News Archive (6192)
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council approved a display Monday that will place about 125 Purple People at the Sutter Creek Gateway park at the corners of Highway 49 and Old Highway 49 starting later this month, in preparation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Tammie Crabtree, interim executive director of Operation Care said the 125 purple silhouettes, and another 25 to be placed in shop owners’ storefront windows around the county, will signify 50 percent of the total of about 300 domestic violence victims who were served by Operation Care in 2009-2010. She said “it’s a pretty big, pretty significant number.”
She said that is all they could afford, but the life-sized purple wooden silhouettes will show about half of all of the victims of domestic violence and abuse in Amador County in that time.
Operation Care’s office, at 619 New York Ranch Road in Jackson, will also have a 3-D exhibit, Oct. 3-14. The walk-through exhibit called the “Cycle of Violence” allows visitors to walk through the three phases of domestic violence, called the “honeymoon phase, tension phase and explosion phase,” Crabtree said.
Also for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, they will give out 200 T-shirts with the slogan: “Peace begins at home.” They will give out 100 shirts at each high school, and have another 100 shirts for which they will ask donations if people would like to buy them.
The shop owners which will have the Purple People Campaign silhouettes have not been determined, but the Sutter Creek Gateway Park was selected because in years past, the domestic violence education and awareness campaign has run into vandalism. The silhouettes were placed in parks around the county in the past, and outside businesses.
This year, they will put 125 of the silhouettes “in one location so it gets more traffic” to dissuade such problems. The Purple People should be safe inside storefronts too.
Crabtree said Kam Merzlak of Merzlak Signs is making a banner with the Purple People website, so people can learn about the program. He also made the silhouettes, which uses a few stories from the past from actual cases of domestic violence from victims Operation Care has helped.
The campaign will also have baskets with ribbons go to about 25 law enforcement and other service agencies, where people can pick up ribbons and show their support. Amador High’s S-Club will help distribute the baskets Sept. 29-30.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ione Police report two drug-related arrests last week
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Ione Police Department reported two drug-related arrest last week, including one aided by the help of one of the city’s Volunteer Patrol Officers.
Chief Michael L. Johnson said the 9-11 weekend began there previous week with an arrest of a man on a warrant, and another man for possession of a controlled substance.
Johnson said a suspicious vehicle led to a man’s arrest after a traffic stop Friday, Sept. 9. At about 9 p.m., he said, “Ione Police officers were on routine patrol in the area of Preston Avenue and Plymouth Highway. Officers located a suspicious occupied vehicle.”
Socorro Serrano, 31, of Stockton “was contacted. A record check revealed that Serrano was a wanted person with a $5,000 misdemeanor bench warrant.”
Johnson said: “Serrano was placed in custody. Additionally, officers discovered drug paraphernalia inside the car. Serrano was booked into the county jail on his warrant and drug related charges. His vehicle was towed.”
On Saturday, Sept. 10, Ione’s Volunteer Patrol helped protect the community, Johnson said: “A man was seen lurking about the premises of the Ione Junior High School” late that night. The IPD Volunteer Patrol made the observation while passing through the area during routine patrol.
Johnson said: “Upon seeing the volunteer patrol, the man, later identified as Joseph Jenkins, quickly disappeared behind the buildings. The volunteer patrol unit alerted the on duty Ione Police Officer of the suspicious character.”
The IPD Officer intercepted Jenkins, who is a parolee, on the other side of the campus. A search of Jenkins person revealed that he was in possession of a controlled substance. Jenkins was placed in custody. His parole agent was contacted and authorized a parole hold for his arrest.
Jenkins was booked at about 11 p.m. into the Amador County jail.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ione staff agrees with some Grand Jury recommendations, discagree with others
Written by Tom
Amador County – Ione City Council today (Tuesday, Sept. 20) will consider a draft response to the 2010-2011 Grand Jury report.
