News Archive (6192)
ACTC looks to refine three-lane SR88 Pine Grove corridor alternate
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador County Transportation Commission’s Highway 88 Pine Grove Corridor Improvement Project Manager last week reported positive reaction by Caltrans in recent discussion, and he recommended the Commission move toward selecting a firm to refine a preferred project alternative, as well as potentially starting environmental analysis.
ACTC Program Manager Neil Peacock said recent discussion with Caltrans had a positive outcome “in realizing the ACTC’s strategic objective to developing and delivering its priority improvement as effectively and efficiently as possible in light of significant funding and community acceptance constraints.”
After Caltrans eliminated the five-lane through town alternate Peacock said a stop-order was issued to contractors. In a letter last week to Commissioners, he recommended authorizing staff to release a Request for Qualifications on the three-lane through-town improvement of Highway 88 through Pine Grove. He also recommended ACTC authorize the Consultant Selection Committee “to evaluate proposals, conduct interviews, identify the highest ranked firm, and negotiate a draft Scope of Work for the Commission’s.” The Committee is made up of Commissioner Keith Sweet, ACTC staff and a representative of Caltrans.
ACTC will consider the recommendations today (6 p.m. Jan. 18). Peacock in the report said if authorized to go for RFQs, “it is proposed that the selected consultant would continue refining the project alternative by utilizing all previous analysis, performing additional traffic and civil engineering, consulting with Caltrans specialists, and integrating community input from ACTC’s continuing public participation activities.” He said the goal would be to “ensure the concept facility will meet all aspects of the project’s Purpose & Need, avoid” or “mitigate any anticipated adverse impacts, complete the project design to 35 percent or better, and help all stakeholders reach consensus on very detailed aspects of the ‘Preferred Solution,’ such as safety and operation design components.”
He recommended the project be planned to have either Caltrans or the consultant conduct environmental analysis, giving ACTC the chance to select the most cost-efficient approach. Peacock said qualifications desired in a consultant should include the ability to “finalize refinement of the project alternative” and also “complete all required engineering and environmental analysis needed to complete the” Project Approval and Environmental Document phase.
Remaining funding for the project includes $180,000 in unused Public Lands Highways Discretionary grant funding; $1.7 million in State Transportation Improvement Program funding; and $80,000 in High Priority Project grant funding.
ACTC has spent $450,000 on the project and has $2 million in combined funds for refining the alternative and environmental analysis.
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ACRA plans spaghetti feed to fund after school program, cemeteries
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador County Unified School District Trustee Pat Miller gave a report from the Amador County Recreation Agency board on Wednesday saying that a spaghetti dinner fundraiser is set for Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Jackson Civic Center.
Miller said Thomi’s Café will be supplying the spaghetti dinner, along with many treats, desserts and beverages. ACRA Executive Director Tracy Towner announced the fundraiser to the Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, saying the spaghetti feed would benefit the ACRA After School Program, and the Amador County Cemetery Board. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, or $25 per couple. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner is 6:30 and a raffle and door prizes are at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the ACRA office Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or through ACRA board members.
Towner also announced that there is a grand reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony set for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 at the Pine Grove Town Hall.
The Pine Grove Hall was one of several community centers upgraded in recent years using county funds reimbursed through Proposition 40 funding, in projects managed by ACRA.
Supervisor Ted Novelli said the county had accomplished a lot with the Prop 40 funding, and the “Volcano Hall and Pine Grove Hall are really, really beautiful halls,” and “they are really great things for this county.” He suggested people go to see the results of the new remodeling work.
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Fire Safe Council plans Pine Grove wildfire workshop
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador Fire Safe Council this week announced its next “stakeholders” meeting to take public input on the “Greater Pine Grove Community Conservation Wildfire Protection Plan.”
