About 5:30 pm, an officer observing the motel spotted the vehicle leave the parking lot. Officers attempted to stop the car but the vehicle began accelerating rapidly. The driver, who was confirmed to be Hoofard, drove at speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour, weaving in and out of traffic and blowing through a stop sign. Police reports say the officers were considering terminating the chase because of the high rate of speed on city streets, but the car crashed shortly before that order was issued. Hoofard reportedly skidded through an intersection before hitting a curb and landscaping, becoming airborne and landing in a college parking lot. Hoofard was arrested by a canine officer and his partner and booked in the local jail. Police reports confirmed Hoofard to be wanted for undisclosed felony charges in California. 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 Board of Directors took a request from a Camanche resident last week seeking operations, financing and internal information about the makeup of the elected board, with an Upcountry resident applauding the request. Mike Krisman, a member of the Camanche sewer and water committee at Water Improvement District 7, said he was speaking as a resident. He said he was “interested in the structure of the board,” including AWA’s charter or articles of incorporation. He also wondered what the “responsibilities for each one of the individual directors might be in delineating responsibilities down to the operations group.” Krisman said: “I’d like to know the guidelines for accountability to your constituents.” He asked the board what exactly is it “responsible to do” for the people it represents. He asked about the direction methods and oversight for operators, auditing and finance. Krisman said: “We’re deep in the hole. I would have to say that the past boards were negligent in their fiduciary responsibility, allowing about $150,000 a year to be in deficit for the last 7 years,” and losing $1.2 million. He asked why the past board’s fiduciary responsibility was so lacking, and “just exactly who is responsible for the balance sheets, when we’ve been in the red for so long?” He said the board might think about a workshop and open house for all district members, look at reorganization; and express their roles. He said it was an information request and he would come in and read the information. He suggested they make such political, operations and financial information available to the public, “so people can understand how you function. Marty Stein of Jackson Pines was surprised and gratified by Krisman’s request. Stein said information he received through informal e-mail conversations with AWA Board President Bill Condrashoff “concerns me greatly in terms of whether indeed you have a set of policies, procedures, guidelines, directions, role definition, requisite skills and training for the people to initiate and manage projects.” Stein said he found AWA’s public document on the Gravity Supply Line “alarming in terms of some of the potential issues that it raised.” But “after a lot of time and discussions with various board members” and the community, he came to be more concerned about an “ongoing history” of “weaknesses” in the agency. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 01:08
Sheriff’s Office Applies for Off-Highway Vehicle Grant
Written by Tom
Amador County - The Amador County Sheriff’s Office has applied for the 2010/2011 State of California Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant for law enforcement activities.
If awarded, the grant will allow the Amador County Sheriff’s Office to maintain a successful partnership with the United States Forest Service and continue to provide the public with outstanding OHV recreation opportunities. The State is using an Internet-based “On-Line Grant Application” application process as the means to apply for this state funding. This grant application requires the Amador County Sheriff’s Office to seek public comments on the proposal. Public comments may be submitted from March 2 through April 5, 2010. A two-step application process will allow public comment and feedback before final submittal of the grant application. The preliminary application is due March 1. This will open a 30-day public review and comment period and will follow with final applications due on Monday, May 3. Current State regulations require annual public participation in the OHV fund allocation process. State-wide the agreements support OHV management activities in the national forest, including operations and maintenance, restoration, law enforcement, education and safety. The preliminary application will be available online by visiting the California State OHV Grants and Cooperative Agreements program at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov. Copies may also be requested by contacting Amador County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Mendonsa at 209-223-6785. For additional details please contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500. A TSPN TV Report 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 logged at least 7 arrests for drug-related offenses in the last week across the county, with the offenders including Pine Grove and Pioneer residents, and each of the 7 facing one or more felony charges. Various jurisdictions in Amador County last week made 7 drug-related arrests. 6 of those face felonies for possession of controlled substances. Randy Allen Reinhardt, 40, of Pioneer was arrested at 12:16 a.m. Wednesday in Pioneer. Enrico James Cocco, 30, of Jamestown was arrested 3:20 a.m. Sunday, February 21st at 105 Main Street in Jackson Mark Anthony Mastel, 20, of Lodi was arrested at 5:55 a.m. February 20th at New York Ranch Road and Trent Way in Jackson. Brian Jeffrey Wilhelm, 50, of Reno, Nevada, was arrested a 12:25 a.m. February 20th on Highway 88, west of Buckhorn. Debra Sue Wittenbrink, 39, and Larry Earl Lucas, 48, both of Modesto were arrested at 1:20 p.m. February 19th on Brickyard Road in Ione. The 7th was last Thursday, on Robin Road in Pioneer, when authorities arrested Nicole Bernie Lara, 27, of Pioneer on felony marijuana possession charges for possession of more than 28 grams of the drug. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 01:14
