News Archive (6192)
Ione discusses the city’s wastewater project and Proposition 218
Written by Tom
Amador County – Ione City Council discussed wastewater in depth Tuesday before tabling the issue until a Feb. 15 workshop.
Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said city critics keep talking about what the city should not do, but don’t submit ideas. She said the only thing in writing was a letter to the newspaper that said: “Oh my god, you guys are idiots if you don’t do the PERC project.”
Jim Scully, a neighbor of city storage ponds whose wells are affected by seepage, said the city’s “experts have screwed this up royally several times in the past.” He said he preferred the PERC spray field approach. Councilman Lloyd Oneto said the “ponds will always leach into Scully’s wells,” and he also preferred the PERC “green” project, a spray field disposal.
Several members of the public said a sewer rate increase would not survive a Proposition 218 protest. Oneto said they have money to start the project but not to finish it, because of the Prop 218 protest. He said if they depend on the State Revolving Fund, rates will go up. He said “two of the three functions of the plant are inoperable.” He said they should talk to the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s “permit lady” to see if the Robertson-Bryan Incorporated’s plans will work, before they sink money into it.
City Attorney James Maynard said if the city cannot get through the Proposition 218 process, “nobody’s going to give you any money because you can’t repay it.” He said the city cannot go to the Regional Board and say it can’t pass a Prop 218, then do nothing. The Regional Board would start fining the city.
Maynard said the city must follow its Cease & Desist Order requirements, including a Report of Waste Discharge by May 30. Maynard said: “You either trust your professional staff or you get new professional staff.”
RBI engineer Art O’Brien’s estimates included $115,000 for a Report of Waste Discharge; $164,000 for a State Revolving Fund application; $200,000 for Environmental Revisions and Documents; and $60,000 for Prop 218 analysis and completion. Construction final design documents were $300,000; and construction was $5 million, with another $300,000 for a “certification report.”
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Jackson Rancheria dedicates the Margaret Dalton Children’s Center
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians dedicated the Margaret Dalton Children’s Center Thursday, marking the first Casino Founder’s Day in honor of their late Tribal Chairwoman.
About 200 people attended the dedication, which began when Jackson Rancheria Chief Executive Officer Rich Hoffman introduced the tribal members of the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians, who picked the special day of February 9, the birthday of the late Margaret Dalton, to dedicate the building to both honor Dalton’s memory and to mark the first Founder’s Day at the Jackson Rancheria Casino.
A ribbon was cut by Tribal Council members, Chairman Bo Marks, Adam Dalton and Robert Dalton III, dedicating the building and a carved wooden sign in the front, with the center’s name and a relief design of an oak tree. The center is named for the former Tribal Leader in honor of her lifetime commitment to the children and youths of Amador County.
Margaret Dalton was the first leader and Chairwoman of the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians, presiding over the tribe’s business transformation from operating a small bingo parlor to owning and operating the world-class Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel and Conference Center, and status as Amador County’s largest employer.
It was Margaret Dalton’s dedication to the children of Amador County that began the idea of the Children’s Center. The property was purchased by the Rancheria about 10 years ago, originally planned to be a recovery center, and finally became the Margaret Dalton Children’s Center. It opened early last October and now houses three non-profit agencies. Hoffman introduced one of those agency directors, Nina Machado.
Machado gave her thanks to the Jackson Rancheria for being partners with her First 5 Amador in opening the center. Located at 975 Broadway Street in Jackson, the Center is home to the Amador Parent Cooperative Preschool, and the offices of First 5 Amador and the Amador County Child Abuse Prevention Council.
Dedication attendees included Jackson Rancheria Director of Entertainment and Events, Ron Olivero; members of Amador County Board of Supervisors and Jackson City Council; local business leaders; the public; regional non-profits; and members of the Jackson Rancheria, including construction staff who helped refurbish the Children’s Center.
The Center features a gated entrance and a play area outside for Preschoolers, where the children were playing during the start of the ribbon cutting ceremony. Attendance was such that cars lined the south side of Broadway from Clinton Road to the entrance to St. Sava Mission.
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USFS grants to draw more board feet from national woods
Written by Tom
Amador County – The U.S. Forest Service last week announced funding for 10 new projects under its Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program, which it said is an effort to help create jobs and get more lumber from national woodlands, while managing forests.
