News Archive (6192)
By Jennifer Wilson -
Daniel Lindecker, a local boy scout who completed a whopping 528 hours of community service this summer, received a Block “A” Community Block Service Award at Wednesday’s School District Board meeting. Lindecker, who started scouting as a Cub Scout, volunteered at a number of summer events, including Camp Winton, helping younger boys learn new skills and complete activities, and the advancement ceremonies of area Cub Scouts, to name a few. Superintendent Dick Glock praised Lindecker’s hard work in the community and said, “We are very proud of you.” Glock added that the most hours he has seen were “about 177,” and that 528 hours was quite an accomplishment. Lindecker enjoys helping others, and noted an outdoor event at which he helped other scouts learn to fish. “Some of them had never even been fishing. They were really excited.” Daniel’s older brother Patrick is also involved in scouts and was just advanced to an Eagle Scout this past weekend. Boy Scouts help boys in grades 6 through 11 to build character, respect for others and themselves, and learn about their world and interacting with others. There is also Cub Scouts, for younger boys in grades 1 through 5, and for older boys, Venturing, which is for boys and girls age 14 to 20. Amador County has a number of packs and troops under the Golden Empire Council. For more information about scouting or to find a troop near you, call Jim Duncan at 209-274-2980, or Tom Harris at 209-402-9958.
At their meeting Monday night, the Ione City Council conducted the first reading on Ordinance Number 412 for amending the Ione Municipal Code regarding Transient Occupancy Tax. In 1988, Ione voters approved a measure that imposes a tax on people living in local hotels. In 2004, citizens voted to increase that tax to 10%. It is the responsibility of hotel owners to collect the tax, and then pass the funds onto the city. The city is now in the process of updating their Municipal Code to reflect the increase, although they have been collecting the tax since voters approved the measure.
City Manager Kim Kerr said she expects the process to be finalized by April 15th. In other news, the council heard a generally favorable report on Ione’s Audited Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2007. Certified Public Accountant Larry Bane gave a brief overview of the city’s finances, stating that Ione’s financial position is improving, as records are becoming more organized and things are being done to address weaknesses. The council members, who had already reviewed the report, thanked Bane for his thoroughness and timeliness on the audit, and also voted to extend his contract for an additional three years.
Amador County – Amador County could become part of a regional grant application for money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to upgrade its technology infrastructure. The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors indicated Wednesday that they are preparing to file a grant application to be released June 10 from the National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration for e-government projects. Tuolumne is considering filing a joint application with five other Mother Lode counties, including Amador, Alpine, Calaveras and Mariposa. Supervisors said this joint effort could help improve the chances of receiving funds. Tuolumne County will be applying for just under $2 million in grants to improve the Sheriff’s radio system, the document management system, website replacement, an agenda management system and the addition of a mobile trak and E-Trakit system. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By Jim Reece -
Amador Water Agency Board Member Terence Moore ripped into Ken Berry and Bill Condrashoff Thursday on the lawsuit Berry filed to stop the Amador Pipeline. Moore said Condrashoff was practicing engineering without a license, providing a conclusion Berry used as the basis for his lawsuit. Moore said the AWA settlement agreement with Protect Historic Amador Waterways included the stipulation that no member of PHAW would sue to stop the pipeline project, including the small diameter pipe that would supply water to customers on the canal. Moore said that as an engineer of 40 years, he knew licensing made an engineer and that practicing engineering without a license was a misdemeanor, which could be charged if someone filed a complaint. Moore said the early cost estimate of the Amador Pipeline was $13 Million, then the PHAW suit delayed the pipeline, with its final cost being $22 Million, so the PHAW suit cost the AWA $9 Million. Berry said the suit was based on rain gauge readings and Condrashoff signed an affidavit that he was not a party in the suit. Berry said the suit was not about getting water into Jackson Creek, but rather the issue of whether the board even considered that Jackson Creek would dry up as a result of the canal dewatering. Berry offered to settle the suit in the open meeting if the “water agency agrees in principal to do the appropriate environmental studies” of the creek. Condrashoff said, “Terry (Moore), you tried to take me down there.” Moore answered, “I certainly did.” Condrashoff said he has a chemical engineering degree but not a license and that the past board did not listen to PHAW and fought the lawsuit. Condrashoff said he merely compiled some charts and data and made an engineering decision, but Moore said the conclusion – that the creek dries up with the canal’s drying up – was practicing engineering. Berry said Condrashoff’s analysis of the charts showed that the flow in the creek matched the flow in the canal, asking, “is it against the law to use common sense?” He said “If I have wasted staff’s time on bad data, then I’m perfectly willing to talk to the board.” The board then went into closed session and discussed the suit with Berry, but no settlement was reached.