Cathy Koos-Breazeal, executive director of Amador Fire Safe Council, said “stakeholder comments are critical to the success of the plan,” funded by one of two $50,000 grants awarded in 2010 by Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
Koos-Breazeal said “one grant was to write a wildfire plan for highest-risk unit,” the greater Pioneer and Volcano area, one of nine distinct risk areas identified in a County-wide Wildfire Protection Plan developed by the Council in 2005. The Pioneer-Volcano plan was “signed by all the fire agencies last fall” and awaits signature from Supervisors. The new plans become addendums to the county-wide plan.
Koos-Breazeal said the next highest risk area is Greater Pine Grove, west of roughly Clinton Road, Jackson Rancheria and Pine Gulch; north to Shake Ridge Road; east to Rams Horn; and southeast to Pioneer-Volcano Road, Highway 26 and the Mokelumne River.
Maps and draft sections of the plan will be available to view at the meeting, and people who cannot attend but want to comment can download a form from the Council website or call to get a form mailed.
Both the Pioneer-Volcano plan and Pine Grove plan “have significant conservation elements included,” she said, and “you can’t just look at the fire event, but you need to consider the consequences of a catastrophic fire to soil, erosion and water quality.”
She said the County Wildfire Protection Plan and the Pioneer-Volcano Community Conservation Wildfire Protection Plan are available on the Fire Safe Council’s website.
Light public attendance at two previous stakeholder meetings may have been affected by the holidays. Input was significant for the Pioneer-Volcano Plan. Koos-Breazeal said it was helped by the high number of property owners’ associations in those areas. She was able to attend different owners’ meetings, and coordinate with the groups. The impact of some areas was immediate, and groups cleared defensible space, improved signage and added exit roads.
Some Pioneer-Volcano neighborhoods are ready for certification as “Fire Safe” communities, Koos-Breazeal said. It may not help lower insurance rates, but “it sends a good message to insurance companies.” Better yet, she said, it allows residents to confidently and safely evacuate when wildfire threatens, rather than staying behind to try to protect their homes with a garden hose.
The third Greater Pine Grove Stakeholder Meeting is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Pine Grove Town Hall.
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Amador County – Amador County Transportation Commission on Wednesday (Jan. 18) will consider staff recommendations to request qualification statements for a through-town improvement project for Highway 88 in Pine Grove.
ACTC Program Manager Neil Peacock in a Jan. 11 letter to Commissioners said ACTC has $2 million for the project, and recommended ACTC “authorize staff to circulate a Request For Qualifications, evaluate proposals, conduct interviews, identify the highest ranked firm, and authorize the Consultant Selection Committee to negotiate a draft Scope of Work for final refinement of the ‘constrained through town’ alternative and the completion of the Project Approval-Environmental Document phase, if so desired.”
Peacock said “conferred with Caltrans members of the Project Development Team” regarding a “reasonable range of alternatives,” as discussed by ACTC Dec. 14. Peacock said he conveyed the “Commission’s concerns” that “it would be financially imprudent to invest further expenditures on refining and analyzing the five-lane capacity-expansion alternative when it far exceeds the reasonably foreseeable funding available for the project and when it has been the focus of consistent local opposition due to anticipated community impacts.”
He told Caltrans of the recent end of the Tri-County Partnership with Alpine and Calaveras, and regional leveraging funds. Peacock said “staff also clearly laid out the ACTC’s proposed approach to addressing” concerns that the “three-lane through-town alternative did not appear to meet the project’s Purpose & Need.”
Peacock said staff was able to explain that both bypass and five-lane alternatives were “simply not financially viable based on relevant revenue projections” and the latter was “strongly recommended for elimination” by ACTC as project sponsor. He addressed concerns by describing “additional refinements ACTC would undertake” to meet Purpose & Need.
The Project Design Team discussed “detailed design components” options “to alleviate congestion such as access consolidation combined with a raised median with channelized turn pockets, synchronized signal timing” and “providing turn lanes and passing capacity where sufficient Right-of-Way exists,” Peacock said. The Team also “discussed methods to measure the project’s operational outcome against the Purpse & Need, such as using travel-time savings and a Level of Service ‘deficiency horizon,’ in order to evaluate whether or not the refined alternative would alleviate congestion as required.”