John Heil of U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region said restoration strategy and actions “are designed to expand the number of forest acres treated by 20 percent over the next three years and increase the pace of active forest management, including fuels reduction, reforestation, stream restoration, road decommissioning, replacing and improving culverts, forest thinning and harvesting, prescribed fire and a range of other techniques.”
As a result, the Forest Service will be able to accomplish critical restoration objectives, Heil said, including for water, wildlife, forest health and resilience, and community safety. He said “this effort will support jobs and stimulate a more vibrant forest industry that will provide the workers and the know-how to undertake other restoration projects, with a goal of increasing the amount of forest products sold in 2014 to 3 billion board feet, up from 2.4 billion board feet in 2011.”
Restoration efforts “will further stimulate local economies by retaining and increasing other forest related jobs,” Heil said, “such as the 1,550 jobs expected to be maintained or generated through implementation of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration projects, and by supporting recreation activities and attracting more tourists to rural areas.”
Recreation activities on National Forest System land “contribute $14.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy and support hundreds of thousands of jobs in local communities.”
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said “accelerated restoration efforts demonstrate a shared vision where environmentalists, forest industry and local communities are working together to build healthier forests and contribute to local economies. The increased restoration work will benefit the environment and people, with more resilient ecosystems, improved watersheds and wildlife habitat, hazardous fuel reduction, and outputs of forest products.”
Tidwell said “we hope accelerated restoration activities will bring all of our partners together, working as allies for forest conservation.”
Heil said the mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.
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Amador County – The U.S. Forest Service funded 10 new Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration projects across the country last week, including a joint Amador and Calaveras county project that will receive $730,000, and part of $40 million for similar projects in the program.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released a new report, “Increasing the Pace of Restoration and Job Creation on our National Forests,” outlining a strategy and series of management actions for 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands managed by the Service.
John Heil of U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region said in the accelerated restoration strategy, 23 forest and watershed restoration projects will be funded for the upcoming year, with $40 million, including 10 new projects under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program. It also included continued funding for the original 10 projects selected in 2010, and an additional $4.6 million to support other high priority restoration projects.
Heil said: “The restoration of National Forest System lands is critically needed to address a number of threats to the health of forest ecosystems, watersheds, wildlife habitats and forest dependent communities. Major threats include wildland fire, climate change, beetle epidemics and invasive species.”
Vilsack said through partnerships with “states, communities, tribes and others, we are committed to restoring our forests and bringing jobs to rural America.” He said “it is vital that we step up our efforts to safeguard our country’s natural resources.”
The “national forests and grasslands are the backdrop and neighbor to many rural and urban communities,” Heil said, “providing a range of values and benefits, including clean drinking water for millions of people,” wildlife habitat, and a variety of recreation opportunities “that support jobs and economic growth in rural communities.”
The restoration program is designed to sustain the ability of federal forest lands to continue to deliver a full range of ecosystem services for generations to come, Heil said.
Two California projects received funding, including the Burney-Hat Creek Basins Project, awarded $605,000 and the Amador-Calaveras Consensus Group’s “Cornerstone Project,” which received $730,000.
Of 26 proposals for Collaborative Forest Restoration Grants, a federal advisory committee recommended 13 for funding consideration, of which 10 were selected.
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Two gunmen rob the Plymouth branch of the Wells Fargo Bank
Written by Tom
Amador County – Two men wielding handguns and wigs robbed the Wells Fargo Bank in Plymouth Tuesday afternoon and eluded authorities after fleeing the scene on foot.
Amador County Sheriff’s Detectives worked with Wells Fargo Security to acquire surveillance footage, and the Sheriff’s Department released several photos of the bank robbery suspects.
Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner said at about 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 Emergency call from a teller at the Wells Fargo Bank, at 9454 Main Street, Plymouth. “The caller reported that two male suspects, wearing dark color wigs, dark color jackets and blue denim pants had just robbed the bank and fled on foot.”
Wegner said “Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies responded and were on scene within minutes. Amador County Sheriff’s Detectives and a Crime Scene Investigator responded to the scene to conduct the initial investigation, including interviews, crime scene processing and area canvas.”
He said an “Amador County Sheriff’s Canine attempted a track to determine the suspect’s direction of flight,” and a “California Highway Patrol aircraft also responded and assisted by conducting an area check.”