The letter was prepared by City Attorney James Maynard, and former City Manager Kim Kerr, and City Manager Jeff Butzlaff. The letter referred to the Grand Jury finding that between 2003 and July 2010, the “monthly treasurer’s Reports were not prepared.” City staff’s draft letter said the city partly agreed because monthly treasurer reports are up-to-date in 2010-2011.
The letter said “over the past seven years, six different finance personnel were responsible for posting in the system and producing reports that would allow reconciliation. Until 2010, the city did not have a competent financial manager resulting in an inability to produce reports so that reconciliation of accounts could be completed. The current finance manager is a former auditor and has fixed and updated the posting within the finance system so all treasurers’ reports are done on time and accurate.”
The letter disagreed with the finding that “Ione’s General Plan is being used to justify expenditures at a growth rate that has not been realized.” The letter said “the City Council makes expenditures based on an annual budget and funds available” and “every council member is aware of the Ione budget situation and each expenditure is carefully scrutinized” by staff and the council.
Staff’s draft letter disagreed with the Grand Jury recommendation that “Ione’s city manager should stop all further projects until bank reconciliations are completed and it is determined that sufficient funds are available to meet obligations as they are incurred.” The letter said the “recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted and is not feasible as the city’s first responsibility is to ensure the health and safety of its citizens by complying with state and federal law.”
The draft response letter said the “city council must make project determinations on a case-by-case basis but always has the city’s financial conditions foremost in mind when making such decisions.”
The letter said the city agreed with and had implemented several recommendations, including bank account reconciliation, and finishing monthly financial reports.
The letter agreed with and changed the city’s wastewater plant proposal, to not base it on a growth rate of 6 percent. It was changed to 5 percent with adoption of the city’s 2009 Wastewater Master Plan. The letter cited the plan, in part, which said the “city intends to provide the maximum amount of flexibility in wastewater service planning and may increase or decrease the rate of development so long as the overall wastewater service is adequate.”
The letter said the city had implemented reports on audit deficiencies, findings, and scheduled of corrections.
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Volcano Communications supports a drive to Save Rural Broadband in Amador County and beyond
Written by Tom
Amador County – Volcano Communications executive Duke Milunovich told TSPN TV news recently that his company has joined the campaign called “Save Rural Broadband,” to in part help legislation that could have a detrimental impact on millions of Americans.
Milunovich said Save Rural Broadband was created to educate Americans about proposals currently being considered by the Federal Communications Commission that could impact “communities that rely on rural broadband Internet networks.” Save Rural Broadband is a collective “advocate for responsible reform that will sustain these vital networks that generate economic prosperity and enhance the quality of life for all Americans.”
The group’s internet site lists its mission statement, and other information. One object of its mission is to show the U.S. Congress and the Barack Obama Administration “how rule changes being considered by the FCC will have a negative effect on broadband networks in rural communities.” Another mission objective is to “urge Congress and the Obama Administration to intercede to ensure that a more reasonable alternative set of reforms will be adopted.”
The group said the FCC’s February proposals “will result in job loss and stalled economic development in regions of our country where that development and growth is most needed.”
The groups said the “attempts at reform would undermine decades of successful investment in critical broadband infrastructure in areas served by small, rural broadband providers.” Reforms being considered would hinder future investment in rural broadband networks, “leaving consumers and businesses with services that are either outdated or unaffordable – where services remain available at all.”
Save Rural Broadband urges “surgical, rather than experimental” changes and “seeks to promote the adoption of carefully constructed, well-targeted reforms that build upon and modernize a system that has worked so well to promote broadband access in rural America.” A “consensus framework” submitted by a broad group of providers is “now pending final review by the FCC.”
Save Rural Broadband was created by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies and the Western Telecommunications Alliance.
Rural broadband has a significant impact on the quality of life in rural America and “rural telecommunications companies serve approximately five million customers throughout the country.”
