News Archive (6192)
Amador County – Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees Wednesday will consider a reduction of nearly 12 full-time equivalent classified school jobs for the coming school year.
Trustees will consider making notification of a proposed reduction of classified school services for the 2012-2013 school year, and if approved would reduce or discontinue certain services now being provided by Amador County Unified “by a total of 93 hours a day, 11.625 (full time equivalent)” positions.
Trustees in early March approve potential layoffs notices for 16.33 full-time equivalent certificated teaching positions next school year, a resolution saying “it will be necessary to decrease the number” of teachers based on “declining average daily attendance for the 2012-2013 school year.” Certificated layoffs included a potential nine grade school teachers, two junior high and four high school teachers.
Wednesday’s consent agenda included a list of personnel taking certificated retirements. They include Argonaut High teacher Keith Davis, Independence High teacher Casey Casagrande, Pine Grove Elementary teacher Daniel Alexander, Plymouth Elementary teacher Janis Carson, Jackson Elementary teacher Sally Kinkaid, and Alternative Ed counselor John Rogers.
The agenda also listed five classified retirements effective this summer, including an admin assistant at Independence, a transportation secretary, a registrar and secretary at Amador High and a maintenance worker at Jackson elementary.
Classified layoffs recommended for elimination include 77 hours a day of instructional assistant positions, or 9.625 full time equivalent; plus 8 hours a day (one full time equivalent) admin assistant; and half time positions of senior account clerk and purchasing tech.
The draft resolution noted that, per Education Code, “notice of termination of employment to those effected classified employees” should be given “not later than 60 days prior to the effective date of layoff.”
Trustees have until May 17 to decide whether to finalize the layoffs.
Story by Jim Reece.
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Amador County Supervisors finalized medical marijuana growing regulations
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors approved a final reading of its medical marijuana growing regulations Tuesday, with supervisors deflecting criticism.
Supervisors Brian Oneto said he was “a little dismayed by the overarching vitriolic statements being made toward this board today,” and it was “bunk” that they made decisions behind closed doors concerning the number of plants allowed. He said he talked to a lot of people about this, including a man and his wife who had 10 marijuana plants each and said it was more than adequate.
Oneto said the draft code originally had a 12-plant limit per parcel, the Planning Commission recommended 72 plants, and the federal government ruled against Mendocino County’s regulation allowing 99 medical pot plants, saying it was too many. Mendocino changed their number to 25, and that is similar to Amador County’s total 24 per parcel, for up to two patients with doctor recommendations, and 12 plants each.
Thomas Liberty, a marijuana collective member, said a Fiddletown growing site was mischaracterized because it was “exactly the type of grow that Senate Bill 420 was designed to protect.” He said it had 96 plants and the 24 patients involved had 4 plants each.
Oneto asked Liberty if he had been to the site in Fiddletown, which Oneto visited and said had a powerful odor, even more than 100 feet away. Liberty said he did not visit the site, and was “not saying that there weren’t problems.”
Liberty also questioned Supervisors’ ability to “oversee contracts between renters and property owners,” alluding to a requirement for pot growers who rent the property to first obtain written permission from the landlord.
County Counsel Greg Gillott said the ability to regulate in the jurisdiction comes from police powers. He said one law still uncertain regarding dispensaries is at the Supreme Court, and others are likely to go there. Requiring permits for marijuana is federally prohibited, but it has been ruled legal in California for a jurisdiction to completely ban marijuana dispensaries, and that may be useful in agricultural contexts. He said San Bernardino has a total outdoor ban on growing marijuana, limiting it to indoors.
Gillot said Amador County is not one of the more stringent counties, and it was unlikely they would be challenged for limiting growers to 24 plants.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sutter Gold Mining draws international interest, as it gears up to reopen
Written by Tom
Amador County – Sutter Gold Mining Incorporated has drawn international attention this week as a television film crew from the Netherlands was at the site Wednesday planning a children’s documentary on the Gold Rush.