Wegner said the “investigation determined that the two suspects entered the bank and approached a teller. The first suspect brandished a handgun, announced this was a bank robbery, and that he did not want to hurt anyone. That suspect then entered the bank vault and took an undisclosed amount of large bills.”
Wegner said the “second suspect, who was also brandishing a handgun ordered tellers to provide bills from the cash drawers. While the robbery was occurring a patron entered the bank. The employees and the patron were then ordered into the bank vault and told not to exit the vault for 5 minutes. The two suspects then fled on foot in an unknown direction.”
Anyone with information regarding this robbery or the identity of the suspects is asked to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209)223-6500 or Amador County Secret Witness at (209)223-4900.
CBS Channel 13 reported Tuesday that a bank robbery suspect had been arrested about 6 p.m. by Roseville Police Department for a 10 a.m. Tuesday robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank in Roseville. The robber reportedly wore a wig. Arrested was Ogan Gencer, age 20, of Roseville, who was being held Wednesday in lieu of $50,000 bail at Placer County Jail on charges of robbery. Authorities believed the two robberies were not linked.
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Ione Community Blood Drive is set for Valentine’s Day
Written by Tom
Amador County – BloodSource and the Rotary Club are sponsoring the Ione Community Blood Drive set for 2-6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, on Valentine’s Day, at Evalynn Bishop Hall, located at 600 South Church Street/Highway 124 in Ione. Participants will receive a T-shirt. All walk-ins are welcome and childcare is available. For info, call Kristi Roots or April Gasaway at (209)274-4543. For donor eligibility questions call BloodSource toll free at 1-800-995-4420.
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Amador Vintners Association announces it has hired a new executive director
Written by Tom
Amador Vintners Association announced Tuesday (Feb. 7) that it has hired Jennifer Pechette to fill the Executive Director position of the Amador Vintners Association. The Amador Vintners Association in a statement said: “We feel that Jennifer will be a true asset to our efforts and to our ever expanding wine region.” Pechette will begin by working with Jamie Lubenko to get an understanding of how the organization’s upcoming events work as well as taking over “our outstanding & ongoing projects.” The Vintners Association said Pechette will also “act in a high level supporting role to our people of choice in the marketing realm and events realm. The Board of the Amador Vintners is extremely happy and optimistic about Jennifer and her role in taking the Amador Wine Brand to the next level.”
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Amador County – The Jackson Rancheria Casino reported paying out $64 million dollars in January, and set a lucrative February schedule of giveaways.
Jackson Rancheria Casino’s slots paid out over $64.4 million dollars to guests during the month of January. Five people won $10,000 or more, including a Tracy woman who won a $22,000 dollar “Cougar Travel Trailer.”
February looks to be just as promising. Jackson Rancheria debuts its $80,000 Cold Hard Cash & Free Play Giveaway, and a $15,000 Sweethearts Slot Tournament.
Jackson Rancheria CEO Rich Hoffman said: “We have several exciting promotions to offer our loyal Jackson Rancheria patrons this February. As always, we pride ourselves in thanking our guests with the most memorable prizes and promotions possible – including over $200,000 in promotional cash giveaways this month.”
In the Cold Hard Cash & Free Play Giveaway in February, 84 winners will split a guaranteed $80,000 in Cold Hard Cash & Free Slot Play. Drawings will be held every Saturday throughout the month 4-10 p.m. Every 15 minutes from 4-9 p.m. one guest will win $500 Free Play. At 10 p.m., one lucky guest will get $15,000 cash. Get one entry for every 100 points earned Feb. 4-25.
On Valentine’s Day eight couples will win up to $5,000 cash, during the Sweethearts Slot Tournament. Come with your Sweetheart between noon and 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 for the first round. Couples register under one name, but both parties participate.
The top eight scoring couples move on to the final round at 6 p.m. where cash prizes for first through eighth place will be awarded, up to $5,000 per couple.
Located in the Sierra foothills town of Jackson, the Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel is owned by the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians, a federally recognized Indian tribe.
A sovereign government, the Jackson Rancheria is dedicated to developing projects that not only enhance the tribe’s ability to remain self-reliant, but also reflect a commitment to be a good neighbor.
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Sutter Creek approved a settlement agreement for AWA to repay $594,000
Written by Tom
Amador County – Sutter Creek City Council unanimously approved a settlement Monday with Amador Water Agency, which will pay $594,000 in wastewater bills and capacity sale over seven years.