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Ione City Council to discuss staff’s draft response to the 2010-2011 Grand Jury report
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Ione City Council today (Tuesday, Sept. 20) will consider a draft response to the 2010-2011 Grand Jury report on its investigation of Ione city management and finances, a probe that will continue for another year.
New City Attorney James Maynard, in a report for today’s meeting, said the “response provided the city with an opportunity to rebut the charges against it,” and “once the response is filed, nothing further will be required from the city.” He said the 2011-2012 Grand Jury “is picking up where last year’s Grand Jury left off.”
He said: “I have been in the process of turning over emails between former City Manager Kim Kerr and various city contractors in close coordination with Amador County Counsel’s office.”
He said “the city agrees with many Grand Jury findings, but disagrees with others.” He preferred to “entertain proposals for revision during the council meeting to enable timely transmission” of the response, due next Tuesday.
The draft partially agreed that Ione was “outspending its current income and has been heavily dipping into” its Local Agency Investment Fund. It said the “city receives the majority of its revenues in January (six months after the start of the fiscal year) and May (the last month of the fiscal year) of each year and “uses the LAIF to cover cash flow during those periods.” The draft response said: “This is a standard and acceptable practice for state, county and city government to operate.” It noted that the city has received deposits and impact fees from developers, and the funds are put into the LAIF and “drawn down for infrastructure projects.”
Two weeks ago, Interim City Manager Jeff Butzlaff said the new city administration, including himself, Maynard and the finance director, were still constantly getting a “plethora” of requests for information, including from this fiscal year’s Grand Jury.
Butzlaff said the city is still struggling with day-to-day business while answering Grand Jury requests, and public information requests from residents. He said they want to openly share the information and the city wants to show that it is not operating improperly and they want people to know that “anything but that is the truth.”
The Council at its last meeting terminated a legal services agreement with Cota Cole & Associates LLP, Maynard’s former firm, and approved a new legal services agreement with Maynard’s new private firm, for city attorney services.
Butzlaff said Maynard is the right fit for Ione, and their first couple of months together was “extremely intense,” with the Grand Jury response, and the wastewater treatment plant’s cease & desist order and timeline. Butzlaff said new city staff “hit the ground immediately running.”
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Amador County – Amador Water Agency Board of Directors approved a new community outreach plan for its Gravity Supply Line, in its efforts to replace a 30-year-old Upcountry water system.
AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said a financial reorganization concept was approved Sept. 8. He said community involvement was “critical” in the agency’s new three-part financial plan, “designed to fix the Upcountry’s aging and unreliable water system.” It should also “ensure that future development pays its fair share for water infrastructure,” and “bring the several different water rates in the Agency’s four water systems into alignment.”
The new outreach plan will explain the need for matching funds and streamline its “financial management to lower overhead costs for all ratepayers.” He said the “Gravity Supply Line would provide a more reliable flow of water to firefighters, families and businesses upcountry.”
In coming months, AWA “will be meeting with and seeking input from community residents on options for funding replacement” of the upcountry water system in the Central Amador Water Project service area, “which fails approximately 40 times every year,” he said.
District 3 Director Don Cooper said the plan is “a way forward for the Gravity Supply Line and current Upcountry water customers,” and “assurance that future development would pay a fair share of the project,” which has been approved for a $5 million federal grant.
The proposed gravity pipeline has been endorsed by the Amador Fire Chiefs Association and the Amador County Board of Supervisors for its “superior fire protection and water reliability Upcountry over the existing pumped system,” Mancebo said.
“We wish we did not have to replace the upcountry pumping system, but it’s old, vulnerable to frequent power-outages and operating beyond its design capacity much of the year,” Mancebo said. “We can’t ask families and seniors to cross their fingers each year hoping to avoid a calamity if the system fails to protect them and their property during a fire.”
Director Robert Manaserro said AWA “wants to be fair. We are not here to favor one system over another, and the status quo is very complicated and expensive to manage.”