The crew, including researcher Edda Heinsman, are making three show segments for their television station’s children’s educational program, about Silicon Valley, earthquakes, and the Gold Rush. Heinsman said what interested them was that the Lincoln Mine will be a functioning gold mine.
Sutter Gold Mining Vice President David Cochrane said the local piece will be about historical mining and how the mine explored and established its resources and how it builds and activates its mine.
The mine faces county, state and federal regulations on its way to opening, and it could be up to full construction this fall, including removing the gold from ore and melting it down, and pouring the bullion. The site is completely winterized, and a building permit from Amador County has been received for the mill. The foundation will be set, the heavy equipment to be stored for milling will then be lowered in place by a crane, and the mill housing unit will be constructed around the equipment, Cochrane said.
Mine Superintendent James D. Smith said a federal Mine Safety and Health Administration 404 permit for crossing a man-made wetland, used for watering livestock, has offered one permitting delay. He said about 12 stopes, or levels for working on the mine, would be built by the time the production gets under way. A crew of three now works underground on the stopes.
Cochrane said a 30-hole core drilling operation that started in January is about one-third complete. It compiles data that creates a map of the Mother Lode vein below the surface.
Rock mined at the site is reclaimed for construction, and other work includes a second ingress and egress shaft for entry and exit from the mine, as required. The project will also place a third shaft for entry and exit. They will be 8-by-8 feet tunnels, large enough to drive through, but smaller than the existing 12-by15 foot tunnel.
Crew members including Holly Boitano and Andrew Cochrane were taking well samples of ground water as part of daily sampling work. Boitano said one well’s water level was 160 feet deep. Smith said Boitano is the face of the company at many regulatory meetings, because of her expertise. David Cochrane said Smith, from Colorado, is a very experienced mining supervisor, and is a “fourth or fifth generation hard rock, narrow vein underground miner.”
The project will resume mining on the former Lincoln Mine. Cochrane said it was estimated that the old mine removed only about 10 percent of the gold that is located at the site.
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National Doctors’ Day prompts a thank-you for local doctors from Sutter Amador Hospital
Written by Tom
Amador County – Sutter Amador Hospital on Wednesday announced National Doctors’ Day is being marked locally to honor the staff doctors who work at the hospital in Jackson and thank them for caring for Amador County and regional patients.
Marketing, public relations and philanthropy coordinator, and Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation board member Jody Boetzer said the board offered well wishes as the board and Hospital seek to mark March 30, 2012, locally as National Doctors’ Day.
Sutter Amador Hospital saluted the members of its medical staff for their continued expertise, skill and compassion, and noted that its hospital and its community are better because they have chosen to live and practice here. The hospital and volunteer board members delivered “a special thank you to Sutter Amador Hospital doctors for taking extraordinary care of our patients.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ione’s midyear budget report says barring cuts, the city still could be $200,000 short
Written by Tom
Amador County – Ione City Council last week approved a schedule for its municipal wastewater project, and discussed its mid-year budget, and saw it could still end the fiscal year $200,000 short.
Approval of a contract with Winzler & Kelly starts projects toward a new wastewater plant, whatever that turns out to be, and seeks State Revolving Funds. The municipal wastewater project costs were estimated by City Attorney James Maynard at $840,000, of which State Revolving Fund and USDA programs would reimburse about $725,000. Maynard said the city could seek less reimbursement and have an even smaller impact on fee increases in wastewater for city residents. Any increase is subject to a Proposition 218 notification process.
The city’s Wastewater Capital Project fund included $1.6 million, and would pay toward the city’s wastewater project, and contracted tasks approved last week.
The council also talked about the budget. City Manager Jeff Butzlaff said the next fiscal year will have the full year when reductions will fully materialize from staffing and other cuts. Mayor Ron Smylie said the city Wastewater Capital fund could have more money if a set-aside of $8.50 per bill had been set aside after it was enacted.