City Attorney Derek Cole said “this is a negotiated agreement that meets my approval” and City Manager Sean Rabe’s approval. Cole said “my feeling is, any time you can reach an agreement” with a public agency, it is better for the city. He said Sutter Creek and AWA both were giving up things in the agreement.
The agreement included quarterly bills not sent to AWA between 2008 and 2010, for Martell area disposal of wastewater.
Mimi Arata asked what both sides were giving up in the agreement. Cole said the city probably could ask the Agency for quicker payment. Arata said it seemed the Agency was not giving up anything.
Rabe said upgrade of the plant was beneficial to Sutter Creek and the AWA, and it would still need to be assessed by the city wastewater engineer to divide benefits of the $1.5 million upgrade, and determine what would be considered “improvements.”
Councilman Jim Swift said a capacity purchase agreement with the AWA in 2006 was not paid by the Agency and it was not discovered until the first part of 2010. He said there was some disagreement as to whether or not it was billed, and no official billing was found, though they did find a memo from former City Manager Rob Duke to former AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie.
Swift said they could have gotten into a pretty contentious disagreement over the long-unpaid bill. He said the bill wasn’t intentionally disregarded because they did not get a bill, and all parties agreed to move forward from when it was discovered.
City Finance Director Joe Aguilar said the funds will be deposited into the sewer fund, and restore a negative “construction fund” to replace the plant.
Rabe in a report to the council said the settlement was also negotiated by a subcommittee of the council, Swift and Councilman Tim Murphy, and the “settlement sets forth the provisions that the council has discussed with staff during closed sessions held over the past few months.”
It agreed that $594,000 was owed to the city from missed quarterly payments dating to 2008-2009, along with the 2006 capacity sales. It set quarterly payments of $21,000 over seven years. Rabe noted that the “AWA agrees to pay the debt down sooner than the seven years if sufficient funds are available.” He said the payments are separate from AWA quarterly payments for Martell wastewater service.
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Ione ponders wastewater contracts, tables issue for another week
Written by Tom
Amador County – Ione City Council Tuesday heard its median income likely is too high for federal grants, but the city may qualify for a low-interest federal loan for its sewer project.
Proposed consultant, Winzler & Kelly’s Mary Grace Pawson said Ione could qualify for a low-interest USDA Rural Utility Service, given to cities with populations under 10,000, but the median income was likely too high for a USDA grant.
City Manager Jeff Butzlaff said median household income in Ione was about $67,000, and to qualify as disadvantaged, they need a median income of $46,000, so the “gap is pretty wide.”
Pawson said the city’s extensive Wastewater Master Plan could earn the city credit in its State Revolving Fund application work, and preparing dual documents for USDA and State grants would improve efficiency. The city also must “demonstrate that you have a rate structure that allows you to pay them back,” and both require a credit check.
Councilman Lloyd Oneto said “the most complex thing is trying to make something happen with no money.” He said: “You don’t need a consultant to tell you you’re broke.”
Councilman Daniel Epperson said: “To say that we are out of money is factually in error,” and the “wastewater fund shows money.” Butzlaff said the “balance in your operations fund” is $1.54 million.
Robertson-Bryant Incorporated’s Art O’Brien said his Seepage Plan for the city wastewater plant includes a tertiary plant, with a total cost of $5.7 million. He said a new income survey might show the city eligible for a USDA grant. The Plan has treatment capacity to meet current city needs and known development, to total 530,000 gallons a day capacity, smaller size than PERC’s plans.
Plank said “we have $1.5 million in the bank, and this is a $50,000 expenditure that keeps the state off our backs, and allows us to look at other, greener projects.”
Epperson asked if they deviate from the plan that has been submitted, will it be accepted by the Regional Board. O’Brien said the concept design gives the fist look at the design, for addressing the iron and manganese and groundwater degradation, and engineering will progress as the project size was determined.
Oneto said the Regional Board wants to know that you are doing something, and the “preliminary plan shows that we’re on track to do something.” O’Brien said the Regional Board needs to see the results of the field investigation, and plans based on those results.
Bonham asked when they would analyze different technologies. O’Brien said the Seepage Plan report lays out all of the elements with estimates, and what it takes to get through the project.
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