Directors asked staff to “investigate ways to gain willing financial participation from landowners who would be future users in the CAWP service area, to help pay for the Gravity Supply Line, and in the Amador Water System, to help pay for additional water treatment plant capacity.”
The Board hired two consulting firms to bolster outreach and collaborate with community residents over the next four to six months. Mancebo said after “extensive public involvement,” the “Water Agency will decide whether to ask the public to provide matching funds for the Gravity Supply Line next year.”
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Council of Tourism sees TOT tax drop, eyes voluntary room fee
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador Council of Tourism reported that Transient Occupancy Taxes are down, but Executive Director Maurine Funk is still trying to get funding from cities, and from voluntary fee collection by local hotels and motels.
The TOT tax on hotels and motels seems to be down around the county, Funk said in a report to the Amador County Board of Supervisors. Funk said the Amador Council of Tourism is “trying to ween ourselves off of funding” from the County, with fundraisers such as the 49er Treasure Trail.
She said she is also signing up businesses, such as hotels and motels, for their voluntary fee assessment of $1 per room per night to be given to the Council of Tourism to be used for county advertising and promotions.
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said “we don’t receive the lion’s share of TOTs,” and asked if Funk could work with the other cities that do not give funding to the Council of Tourism. Funk said ACT received $1,000 from Plymouth last year, and Amador City funnels its funds through a different organization.
She said Sutter Creek has a lodging assessment fee which is expected to drop in the 2011-2012 fiscal year. It is collected from Days Inn, American Exchange Hotel and some goes to ACT, while some of the funding goes to the Sutter Creek Business & Professional Association, which then gives some money to ACT.
Plasse said at a recent meeting, he heard that Jackson expects to get $300,000 in Transient Occupancy Tax funding this fiscal year, instead of $400,000 to $440,000 as in years past.
Funk said there was a successful Assessors’ Conference held in Sutter Creek in August, and hosted by Amador County Assessor Jim Rooney, who is a state assessors officer. Funk said she is promoting the idea of mid-week conferences to bring big crowds during off days. She said it takes coordination, and she asks shops to open early, to make it easier for conference attendees to spend there money here.
Supervisor Louis Boitano said he also wants to try to get more weekday people to visit Sutter Creek and Amador County. He said it makes the weekdays busy, and “if you’re not careful you might trip over a Lexis,” but the midweek traffic helps businesses. He said booking in advance, as they did for a recent Napa conference, also allows people to get a better rate.
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Amador County – Water response units from Amador County Sheriff’s Department and the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department continued a search this week for a Fremont man who disappeared during a boating accident Wednesday at Lake Camanche.
Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details of the incident today, that is Friday, Sept. 16. The incident is being investigated as a Missing Person case. Wegner said shortly after noon on Wednesday, the Amador County Sheriff’s Department “received a 9-1-1 phone call from Nancy Mosley, 69, of Fremont. Mrs. Mosley reported that she and her husband, Kenneth Edward Mosley, 70, of Fremont were boating at Lake Comanche.”
The Mosleys reportedly “beached the vessel in a cove at the east end of Lake Comanche where Mr. Mosley and the family dog disembarked the vessel. The vessel began to drift away while Mr. Mosley was on shore. Mrs. Mosley was unfamiliar with the operation of the vessel, and Mr. Mosley entered the water in an attempted to swim after the boat.”
Wegner said “Mrs. Mosley attempted to throw Mr. Mosley a personal flotation device, however Mr. Mosley disappeared under the water.”
The Amador County Sheriff’s Marine Unit and Dive Team responded to the scene, he said. “A search of the immediate area was conducted however Mr. Mosley was not located. The search for Mr. Mosley resumed Thursday, Sept. 15.”
The ACSO Dive Team utilized various search patterns and underwater graphing technology, he said. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit assisted the Amador Dive Team by deploying a side scan sonar in the cove.
Wegner said additionally, two California Rescue Dog Association water canines were used in an attempt to locate Mr. Mosley. The search was to resume today, that is Friday Sept. 16 and will include Army Corp of Engineers personnel, who will deploy a new technology sonar device.
