Amador County - On Tuesday February 4, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office received a missing person report from the mother of Stephen Joseph Melvin, 62, of Pioneer. Melvin’s mother reported she had not had contact with her son since November and she was concerned about his welfare, as he suffered from various medical issues. An Amador County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to Melvin’s residence to conduct a welfare check. The deputy received no answer at the residence, but found a door that was ajar. A check of the residence was made, however Melvin was not located and nothing appeared suspicious or unusual. Upon checking with neighbors, it was determined that Melvin was last seen on Saturday January 24. That same neighbor was identified as being responsible for notifying Melvin’s mother of his unusual absence. Melvin was immediately placed into the nationwide Missing Persons System, as an “At Risk” missing adult, based upon his medical conditions. Melvin’s vehicle was subsequently located on Shake Ridge Road near Rams Horn Grade after an investigative records search showed that a deputy had checked on Melvin’s locked, unoccupied vehicle at that same location on Sunday January 25. On Wednesday February 5, in an effort to locate Melvin, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office activated its Search and Rescue Team, which conducted a hasty search of the immediate area. In addition to the search, a general area canine search and an aerial search by CHP helicopter was also conducted. The search effort was terminated for the evening due to darkness but resumed and expanded Thursday morning. Anyone with any information into the whereabouts of Melvin is asked to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500. Staff Report

Amador County - Amador County residents up in arms about proposed septic system regulations are being encouraged to attend a set of workshops in Santa Rosa. The State Water Resources Control Board is hosting the forum, and there will be opportunities for the public to comment on proposed regulations and waivers for onsite wastewater treatment systems and the associated Draft Environmental Impact Report. Prompted by Bill 885 signed by Governor Gray Davis in 2000, the proposed updates would further regulate discharge of wastes that threaten surface and groundwater quality. The California Water Resources Control Board has been holding workshops across California to gather public comment on the issue, including a workshop last month in Amador County. The proposal under consideration includes a number of costly requirements to be paid by owners should their tanks not meet updated standards. Owners must have their tanks inspected for solid accumulations every five years at a cost of $325. Owners of tanks within 600 feet of a surface water body that does not meet water quality standards could be required to retrofit their systems at a cost of $45,000. New septic systems must have filters that retain a certain amount of solids, malfunction alarms and maintenance manuals, plus regular site inspections by certified professionals. Estimates by county officials indicate that a large portion –approximately half- of Amador County uses septic systems. Other Gold country counties are voicing there dissatisfaction with the regulations. Placer County Supervisors will be sending written comments to the State Water Board and coordinating with legislators and lobbyists to fight the proposals. Amador Water Agency Board Member Debbie Dunn is stressing to dissenters that “the voice you can unleash on the State is solely regarding implantation procedures, not ‘should they do it.’” She added that the upcoming meeting “is the public’s and the County’s last opportunity to provide input.” The public meetings are scheduled to be held February 9 from 1 to 5 pm and 7 to 11 pm at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa. A Sacramento hearing originally scheduled for February 9 was postponed until further notice. For further details about the proposed regulations, visit www.waterboards.ca.gov. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County – The Ione Planning Commission will host a workshop 6 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall to review its draft Zoning Code update. Staff will request direction on changes to the draft, to be revised and brought back for a public hearing March 10th. City Planner Christopher Jordan in a report said “Zoning Code is a regulatory document that development must comply with, including specific, enforceable standards such as minimum lot size, maximum building height, minimum building setback, and a list of allowable uses.” Ione’s Zoning Code dates back to 1958 and has been amended in 1984, 1994, 2000 and 2003 “but appears to have never been comprehensively updated since its initial composition.” The zoning code update was initiated last June by the City Council and changes will be phased in, “the most critical items being addressed now, while other items will wait until a later date as funding becomes available,” Jordan said. Items to immediately address in Zoning include Code Structure & Finding, a Sign Ordinance and Historical Regulations for Main Street. Jordan said Code Structure & Finding will “enhance the structure and format of the Zoning Code to improve ease of use. The enhanced code would be used as the ‘backbone’ for any future edits.” It “will also include the development of a Specific Plan process for future new developments, consistency with specific state laws, and an updating of the findings for the various permit types to ensure that all permits have findings.” Jordan said Sign Ordinance regulations “will focus on standards for commercial property, particularly in the Downtown area, but will also address signage for home occupations and off-premise signs.” Historical Regulations for Main Street will “prepare amendments for historical issues for Main Street and some surrounding areas by addressing architectural consistency, façade enhancements, and compatibility with the existing environment.” Jordan and city staff conducted a series of study sessions with the City Council and Planning Commission to discuss topics for the update. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors last week got a list of items that may fit the category of “shovel ready” in the federal eye. Among those was the AWA compound itself on Ridge Road, where Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said a couple of holding tanks could replace the shallow pond behind the agency office. Board members asked about the various projects, which included the Gravity Supply Line to the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant, decades old, with a more recent offshoot that could tie it in to a water treatment plant at Jackson Pines. Mancebo said the $8 million being sought from the federal government for the $11.6 million project was fractioned for matching to help chances of getting funding. AWA board Chairman Terence Moore said projects were only “shovel ready” within reason, because, due to costs, agencies do not get projects ready to go then put them on a shelf. Moore said: “Shovel Ready is a real catchy phrase, but in reality I don’t think too many projects exist like that.” He said Environmental Impact Reports go stale and design is too costly. Mancebo said the gravity supply line has already been authorized to advance with environmental documenting, while surveying is completed. Another bonus, the bulk of the pipeline would be placed in roadways, either logging roads or county roads. Moore said the federal Rural Utilities Service likes AWA because it completes its projects on time, and it has actually been calling the agency and asking when the gravity supply line project will be ready. Mancebo said AWA Finance Manager Michael Lee was attending a workshop last Thursday on the State Economic Stimulus package and would bring the board news. Moore said the AWA’s luck on its list of projects may be helped by which agencies are given the task of allocating funding. Story by Jim Reece