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News Archive (6192)
Jackson - The Amador County Sheriff’s Department was recently audited by the State of California 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Office. The goal of this inspection was to help ensure emergency calls are answered “as expediently as possible and to prove public safety agencies with updated technical and operational standards,” according to a release by Undersheriff Jim Wegner. The audit focused on 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point’s (PSAP) response to incoming calls. “As the only Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) within Amador County, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office Communications Bureau is charged with answering all 9-1-1 emergency calls that originate within the County,” said Wegner. Dispatchers provide pre-arrival instructions while fire responders are dispatched for all law enforcement and medical calls. “In the case of fires, all calls are routed to the Cal Fire Communications Center in Camino, California,” said Wegner. Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan announced that our local center answered 99.4 percent of all emergency 9-1-1 calls received within the first ten seconds, significantly higher than the state standard of 90 percent. Wegner said, “Sheriff Ryan is extremely proud of the employees in the Communications Bureau and commends the Dispatchers for their technical proficiency, calming demeanor, ability to multi-task in the performance of their often stressful duties, and for providing excellent service to the citizens of Amador County.” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sutter Creek – The Sutter Creek City Council approved a tentative budget for 2009-2010, with direction to the finance committee to look into changes in operations of the police department and sewer plant. The council voted 4-1, with Councilwoman Sandy Anderson against the moves. The council committee on finance will look at and report back on contracting work to save the city money. That includes the possibility of a merger or collaboration for the Sutter Creek Police Department, or otherwise contracting services with the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. Ed Arata urged the city to look at a sheriff agreement, saying the city has a $924,000 police department budget, or 57 percent of the total $1.6 million city budget. The committee will also look at contracting operations for the sewer plant, and will report back to the council with findings. Councilman Pat Crosby said police departments cost “a horrible amount of money.” He said his opinion is that “it is very difficult to effectively operate a police department with the budget a really small city has.” Crosby said he thought the police department would have to be a portion of a larger force to be effective. The council also voted 4-1 with Anderson to not issue bonds in the amount of $750,000, in the city’s efforts to pay itself back for the amount spent on the city sewer plant. Ed Arata said he gathered “354 signatures from people asking the city not to take out this loan.” Mayor Gary Wooten asked Arata: “Did anyone come up with a way to boost reserves without taking a loan?” The bonds would be used to restore reserves depleted on sewer maintenance. Arata said: “I guess I don’t worry about the reserves as much as the city manager,” and the city needs “to stop relying on sewer reserves.” Anderson said they can’t wait for Gold Rush, and she thought “it’s a luxury for non-staff and non-council members to not have to worry about reserves.” Wooten agreed, and said the public won’t worry until a problem arises, then they will be knocking on the door of city hall, wondering why they cannot flush their toilet. Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha said the city has the highest paid sewer employees around, and a lot of cities “farm out” the work. He said the city needs “a serious accounting of the sewer department.” Duke said the plant has 4 full-time employees and it must be worked on 7 days a week. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fiddletown - Krista Clem O’Sullivan, whose
husband was allegedly shot dead after a dispute with his neighbor, now
faces the prospect of eviction from her Fiddletown ranch. Clem
O’Sullivan told TSPN she can’t afford the mortgage and is facing
mounting debt after her husband John O’Sullivan, 47, was allegedly shot
multiple times by former neighbor Kenneth John Zimmerman, 56, in
August. Zimmerman was subsequently arrested and booked in the Amador
County Jail on one count of murder. Clem O’Sullivan is struggling to
make payments on properties the couple owned and managed together in
Drytown and Shelter Cove. She said she is trying to work a business
deal to turn the latter into a “retreat home.” She said the bank was
working with her husband to schedule a payment plan but has not worked
with her since his death, and recently issued a 60-day notice saying
she must vacate the property. “The only hope I have right now is to
sell off our possessions,” she said. Any attempts to raise capital are
doubly hard because Clem O’Sullivan is also the full-time caretaker for
their four children, ages 2 through 14. She said she received a low
offer on her Chevy truck. She said the tractor her husband was riding
around the time of his death was taken for evidence and “you need a
tractor if you live on a ranch.” The Church of the Nazarene has offered
