News Archive (6192)
Amador County – A project a year in the making, trimmed with 12-year-old paperwork, has led to a grant of almost $600,000 to build a protective structure around the last remaining Kennedy Mine Tailing Wheel Number 4.
Jackson Vice Mayor Keith Sweet abstained when the Amador County Transportation Commission voted 5-0-1 last Wednesday to conditionally approve the Caltrans Transportation Enhancement grant.
Sweet said the application utilizes part of studies for a successful Transportation Enhancement grant in 2000 to rehabilitate Tailing Wheel No. 4. He “figured the project was dead in the water” late Wednesday afternoon, before Daly called and said Caltrans would accept part of that 12-year-old grant application. That acceptance brought the total project cost from about $1 million to about $700,000.
Caltrans Representative John Gedney said not a lot has happened in the last 10 years at the Kennedy Tailing Wheel Park. They are concerned about elderberry bushes, but “I think it’s a go.” He reiterated the need for better communications.
Sweet spent a year promoting the project, making 13 presentations to civic and municipal bodies around the county. He also led a contingent of politicians in a visit with District 10 Director Carrie Bowen last Monday, including representatives for Senator Ted Gaines and Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, and City Manager Mike Daly and Planner Susan Peters.
The group met for 15 minutes. Afterward, Caltrans said they would decide by Wednesday. Sweet said at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, he told his wife he might have to pull the agenda item. Then at 4:41 p.m., Daly called saying “they’ll accept most of it.” They would not accept the biology, and we will have to do some of the others studies, such as archaeology.
Dana Jorgensen of Sen. Gaines’ office attended and “it was a very positive meeting. I think we can work together with Caltrans on this project.” Jorgensen said: “This tailing wheel is the last one, and if we don’t do something, it will go away.”
The project will rebuild a structure similar to the original buildings that covered the wheels, but will have a see-though wall to allow visitors to see the wheel inside.
ACTC Executive Director Charles Field said the grant “already has verbal approval from the Caltrans Transportation Enhancement director.” The $596,000 grant is conditioned on Jackson City Council passing a resolution to match funds with $71,000, pay overrun costs, and manage the project consistent with Caltrans regulations.
Jackson City Manager Mike Daly told the commission the city has “in lieu fees” for overruns. He said Friday the resolution is on the Council’s agenda tonight.
Daly said “ADA accessibility is a nice part of this project that we can do so that everybody can get up there and see the facility.”
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Ione Police recover stolen property while serving a local search warrant
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Ione Police Department helped recover property linked to a burglary in Turlock this week, and is following up on leads to other possible crimes found at the scene.
Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson said Ione Police officers “received information that a local suspect was in possession of several stolen property items and was routinely pawning the goods in the Stockton area.
“Follow up investigation confirmed the suspicion about the known criminal and the location of the property was soon discovered,” Johnson said. “IPD obtained a search warrant for a residence at the 600 block of Nuner Drive in Ione.” On Wednesday, IPD executed the warrant.
Johnson said: “Officers located confirmed stolen property items stashed in a room within the dwelling, including a 55-inch flat screen television taken in a burglary at California State University-Stanislaus on March 10. The primary suspect was not at the residence at the time of the warrant service.
“The investigation is still ongoing as other information and leads were developed which may lead to additional stolen property,” Johnson said. “An arrest warrant for the suspect will be sought for multiple felony counts of theft related charges.”
Johnson said he is “proud of the persistence and diligence of the officers in pursuing these types of investigative leads.” He said the “police work here is an example of the dedication of the Ione Police officers and their commitment to serve this community.”
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ACT prepares 2 Pine Grove Improvement Project ideas for review
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Transportation Commission voted 6-0 Wednesday to take two proposed project finalists to the public and the state for a Pine Grove Corridor improvement project.
The Commission authorized increasing a contract with CH2M Hill by $57,232. Hill will offer services of “interagency coordination and public participation assistance,” in taking the proposed projects to the public, and also to the California Department of Transportation’s “Project Development Team.”
Planner and Program Manager Neil Peacock gave an overview of the project thus far, saying ACTC’s appointed “Stakeholder Work Group” of a dozen members had met 12 times and through the process pared down 14 alternate routes to four for more in depth study. Those were whittled to two on which the Stakeholders were able to reach a consensus of support. Some of the Stakeholders urged support, including Andy Byrne, John Carlson, Gary Reinoehl, and Jane Houton.
