News Archive (6192)
Sutter Amador Hospital looks to install ceiling lifts to enhance patient and employee safety
Written by Tom
Amador County – Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region announced last week that it is investing $3.3 million in ceiling lifts to enhance its safe patient handling program at regional hospitals, including Sutter Amador Hospital in Jackson.
Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region said it received a $3.3 million grant from Sutter Health as part of a system-wide initiative to install overhead lifts in the region’s acute care facilities. Ceiling lifts will be installed in all Intensive Care Units and Critical Care Units at Sutter Amador Hospitals, and in Trauma-Neuro ICUs and acute rehabilitation rooms at other Sutter regional affiliates.
Officials said Sutter Health affiliates are working with their design teams and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to obtain approval for the ceiling lift installation. As approvals are authorized, each affiliate will begin installation. Construction is scheduled to occur this spring and summer when patient census is lower.
The new lifts will be used in addition to lifts already installed or under way at several regional affiliates. The new ceiling lifts supplement existing equipment such as mobile floor lifts, sit or stand devices, smart sheets and air lateral transfer devices.
Sutter Amador Hospital CEO Anne Platt last week said: “We are committed to providing the safest and most comfortable environment for patients and staff. It has been our policy to assure a safe and secure environment of care for patients and to avoid injuries to our caregivers.”
Selection of areas to receive ceiling lifts was based on the needs of patients in those areas who frequently require more patient mobilization and lifting. One of the goals was to promote more movement of those patients while creating less friction when moving them between surfaces. Ceiling lifts in these areas complement the work clinical teams are already doing to care for patients.
Registered Nurse Pat Adams, Director of the Critical Care Department at Sutter Amador Hospital said hospital officials are very excited about getting ceiling lifts, which “will add to our resources for caring for patients and keeping everyone safe.”
Sutter Health officials said it “has long recognized the importance of employee safety and the risk associated with back and musculoskeletal injuries in nursing.” This knowledge provided the drive to create and grow a safe mobilization and repositioning techniques program within its affiliates. Sutter Health seeks a proactive approach to help provide a safe environment for its employees and patients, and keep its affiliates ahead of regulatory changes and requirements.
Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region affiliates include Sutter Amador Hospital, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Sutter Davis Hospital, Sutter Medical Center Sacramento, Sutter Roseville Medical Center and Sutter Solano Medical Center.
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Argonaut senior Austin Hoyt signs football letter of intent with Brigham Young University
Written by Tom
Amador County – Argonaut High School senior tight end Austin Hoyt signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play Division I football for Brigham Young University.
Argonaut High School Principal David Vicari said about 100 people attended a ceremony Wednesday during which Hoyt signed the scholarship papers with BYU. Vicari said it was “National Letter of Intent Day,” when all the people signing letters of intent receive their letter at 7 a.m. and can sign their commitment letters later in the day.
Hoyt had some family members at the ceremony, along with football and basketball coaches, staff and students. Vicari said about 100 people attended, as Hoyt signed a full ride, four-year scholarship with to play Division I football at BYU.
Hoyt later Wednesday thanked all of his varsity coaches for everything they’ve done for him at Argonaut. He said the BYU football program is amazing, with the spirituality and tradition that they have. Hoyt said: “I’m blessed to be a part of it.” He will graduate Argonaut this year and begin classes in the summer term at BYU.
Hoyt said Argonaut football team had a great year, with an undefeated regular season in league to take the Mother Lode League championship, and making it to the second round of the playoffs. It was his second year on the varsity football squad.
Hoyt said he will likely be playing offensive tackle at BYU. He played tight end and defensive end for Argonaut, with 325 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns, including two rushing. He had 70 tackles including 40 solo stops at defensive end.
He said BYU expects Hoyt will probably “red shirt” his freshman year, and after one year, he’ll begin his two-year mission, when he turns 19, he turns in his “mission papers,” which tells church officials he is ready for his mission, and “they pick a place for you.”
