News Archive (6192)
Amador County – California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Amador-El Dorado Unit announced last week that a new Division Chief has been assigned for the Pine Grove Camp, and the southern division of the Unit.
Unit Chief Kelly Keenan of the Amador-El Dorado Unit announced the promotion of Battalion Chief Brian Estes, of El Dorado Hills, as his new Assistant Chief in charge of Southern Division Operations and Pine Grove Camp. Keenan said it was an honor that he “had the opportunity to pin newly promoted Assistant Chief Brian Estes with his Division Chief badge” on March 1.
Keenan said “Estes brings many years of valuable experience, both locally and at the state level, to his new duties as AEU’s Amador County Division Chief.” He said “Estes embodies Cal-Fire’s ability to develop and recruit future leaders for the Department.”
Estes began his fire service career in 1989 working as a U.S. Forest Service firefighter on hand crews and helitack crews. In 1993, he was hired by CDF as a firefighter in the San Diego Unit. In 1995, he moved to the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit and worked as a Helitack Firefighter on a CDF Helicopter until getting promoted to Fire Apparatus Engineer in Amador County in 1998.
Estes was promoted to Fire Captain B in El Dorado County at Growlersburg Conservation Camp in 2001. He transferred to the Unit's Training Bureau in 2003 as a Fire Captain and was promoted to the Training Bureau Battalion Chief in 2006.
In 2008, Chief Estes moved into a Field Battalion and supervised AEU’s Battalion 1 encompassing El Dorado and Camino Stations, including AEU Headquarters.
Keenan said Estes has extensive CDF Incident Command Team experience as a Type I Operations Section Chief with Incident Command Teams 1 and 10. He is currently the Incident Commander Trainee for ICT 5. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Chico, and he lives in El Dorado Hills with his wife Kelly and daughter Peyton.
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Amador School Board agrees to settle tax revenue suit with Amador County for $548,000
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador County Unified School District board of trustees on Wednesday announced that they had approved a civil court settlement with Amador County that will pay the school district $548,000.
Board President Wally Upper announced that the settlement was agreed to by Trustees in closed session on a 5-0 vote, and made the announcement after the board convened in open session. The County in the settlement agrees to pay the School District for funding that the District sued in court saying it was owed by the County from fiscal year 2009-2010. Upper said the County will pay us in 12 days from the signing of the agreement.
As part of the agreement, the school district, after receiving payment will withdraw its civil suit against the County. The district filed a civil petition Dec. 29, 2011 in Amador County Superior Court alleging that the County incorrectly allocated property tax revenue for the 2009-2010 school year. The suit sought $1.3 million dollars in reimbursement. After the county pays the $548,000, within five days of the payment, the District agreed to file a dismissal of the litigation, with prejudice.
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Amador County – Ione City Council on Tuesday approved advertising to seek a permanent city manager, as Interim City Manager Jeff Butzlaff nears the last three months of his extended contract with the city.
Butzlaff said it takes the city right back to last September when he was hired for a six-month term, which was then extended six months as the city faced a Civil Grand Jury investigation, a $600,000 budget deficit and a reorganization of city staff that included benefit reductions and the partial retirement of five long-time employees.
The Council approved the advertisement wording for the permanent city manager search, and the content and approach. Butzlaff said it is kind of a “return to the future” and takes the city back to Sept. 6 when first put before them a request to extend the contract. His initial tenure was to be six months, but it was extended as the turmoil arose, including the recall election. He said the City Council wanted to wait until the end of that election, because it was seen as appropriate to wait until they see who would be on the council and whether it would change the makeup of the council.
The council authorized proceeding with the City Manager recruitment process beginning immediately. Butzlaff in a report said “from this point forward through June, we’ll have virtually the same amount of time for the City Manager recruitment/selection.” He said he sought to help make the process as “productive as possible in finding just the right candidate, the right fit, for the city of Ione at this time in its history” and he wanted to make the transition “as smooth as possible.”
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Amador County – Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved notices for the potential layoffs of 16.33 full time equivalent positions in the next school year, including 15 teachers, and will have until mid-May to finalize the decision.