Based on discussions, Peacock said, the Project Design Team “agreed to eliminate the five-lane alternative and explore additional refinements to the three-lane alternative in a way that accommodates the corridor’s constraints yet realizes tangible traffic benefits and alleviates congestion as required by the project’s Purpose & Need.
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Sheriff’s Christmas Toy Drive gave thousands of toys to Amador County children
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office issued thanks for another successful 2011 Sheriff’s Toy Drive hosted Dec. 17 at Saint Sava Mission in Jackson, with assistance of California Department of Corrections Mule Creek State Prison.
For the second straight year, with help from Amador County Superintendent of Schools, the Drive implemented a local voucher program, to identify local families in need and ensured toys donated by local citizens were placed with local children.
The Sheriff’s Office said the Toy Drive would not be the success it was without assistance of many groups, businesses, and citizens. One group is the CDC of Mule Creek, whose employees have established a “Toy Drive Committee,” and collect money year-round through bake sales, lot sales, and raffles.
Mule Creek employees successfully acquired and donated several thousand toys, and has partnered with the Amador County Sheriff’s Office the past four years. Mule Creek donations typically account for nearly half the total donated toys each year.
Another long-time partner, Saint Sava Mission the past nine years has routinely allowed the Sheriff’s Christmas Toy Drive to be held at its facility. Without Saint Sava Mission and their unwavering commitment, the toy drive would not have a suitable location to operate.
Stockton Bicycle Club once again made a donation toward purchase of bicycles. With that donation the Sheriff’s Office was able to purchase several bicycles which were raffled off on Dec. 17.
Kmart in Martell also helped purchase bicycles with their Kmart Care program, which allowed the Sheriff’s Office to collect 16 bicycles of the 35 total that were given to local children.
Wal-Mart, another noteworthy contributor through a grant program, allowed the Sheriff’s Office to purchase additional toys and supplies.
The Sheriff’s Office also gave thanks to Amador Unified School District, TSPN, Ledger Dispatch, Hometown Radio, Jackson Rotary, Red Hat Ladies, Mother Lode New Comers, Jackson Woman’s Club, Amador County Airport, Jackson Lions Club, and everyone who donated or supported the Toy Drive in any fashion.
During hard times it is more important than ever to lend a helping hand, said the Sheriff’s Office and “it could not be possible without the assistance of our community.”
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Ione wastewater manager recommends a $6 million project
Written by Tom
Amador County – Ione City Council heard from its wastewater program manager Tuesday that changing the city’s sewer plant project would help save millions.
Wastewater Program Manager Art O’Brien said a study found the new cost would be about $6 million, and city council members sought even more cuts.
O’Brien said a “facilities planning report has been done” on PERC Water’s proposed plant, costing $12 million to $14 million dollars, and “that is not the plant we would recommend.” His firm Robertson-Bryan Incorporated “conceptualized that smaller plant which we will put in a report to take to the state.”
The Design-Build-Operate-Finance approach would cost citizens about $185 a month, O’Brien said. He recommended “State Revolving Fund” financing as the least costly for the project. Mayor Ron Smiley asked if there are companies able to do something with different designs which would make it even cheaper. He asked about lining the ponds to prevent seepage.
O’Brien said they have “right sized” the project for Ione, with a $6 million renovation of the current facilty, a “wetlands treatment system” and “percolation is still the best system.” The plant would still use percolation ponds, which were supported by geology and hydrology at the plant, and “if you line the ponds, you must find somewhere to dispose of the water.”
Councilman Lloyd Oneto said he has looked at different sewer plants at Delhigh and Delmar. Faster treatment is more costly, and a 20-day treatment processes was cheaper. He asked if Winzler & Kelly could find a better fit.
O’Brien, who recommended hiring Winzler & Kelley in a $164,00 contract, said they “will look at different approaches” and “we will bring them the ideal project.” O’Brien said “I can support this council in bringing those alternatives to it.”