Officials Discuss Impacts of Williamson Act Funding Cuts
Written by Tom
Amador County – Elected leaders at both state and local levels are bracing themselves for the potential impacts of major reductions in Williamson Act funding from the state. Governor Schwarzenegger has all but eliminated state aid as part of a wide-ranging cost-cutting plan meant to help solve the state budget crisis. Officially known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, the Williamson Act enables local governments to provide extremely low tax assessments to owners of farm and open-space land in exchange for a ten-year agreement that the land remain undeveloped. Specifically, the Act is intended to promote voluntary land conservation. The statute applies to nearly 16.6 million acres in 53 counties- close to half of all California’s private farmland. During recent budget discussions, Amador County Supervisor Louis Boitano made it a point to say that Williamson Act funding cuts could change what the county has to spend to perpetuate local land conservation. State Senator Dave Cox, Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, will lead a Legislative Oversight Hearing today on the Williamson Act titled “The Williamson Act: Past, Present, Future?” Also serving on the committee are Senators Kehoe, Aanestad, Price, and Wiggins. A briefing for the meeting says that since 1972, “the State General Fund has paid about $875 million as direct subventions to the participating county governments.” Exercising his constitutional authority, the Governor all but eliminated direct subventions by reducing the annual appropriation from $27.8 million to $1,000 earlier this year. The briefing says “landowners, conservation groups, and county officials now question the state government’s commitment to conserving farmland and open space.” The committee expects to hear testimony from county officials, landowners and conservation organizations. They will address the future of the program, including questions on statewide benefits, land base, tax relief, county programs and subventions. The Cox-led Senate Local Government Committee is meeting today from 9:30 am to 11 am in the State Capitol, Room 112. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 01:15
Sutter Creek Mid-Year Budget Shows $80,000 in Projected Losses
Written by Tom
Amador County – In a mid-year budget update, Finance Director Jeff Gardner said Monday that Sutter Creek should expect “$80,568 in projected losses” in the current year. With adjustments, the budget was $1.5 million at mid-year. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe said Sutter Creek Police Department will be losing an officer, and the position will not be filled, which could drop the deficit from $80,000 to about $50,000 through the end of the year. Councilman Pat Crosby suggested the city look at more contracting, possibly including finance. And he said Plymouth and Pine Grove had good police agreements with the sheriff and he would like to look into that. “Pine Grove is at least as big as Sutter Creek,” Crosby said. “It has lots of commercial” activity, “lots of people and seems to be doing OK.” He said the areas the city should look at cuts are in police, city manager and public retirement costs. Wooten said: “We have a $900,000 police budget, and for the last 10-and-a-half years, we’ve had a police chief for nothing,” paying only a city manager’s wage to Rob Duke, who works very hard doing both jobs. Wooten said Duke has probably saved the city $1 million over his tenure. Councilwoman Linda Rianda said the budget committee is “still looking at contracting out,” and the council will hear from Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan at its April 1st meeting. Ryan will address the council on costs to serve the city with law enforcement. Wooten said he thinks “in April, when Sheriff Ryan comes, you’ll hear” that they will not want to do the job “half way.” 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 Ione Police Department helped conduct a successful sting operation over the weekend at the Preston Youth Authority prison in Ione that led to the arrest of 4 people who are facing drug charges. Ione Police Department Sergeant Rocky Harpham said in a news release Monday that Ione Police personnel participated in a “multi-agency visitor compliance detail” on Saturday at the Preston Youth Authority facility, which led to the drug arrest, various vehicle citations and the impounding of vehicles. Harpham said the operation was “a cooperative effort by local law enforcement to control illegal activity associated with visitation on state property.” The detail included law enforcement agencies from the “Tactical Team” of the California Youth Authority at Preston; a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation K-9 team; the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team; and personnel from the Ione Police Department, including its IPD narcotics detection K-9 named “Hawke.” Four visitors were arrested and booked into the Amador County Jail on drug-related charges and outstanding warrants, Harpham said. There were 7 additional citations issued for misdemeanor California vehicle code infractions, and a total of 8 vehicles were towed and impounded. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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