Amador County – The Plymouth City Council directed staff to study erecting a building across the street from city hall to house the Ahrens Fox Fire Truck. Mayor Jon Colburn placed the item on the agenda on behalf of the Ahrens Fox Restoration Society. Colburn said a society committee looked at locations for a museum-type building to house the 1939 aerial ladder truck, the Ahrens Fox, a former truck from the San Francisco Fire Department. He said they found the Lodge Hill and found no benefit at that being the location. The committee spoke with a commercial building supplier about the city’s vacant lot across Main Street from City Hall, where the former Plymouth Fire Station once stood. Colburn said a steel building could be built for $80,000, but it was smaller that they had hoped to have. Part of the plan would include a 15 by 40 foot space on the east side of the building to rent out as a commercial spot for weekend operations, to be able to pay utilities, insurance and rent. Colburn said the Ahrens Fox Restoration Society’s funding included a $50,000 private pledge, $15,000 in the bank and other pledges. Councilwoman Patricia Fordyce did not like the idea of giving a building to a non-profit organization. But City Attorney Mike Dean said any number of scenarios could result in an agreement between the council and the society, including the city owning the building on the city property. Councilman Greg Baldwin said he presumed they would rent to the society. City Manager Dixon Flynn said the project likely would cost more than the $80,000 cost of the building. On City Council direction, Flynn said he would meet with the non-profit, discuss finances and come up with some preliminary plans and an estimate for design work, with some sketches on the project. He said he expected to bring the item back to the council by the summer. Story by Jim Reece.

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors jumped onto the Prospect Motors support cavalcade Thursday morning in passing and emergency resolution in support of the decades-old GMAC dealership. General Manager Jim Abercrombie said the resolution was added to the meeting Thursday in an effort to add support for the Halvorson Family before Saturday’s Community Support Rally. Abercrombie said freshman AWA board member Debbie Dunn brought the issue to his attention. Dunn attended a civic meeting Monday night at Mel & Faye’s Diner in Jackson during which the rally was organized. Abercrombie said the resolution proclaimed the AWA board would “support continued operation of Prospect Motors.” He said Prospect Motors employs 80 people and the site is also part of the agency’s Sutter Hill customer base of water and wastewater system users. The ability of the company to pay its water and wastewater bills could have an impact on the agency, not to mention the loss of jobs at the dealership. The resolution passed 5-0. Board president Terence Moore, who also attended the Mel & Faye’s organizational meeting, said he planned to attend the rally. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – In its first meeting of 2009, the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors will consider resolutions to honor the service of its 4 outgoing board members. The resolutions will be part of a short agenda in the board’s 9 a.m. meeting Thursday at the AWA office on Ridge Road. Outgoing AWA Chairman John Swift leaves after 2 terms and 8 years on the board, and the resolution notes that he “made significant contributions to the installation of the Wildflower Storage Tank and pump station in Ione” as well as in the Lake Camanche area “with the addition of a new supply Well, Number 14, and acquisition of a $250,000 grant to conduct a water supply sustainability study.” Separate resolutions would honor Paul Scott, Madonna Wiebold and Dave Thomas, who all “volunteered to serve the AWA customers by completing the terms of board members retiring or moving from the area.” Scott served in the past as president and board member of the AWA, back when the board met on a rickety kitchen table and chairs in Jackson. Scott in the past helped toward the completion of the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant and the Amador Transmission Pipeline. He took over the post of Dan Brown. Thomas fulfilled the terms of two retiring board members, Wiebold took over for one, and both helped with the Regional Wastewater and Recycling Master Plan and policy. Also Thursday, the board will consider authorizing General Manager Jim Abercrombie to execute a cost-sharing agreement with three other agencies to study the feasibility of increasing water storage at Lower Bear Reservoir. The study would cost $120,000 total, with an even split of $30,000 in cost each to the AWA and the East Bay Municipal Utility District, the Calaveras County Water District and the Mokelumne River Water and Power Authority. The study would look at raising the Lower Bear dam by 32 feet. The AWA board also will consider reconfirming “authorization to staff to complete the Plymouth Pipeline Project not to exceed the total estimated project cost of $10.66 Million.” That price-tag includes Plymouth’s portion of the project cost. Story by Jim Reece.