Peacock said he could try to do the next phase himself, but ACTC Executive Director Charles Field said CH2M Hill was needed for its expertise to assist in meetings with business owners, the public, and the Caltrans Project Development Team, made up of about a dozen different divisions of the Department, which in turn apply their expertise to the proposals.
Field said the meetings have not yet been scheduled, but the public meetings are public, while those with Caltrans are staff level and are closed to the public.
Peacock said “there’s no easy solution here,” and they have not gone out to the community at large since November. Commissioners commented: Supervisor Richard Forster said: “You should take business owners on a tour through Sutter Creek. It’s pretty dead in Sutter Creek right now.”
Commission Chairman, Ione Mayor David Plank asked if they would spend the $57,000 and not have a decision from the community. Peacock said they might hear that people want the traffic and the vitality through town, and they “might want to fix what we’ve got.”
The two projects left on the table by the Stakeholder Working Group included a “fix what we’ve got approach,” or a two-lane southern bypass, with east-bound and west-bound lanes. Those were run through a “decision matrix” crafted from public input, and costly projects were dismissed.
Peacock said we have two “build” alternatives. They may not have the capacity to suit Caltrans, but if they want to front more of the costs, they could definitely go bigger. He said all but two of the alternates are recommended for elimination and will not be studied any more.
The through-town three-lane improvement was estimated to cost $27.4 million in 2024, and $16.7 million in 2010. The Southern Bypass, from Climax to Mount Zion Road, was estimated to cost $71 million in 2024, and $43.3 million in 2010.
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Amador County – Sutter Creek City Council on Monday discussed a 5-year notice of termination of a wastewater disposal agreement between the city and Ione.
Ione City Council notified the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority and California Department of Corrections in an Aug. 5 letter from Ione City Attorney James D. Maynard saying that Ione “gives formal notice” that “it is providing ARSA and the CDCR with a five-year notice to terminate all flows to the city of Ione’s (Wastewater Treatment Plant).”
Maynard in the letter said Ione expects ARSA and CDCR to “move promptly to terminate the flow of effluent” to the Castle Oaks Water Reclamation Plant, by “Aug. 31, 2016.” The notice cited terms of a 2007 agreement between the three entities.
Maynard said Ione “must begin the design and construction of a new tertiary wastewater treatment plant as soon as possible to comply with the terms” of a state Cease & Desist Order. “As part of that design, the city has been forced to reevaluate the viability of continued flows” to the Castle Oaks plant and to Ione from ARSA and CDCR.
Also Monday, the Sutter Creek City Council discussed and approved a request for proposals for a Wastewater Master Plan, as the city prepares for the developers of Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort to build the city a new wastewater treatment plant. Gold Rush must build the new plant within 2 years of adjudication of an environmental lawsuit against Gold Rush, which is expected to conclude by the end of this calendar year.
City Manager Sean Rabe said the ARSA board has not yet responded to Ione’s letter, and “it will be on their agenda for next week’s meeting. The Council discussed it at the meeting and obviously has concerns about the notification.”
Rabe said: “One of the biggest issues is the timing because of our Master Plan updates not coinciding with the timeframes that Ione needs to stick to.” He said for example that if either ARSA or Sutter Creek want to “participate in a regional plant we need to tell them that before March so that the ARSA flows can be accommodated in the design of the plant.”
He said: “We may not have that decision made by then – whether or not ARSA and Sutter Creek decides to participate in a regional plant or decides to build new storage and disposal on its own. The Master Plan updates will lead the ARSA Board and the City to that decision.”
Ione Councilman Daniel Epperson, who sits on its wastewater committee, said negotiations continue with PERC Water, on a design, build, finance and operate agreement for the Ione plant, which a state timeline wants fully built by September 2013.
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Pine Grove Corridor Improvement Stakeholders recommend two projects to ACTC
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Transportation Commission discussed how Caltrans will respond to costs of two Pine Grove Corridor improvement alternates they identified Wednesday, with costs of between $16 million and $70 million.