On missions, through Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they are sent to live in an apartment with a companion then spend the days going out to teach people about the Gospel.
Hoyt was also a member of the crew of local high school students who took part in TSPN’s Teen Zone Live variety show last year. Hoyt worked as a camera man during filming of the shows.
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Amador Community Foundation donated $20,000 to Sutter Amador Hospital
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador Community Foundation on Thursday morning donated $20,000 to Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation as the first gift of 2012 for the hospital’s Matching Grant program.
On behalf of the Amador Community Foundation, Board member Stan Lukowicz and Executive Director Kathleen Harmon presented a ceremonial check to Sutter Amador Hospital CEO Anne Platt and Pat Adams, Director of Critical Care Department. Lukowicz made the donation, through the Amador Community Foundation.
Hospital officials said the Foundation gave a “most appreciated, generous and vitally necessary gift” to the Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation’s 2012 Matching Grant funding priority. Donations raised toward this year’s matching grant will go toward purchase of an Intensive Care Unit Central Monitoring System, “so Amador County residents have better, more technologically proficient lifesaving care for critically ill patients.”
Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation has received a “challenge grant” through Sutter Health that will help it “continue a tradition of healing through generosity. Every dollar that is contributed will be matched dollar for dollar through this grant.”
Sutter Amador Hospital officials said the total needed to purchase the ICU Central Monitoring System is $148,000. In order to be eligible for the match from Sutter Health, the SAH Foundation must raise $74,000 by Dec. 31. Officials said the “generous gift from Amador Community Foundation is the first donation in 2012 toward this critical need, leaving $54,000 to be raised in order to reach our goal by the deadline.”
To provide a high standard of care in its intensive care unit, SAH officials said, “a basic requirement is a working central monitoring system. While the existing central monitoring system has been a reliable tool in treating ICU patients for the past 20 years, the new system will be ready for electronic health record installation and offer more sophisticated features.”
Officials said the investment and partnership with Sutter Amador Hospital employees, physicians, leadership and community are vital to their success. All contributions made to SAH are used locally to support the current and future needs of the hospital, their patients and their families. There are many ways to make a tax-deductible gift to SAH, including estate and planned gifts. For more information or to make a gift, call Sutter Amador Hospital at (209)257-7619. Call Amador Community Foundation at (209)223-2148.
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Pine Grove Town Hall reopens, faces a dilemma over funding for its library branch
Written by Tom
Amador County – About 11 people attended a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday to mark the reopening of the Pine Grove Town Hall, but the turnout tripled an hour later when the Pine Grove Town Council discussed the fate of their long-closed Library branch.
About 34 people attended, and council member Debbie Dunn said turnout would be larger if the meeting was better publicized. Council moderator Andy Byrne agreed to make the Library a repeating agenda item.
Attendees urged the return of the Pine Grove librarian, who for the last year-and-a-half has worked his same hours at the Jackson main branch.
Amador County General Services Department Director John Hopkins said the county faces funding issues, including a lawsuit for ERAF funding from. It could lose the suit and be “looking at having to repay $2.7 million.” There are also two murder cases with special circumstances and six defendants, which could potentially cost the county millions.
Hopkins sought to convey the Town Hall building and operation to the Pine Grove Community Facilities District. The group declined, after finding a “couple of hundred thousand dollars worth of renovation that still needed to be done on the property.”
Hopkins said the only option is to leave the Pine Grove Library open, but staff it with volunteers. Members of the public, including librarians and Friends of Amador County Library, said the volunteer staffing would not work, one calling it “naïve.” Dunn asked for the County to let Pine Grove citizens try to raise funds.
Hopkins said he can task County Librarian Laura Einstadter to meet and talk with the group, because “she knows most of you.” An he would consider having the Pine Grove librarian return and backfill the Jackson branch with volunteers, but only if it had no extra cost.
He said if the county has to raid its reserves, it would be the first time in County history, since 1854. If so, “there are a lot of non-essential services that are going to go away,” and they could face more layoffs. The Jackson Library laid off two full-time employees in the past two years.
