Amador County – The Amador Water Agency last month discussed “dumbing down” documents, specifically a “notice of a public hearing” for proposed wastewater rate increases in Martell. Director Bill Condrashoff criticized the 4-page notice, saying “this is very difficult to understand,” and the wording left him not knowing what the document was about. He said it seemed like the agency was trying to hide the rate increase. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said “I’m not sure a 4-page notice means that we are trying to hide it.” He said in his 20 years making such notices, it had what customers always wanted in a graph telling what the new rates would be. That graph shows single family dwellings in the Martell District 12 this month pay $65.97 a month. That rate would increase to $75.87 in July 2010 and to $87.25 in July 2011. Commercial rate changes, with 4 different categories, included the highest, a “fixed service charge” which this month is $21.31. It would rise to $24.51 next July and to $28.18 in July 2011. AWA attorney Steve Kronick said he reviewed the notice, written by Finance Manager Mike Lee. Kronick said “Proposition 218 was adopted by voters in 1997, and the agency has noticed Prop 218 probably 100 times since 1997. We have never had (complaints) lodged from the public about the notice.” Kronick said since 1997, “we have never been accused of not being open.” He said the notice has never before included “protest procedures,” although it is not required by Prop 218, but he was “asked by the board to include it.” He said he used the wording, verbatim, from the Jackson notice. The notice sets a June 24th public hearing for comments on and objections to the proposed wastewater user rate increases in Martell. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors last month discussed membership in Sutter Creek’s Amador Regional Sanitation Authority, and directed staff to prepare information for a study of joining options. General Manager Jim Abercrombie said he “went through past files to see why past boards were reluctant to join” the ARSA Joint Power Authority. He said “ARSA was facing state scrutiny in its line of wastewater to Ione.” Some past board members recommended changes to the JPA, to avoid the “sharing of liability that we would not want to be a part of.” Abercrombie said “there is some public interest for us to bet involved to have an influence over ARSA” and its “Purple Pipe” water reclamation program, that would link regions of the county with reused water for irrigation. Director Debbie Dunn said “months and months ago,” members of the Amador County Board of Supervisors said “come and take our places” on the ARSA board. Supervisors have sought to have AWA take its place on the ARSA board since at least 2004, when supervisors discussed pulling out of the JPA, but remained when AWA would not take its place. ARSA, founded in 1978, has sought to have the AWA join since several years ago when supervisors discussed leaving the JPA, because AWA was in full control of Amador County water. AWA declined, leaving supervisors to remain on the ARSA board. Director Bill Condrashoff asked how much time and money it would take to prepare the ARSA JPA for discussion, and he asked why it had not be prepared already. Abercrombie said “right now, our main focus is trying to get grants” and “this has not been a high priority.” He said it might take about 40 hours of staff time to prepare, and said with board direction, he would have staff prepare information for the AWA board to “decide whether we are going to participate in ARSA or not.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week took steps to end a 3-year contract with a goat herder for weed abatement at the city sewer plant spray field. The city council voted to advertise a request for proposals for handling the weed abatement. City Manager Dixon Flynn said “we are seeking a proposal from anyone to keep weeds abated, with any means.” He said herders normally pay to keep their goats on irrigated grazing fields. A contract with Bushwackers, a weed abatement company, was signed in April 2006 and expires at the end of this month. Flynn said the contract called for Bushwackers to keep 400 goats on the property, but “they’ve been running about 100 goats.” The city pays the company $2,500 dollars a month, or $30,000 dollars a year to keep the goats there on the property, off Old Sacramento Road. Flynn said city staff moves fences, makes sure the goats have fresh drinking water, keeps the fences clear of weeds and feeds the guard dogs 3 times a week, in addition to paying for the goats. A Bushwackers representative said the number of goats at the property was lowered from 400 to 100 because the city had stopped irrigating the fields, where treated wastewater is disposed of in the city sewer system. Mayor Jon Colburn asked why they were not spraying. Flynn said the water is too low in the reservoir, which is almost dry. He said sewer consultants for the city, Amador Water Agency had a goal “to get the pond as low as possible, to zero for September 30th,” so that the pond will have capacity for winter. Flynn said a couple of options were brought by city staffers. One used a borrowed wide-wheel-based 4-wheeler with a mower and was able to mow the steep hillsides. He said buying a new quad and a new mower, the total package would cost the city $11,000 dollars. City maintenance manager Selby Beck said he could use the existing city 4-wheeler and “our mower and do it for nothing.” Flynn said a city engineer’s employee, Matt Osfelt and his brother are goat herders, who said “they would be willing to pay to have an irrigated pasture for their goats.” Councilwoman Pat Fordyce asked about damage to sprinkler heads from 4-wheelers. Flynn said the wider wheel base allows the driver to look down, see and avoid sprinkler heads. The council voted 4-0 to advertise for a weed abatement contract. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Ione City Council last month heard Amador County Recreation Agency’s request to clarify wording in its Joint Power Agreement, then asked for more information to make a decisions. Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep said the county attorney wanted ACRA to clean up “language so we can move forward with financing projects.” To have a successful election would take a two-thirds majority. She said ACRA “certainly can’t levy a tax,” and a recent memo was wrong in saying so. But she believes as a Joint Power Authority, ACRA can already seek funding through ballot initiatives. Mayor Lee Ard said it was difficult for him as ACRA board president and also an Ione City Councilman. Ard said, based on City Attorney Kristen Castanos’ comments, “you need a better lawyer.” Towner-Yep said ACRA’s attorney is good and “gives good, solid and very conservative advice.” Towner-Yep said Prop. 218 taxes, property taxes and sales taxes could be considered, while involvement depended on interest among member entities, which include all cities, the county and the school district, plus Camanche and Upcountry groups. Towner-Yep said ACRA’s mission is to “provide recreation opportunities for all of Amador County,” adding that the agency “budget last year was $403,000 dollars.” And member contributions of $172,000 dollars were “soft money,” not guaranteed, as she must approach members annually. Councilman David Plank asked about vote requirements. Towner-Yep said Prop. 218 needed a 50 percent majority, voter taxes take two-thirds majority. She said the school district’s “Field of Dreams” football field movement failed 3 years ago “because people don’t want to pay different rates.” Towner-Yep said she would be OK with letting taxes taken in an area stay in that area to pay for recreation. The discussion will be continued at a future council meeting. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - A team of Chefs from Jackson Rancheria recently took part in the ninth annual Great Chefs event, a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento. The event, held April 25 at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza in Sacramento, featured tastings by top Northern California restaurants, wineries and breweries plus a silent auction. The team from Jackson Rancheria delighted the crowd with tastings of Lemon Raspberry Crème Brulee, Thai Crab Salad on Belgium Endive, and Tomato Tartlet with Ratatouille and Pesto. This event is another way that Jackson Rancheria continues to support local communities. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento, a mentoring organization with a proven track record of improving lives one child at a time. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

National - Sending a letter will soon be a little more expensive, the U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday. The price for a first-class mail stamp will increase 2 cents to 44 cents, starting May 11. The Postal Service said the price increase was necessary because of rising production costs. Under law, the price of stamps is not allowed to rise faster than the U.S. consumer price index, which measures inflation. The increase will cost the typical family about $3 a year. Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - A resident of the Buckhorn Mobile Park suffered serious burns while working on his truck Monday, according to police reports. The man was reportedly repairing the truck’s engine when gas in the engine compartment ignited and spread to clothing on his body. Initial reports say the man suffered second degree burns across much of his upper body, but these have yet to be confirmed. Local paramedics immediately arrived on the scene to assess the situation. The man was taken to a landing zone by medics at Mace Meadows Golf Course, loaded onto a helicopter by fire personnel and flown to an area hospital for burn treatment. The reports do not indicate how the fire was initially started and the incident is still under investigation. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency has called a special meeting for its board of directors Monday to host a workshop for potential water and wastewater rate increases that could affect about 1,250 customers in 4 different service areas. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said Thursday that the meeting is preliminary to rate increases that staff will recommend. Abercrombie said the May 4th meeting is “just a workshop for the board to understand the cost and revenue issues that have caused the need to do rate increases.” The meeting will discuss how much of a rate increase is recommended, along with when the last rate increase occurred in each service area. He said: “Some of these we haven’t had rate increases for 3 years.” Abercrombie said “after workshop, the board will give us authorization to send out notices for the public to attend a (public hearing at a) board meeting” to discuss the rate increases. He said that would be a public hearing for a rate increases as required under Proposition 218. The documents would be mailed to customers giving notice of a public meeting, which would occur 45 days after the notice. Board President Terence Moore called the special meeting for the AWA workshop, set for 10 a.m. Monday, May 4th at the AWA office conference room, at 12800 Ridge Road in Sutter Creek. The water and wastewater rate workshop will discuss impacts on about 1,250 customers. That includes about 600 water service customers in Lake Camanche Water Improvement District Number 7. The workshop also will discuss wastewater rates for roughly 300 customers in Lake Camanche Water Improvement District Number 11. The workshop will also discuss another 300 customers served by Wastewater Improvement District Number 1, in Pine Grove, Gayla Manor, Surrey Junction and some other small areas. The discussion will also discuss potential rate changes for about 50 water customers in the La Mel Heights Water District. Abercrombie said “In the workshop, it will show the financial plan but it will also show what the current rate is and what the proposed rate will be for 3 years.” He said it was typical to get rate increase in 3-year plans. The rates may or may not change equally over the 3-year increments. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – On Wednesday May 6th, members of the Jackson City Council are scheduled to host a neighborhood meeting at Mel & Faye’s Diner. The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Mel & Faye’s Banquet Room. Jackson City Councilman Keith Sweet announced the meeting this week, saying that the public is invited to come to the meeting and he also encouraged them to “stay for dinner.” The council members will answer questions related to city services or budget, discuss neighborhood issues, provide information regarding Neighborhood Watch programs, or listen to any special interests or concerns of Jackson residents. Sweet said he attends each Neighborhood Meeting, and this week’s meeting will also be attended by Councilman Wayne Garibali. The meeting is part of a twice monthly series of meetings that will be held throughout the year on the first and third Wednesday of each month. The next scheduled meeting is May 20th at 6pm at the Jackson Civic Center. The full schedule can be found on the city’s website at www.ci.jackson.ca.us. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Ione City Council last week voted to rename a street to honor recently retired longtime Ione priest, Father Thomas Relihan. A crowd of Relihan’s neighbors and supporters attended the meeting and some offered words of encouragement to the council. A new law to allow renaming of streets was passed at a previous meeting in April, then on April 21st, the council unanimously renamed West Washington Street as Relihan Drive. The 1-block section of road leads to Church Street. City Planner Christopher Jordan said “the backers are here in full force.” Councilman Jim Ulm stepped down before the council heared the item, saying he “Might want to comment on it.” Relihan, who did not attend the meeting, was also honored with a resolution of appreciation last November by the Ione City Council and former Mayor Andrea Bonham, after taking his retirement. One of the group supporters last Tuesday, Joyce Ghan, said Father Relihan “has retired here, he plans to stay here and he plans to be buried here.” Another, Karen Hudson, encouraged “the city council to do a very simple recognition of a man who has given much of his life to the community.” Another said that a member of the fire department said response safety with the name change of the road would actually help to differentiate between East and West Washington Streets. The council voted 4-0 to pass Resolution Number 1719, to change the name of West Washington Street to Relihan Drive. The Ione City Council last week also heard from Ione Business & Community Association President Rich Kreth, who gave a financial report and an update on happenings with the association. He said IBCA has a typical annual budget of $15,000 to $20,000 dollars, “thanks to a city grant last year” they were at 20,000. He said the group partnered with the Amador Council of Tourism, and purchased advertising from 12 print media companies, including 4 Sacramento-area periodicals, and the Ledger Dispatch. Kreth said they also did promotions with Home Town Radio. They also sponsored 12 grants for local groups. He said the IBCA’s next big project is to build a second lighted road sign on Highway 124. He also said at the recent town hall meeting at Evalynn Bishop Hall, someone said: “How come Ione doesn’t have a phone book? We do and it’s out now.” The IBCA business directory lists Ione and regional businesses, with the front cover showing the Ione Elementary School student body on the campus front approach-way, and also a snapshot of Preston Castle. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.