An extension of the Powder House Estates tentative map appeared before the Sutter Creek Planning Commission Monday night. The developer Stan Gamble, the same developer who is developing Golden Hills, asked for a 24 month extension on the tentative map.  The project previously known as the Oak Knolls was approved as Oak Knolls in 1993 for 94 single family residential lots and 17.3 acres of open space. The map was due to expire in November of 2005, but a new project was submitted under the name of the Powder House Estates and in April of 2003 the Planning Commission determined that the EIR originally prepared for Oak Knolls was no longer adequate based on CEQA guidelines. The EIR was updated and subsequently appealed. In April of 2004 the Vesting Tentative Subdivision map for the project was approved.

The Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant Backwash Agreement with the Mace Meadows Golf and Country Club was the main topic of discussion during Thursday’s AWA meeting. Under Staff reports the agency’s Operations Manager reported that the Mace Meadow’s pond #7, located on the golf course, has been overflowing and that improvements are needed to the pond to keep that from happening, such as re-routing backwash. This is yet to be done because of set backs involving the Department of Fish and Game and their jurisdiction issues. Operations explained to the board that since the Agency and the Mace Meadows Golf and Country Club are each responsible for aspects of the pond then both entities could be subject to a notice of violation from the Regional Water Quality Control Board for the spill.

Earlier this week state officials, Senator Dave Cox along with the new warden at Mule Creek State Prison, Rich Subia and the new Secretary of the Department of corrections, James Tilton, held a public forum in Ione to hear input from citizens on how the prison is affecting the local community. First to address the three men was a woman who lives directly across from the prison. She told them that her tap water has been tainted and is undrinkable as a result of the prison's waste water system, and although she is provided with containers of 5 gallons of drinking water every day, her daughter will soon be having a baby and it isn't fair that the inmates across the street will bathe in clean water and her grandchild will not. Other members of the public demanded the current wastewater situation with the prison be declared an emergency telling the three officials that they want a response immediately and that it is unacceptable to have mothers washing their children in dirty water.

Ranger Pipeline, the contractor for the Amador Water Agency on the transmission pipeline project has announced planned blasting for the Upper Previtali Rd / Bosse Rd area about 5 miles east of Jackson off of Hwy 88. The blasting will occur beginning next Monday February 12th with an anticipated completion by the end of the month. The blasting will be conducted Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5 pm daily during this time period. Jamie Karg, a Ranger Pipeline Representative states that the company will be taking mitigation measures to minimize the impacts of the blasting on the surrounding homeowners. Both noise and dust mitigations will be taken by Ranger. This include the use of blankets to lessen both the noise and dust impacts on the surrounding areas.

The County of Amador received some disappointing news yesterday in the form of a resignation letter. County Administrative Officer Pat Blacklock has submitted a letter of resignation to the Board of Supervisors. Blacklock says he shared with them ( the supervisors ) yesterday morning. “They have been very kind and supportive.” stated Blacklock. Blacklock has been the county administrative officer for last five years and now has taken a job as the Dean of Careers and Technology at Cosumnes River College. In his letter of resignation Blacklock cites some of the many collaborative achievements he and the Board of Supervisors championed, a new animal shelter, a new county admin center, the construction of the new court house currently under way, the formation of the Amador County Recreation Agency and the formation of the Amador Learning Center which brings college classes to the county. Blacklock’s last day with Amador County will be March 16th.

The Pine Grove Community Services District in Pine Grove has been notified by the CA Dept of Health that four of their latest test results showed increased levels of lead in the water. The routine testing required by the state indicated that 4 of the Pine Grove area customers had lead levels above state approved level standards. These tests are annual and have been conducted by the same Community Service District customers at their own homes for many years. The customers are asked to let their water supply sit undisturbed for 12 hours and then fill a one quart container with water and return it to the district for forwarding to the state.

The frigid temperatures continue to dominate the news with temperatures the lowest they have been in almost a decade throughout northern California. A freeze warning, that began yesterday morning remains in affect through 9am this morning as an arctic air mass lingers over California. According the National Weather Service another cold night was expected last night with 5-10 hours of below freezing temperatures- likely in the teens. This morning, we had low temperatures again ranging in the teens to low twenty’s and today’s highs will warm only a few degrees above yesterday’s mid 40’s, however the overnight low is expected to rise almost 10 degrees tonight putting Amador County in mid to high 20’s. Sub-freezing temperatures are possible again Wednesday night, though, according the National Weather Service the temperatures are not expected to be as cold as the recent near-record temperatures that we saw over the weekend. The rest of the week is looking to be in the high 30’s to low 40’s with below freezing temperatures at night.

 

The Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission is moving forward in continuing to become in compliance with state law. While LAFCO has been somewhat dormant for the last couple of years a wake up call and renewed commitment has had them working diligently towards becoming a functional commission. The California State Legislature directs the Local Agency Formation Commission to promote orderly growth and development, discourage urban sprawl while preserving open space and agricultural lands and encouraging efficient service areas for local governments. LAFCO operations are governed by the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000.

After discussion and debate, the Board of Supervisors decided to put the matter of rate increases for waste services up for public hearing. Representatives from the Amador Disposal Service and ACES Waste Service gave a lengthy presentation on the reasons they supported such action, considering regularly occurring rate increases in past yearly quarters. Paul Mollinelli Junior and Senior were on hand to represent the Amador Disposal Service. They cited upkeep and gas prices as two of many reasons for an increase. The Board was conflicted on deciding the matter, and decided to schedule a public hearing for June 10th to gather public opinion.

A new art work was dedicated yesterday afternoon at the Jackson Rancheria Casino. The giant sculpture of a Bald Eagle taking flight from atop a rocky outcropping above a waterfall and flowing river adds a dramatic accent to the front of the casino. The Bald Eagle was selected as the national emblem for the US in 1782 because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks. It is the only eagle that is unique to North America and was just recently removed from the endangered species list. The Eagle water feature stands 31 feet high with a wing span of 26 feet.