Wegner said “the depth of the cove wherein Mosley was reported to have disappeared is approximately 25 feet deep. The water temperature is 79 degrees and visibility ranges from four feet to a few inches.”
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Supervisors to prepare comments on what they want for a sign ordinance
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador County Supervisors discussed a temporary sign ordinance Tuesday, which likely will have each Supervisor give individual input to the Planning Commission on what they want.
County Planner Cara Augustin introduced a draft sign ordinance created by staff after Supervisors received a request from Strings Restaurant owner Sharon Cassella for a permit for a temporary, off-site sign to direct traffic from Highway 49 to Highway 88. Cassella sited economic hard times as the need. Augustin said the Land Use Committee and Planning Commission recommended the draft ordinance for consideration.
Augustin suggested having one directional sign per corner, with five name plates and a limit of two signs per business. She said “you would have businesses coming together to get that sign.”
Supervisor Louis Boitano said “people say we are not doing enough to help” and “this helps businesses.” He liked its suggested 2-year sunset clause.
Supervisor Richard Forster said he has heard some businesses say “one or two people a day might make a difference on whether or not they make a profit.”
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse asked who would say when an economic decline is over. He said he has seen businesses prosper and others fail in great locations and it was not about economic times, but business management. He said it sets up businesses to argue that the “decline is not over and I need this sign.”
Augustin said the sunset clause would allow Supervisors to determine whether the economic decline was still around after two years.
Supervisor Ted Novelli said: “I am not for more government, but I am for signs that you can read.” He said some county signs are unreadable from lettering size, or vegetation overgrowth. Boitano and Novelli said it should be up to businesses to maintain signs.
Forster said 6-inch letters, recently required for Amador Vintners Association signs, would mean 10-foot signs with this ordinance. Augustin said the Vintners’ 6-inch letters were required for road sign readability. Supervisor Brian Oneto said besides the name, the sign should say the type of business.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
County redistricting gets wider latitude of variance with U.S. Supreme Court interpretation
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisor heard Tuesday that redistricting supervisor districts would have more latitude than the last redistricting.
Deputy Registrar of Voters George Allen told Supervisors that the equality requirement has been changed in case law.
County Council Martha J. Shaver said former county attorney John Hahn supplied a 2001 opinion which said the mathematical equality of a 3 percent variance from absolute equality would be permissible. But Shaver said the U.S. Supreme Court has found that rules for mathematical guidelines for redistricting for validity were frowned upon. The ruling said using 3 percent variance as a threshold for validity of variance, was not true.
She said a deviation among legislative districts of 10 percent or less was allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court, and it should apply to Supervisor districts. She said the five districts break down to equally have 20 percent each of the population. But the variance could be up to 10 percent if the county has policy stating “reasons for which you are departing from a 20 percent total in each district” as long as the deviation is less that 10 percent.
Allen said the numbers he had for supervisors on Tuesday “will be less than 10 percent” variance. He said minority guidelines to stop segregation were not relevant because the county did not have enough minority populations to make any one group a majority of voters in any Supervisor district. He said “Amador County has about a 10 percent Hispanic population” but most are at Mule Creek.
Relevant qualifiers for variance in percentage equality included policy guided by topography, geography, property boundaries, and communities of interest, Allen said. It also included cohesiveness, continuity, and territory of contiguity. He said “integrity” of districts would honor boundaries of cities and service districts. For a compact district, he said a circular district is good, but one with tentacles is not.
Allen said most districts follow such boundaries, with some exceptions. He said the county should inform Amador Local Agency Formation Commission that part of Sutter Creek had a problem with the District lines cutting out part of the Amador High School football field, from District 2 to District 5.
Supervisor Louis Boitano said: “Does that mean I cannot coach?” Allen said no, it just means “you have to talk to (Supervisor Brian Oneto).”
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