Superintendent of Schools Dick Glock said “we could squeak by, it is possible,” but the board has to look a year to 18 months down the road, and the potential layoffs of 16.33 full time equivalent certificated employees would be “primarily due to decreased enrollment.” He said the last few years, the district hasn’t really reduced staff and “we do want to improve programs. We have results to show that it works,” with student achievement test scores.
Glock said “we have until May 15 to see if we need to carry through on these,” but he said “it’s not going to be the number you see here that gets a slip.” And on the other hand, if they do not prepare for layoffs, “it puts the whole district at risk. It is unfair that we should have to go through this. The other option would be to move towards insolvency.” He said “this is California education.”
Liz Tone, a Sutter Creek Primary School teacher, and an executive board member of the Amador County Teachers Association, said ACTA strongly opposed layoffs and urged the board not to approve them. Tone said teachers had given concessions of $3.8 million dollars in savings for the school district. She said the district has a $4.25 million dollar reserve, more than 16 percent, and “well above the state recommendation.” She said “we urge the board not to approve this tonight.”
A Jackson Junior High math teacher urged no cut of the middle school math teacher, as listed on a staff recommendation. She said students deserve and are entitled to the program, which has reformed itself.
Ann Rothe, a teacher in the Visually Impaired Program said she saw her program as marked for possible cuts and said: “I would appreciate it if you did not cut this position.”
Glock said he had spoken with Rothe, and since the printing of the agenda, we have had a couple more students enroll in her program. He said “I don’t think we disagree at all with the comments,” although he thought Tim Zearley, Assistant Superintendent of finance might disagree with Tone’s estimate of the reserves.
Zearley said he would have a quarterly report March 28, but “I do not believe we have $4.2 million dollars available at this time.”
Board President Wally Upper said from recent enrollment trends reported last month, “if the district continues to lose 200 students a year for the next decade, the student population will go from 4,000 to 2,000.”
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Plymouth-Reeder pact includes $370,000 for water pipeline
Written by Tom
Amador County – A pair of Plymouth-Reeder Sutherland Development Agreements to be released Thursday will include $370,000 for water impacts and another fee of $1,900 per single family home for jail impact fees as designed by the Amador County nexus study.
City Manager Jeff Gardner said the eight-year project all along has had the county jail fees as its jail impact fee. Reeder Sutherland President Bob Reeder, and JTS Properties’ Rob Aragon worked with Amador County to revise the jail nexus fee, which dropped from $3,500 dollars per single family home to $1,886. The jail nexus was reconfigured after Amador County purchased the 201-acre former Wicklow Way Subdivision property in Martell at auction for $1.48 million dollars.
The Development Agreements are for Reeder’s Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge residential developments and were released Thursday (March 8), prior to a March 14 public hearing by the Plymouth City Council. The agreements will include $370,000 for water impacts, and the current county jail nexus fee, as adopted by Supervisors. Gardner said Reeder agreed to the jail fee early in the planning stage of his projects. Gardner said the county jail nexus fee is in the Development Agreement, even though Plymouth City Council has yet to adopt the jail impact fee within the city.
Plymouth City Council last September discussed the payments from Reeder Sutherland to offset impacts on the city’s water system, which would pay toward the city’s new water pipeline, dedicated Nov. 2, 2009, which connects Plymouth with the Amador Water Agency’s Mokelumne River water supply. Gardner said Wednesday that the $370,000 is still in the Development Agreement, for Reeder’s share.
Reeder agreed in the draft Development Agreement to pay $74,000 a year for five years to make the water fund whole and offset the city’s debt service payments so Plymouth doesn’t have to raise its water fees.
In the draft agreement, Reeder would make two payments per year to be paid one month before the city has to pay its debt service payment for the pipeline. The debt payments are $176,000 a year, but in six or seven years, will go down by about $16,000, when a 10 percent “debt service reserve” portion of the payment accumulates enough money to make a year of payments on the plan, as required by USDA.
Gardner in September said the payments were something Reeder and the city have been discussing for a long time, and if they were not part of the Development Agreements, the city would “immediately look at moving forward with another rate increase.”
The public hearing on the Development Agreements is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 in Plymouth City Hall.
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Daylight Saving Time also good time to check emergency preparedness kits
Written by Tom
Amador County – Daylight Savings Time began Sunday and is a good time to check emergency preparedness items & smoke, CO detectors, according to local officials.