Top ideas were a southern bypass with two lanes, on a new road “that provides ultimate capacity improvements, but exceeds funding initially available,” said Neil Peacock, ACTC planner and program manager. He said additional funding from Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission will be required.
The other option to be recommended is to “stick with what we’ve got,” Peacock said. That would be a “three-lane configuration with streetscape design, traffic calming, pedestrian crossings, access control, safety enhancements, and operational improvements such as beneficial side-streets.” He said it improves existing roads but does not give high capacity improvements Caltrans wants in a highway project, and Caltrans acceptance will be important.
The Southern Bypass, from Climax Road to Mount Zion Road, was estimated to cost $43.3 million in 2010, up to $71 million by 2024. The through-town three-lane improvement was estimated to cost $16.7 million in 2010 dollars, up to $27.4 million in 2024.
Peacock was given flexibility in scheduling meetings with Caltrans and the public, and said the next decision will determine which project will need environmental study, and Caltrans could make them study both.
Caltrans representative John Gedney said Caltrans would probably say “no” to the first project, and “probably not” to the second option. He said once you get into the Project Development Team work, there is “quite a bit of rigid thinking.” But he said “the evaluation criteria developed in the outreach will be used” by the Project Development Team, “may carry it through.” He said ACTC consultant CH2M Hill said it “is money well spent,” and warned that state budget issues would affect project budgets.
Peacock said ACTC Stakeholder Work Group “made 12 jobs,” because its members were so dedicated. Andy Byrne, urged extending the consultant’s contract, saying “we need to take it to the people,” and get public consensus before they try to get business owners’ support.
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said “with this authorization we now have spent more than $400,000 to decide what we think we want to do.” He said: “I have no doubt why we as a county are so broke. We are far more interested in the process than in the products.”
Peacock gave a budget update, saying the contract adjustment would bring the total of money spent on the project over $400,000. It leaves a balance of $2 million for environmental review, once Caltrans identified the preferred alternate.
Commissioner Michael Vasquez said “let’s put it to bed with these funds” and finalize what project to bring forward.
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Amador County – Amador Water Agency last week approved an early will-serve fee payment agreement with JTS Communities in Ione worth $1.2 million by 2013.
AWA General Manger Gene Mancebo credited former President Bill Condrashoff with the idea, because he wanted to look at some will-serve commitments that the agency had out there. JTS has 148 lots at Castle Oaks Village 3 entitled to get service, which would not have been paid until a house was built, or service requested, or they sold. JTS agreed to lower payments, paid early, and also deferred redeeming $110,000 in fee credits.
The fee per Equivalent Dwelling Unit was reduced from $11,300 to $8,000. Condrashoff said: “This is a give-away. This is so bad. This is not my idea.”
Condrashoff asked about a $6 million improvement in 1992 at the Ione water plant, and why it was not part of a rate study used to determine fees. He said “$16 million in assets came out of the fee study.” Director Art Toy asked for an explanation.
Mancebo said the 2007 study did not include the 1992 improvement because that capacity was already used. Fees are “specific to this agreement and the water treatment component that we are not moving forward with,” which was removed from the fee methodology. Capacity guaranteed with JTS fees is based on incrementally added capacity at Ione and Tanner plants.
Mancebo said raw water and treatment components were separated and they “can’t charge those to the new developer.” They can only charge for “those components that remain to have capacity.” They “took out raw water and the plant from the buy-in methodology.” The water treatment plant was replaced with other future assets to be made from “incremental expansion and the costs associated with it.”
Board President Don Cooper asked if they collected fees in advance and no lots were built on, would the Agency have to refund the fees paid. Mancebo said there would be no refunds, and that is “the risk the developer takes.”
Mancebo said the money will go into a replacement reserve fund in the Amador Water System, where all participation fees go.
Toy asked about a new rate study and the new plant project. AWA Counsel Stephen Kronick said a new study would take “a minimum 6 months.” Mancebo said a study could cost $20,000 to $30,000 and risks getting a finding that shows participation fees should go down.
Mancebo said a new plant would give “8,000 to 10,000 EDUs” but is “not going to happen any time soon.” He said incremental expansion at the treatment plants remained in the “participation fee of $8,000 that I am suggesting.” They continue to provide for buy-in “you are not taking from the existing assets.”