O’Brien said “this is an aggressive schedule” and the project must be constructed by September 2013 to meet the Cease & Desist Order. O’Brien said Winzler & Kelly was recommended for a State Revolving Fund consultant because they have successfully completed six different projects, and the city must quickly get a contract through the process.
Councilman David Plank said if contractors see the timeline and say “no chance, we can’t do it … do we throw ourselves on the mercy of the Board?” O’Brien said they would not do that. He noted that the Regional Board in December was pleased with the aggressive schedule. He said the city could ask the Board for 2 months, but the city should be building a plant if it asks for an extension.
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Amador County – Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe on Tuesday announced that he “will not seek the death penalty against Aptos resident Justin Bergo in the alleged murder of his mother, Dolores Bergo, age 62.”
Riebe said he “was persuaded in his decision to forego seeking the death penalty after reviewing a recommendation he received from a recently convened Death Penalty Review Team comprised of Chief Assistant District Attorney Melinda Aiello, lead Bergo trial attorney Steve Hermanson as well as prosecutors from outside his office who have extensive experience in death penalty cases.”
Riebe said the Death Penalty Review Team’s “recommendation to not seek the death penalty was guided solely by the facts of the case, the statutory aggravating and mitigating factors, and the case law interpreting those factors.”
He said Bergo “still faces the prospect of life in state prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of murder with special circumstances.”
¶ On March 19, 2011, Justin Bryan Bergo was arrested for the alleged murder of his mother at Days Inn in Sutter Creek.
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Veterans Mobile Health clinic planned for Fiday January 20th
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Veteran’s Administration Rural Health Mobile Medical Outreach Clinic Team will be at American Legion Hall Post 108 in Sutter Creek from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20.
Valerie Gabriel of the VA Rural Clinic said “we expect a really big turnout” for the Clinics, which is free to all veterans. She said: “If we cannot accommodate everyone, will come back again next month. We will keep coming back to Jackson until everyone is served.” She said there are 5,258 veterans living in Amador County, according to the 2010 Census.
No appointment is necessary, and Veterans Service Officers, Enrollment Specialists, and medical and mental health teams will be on site to review benefits, assist with enrollment forms and provide assistance with filing claims.
The Rural Health Mobile Clinic Team will provide examinations, consultations and referrals. Prescription renewals may be filled for Veterans currently in the VA Health Care System.
For those uncertain about their eligibility for medical or psychological services, members of the VA Clinic Team can provide information about and assistance with eligibility and enrollment for VA care. VA healthcare may complement current insurance coverage. Eligibility requirements have changed, so people who have been denied in the past should come speak with the Clinic Team. Benefits are available for Vietnam, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans.
Those not currently in the VA system should bring a copy of their DD214 to attach to their enrollment form. Those without a copy of their DD214 can get one from the Clinic Team.
The VA Rural Health is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20 at American Legion Post 108, at 12134 Airport Road in Sutter Creek. For more info, call Valerie Gabriel at (209) 588-2604.
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Ione City Council ties on a wastewater program manager’s contract extension
Written by Tom
Amador County – Facing state deadlines for its wastewater plant, Ione City Council deadlocked 2-2 Tuesday on whether to extend its wastewater program manager’s contract.
Mayor Ron Smiley and Councilman Lloyd Oneto dissented, saying they would like more time to decide whether to extend a contract with Robertson-Bryan Incorporated wastewater program manager Art O’Brien.
Smiley said “it’s a tough choice to sit here and decide.” City Manager Jeff Butzlaff recommended extending the contract not to exceed $156,000 (from $43,000) and said up-front approval would have less long-term cost.
Oneto motioned to continue the item and have a workshop but no one seconded it. Councilman Daniel Epperson then moved to approve the amendment, Councilman David Plank seconded it, and it tied 2-2, Oneto and Smiley dissenting, and Councilwoman Andrea Bonham absent.