People were reminded last weekend to “spring forward,” or set their clocks ahead one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 11, for the start of Daylight Savings Time.
Regional emergency officials also urged people to check their home emergency preparedness supply stocks to make sure they are up to date when they change their clocks. Rotate existing supplies, discard anything that has expired, leaky or is damaged, and replace anything that has been borrowed from the supply kit. It is also a good time to check smoke, carbon monoxide and other detection units, to see if they are in working order, and to check batteries.
Daylight Savings Time runs from 2 a.m. Sunday, March 11, to 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 4.
Regarding emergency preparedness kits, residents should have a stockpile that includes at least a three-day to seven-day supply of non-perishable food and water for each person and animal in the home. It is recommended the home preparedness supply kits include at least one gallon of water per person, per day.
Other items for the kit include non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, a portable radio, extra clothing, a first aid kit, copies of important documents, emergency cash, pet food and supplies, and medications and personal hygiene supplies for each member of the family.
People who don’t already have a preparedness stockpile are urged to put one together. Preparedness stockpiles should be stored together in an easy to access place. It is also a good idea to have a portable kit that can be taken during an evacuation. For additional preparedness information, including tips on maintaining or creating a preparedness stockpile, and a complete list of recommended supplies, see the website Ready.gov.
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Amador Council of Tourism’s 49er Treasure Trail game planned for March 24-25
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Fourth Annual 49er Treasure Trail, set for March 24-25, is designed to experience adventures, conquer challenges, earn points and win prizes.
“The 49er Treasure Trail is an interactive adventure of epic proportions,” said Maurine Funk, executive director of the Amador Council of Tourism. The game allows playing teams to navigate historic Amador County by experiencing adventures and conquering challenges, which are all worth points.
Players “win cool stuff by having the most points, unique costumes, most fun team, slowest to finish, traveled the furthest, and more,” she said. Prizes include tickets for unique local events, hotel rooms, meals, merchandise, and more from local merchants. This event is great for all ages.
Participants can play the whole weekend, one day, or just a few hours. New this year are evening game hours called After Dark: 4-8 p.m. Friday, March 23 and 5-8 p.m. Saturday, March 24.
Funk, spearheading the game for the fourth year, said: “We wanted to allow more time to enjoy Amador’s night time destinations and keep the laughter going into the evening.” She said: “Our restaurants really embrace the game and make it fun for 49er Treasure Trail players.”
Registration is now open at TourAmador.com or call (877) 868-7262 for information.
49er Treasure Trail sponsors are: Capital Public Radio; Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel; Sutter Gold Mining Company; Bank of Amador; J & D’s Steakhouse; Volcano Communications; AAA; and Jackson Business & Community Association.
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AWA approves a Proposition 218 rate increase and protest notification policy
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors last week approved a new agency policy for adopting notice, hearing and protest procedures for compliance with the state Proposition 218 regarding sewer and water rate increases.
AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said Proposition 218 contains nothing about sending a ballot out for protests of rate increases. The agency does not have to send out ballots, and “state law is just simply unclear on this.” He said a resolution approved Thursday sets AWA policy so rate payers get a letter explaining why rates are being increased. Mancebo said it improves citizen input and government accountability, and provides the agency with rules to follow as the agency complies with the California Constitution.
Some at the meeting indicated they did not support the change. One upcountry resident, Rich Farrington, said he liked the idea because it brought some consistency. Mancebo agreed, saying in at least prior rate increase AWA sent a ballot, but sometimes the agency did not send a ballot.
Mancebo said it sets the policy on what the Proposition 218 notification looks like, and assists residents with making a protest. He said: “It’s as simple as mailing it back to us if they want to protest.” The resolution sets forth a policy that specifies what the agency must do when rate increases are sought.
The resolution passed 4-0 with Director Don Cooper absent. The policy is not specific to Camanche and it would be used for all water and wastewater increases, and anything that is rate-based.
He said the agency is trying to implement programs to help ratepayers, including a test run on a monthly billing for some areas that previously had bi-monthly billing. They also are working on electronic billing and electronic payments programs.