Councilman Lloyd Oneto said after approval of the wastewater contract that he hoped “the council will not get the debacle of misunderstanding” that it had before, and will get step by step approval of the work.
In the mid-year budget report, Butzlaff said the Council will begin working on its budget in April and get a head start, unlike last year. Smylie wanted to set workshops and study sessions, not to make decisions, but to get public input. Butzlaff said “we will have 10 weeks to get the public fully engaged.”
He said the Winzler & Kelly funding comes from the Capital budget, and the operational budget was about $500,000, while the city has about $1 million dollars owed to other city funds.
Oneto said the $200,000 shortage goes back on the top of spending in the next budget, and cuts will have to be made. He said they will have to think of staff not as whether they are a good person, but in terms of “can we afford you?”
Smylie said: “We have to close that gap,” and there are some things that need to go through negotiations, including the benefits packages, and a police budget of $1.1 million.
Oneto asked about $200,000 paid by Rylund Homes for impact fees for property on which it was not allowed construction, and if that would also come out of the 2012-2013 budget. Maynard said Rylund wants the fee credit allocated elsewhere.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County – Jackson City Council on Monday approved closing part of Main Street in June 2013 for the wedding of Beau Gillman and his fiancée, Marci Banicevich.
City Manager Mike Daly said road closure requests usually are on a consent agenda, but “this one is a little bit out of the ordinary.” He said Gillman and Banicevich would like to hold their wedding on the steps of the National Hotel, with seating for 600-800 on Main Street.
Daly discussed logistics with the couple, including security, cleanup, an insurance policy naming the city additionally insured, and notification of merchants that may be affected. Daly in a report said Gillman and Banicevich “have talked with every merchant in the closure area and received their support.” He said the couple wanted to get permission and confirmation from the Council “prior to other major planning activities.”
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the partial closure, with 4 “aye” votes, and Vice Mayor Connie Gonsalves adding: “I’ll say I do.” Daly said the 3:30 p.m. Saturday wedding is during the busiest time on Main Street, and it will be good to have something like this.
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Sutter Gold Mining looks to pour bullion in fourth quarter of this year
Written by Tom
Amador County – Sutter Gold Mining Incorporated is looking to close decades of permitting at the Lincoln Mine in Amador County with the pouring of gold bullion by the fourth quarter of this year, weather permitting. A tentative cornerstone placing ceremony for the Sutter Gold’s mill is planned for May, with local dignitaries to be invited.
Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety David Cochrane led TSPN TV News on a tour of the site that is governed by OSHA, federal mining regulations, and other regulators, and features safety training requirements for visitors, as well as extensive training for contractors. Cochrane said 24 hours of safety training is required for anyone who will work more than five days at the site in a year. The company last week trained 30 people in that manner and plans to train dozens more.
Mine Superintended James D. Smith said they hope to be pouring bullion by November. Cochrane said that is an internal goal, and does not consider weather delays. Realistically, they hope to be pouring bullion by the fourth quarter of this year. He said: “We’re having a bit of a late winter.” To this point, the construction had been helped by mild winter weather.
The site features rock-covered roads that keep rain from impacting the work. Straw waddles along contours of seeded hills fend off erosion and runoff. A plastic-lined water storage pond catches water before it drains from the site.
A crew Wednesday was carving out the side of a hill where the mill will sit. Doug Veerkamp Construction of El Dorado County won the bid to remove the hill soil and rock, in 5-foot increments. The local company Mark Suden Construction, which actually built the mine years ago, worked Wednesday on drilling the side of the hill where it has been covered with blown-on concrete over heavy wire grids. 23-foot long rebar bolts are then placed into the drill holes, which will be cemented in place, then bolted down to guard against landslides.
Cochrane said higher on the hill will be buildings, made to look like barns, which will separate gold and dewater mine tailings.