The Board voted 4-0 to approve the JTS agreement, with Director Gary Thomas absent.
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Ione man arrested for assault with a motor vehicle in domestic incident
Written by Tom
Amador County – Ione Police Department followed a “trail of destruction and chaos” from a domestic-related assault case last weekend, which ended in the arrest of an Ione man for felony assault and vandalism.
About 11 p.m. Saturday, Ione Police responded to Welch Lane where “a man was struck by a vehicle,” IPD Chief Michael L. Johnson said. Officers found a “Ford Excursion SUV embedded in a garage-shop structure” in a residential area.
An man nearby suffered a leg injury from the vehicle. Johnson said “it was determined the vehicle had been used as a weapon of assault.” The driver of the vehicle, identified as Frank Mercado, 40, of Ione, “had fled the scene on foot,” last seen “headed into the nearby creek area. Officers were familiar with Mercado as they had several incidents involving Mercado and escalating incidents involving family matters over the past week.”
Amador County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol and Jackson and Sutter Creek police personnel responded to a call to assist with the search for Mercado. “A perimeter was established and canine units were deployed.” A CHP helicopter also assisted.
Ione Police used the “reverse 911 system” to alert Ione residents of the situation for their safety and to solicit additional information.
After several hours, officers were unable to locate Mercado. IPD “pursued investigative leads and eventually developed information of Mercado’s whereabouts.”
At about 1 a.m. Sunday, IPD obtained a warrant for the arrest of Mercado, and served it at a residence in Rancho Murrieta, assisted by Sacramento Sheriff’s deputies. Frank Mercado was taken into custody without incident and transported to Amador County Jail. Mercado was booked on felony assault and vandalism charges.
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UDEL election in November to feature election for Ione Memorial
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador County Registrar of Voters Sheldon D. Johnson last week extended the candidate filing period for the upcoming Uniform District Election Law election which will be held Nov. 8.
The filing deadline was extended five days, to Wednesday because incumbents did not file for the reelection in the districts which had 33 vacancies in 12 special districts.
The Ione Memorial District Board of Directors has three director positions up for election, and two of those will be contested, according to the Registrar of Voter’s Office election manager Debbie Smith. They were the only two to be contested.
She said there will not be a race for a 4-year term director position for non-veterans on the Ione Memorial District board. Jack Gasaway filed for that position and will be unopposed. Smith said Gasaway is a veteran, but applied for one of the positions that can be held by non-veterans.
A 4-year director term for veterans on the Ione Memorial District board will be contested in a race between Michael Finch and Richard Brown. And a short term director position for veterans will be contested by Michael Smith and Jerry McCarthy.
The director positions for which no candidates file will be up to the Amador County Board of Supervisors to fill by making appointments. Smith said that would be done when they certify the Ione Memorial District election.
Three districts were filled by candidates filing for the positions. Pine Grove Community Services District had two Directors positions open, and they were filed for by Bruce Sherwood and Robert Blair. Sunset Heights Community Services District had three Directors seats open, and three filed for them, those being Joseph Lang, Tara Farish, and Karen Crabtree. Sutter Creek Fire Protection District had two Commissioner positions open, and they were filed for by John Mottoros and Harold Gamble.
In the Drytown County Water District, Richard Kendall filed for one of two positions, leaving one vacancy. Another two vacancies were in Fiddletown Community Services District, where Margie Strauss filed for one of three open seats. The Lockwood Fire Protection District also had three Director seats open, and Jolene Mittlstadt filed for one of them. In the River Pines Public Utilities District, three people, Cathy Landgraf, Franz Nadermann and Vince Huss filed for four positions, leaving one open seat.
Four districts had no filings, including three seats each at Pine Acres, Rabb Park and Ridgewood Acres Community Service Districts. Ranch House Estates CSD had two board seats open, and nobody filed.
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Local enthusiasts want to hold up the Emma Sweeney train’s return to Colorado
Written by Tom
Amador County – An Amador County movie location manager said Wednesday he has offered to purchase the Emma Sweeney model train engine for $5,000 to keep it in Amador County.
