The Jackson Police Department, along with both Sutter Creek and Ione Police Departments and the Amador County Sheriff’s Department, has been awarded new light trailers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The trailers were awarded as part of a special equipment acquisition through the department. Lynne Olson, Coordinator for the Amador County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services, administered the acquisition. The main purpose of the light trailers is to light any nighttime emergency scene regardless of whether it is law enforcement or fire related. According to Police Chief Scott Morrison, “they will turn any night time scene into a daylight scene.” However, they have numerous other functions. Each light trailer comes equipped with a high powered generator that has a continuous run-time of 60 to 100 hours before refueling is necessary. Because of the efficiency of the generator, the trailers can be used to provide electrical current to the individual police stations in case of an emergency. The newly awarded agencies will also have the responsibility of loaning out the trailers to any other government entity that requests them for any large emergency or disaster. An example cited by Police Chief Morrison noted that the Jackson Police Department provides extra lighting every year after the fireworks to light the way for pedestrians crossing Highway 49 from Hoffman Street. With the newly acquired trailer it will be much easier and much safer to provide the services needed in each of the cities, he said. Morrison informed the Jackson City Council of the award Monday night at their meeting and stated that “[the police department] is very happy to receive this equipment.”

An informative public workshop was held Tuesday evening at the Amador County Administration Building regarding the topic “What Every Citizen Should Know about both the Brown Act and the Public Records Act.” The workshop was hosted by Roseanne Chamberlain, Executive Director of LAFCO, and was designed to increase the general publics understanding and to reiterate the importance of the two government codes. Before the presentation began, Chamberlain reminded the audience that the workshop was not intended as legal advice, yet her knowledge of both subjects is vast and she has previously held workshops on both. In 1952 the San Francisco Chronicle published a ten-part series entitled “Your Secret Government”, which brought to light the private dealings of city officials and government agencies on public matters. The League of Cities then drafted and initiated a bill that would force the entities to ensure all aspects of the decision making process are done in public and made accessible. This includes discussion, debate, and the acquisition of information. The Brown Act was signed into law in 1953 by Modesto Assemblyman Ralph M. Brown. The Brown Act applies to local agencies, legislative bodies, and meetings where discussion and action is taken. The Brown Act has seen modifications and additions throughout the years, such as the addition of a measure that mandates persons elected to legislative bodies as subject to the Brown Act, even prior to assuming office. The presentation also covered the rights of the public, public notice regarding meetings, the definition of meetings and the legislative body, and what is not permitted as discussion items in closed sessions. The presentation also focused on the Public Records Act, which basically ensures that Government documents are made public and accessible. Public Records are loosely defined as any paper or electronic document used to disclose of disseminate information on a public matter. The public has the right to request these documents orally, in writing, or by walking in. If a request is made, the agency must respond with the documents within 10 days of the request date, and they must provide the information in the requested format.

After almost a year of public hearings and debates, the Oak Manor Addition Conditional Use Permit was granted by the Jackson City Council Monday evening. Councilman Wayne Garibaldi recused himself from the discussion, leaving the three remaining council members to deliberate and determine action on the item. The permit was originally reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission at their August 20th meeting in 2007, with two subsequent appeals filed by Mr. Gerald Browder Jr., a resident of Placer Drive, and Mr. Lance Salisbury, President of the Oak Tree Townhouses Owner’s Association. On September 24th of 2007, the City Council heard the appeals request and granted a continuance in hopes that an agreement could be made between Ron Regan, from Oak Manor, and Salisbury of Oak Tree Townhomes. A maintenance agreement was reached and executed and is currently in place. On June 9th, the Council heard the issue once again but deferred action to allow time for the applicant, Regan, to meet with the other appellant, Browder. Browder and Regan were available at the meeting to answer questions from the council and the audience. The Conditional Use Permit was granted unanimously, with a stipulation added that allows for an annual review by the Planning Commission during the first 2 years after occupancy.

The ongoing talks between a labor union and Sutter Amador Hospital over labor contracts have – at least for now – come to a close. In statements issued last week, the hospital declared that it will no longer negotiate with SEIU United Healthcare Workers, or UHW, until the union body holds a formal election. UHW is a major union representing thousands of healthcare employees, and absorbed Sutter Amador’s Local 4988 back in 2005. According to the statement, the hospital’s decision came after UHW refused to hold elections that would have allowed hospital staff to choose their own representation. Negotiations between the two entities have been ongoing since the contract for hospital workers expired back in February. “There hasn’t been any resolution,” said Jody Boetzer, the hospital’s Public Relations Coordinator. Representatives from both sides are hesitant to provide details, but one hospital employee said that significant progress has been made on wage increases, hours and benefits. The biggest issue, employee security, has yet to be resolved. Despite the lack of a contract, the hospital will go ahead with plans for new employee healthcare package wage increases beginning in August and February. Any word on the future of negotiations has yet to be determined.