By Alex Lane -
Major efforts are underway towards the restoration of Caples Lake, after malfunctioning underwater slide gates prompted emergency repairs on July 18th. Caples, situated on the Eastern border of Amador County near Kirkwood Resort, has undergone a dramatic transformation. El Dorado Irrigation District officials, in cooperation with the Department of Fish and Game, have approved a 246,000 dollar plan to restock the lake after 36,000 acre feet of water and more than 25,000 fish were displaced to nearby Jenkinson Lake and its tributaries. The restocking plan was approved at their latest board meeting. It will be implemented in a two phase process. Phase One will begin in the spring of next year after the lake thaws. “We are hoping it just rains a ton so there is more water in there,” said Deanne Kloepfer, Department Head for Communications. Phase Two will follow over the next nine years. The board plans to acquire additional funding for further fish restocking over that time. “In (Phase One), we want to provide some trophy opportunities as well as rebuild the fishery,” Kloepfer said. Caples Lake is well-known amongst Amador County residents for its breathtaking scenery and excellent high-elevation fishing conditions. In the meantime, a temporary “bladder” dam was installed on September 20th to store as much water as possible and still protect repair crews. The lake has been almost completely dewatered between the bladder dam and main dam. Problems began in July when two badly deteriorated, 85-year-old slide gates failed. As a result, emergency underwater crews were called in for extensive repair work. Once repairs are complete, the bladder dam will be removed.
We’ve been asking for rain and snow… and our wish has come true. Rain and wind in the foothills have made driving treacherous, but the rain is giving our thirsty hills the soaking they need. Snow has fallen as low as 3,900 feet with up to 3 feet of snow expected at high elevations. Another round of rain and snow are expected to pass over central California tonight and early tomorrow. High Sierra passes may see very gusty winds, resulting in whiteouts and dangerous driving conditions. While CHP officials are recommending people stay off mountain highways, skiers and boarders are celebrating the fresh powder accumulations, according to a Kirkwood Resort spokesperson. If you are headed into the upcountry, don’t go without carrying chains, extra food and water, and warm blankets.
Amador County – City Manager Dixon Flynn this week said work has begun on the Arroyo Ditch, which a contractor believes will be a renewed water supply for the city of Plymouth. Flynn last week reported that Mayor Jon Colburn expects water to be again flowing down the ditch and into the city’s system by the middle of this month. Flynn said he had not talked to Colburn this week and heard his latest prediction. “The Mayor loves this project,” Flynn said, “so he goes every day I suspect.” The mayor has been to the site to monitor progress, and city engineer Richard Prima also has gone to the work site, along the miles of the ditch, which links the city to the Cosumnes River, on the Amador-El Dorado county border, through a system of earthen ditches, and even a bridged pipeline that crosses over another waterway. Flynn said Shenadoah Water Company has been working on the ditch for 3 weeks, since the city granted them an encroachment permit. The company has been working with a crew of 5 to 12 people, and 3 excavators, to remove weeds and rocks from the ditch in order to get water flowing again. Flynn said Plymouth City Council and the Shenandoah Water Company have “an agreement to talk about an agreement,” and the company has permission to clear the ditch with the encroachment permit. While doing so, they are working on costs and seeing who will do what in an agreement. The company can afford a bigger crew and the equipment, while the city could only afford a 2-person crew to try to keep the ditch operational. He said Shenandoah Water Company actually feels “that they could get water out of the ditch as a supply for Plymouth.” Mayor Colburn thinks Plymouth “will have water by mid-May” coming from the ditch. Flynn said the company is “prepared to spend several million dollars to do it, if we get to an agreement. And that’s a big if.” The city council took requests for proposals and the company was the best qualified, having restored rights to and water flow from another ditch, in Sonoma. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County – Two Amador County supervisors will discuss the current condition of Amador County’s forests and associated problems, including the potential for catastrophic fire, at the upcoming Amador-El Dorado Forest Forum. Brian Oneto, District 5 Supervisor since January 2007 and John Plasse, Supervisor Elect for District 1, will cover this and other matters during this installation of the semi-monthly forum. They will also address county government's role in shaping future policy on public and private forestland. The Amador-El Dorado Forest Forum is a group of forestry professionals, forest educators, and others interested in forestry practices and issues in the two-county area. The Forum meets once a month in fall, winter, and spring months at various locations in the two-county area. The Forum awards scholarships to local college students with forestry majors and sponsors the California Forestry Challenge. The meeting is Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at El Torero Restaurant, located at 10898 North State Highway 49 / 88, in Jackson. Social Hour begins at 6:00 p.m., and dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. To reserve a space for dinner contact Diane Dealey Neill at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (530) 672-9350 by December 15. Raffle tickets to support the Forest Forum may be purchased at the door. Donations help support scholarships and forestry education efforts. Staff Report
The Ione City Council held a special meeting Tuesday evening which included a public hearing, a workshop, and a few updates from staff regarding various projects currently underway in the City. The Public Hearing, which pertained to the approval of a rate increase for a solid waste permit from ACES, had previously been placed on an April agenda, but was subsequently rescheduled pending a decision on the 