Supervisor Chairman Louis Boitano said “as a Supervisor, I support keeping the library open, but what I don’t want is come budget time in June to have to shut it down.” Boitano said: “We’ll get it done” and “we’ll think out of the box.” He thought the Library Improvement Facilities Taskforce was a good place to take this.
Boitano said the County will maintain the building for the next 30 years, but he thought it was important for everyone to know the ongoing cost. Hopkins said the Town Hall renovation uncovered increased operation costs, which total $42,000 annually.
Pine Grove Town Council meets 5:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month.
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Amador Water Agency President Gary Thomas assigned committees for 2012
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador Water Agency’s new President Director Gary Thomas assigned committees for 2012 last week, with input from directors.
Past president Director Don Cooper said he and Board Clerk Cris Thompson made a draft list, and Thomas said he didn’t want to assign committees without input.
Director Robert Manassero said at least one committee member should carry over, for continuity. Cooper said the draft had the “member” becoming “chair,” the “alternate” becoming “member” and “a new person flips into the new alternate slot.”
Thomas said “ad hoc committees have to go away.” Grants & Funding ad hoc was removed, with those duties moved to the Budget & Finance Committee/Rates committee, to be chaired by Manassero with Director Art Toy as member. Vice President Director Paul Molinelli Senior was penciled in as alternate, but asked that Cooper become alternate because he has experience. An Amador Regional Sanitation Authority ad hoc committee was changed to have representatives appointed, those being Manassero and Thomas.
Manassero also took the Public Relations committee chair and asked that it be renamed the Community Outreach committee. That was agreed.
Thomas chaired the Ione Outreach committee, and Molinelli requested being a member, saying he is in Ione every day. Molinelli will also chair Personnel and Jackson Outreach committees.
Manassero will also chair committees on Sutter Creek Outreach; and Central Amador Water Project/Upcountry Outreach.
Toy will chair committees on Engineering & Planning; Plymouth Outreach; and La Mel Heights Outreach. Toy also requested several regional special assignments, including Mountain Counties Water Resources Association; Cosumnes River & Dry Creek Watershed Group; Integrated Regional Water Management Plan; Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority; and Association of California Water Agencies.
Thomas will chair the Joint Water Committee, with Molinilli as member. Thomas will also chair committees on Policies; Ione Outreach; and Camanche Outreach.
Other special assignments: Thomas and Molinelli were assigned to Jackson Valley Irrigation District. Manassero and Molinelli agreed to attend Regional Planning and Amador Business Council meetings.
AWA directors will also attend city council board of supervisor and customer organization meetings in accordance with agency policy, when an item subject of the meeting “will have a very significant impact to the agency in the future.”
Cooper said he would also like to see staff schedule meetings, and he suggested having meetings “as needed” but not standing committees.
AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said standing meetings are public and need to be noticed, per the Brown Act. He said they can be canceled, but it sets up the image that they are canceling meetings.
Cooper said sometimes documents are not available, the meeting is canceled, and the president should have that power. He suggested they divert the issue to the policy committee for review.
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AWA gets a report on Livermore plant removal project, and relocation to Camanche
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador Water Agency board of directors last week heard a report that a used plant has been relocated to Camanche.
Field Operations Manager Chris McKeage reported that a “Livermore plant removal project is completed and has been relocated to the Camanche shop building.” He reported “good feedback from Livermore management” on AWA’s crew. Director Don Cooper said AWA should send a letter of recognition from the Board President to the crew who worked on bringing the Livermore plant.
In public comment, Ken Berry said “there is a gap in my records,” and he could not find when a meeting took place about the acquisition of the plant from Livermore. He said AWA’s website should have a record of that. Bill Condrashoff said the website has bad links. The site, AmadorWater.org, had a notice saying it “is being updated during the next several months, beginning in December 2011.”
AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said the board authorized the purchase and acquisition of the Livermore plant. Director Robert Manassero said “I made the motion.”