It triggered continuing a proposed $164,000 contract with Winzler & Kelly for State Revolving Fund consulting for the city’s wastewater project. The council scheduled a special meeting 6 p.m. Jan. 26, with a public workshop, to reconsider the contracts.
City Attorney James Maynard in a report said O’Brien had anticipated reviewing PERC Water’s design basis and finalizing a Design-Build-Operate-Finance agreement “in conjunction with the city attorney’s office. That proposal was to provide program management services through February 2012 with a reduced effort in the later months as PERC assumed further control of the project.” The city has since ended work with PERC.
Maynard said “RBI has provided additional services beyond those anticipated” resulting in more work “which necessitates an amendment.” Maynard said RBI offered to lower O’Brien’s hourly rate from $230 to $200.
The “city’s wastewater team has already saved the city millions of dollars in construction and financing costs over the 30-year term previously proposed” by PERC, Maynard said. He said hiring RBI and Winzler & Kelly “will require the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars” but the spending is “necessary to comply with the various legal requirements and to obtain the lowest cost funding.” Maynard said it will “ultimately save millions, if not tens of millions, from the overall project cost.”
Given Ione’s “many previous attempts at resolving this wastewater issues,” he understood “why consultant costs are viewed with suspicion,” but the “costs are critical in moving toward a final resolution of the city’s long-standing dispute with the Regional Board,” which “soon could result in millions of dollars of fines through the Board’s Administrative Civil Liability process.”
O’Brien’s duties include work on a “Seepage Discharge compliance Plan,” due Jan. 30.
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Mother Lode Land Trust deeded 187-acre Cuneo, Chichizola property
Written by Tom
Amador County – At the wish of its former owners, the 187-acre Cuneo Land Trust was deeded in December to the Mother Lode Land Trust, which ceremoniously received the keys to the property and buildings last week.
Executive Director Ellie Routt of the Mother Lode Land Trust said the Cuneo land on Jackson Gate Road in Jackson, is bisected by China Graveyard Road, and includes the Chichizola Store and a pink house on the hill at 1316 Jackson Gate Road. The property cleared escrow Dec. 29.
The late Stanley and Marian Cuneo were founding members of Cuneo Land Trust, and started to preserve the land for cattle ranching and open space with timber management. Routt said all current leases of the land or buildings will be honored, and Leggett Piano Service will stay in place, in the Chichizola Store, where Mother Lode Land Trust now has an office.
She said the old 1800s Chichizola Store was handed down from Marian Cuneo’s family and the project will have a new name in the future, probably keeping the Chichizola name. The home was built in 1910 and still has period furniture, so it may be established with period museum displays. Routt said Mother Lode Land Trust may try to rent the six-bedroom home to a family as a residence, or they may rent rooms to community groups, so the Trust could still use it.
They have discussed rough plans for use of the property, such as having a “living farm,” for school groups, or coordinating school tours in conjunction with Kennedy Gold Mine tours. There is also blacksmithing equipment for living history.
Plans include conservations easements, continued cattle grazing, forest management, open space protection, nature hikes for school science programs, a community farm and living history at the old General Store. The facility has old ledgers that show purchases in 1800s with old, local family names, listed with purchases, and prices. Those type of things can be part of historical displays, Routt said.
Routt grew up in Amador County and has been Mother Lode Land Trust executive director for five years. The Trust was started in 1990 as Amador Land Trust, by ranchers, conservationists, resource specialists and other concerned local citizens. Now Mother Lode Land Trust, it owns more than 3,000 acres and 19 easements, of which 15 are actively managed, including PG&E watersheds around Mokelumne River, Bear River and Blue Lakes, and Kennedy Meadows in Tuolumne County.
Mother Lode Land Trust board of directors includes Mike Kirkley of Sutter Creek, Kevin Bonneau of Volcano, Dan Port of Ione, Bob Dean of Calaveras, Carlan Meyer of El Dorado, Susan Bragstad of Amador City, and Scott Oneto of the University of California’s Cooperative Extension office. Routt said they are always looking for new board members.
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