some assistance in helping her move. John O'Sullivan, a citizen of
Ireland, was an Amador County housing developer, and most recently
worked with Clem O’Sullivan on the Golden Vale housing development. The
couple were frequent attendees at meetings related to property
development. Clem O’Sullivan called her late husband a “popular,
ultra-generous man of his word, full of integrity and heart.” At a wake
at his parent’s home in Ireland, there was reported to be a 6-hour
procession to view his casket made up of friends and family from both
Ireland and California. “I’m completely overwhelmed,” said Clem
O’Sullivan. “I just can’t take it all on at once.” Story by Alex Lane
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Sutter Creek – Sutter Creek City Council decided to wait until decisions were made on the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort, before issuing bond sales to pay itself back for a sewer system rehabilitation. Bond Attorney Robert Norcross said a bond offer at 5.06 percent expires October 31st, and the offer likely would remain in effect after that date, but interest rate could change. City Manager Rob Duke said the bonds would repay $750,000 spent to purge solid matter from the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which was designed to have 480,000 gallons a day capacity, but began to max out when new business customers in Martell hooked into the system. Duke said a combined effort by the city and the Amador Water Agency, costing a total of $1.5 million will repair the sewer plant, with an expansion creating an estimated 60,000 gallons a day more capacity. The fix was needed because the Martell hook-ups immediately caused the system to be in violation of state law. Duke said repairs “took almost all of the sewer reserves, which are now upside-down.” Norcross said a “reimbursement resolution” passed by the council gives the city “full authority tonight to reimburse” itself with bonds. Councilman Pat Crosby said he is “opposed to debt” and would vote against it, saying the city would be better off tightening its belt. Councilwoman Linda Rianda asked if they would need to raise rates without the bond. Duke said he thought it better to have money in the bank, in case they have fines, which had been threatened at $30,000. He said state threats of fines had stopped because the city was working to stop violations, but quarterly violations continue. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Murphy said they have not done the bond because they do not know what Gold Rush is going to do, but he would not oppose the bond issue, even if it raised rates by a couple dollars. Duke said the city is “ahead of the curve” on maintenance, but has needed money in the bank for emergencies twice in the past 10 years. Finance manager Jeff Gardner said the $750,000 bond would put the city about $400,000 in the positive. Planning Commissioner Mike Kirkley said the city could borrow from its own other reserves and pay itself back at a lower interest rate than the bonds. Murphy said when Gold Rush decisions are made, the bond issuance might be the right thing to do. The council voted 4-1 to decline the offer, with a consensus to put it off a couple of months. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County - Congressman Dan Lungren issued advice to 3rd District residents Thursday on ways to prepare for flu season. “While health care reform continues to occupy center stage in Congress, another health concern has worked its way to the national forefront because of its deadly potential: flu season,” said Lungren. He said that although the death toll for novel H1N1 might seem relatively small compared to the 36,000 who perish annually from seasonal flu, there is concern that the novel H1N1 strain could “go in a new deadly direction” and “tragically spike as the traditional flu season plays out.” Lungren recommended taking preventative measures, such as “the simple act of washing your hands,” and getting vaccinated for the flu. “This year there are new strains and complexities that we must prepare for at every level of government,” he said. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jackson – Hotdogs and housing units. The Amador County Planning Commission will hold 7 public hearings next week, including looking at a request for a hotdog stand permit in Martell, and the split of several parcels, including one that would create 16 one-acre lots in Drytown. The commission will consider a request for a permit “to allow for outdoor sales consisting of a hot dog stand. Applicant Gregory McKeag seeks to operate “Mac Daddy Dogs” west of Highway 49 and north of Martell Road in the Meek’s Hardware parking lot in Martell. Another hearing will be held on a request by Thomas Estate Company proposing the division of 18.84 acres into 17 one-acre, single-family residential parcels in Drytown. The item includes an “environmental document determination and possible project decision, for the parcel, located on the north side of New Chicago Road, extending to the south side of Spanish Street in Drytown. The commission will also have a public hearing on a request to split a 128.94-acre parcel into parcels of approximately 56, 36, and 37 acres in size. The applicant is Western Pacific Enterprises, Inc. and David Leea, and the parcel is on the north side of Curran Road approximately half a mile west of the most southerly junction of Curran Road and Camanche Road in the Camanche area. Another hearing