David Evitt asked about the status of a solar power project, saying it was too late because a grant extension had expired. McKeage said the solar approach “ran into a snag with getting companies to front the money” in a “power purchase agreement.” He said it was a small project, and “none of the companies could get a bank loan” so “we are not moving forward with it at this time.” He said they are looking at “in line generation,” in which water powered generators sit inside lines.
Debbie Dunn asked about engineering on upgrading pump stations in the Central Amador Water Project. Mancebo said that will be something they do if the agency does not go forward with the Gravity Supply Line. He said they would have to take care of the pumps, but engineering is not doing anything on their own, beyond cleaning up information they had in the past, and they plan a discussion with the board in the future.
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AWA says water supply satisfactory for Plymouth annexation
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission voted 6-0 last week to approve an application for an annexation into Plymouth that could bring 600 people to the town after discussing water needs.
Thomas Infusino delivered a letter on behalf of the Foothill Conservancy, saying Plymouth needed to identify its water source. LAFCO Executive Director Roseanne Chamberlain said Amador Water Agency has clarified most issues with water.
Infusino also was worried that Plymouth residents are “reeling” from paying for one water pipeline, and the project could mean another to be built at their expense. Plymouth Development Director Richard Prima said the city ‘made it clear it was not going to pay any money, and “no city funds are being advanced” on the annexation. Regarding water, he said current demand is 345,000 gallons a day, and capacity available today through the pipeline is 1.62 million gallons a day, good to serve 1,521 Equivalent Dwelling Units.
Plymouth Councilman and LAFCO Commissioner Jon Colburn asked about capacity at AWA’s Tanner treatment plant. AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said AWA’s Tanner Water Treatment Plant runs at about 84 percent capacity while serving customers in Sutter Creek, Jackson and Plymouth. Another 5 percent is reserved for “will serve” commitments, which means 88 percent of AWA’s water is tied up. The rest of the capacity is taken up by “conditional will-serves.”
Mancebo said due to the economy, AWA’s Board has directed improvements to make “interim capacity increases.” He said 600 “Equivalent Dwelling Units” is adequate for Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge, and “it appears that there may be capacity to serve these projects.”
LACFO Counsel Robert Laurie said the project, under environmental rulings, must identify the water supply for the “entirety of the project,” but that is only required “if you need to enhance your infrastructure.”
LAFCO Chairman, Supervisor Ted Novelli asked Mancebo to clarify the language. Mancebo said once a “tentative map” is approved, you can get a conditional will serve. But the agency may require other tasks, including infrastructure, pipelines, pumps or lift stations to reach a final map, and for AWA to give a “will serve” notice, in effect a “non-revocable guarantee of service.”
Prima said obviously, the biggest impediment to the project will now be the economy. He said the city potentially could bring its water treatment plant back online, and up to code, but at considerable cost.
Supervisor Chairman and Commissioner Louis Boitano said the city did have rights to about 20,000 acre feet of water through the Arroyo Ditch. Colburn said the ditch was deemed an irregular source by the state. Boitano said the city needs to “keep utilizing that” because “if you don’t, someone could swoop down and take it.”
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Amador-El Dorado CDF Unit lifts its ban on burning for Amador and El Dorado Counties
Written by Tom
Amador County – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Amador-El Dorado Unit opened burning in Amador and El Dorado Counties Thursday.
Unit Chief Kelly Keenan said with a series of winter storms anticipated to be moving through Northern California, the burn restrictions have been lifted.
Keenan said: “It is a great relief to see some normal winter weather patterns returning to our area. I know it was confusing for the public when it is very cold to freezing overnight and yet they could not burn their debris piles, but a single step outside into the critically dry leaf litter illustrated the need to restrict burning in January.”
CDF “chased small fires all over the unit and even though none of the fires grew large, the potential was clearly there,” Keenan said.
For fire and life safety tips Fire.ca.gov.