John Queirolo said he was one of the last owners of the train when, through a series of paperwork filings, it was donated to the county, through Ray Finegold. He said the original paperwork stipulated that it was never to leave Amador County. In about 1980 it was moved to where it still sits at the Amador County Museum grounds.
Queirolo said he told Supervisor Chairman John Plasse he would pay the county $5,000 for the train for its historic movie prop value. He said he would “take ownership of it and leave it there” until he finds a place to store it, such as Fiddletown, or Plymouth. He has spoken with Plymouth City Manager Jeff Gardner about placing it in a park along Highway 49.
Durango had a film shot there with Emma Sweeney, and other films, using other engines, but Queirolo said the engine model was the best known movie train in the business because of films shot in Amador County, such as Petticoat Junction, and Wild Wild West. Queirolo said he still owns its electric motors, and its wheels actually roll.
Queirolo’s daughter, Dianne Bennett said she wants to take a $5,000 check to the next Supervisor meeting, Tuesday, but they are also considering a court injunction. Queirolo said the contract with Durango Historic Railroad Society was a “hollow promise. I will get you stuff from Knight Foundry, not just a promise.” The contract states that the Society would make a “good faith” effort to find locally linked mining relics.
Queirolo said he and other people were fighting behind the scenes to keep Emma Sweeney in Amador, including Ron Olivero, who told him that attorney friends in Rotary and the Lion’s Club were willing to help. He said Georgia Fox had lined up some people to paint the train, before the donation contract came.
“I thought things were rolling smoothly,” Queirolo said. He had just finished a busy season building state fair exhibits for four counties, and contacted Supervisor Brian Oneto, who did not know Queirolo had offered $5,000.
Queirolo said: “I don’t even need to be reimbursed. I just want to keep it in Amador County.” He said he would even pay $500 a year rent so the museum makes money until it is moved. “The whole idea is to get that museum up and running too,” he said.
Queirolo said he is just a proud Amador resident. He casts film projects exclusively with Amador citizens, including a recent speaking part for Plymouth Councilman Jon Colburn. As president of Kit Carson Mountain Men, he brought back the first fireworks stand to Plymouth in 35 years.
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AWA takes input on an update to its Urban Water Management Plan
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors held a public hearing last week on its draft Urban Water Management Plan.
The Agency is required to update the plan every five years, and follows guidelines of the California Department of Water Resources, which requires the encouragement of public participation and a public hearing in the approval process.
The Aug. 11 hearing took comments and the Plan is available on AWA’s website for review, AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said. Staff will address comments as appropriate, and bring the Plan back, with possible revisions, for Directors’ consideration and possible adoption Aug. 25.
In the public hearing, Tom Infusino, attorney for Foothill Conservancy, commented on chapters, and said his organization would make a written submittal. He said he would have liked more time to comment, but realized the state was late in releasing requirements for the Plan.
He questioned growth rates projections, including Plymouth’s 4 percent. He said that growth “has only been attained by a handful of the 300 cities in California.”
Infusino recommended recycling effluent, and having building standards recommend water reduction. For meeting a state “demand management measure,” he hoped AWA “partners with a local non-profit group” to help develop “defensible numbers.”
Bill Condrashoff said the Plan showed water usage growth to 3,598 acre feet by 2015. He said growth had happened in some years, but AWA still saw water usage reduced. Condrashoff said it appeared the “purpose of the report is an excuse to build.”
Board President Don Cooper said: “Are you saying we shouldn’t plan for the future?” Condrashoff said they should, but he thought the report was written “to get grant money.”
Debbie Dunn said the Board should take the advice of Infusino, “who just beat East Bay Municipal Utility District” by causing a re-scoping of part of its 30-year Water Plan. She said it’s “a free opportunity to make a great document here.”
Director Paul Molinelli Senior asked if anybody on staff is obligated to take notes to answer comments. Mancebo said staff takes notes, the meeting is being recorded, and “in this case we absolutely do” have to answer comments on the Urban Water Management Plan.
Molinelli said it would be nice if they were written down, because he cannot remember them, and it seemed staff was making decisions. He said it would be good to take the input, and have the ability to decide on that information.
Molinelli said he would like the Board to have the ability to make determinations whether to add or not add the comments they receive.
Mancebo said they might use a “red line” draft or another method, to show deletions and editing.
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