could decide on a split request by Hilary Heijman and Charles Carroll. They propose splitting 26 acres into four parcels, with three a 5 acres each, one at 5.8 acres, and one at 5.2 acre. They also request “a variance from county code” that requires a “3:1 depth to width ratio for lots under 20 acres. The property is approximately 2,000 feet south of Highway 88 between Spagnoli Mine Road and Irishtown Road, bisected by Valley Vista Court in the Pine Grove area. Other splits include smaller lot splits in the Buckhorn and Pioneer areas. Another item is a request for zoning amendment under “General Provisions & Exceptions” and for temporary uses, seeking to satisfy “hardship situations, by adding provisions for temporary housing due to sudden reduction in income. The commission meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Supervisors’ chamber, 810 Court Street, in Jackson. For information, call the planning department at (209) 223-6380. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jackson – The Foothill Conservancy is rallying those who oppose the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s proposed plan to expand Pardee Reservoir to join them at the mammoth water and sewage treatment company’s board meeting in Oakland next week. The seven members of EBMUD’s board will decide on Tuesday, October 13 whether to approve the 2040 water plan. The proposal includes the highly contested option of expanding Pardee and flooding a reach of the Mokelumne River. “The EBMUD directors need to see your face in the fancy EBMUD ‘Water Palace’ to remind them that their decision will affect us and the river we love: real people and real places -- and the real wildlife and fish they support,” said the Foothill Conservancy in an email distributed earlier this week. “We want to pack that room just like we filled the hearings up here,” said the email. EBMUD was criticized for limited outreach in foothill communities when the plan came to public attention earlier this year. A meeting at Amador Water Agency headquarters did not properly accommodate all who attended and a crowd of nearly 300 protestors filled the San Andreas Town Hall at a second outreach meeting in April. The vast majority of local individuals, groups and government entities have publicly objected to the plan, citing potential damage to the river’s ecosystem, the destruction of historic sites like the Middle Bar Bridge and irreversible damage to a river considered important to Native Americans. The East Bay is dependent on the 600-square-mile watershed, which is where 90 percent of its water originates. At the Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting last week, Katherine Evatt of the Foothill Conservancy said “I’ve never seen so many people agree about one issue as they do about this issue.” At that same meeting, Supervisors reinforced their opposition to the proposed dam expansion by approving a second protest letter to EBMUD Director John Coleman. The letter states “that EBMUD should be able to meet the expected demands of consumers even during consecutive drought years through rationing, conservation, recycling, and the Bayside groundwater Phase 2.” Supervisor Louis Boitano called EBMUD’s outreach to the county a “dog and pony show” and said “they need to show us something more.” Those who plan to attend the EBMUD meeting on Tuesday, October 13 can join the Foothill Conservancy on a bus trip to Oakland that is leaving from Jackson. The meeting is at 1:15 pm. Sign up now by calling Randy at 209-295-4900 or e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pine Grove – Amador County Young Eagles Program Coordinator Harry Brandt of Pine said this year’s Wings & Wheels had flown more than 100 children by the time an incident Saturday afternoon closed down the free airplane rides for children. But those who signed up will still get to take a flight, and the show will go on. Brandt said: “As unfortunate as this was, in retrospect, it’s a fender-bender.” One of the planes, taking part in the Experimental Aircraft Association program, had a mishap in an attempted takeoff, and spun off the runway. The FAA is calling it an “incident,” and will not investigate. Brandt said: “We’re just grateful that the pilot and the 3 passengers were not injured in any way.” Brandt said Pilot Ron Gagnon, of Calaveras County, was unhurt and “he was more upset about spoiling these children’s airplane ride.” Brandt was on the ground and from his vantage point, could not see the incident. He said his “concern was accounting for children and planes.” They had 13 planes on the flight line and there were 2 in the air and 3 out taxiing, which were called back. He responded to the incident about 4 minutes later. Responders included Young Eagles cadets, Calstar medics and fire fighters. Later, Brandt set about giving rain checks to children who signed up, and they “will attempt to get the remaining children out to fly.” The Young Eagles, with national spokesman, actor Harrison Ford, aim at getting children, age 8-17 interested in flying. Young Eagles have flown thousands of children in the region, and local chapters have events almost monthly. Brandt said volunteer pilots and aircraft must be EAA qualified. And the “even an experimental aircraft is a fully FAA-certified plane,” just not built by a manufacturer. The pilots in Saturday’s program were fully licensed, with private, air transport or commercial licenses, and a combined experience of more that 20,000 flight hours. Brandt talked to parents of each child involved in the incident Saturday. “The kids are all fine, physically and mentally,” he said. And he “extended invitation to each family to take them out personally” in his plane, “to satisfy them that it is safe and comfortable.” Brandt said he was not sure what went wrong Saturday, but closing the rides after the incident grounded about 50 kids who had signed up. They will be contacted by Brandt to be offered their flights as promised in the future, after he find pilots to volunteer. Brandt said it costs him about $150 an hour to fly his plane, “so the expenses these people are incurring and the generosity of them” (is remarkable). Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jackson – The long-anticipated H1N1 vaccine will soon be available for distribution, according to an announcement Wednesday by the Amador County Public Health Department. An initial supply of approximately 400 doses of the FluMist version of the vaccine will be divvied out among those who are at greatest risk from the virus. The release said local priorities for offering this first shipment will focus on children age 2-5 and caregivers, through age 49, of infants 6 months or younger. Distribution will be done in cooperation with local medical providers who serve pediatric patients. “We are in the planning process with Amador County Unified School District to provide additional; school FluMist clinics using H1N1 nasal vaccine,” said Angel LeSage, Public Health Director. Upon arrival of another shipment of about 5000 doses of the injectable vaccine later this month, additional groups like pregnant women will be identified as the next priority for vaccination. H1N1 has been identified as present in Amador County, and health officials continue to monitor its impact on local populations. “H1N1 continues to circulate and remains, for the majority of people, a mild illness similar to seasonal flu,” said Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. “The best prevention for both H1N1 and seasonal flu remains vaccination, washing your hands frequently, covering your cough and your sneeze and staying at home if you are sick.”
The current strain of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, was first reported in Mexico earlier this year. On June 11, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide Pandemic Influenza Alert Level to Phase Six, the highest such designation for a flu outbreak. Hartmann said “heavy case counts are present in the southern hemisphere of the world.” He said Amador County Public Health is collaborating with the Amador County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, Sutter Amador Hospital, Department of Corrections, and Amador County Unified School District to prepare for Fall 2009 flu season. To stay up-to-date on current flu and H1N1 virus and vaccine information and reccomendations, visit the Amador County Public Health website on your screen. For more information, contact them by phone at 223-6407. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sutter Creek – The Amador County Transportation Commission announced an October schedule to start its 2010 Regional Transportation Plan Update. 4 public meetings, starting October 20th in Plymouth, will take public input for the update. ACTC Executive Director Charles Field told a Sutter Creek traffic ad hoc committee last week that the commission’s Computer Mapping Exercise tool, the CMX, may not be the solution for Sutter Hill. He said no Martell businesses pay CMX fees, because Amador County Supervisors did not require participation. Field said ACTC’s Regional Transportation Plan needs to be updated and is being updated. Foothill Conservancy’s Tom Infusino said ACTC had a great idea with the CMX, if it was approved “up front.” But the Martell developments do not participate. Field said the ACTC board of directors was worried about the CMX, that, “if we get this wrong, we’ll have the worst rural county in the state.” Councilman Pat Crosby, an ACTC board member, said “we are all trying to do the same thing, and that is to take care of traffic in this area.” He asked about putting Allen Ranch Road into the CMX matrix, because it “is the only road that decreases traffic in this area.” Field said Allen Ranch Road is not currently part of the CMX and he was “not sure it ever will be.” He said they could add more work, money and partners, but he wants to “finish swallowing the bite that we’ve taken,” then they can do Airport Road and Allen Ranch Road. He said “let’s finish the essential Martell area first.” Field said the next step of CMX is to lower its scope and “support alternate routes” to ease traffic and “avoid 7-lane intersections.” The Regional Transportation Plan update includes public meetings October 20th in Plymouth, October 22nd in Jackson, October 27th in Pine Grove, and October 28th in Ione. ACTC planner Neil Peacock invited said it will plan for the “region’s future transportation needs.” He said the Regional Traffic Plan will “forecast future traffic demands based on anticipated growth throughout the region, in order to plan infrastructure needed to avoid congestion.” He said it is “ACTC's primary responsibility to implement and regularly update the RTP in order to plan, prioritize, and fund transportation improvements of regional significance.” ACTC staff plan to have a group of “citizens and stakeholders” recommend “policies and priorities.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