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School site discussed as LAFCO approved Plymouth annexation application
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission discussed potential impacts of schools Thursday before approving an application to annex 11 parcels into Plymouth, pending staff revision of a resolution.
Supervisor Chairman, Commissioner Louis Boitano urged Plymouth in its “Development Agreement” to seek a site for a school. Boitano said “since the last meeting, I have been thinking” about the school district not wanting any land for building a new school.”
Boitano remembered hearing that the school district couldn’t build a school, so they said they would deal with it later. He said: “I think it’s important. That’s why I brought it up. And in 30 years, maybe I can say, I told you.” He said Pine Grove has a school, congested with traffic, with no sidewalks, but “maybe they do not all fit the same.”
Plymouth Councilman Jon Colburn said the Council has discussed it, and a couple of Council members had the same concern. He said school officials thought they could expand on the playground at the Plymouth Elementary School, but they can’t due to a deed restriction on the playground from when it was given to the school for use by the Amador County Fair.
Later, Plymouth Special Counsel Adam Lindgren, discussed the Development Agreement the city will finalize with developers Reeder Sutherland Corporation, for the Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge residential developments. He said the Development Agreement was unfinished because they wanted to hear comments from LAFCO.
Boitano said he was “glad to hear that,” and noted his earlier comments about a school site. Boitano urged Plymouth to seek a school site that is centrally located in residential areas.
The projects, approved by Plymouth City Council last October, include 370 single-family homes, planned for 365 acres in the Zinfandel Subdivision site, on the southwest border of Plymouth. The Shenandoah Ridge Subdivision would have another 115 single-family homes on 147 acres, immediately north of city limits, and west of Highway 49.
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Ione public comments on Wastewater manager contract, wastewater issue
Written by Tom
Amador County – Ione City Council on Tuesday deadlocked on extending its wastewater project manager’s contract, which was set for further consideration next week.
Public comment included Dominic Atlan of Castle Oaks Golf Course, which disposes of city wastewater for irrigation. Atlan said he was glad the price of a project has gone down, as recommended by wastewater program manager Art O’Brien, but Atlan said it basically would be a renovation of the existing facility for $6 million.
He suggested seeking a partnership with a developer to build a new plant. He asked the Council to be sure it was not just a five-year fix, and was more long-term. Atlan also said: “What will stop another pond from leaking?” He also asked that the city look at rainwater infiltration, because it is a good way to save money, and the Regional Board does not disagree.
A woman asked the sewer committee, Councilmen Daniel Epperson and David Plank, if they had analyzed the sewer issue. Plank said “we are not sewer experts, by any stretch.” He said “we need experts to look into this complex matter to advise us.”
Dan Sinclair said the city has community members with expertise, “people who want to work for free,” that the city should use, including Jim Scully, Jim Nevin and Gene Riddle.
Scully said this will be the fifth attempt by the city to make a “Report of Waste Discharge” for the city wastewater plant. He said “You don’t have a storage problem. You’ve got a disposal problem.” Mayor Ron Smylie asked: “What is your suggestion?”
Scully said they should get away from storage ponds, because “you have been putting too much water in too small of a place for 30 or 40 years.” He suggested burying the water under ground.
Jerry Sherman said the city has spent $1 million on consultants and “we are right back where we started.” Epperson said “we are getting closer to completing the Seepage Discharge Compliance Plan.”
Some asked what the city would get from hiring O’Brien. City Attorney James Maynard said O’Brien was hired to work with PERC Water. Now without PERC, the city needs him to draft technical reports that are due to the state, including the Seepage Discharge Compliance Plan, due Jan. 30.
O’Brien said he would also conduct a Proposition 218 rate analysis, “a legal requirement that requires any rate analysis to go through this process.” Councilman Lloyd Oneto asked how a Prop 218 analysis would go before they know the project and its cost.
O’Brien said the “rate analysis will have that information,” and “we will know what the project is if we go ahead and retain the (State Revolving Fund) consultant.”
The Council will hold a special meeting workshop regarding the wastewater program contracts 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26.
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