The schedule has been slowed by permitting at the federal level, Smith said, and some permits were initiated 20 years ago. Cochrane said Amador County is making sure its permits are proper. The mill site building permit came in February, and the site has two more five-foot lifts to be built, which will take about a week per lift to build, and it takes dry weather to put in place the concrete sides. The mill foundation site could be finished in April, and the lifts will be about 20 feet high at the highest point.
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Common Ground Senior Services plans its “Ms. Senior Citizen Beauty Pageant”
Written by Tom
Amador County – Common Ground Senior Services is now taking applications for its upcoming Ms. Senior Citizen Beauty Pageant, and has issued a call for all “beautiful seniors of Amador & Calaveras Counties.”
Anne Boyce said: “If you are a woman 60 years of age and older and would like to showcase your inner beauty, talent and elegance, you are invited to participate in a unique new beauty pageant. This event will be a benefit for the Meals on Wheels program in Amador and Calaveras counties.”
The event will be held on May 12th, 2012 at the Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel in Jackson. For more information and an application for information about sponsorship, please contact Common Ground Senior Services at (209) 223-3015 and ask for Anne Boyce.
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Blood Drive will try to backfill the impact of recent blood drives canceled by snow
Written by Tom
Amador County – This week’s Mother Lode Community Blood Drive will try to foil recent drives canceled by weekend snow. Sutter Amador Hospital and BloodSource are sponsoring the upcoming Mother Lode Community Blood Drive Thursday, March 29 in Jackson.
SAH said between March 18-31 all participants who register at a BloodSource blood drive will automatically be entered into a weekly drawing for a $250 gas card. The drawing includes the March 29 community blood drive in Jackson.
SAH’s Jody Boetzer said BloodSource had to cancel several blood drives over the weekend due to the snow, and asked people to pass the word about this upcoming drive to encourage participation.
BloodSource’s Stephanie Kresse said the drive aims to meet the community’s need for blood. BloodSource provides blood to Sutter Amador Hospital in Jackson.
All walk-ins are welcome. Blood donations are used to treat burn victims, transplant patients, people who must undergo surgery, those injured in accidents, patients with leukemia and others.
To give blood, you must be in generally good health, free from cold symptoms for at least 48 hours; at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent); and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no upper age limit for donating blood.
Prospective donors must bring a photo ID. The blood drive is 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29 at the Jackson Civic Center, 33 Broadway in Jackson. For more info call BloodSource at 1-800-995-4420, extension 60039.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County Waste and Jackson city officials plan their annual Clean It, Green It Celebration
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador County Waste Management & Recycling plans its annual Clean It, Green It clean up day across Jackson on Saturday, April 21.
Amador County Waste Management & Recycling Department Director Jim McHargue said the Clean It & Green It Celebration “promises to be a fun-filled day at Detert Park for the whole family.”
The “Clean It” portion of this event is the City of Jackson’s annual litter clean-up from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will be provided a free BBQ lunch by the friendly staff of the Bank of Amador.
The “Green It” fair is a celebration of Earth Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Many local businesses and community organizations will be participating in the fair, which will include demonstrations, special projects, and other activities intended to increase awareness of positive “earth-friendly” habits, recycling and energy use.
McHargue said the theme of the entire event is intended to compliment Earth Day activities throughout the world and music will be provided by the hot local band, Stephanie Farrell and the Wild Katz.
An E-waste Collection will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Busi Parking Lot (behind Mel and Faye’s Restaurant) on Highway 49. This is a safe and environmentally friendly way to recycle all of your old electronics with 100 percent of all donations benefiting the Argonaut High School Science Club.
Items accepted include TV’s, monitors, computers, computer peripherals, cell phones, printers, copiers, fax machines, audio/video equipment, microwaves, and more.
McHargue said to “come on out and enjoy a Green Day at the Park. The primary supporters of the event are the city of Jackson, Bank of Amador, ACES Waste Services and Amador County Waste Management Department.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