A string of accidents at an intersection in Pine Grove are the result of a traffic signal that was recently installed there, according to residents who opposed the project. On Wednesday a motorcyclist’s leg was shattered when another vehicle cut in front of him as he proceeded downhill. The traffic signal itself in concept is not the problem, but the way it was designed is, said one Pine Grove resident. Since the light at the intersection of Highway 88 and Ridge Road was installed, the east bound turn lane has a sign with a green dot on it stating “yield to oncoming traffic” instead of a fully functional light which would regulate traffic turning left against west bound traffic coming down the hill. “This has proven over and over again to be a very bad idea. Many drivers are confused, don't understand, and don't pay attention to this sign and think they have the right of way, sometimes with deadly consequences,” said the resident. At least four accidents have been recorded at the intersection since the signal’s installation. The signal’s opponents have taken various steps, including letter writing, to urge Caltrans to install an additional light to regulate traffic in the East Bound left turn lane. CalTrans was unavailable for comment at the time this story was written, but sources close to TSPN indicate that the agency will consider whatever measures are necessary to improve safety as long as they are approved by the County. 

The joint meeting of the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Council and the Amador Dry Creek Watershed Council was held Tuesday afternoon, with the discussion focusing mainly on funding for the next fiscal year. The September 15th deadline for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy grant is approaching quickly, and although other funding sources and grants may be available, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s is currently the highest priority. Because of the current confusion surrounding the California State budget nonprofit organizations, agencies like the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Council are working to acquire funding through various sources. During the meeting, an audience member questioned the incorporation of the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Council and the Amador Dry Creek Watershed Council into one entity. This assimilation had been discussed frequently over the past 4 months; however, it had not been formally adopted. A meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6pm on July 29th to discuss the incorporation. The Board of Directors for the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Council is nearing capacity, with two new members being nominated at the meeting Tuesday afternoon. Tom Suarez will remain on the Executive Council as Secretary and Bob Long will now sit on the General Board. One vacancy is still open and will be discussed again at the next meeting.

In a related story, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, or SNC, has just announced it will give away another 17 million in state grants to approved projects this year. The SNC is a state agency created by bi-partisan legislation and signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2004. The SNC region, which is made up of all or part of 22 counties and over 25 million acres, “is one of the most significant natural and biologically diverse regions in the world” and includes Amador County. According to the group’s website, the SNC “initiates, encourages, and supports efforts that improve the environmental, economic and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region, its communities and the citizens of California.” In fiscal year 2007/08, the SNC distributed nearly 17 million dollars to 146 projects throughout the Sierra Nevada, some of which went to Amador County groups. Most of that money came from Prop 84, or the 2006 Safe Drinking Water Bond Act.

Officials reported continued progress Wednesday with California's remaining 33 blazes - down from more than 2,000 in the past month - although fire danger remained high in some rural areas. In Trinity County, the outlying neighborhoods of Junction City are still under mandatory evacuation orders with a large wildfire less than a mile away from the town of about 800, said Mike Johnson, a spokesman with the National Park Service. That fire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest was about 60 percent contained after burning 93 square miles. Flames around Northern California, which also has led to a handful of evacuations in Shasta, Lake and Mendocino counties, are contributing to air quality problems. Dense smoke has been making for very unhealthy air that likely will go into the hazardous range in Trinity, Humboldt and Siskiyou Counties this week, said Dimitri Stanich, spokesperson for the California Air Resources Board. "People need to seek shelter and avoid exposure," Stanich said. "These levels are damaging even to healthy people." State officials planned to turn gymnasiums and other buildings into "clean air shelters" equipped with air filters to screen out particulate matter in all three counties, he said. Wildfires ignited since June 21 thus far have scorched 1,528 square miles across the state and destroyed 122 homes. In many parts of the state, cooler temperatures and higher humidity have aided firefighters, including those in the Los Padres National Forest near the coast where a widespread blaze was 72 percent contained today. The fire has blackened 216 square miles and burned 26 homes around Big Sur. "Things are really starting to look good," said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Today marks the opening of the 2008 Amador County Fair. The long-awaited annual event has been anticipated for months by eager fairgoers from far and wide who look forward to the event every year. This year’s Fair includes all the traditional events- like the rodeo, rides, kid’s parade and livestock auction- but will also feature new ones- like the motorcycle destruction derby. Fair gate admission is 8 dollars per person. For more information, visit the Amador County Fair website at www.amadorcountyfair.com.

A counterfeiting bust in Lodi on Tuesday marks the end of a long trail of deception that affected a number of businesses in Amador County. Clinton Irons, the alleged ring leader of a 6-person counterfeiting ring, was arrested at a Lowe’s in Lodi where a video allegedly shows him passing a fake 100 dollar bill. Irons is one of many suspects arrested so far by detectives. The scandal hit home in Amador County when a suspicious female in her mid-30’s dropped her car off for window repair at Glass Doctor in Martell. “She was frustrated. She claimed her door glass was broken at the casino and she needed it fixed now,” said owner Mark Borchin. She insisted on paying cash and handed over a number of one hundred dollar bills. Upon closer inspection under a special black light, Glass Doctor employees realized that the bills were fakes. Borchin called the Sheriff immediately. The Sherriff called the woman and confronted her about the bills on the phone, at which time she fled the area and did not return to pick up her car. Police reports confirm that the counterfeit bills were actually five dollar bills that had been bleached and reprinted with a standard consumer printer. The Jackson Rancheria casino, Wal-Mart and other businesses throughout the county were also reportedly hit by the counterfeiters. “My concern is making the community aware that there is still a lot of bad money floating around out there,” Borchin said. According to Lodi police, one suspect is still being sought in connection with the alleged ring.