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Amador County – Amador County Child Abuse Prevention Council and local agencies are teaming up for the 4th annual Bowl-a-thon fundraiser March 31, which will include a silent auction, and a “Kid Friendly” Food Drive to benefit the Interfaith Food Bank.
Child Abuse Prevention Council Executive Director Robin Valencia announced the Bowl-a-Thon in the March newsletter. The Bowl-a-thon is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 31 at Gold Country Lanes Bowling Center in Sutter Creek. A Silent Auction to benefit the Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council includes donations of items or services from more than 140 local businesses.
Auction items include a $500 value, two-night stay at Seascape Beach Resort. Other items include local wines, jewelry, art, tools, automotive care, fitness gyms, salons, restaurants, pet care and antiques.
The “Kid-Friendly” Food Drive to benefit the Interfaith Food Bank will help to feed the children and families of Amador County. Valencia said the auction and food drive are open to the public.
Valencia said “for the fourth year in a row the Child Abuse Prevention Council is filling the bowling alley as a kick-off to April’s National Child Abuse Prevention month.” She said the “Bowl-a-Thon is the major funding source for the council, but it is also used to bring awareness to how we all can play a role in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.”
Some of the Council’s prevention efforts include providing the hospital and Baby Welcome Wagon program with “Period of Purple Crying” DVDs and booklets to give to each family of newborns. So far, the council has purchased 400 sets of materials and collaborated with Calaveras County to purchase another 100.
The Council also presents Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention training to hundreds of students and care providers each year. It also offers free training for Mandated Reporters, and on Positive Youth Development, Stranger Awareness, and Keeping Safely Connected.
Another program promotes the pledge: “I will not use my hands or my words for hurting myself or others,” and the Council invites all to take the pledge. The Council also holds a “Kid-friendly” food drive at each of our Bowl-a-Thons.
Valencia said “preventing child abuse and neglect is a community effort, and we are very thankful for the amount of community support we receive each year. Hundreds of businesses, organizations, and individuals have organized teams to bowl, made financial contributions, or donated items or services to use at our silent auction to raise funds to support our work.”
The Council also plans its 14th Annual “Celebrate Our Children” festival April 28 at Argonaut High School.
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AWA gets a presentation of the formation of Community Facilities Districts
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador Water Agency board of directors last week received a presentation on the formation of Community Facilities Districts for the purpose of infrastructure improvement projects.
Thursday, Blair Aas of CSI Consulting Group, gave a presentation on CFD revenue plans. He said it was not specific, but just general procedures. He said the board “needs to adopt a handful of goals and policies,” and a document that “really governs how the special tax rate is established,” apportioned and distributed.
Aas said the agency needs to be specific with what it would be funding, the amount, terms and the geographical district boundaries, which establish parcels to be in it. It is recorded with the county, and a notice of tax lien is placed on property.
He said there is a maximum special tax rate, and also an annual tax formula, which allows some flexibility on how you craft the CFD. The rate may be based on lot size, homes, building size, density, acreage, number of housing units, type of land use, and development status. Aas said it may not be based on “ad valorum” or “assessed value of the property.”
Two types of elections can form a CFD. If more than 12 registered voters are in the geographically designated area, a registered voter election is held, Aas said. If fewer than 12 registered voters are in the area, a property owner election would be held. Both would require a two-thirds majority to be enacted. Aas said landowners would get one vote per acre, or portion of acre, so an owner of 2.1 acres would get three votes.
Board President Gary Thomas asked “why are we talking about CFDs, and if it was for future development, to pay its share? AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said the board last fall approved CSI Consulting and Bob Reed studies of Communities Facilities District funding mechanisms.
Mancebo said One CFD model would collect from future development and pay the existing debt service for the Amador Transmission Pipeline, and provide for treatment plant capacity for future customers who pay for it. He said “this becomes a mechanism for providing funds for future water for future customers.”
Mancebo said a proposed Amador Water System CFD would be voluntary, and another CFD was considered to fund the Gravity Supply Line, and would collect funds to pay for that project.
AWA Counsel Stephen Kronick said the AWS already has a participation fee of $1,900 to pay for the Amador Transmission Pipeline. He said a significant portion of the ATP debt service would be switched to the CFD. Director Robert Manassero noted in the presentation that “land does not need to be contiguous” to be members of the CFD.
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