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council heard a report on its General Plan Update fiscal impact study on Tuesday, hearing that much of its spending is below average. Consultant Tom Trzcinski presented the study to the council and took questions. He said “I’ve never seen such a low service level of police,” noting that the city has 7/10ths of a “full time equivalent” police officer. City Finance Manager Jeff Gardner said that used to be one full officer. The contracted policing is done by the Amador County Sheriff’s Office and paid for by state grants. Plymouth and Amador City combine services and used to share 1 full-time officer each, policing areas inside and between both jurisdictions. Gardner said since then, it has fallen to 1-and-a-half full time equivalency officers, split between Plymouth and Amador City. City Manager Dixon Flynn said the city is “looking at the economics over time, not just an arbitrary number,” in its policing. Flynn said Citrus Heights began its own police department after contracting the work to the county sheriff, because “it costs you money when you take people to county jail, and it’s a lot of money.” Trzcinski said future policing “is the largest cost assumption in the study.” It assumed a cost of $214 per person or $535 per residential unit per year for police in new developments, assuming the need for 1.5 full-time officers per 1,000 people. Trzcinski said the city spends about $110,000 dollars per year on street work, also relatively low. The study said future service assumptions estimated $75,000 dollars spent annually per linear mile of new streets, annexed from the county. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – In the wake of a county lawsuit dismissal against 1 of 2 new casino projects being sought in Amador, the Ione City Council heard from casino foes and voted to support the county in its legal battle last week. Mayor Lee Ard was the only “no” vote in the 4-1 passage of a city resolution urging Amador Supervisors to keep up its legal challenge of an Indian gaming compact between the Buena Vista Band of Miwok Indians and the State of California. Councilman David Plank asked if the council was being premature on the resolution, and if it should wait until she had read the ruling. City Attorney Kristen Castanos said Amador County apparently filed the suit without the appropriate cause of action and it may be able to re-file that suit, but Castanos said it was not premature to send a resolution of support. City Manager Kim Kerr said the resolution states the city’s support for the county in what it does. She reminded the council that it had voted to allow Amador supervisors to negotiate on behalf of the city of Ione. Flying Cloud Casino opponents Jerry Cassesi and former Ione city administrator George Lambert both stated support for the resolution. Cassesi told the council to look at the $100,000 it was getting out of an agreement now in place, negotiated by Supervisors. He said the funds would cover about one police officer and one vehicle for one 8-hour shift a day, with no funding going to fire or emergency services. Lambert said the “Supervisors look like they are already headed in the right directions, trying to get the decision overturned.” Lambert said there is “too much at stake, and having 3 casinos in this little county is just too much for anybody to bear.” Castanos said the $100,000 for Ione was part of the agreement put in place by the mandatory arbitration decision. Councilman Lee Ard asked if it was true that the casino can go forward with its plans. Castanos said the project can only be stopped with a court injunction. Councilman Jim Ulm said they gave the county negotiating power for the city so that they could act as one on the issue. Councilman Skip Schaufel said a Home Town Radio non-scientific poll found that 75 percent of listeners were in favor of the county continuing to oppose the Flying Cloud Casino. 25 percent were against that opposition. Ulm said “if we are going to oppose the casino, we should continue.” Ard said “I don’t want casinos, but I feel that this one will go in.” He thought that supervisors should not continue the fight, and should “know when to cut their losses and run.” Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – The City Council and Planning Commission looked through wants and needs for a new city sign ordinance Wednesday in Ione. City Planner Christopher Jordan and City Manager Kim Kerr discussed potential ordinance verbiage with the full city council and three of five commissioners, gathering consensus. They discussed a uniform signage program for commercial centers of 3 or more tenants, which “establishes unique design and development standards to create a unified feel and allow flexibility in design while implementing the regulations.” Commissioner Mike McDermed asked if uniformity was retroactive to existing businesses. Jordan said there was “nothing in here that would apply this retroactively,” but it could be done in conditions of approval, or an ordinance amendment. Jordan asked for a policy decision on whether the council and commissioners wanted to require a sign permit for temporary signs, which included A-frame placards and banners. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked how it would be enforced, and said the “Ione Pharmacy puts one out every day.” She wondered if an annual permit would be needed. Jordan said paperwork filed with the city could tell staff when a banner goes up and when it is supposed to come down. Councilman Jim Ulm said he thought it was over-regulation. Commissioner Joe Wylie agreed, saying “we don’t have to go from Cow Town to La Jolla in one jump.” Jordan said he saw a consensus that they did not want to require permits for temporary signs. Bonham asked about an “old timey sign with a mustache that wiggles.” She also asked about two old 8-foot tall, sexy girls – statues that stood above the theater in the 1960s – a cowgirl and a senorita. She said people talked about finding the old statues and returning them to downtown. Jordan said a moving mustache sign was against the ordinance, “but this group can decide what policy it wants.” As far as the sexy statues, without printing or reference to a business, if attached to the building, they would be considered part of the building and would be allowed. The commission will consider these and other final rough drafts of the ordinance at a later meeting. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – Amador County assessed its infrastructure deficits two weeks ago by compiling a wish list. Amador departments compiled a list of 128 projects for the board at its meeting January 12, including 27 projects that were “green projects” aimed at saving energy. 34 of the projects were road fixes, 57 were facilities projects, 23 were airport repair jobs and 14 were projects handled by the Amador County Recreation Agency. The Recreation agency’s wish list totaled $36.1 Million in shortfalls for its projects, including $14.25 Million for development Volcano Communications Park and $14.28 Million to develop a regional park at Oro De Amador Park in Jackson. None of ACRA’s projects were energy savers, but the agency had $1.55 Million in funding for its projects, including $750,000 for the Volcano park and $725,000 for the Oro De Amador Park. Repair project shortfalls at the Amador County Airport totaled $11.06 Million, including $2.5 Million in community hangar upgrades, one of three energy-saving projects. The airport list included building a $1.65 Million runway safety area at the south end of the field. Facilities projects listed by Amador County totaled $61.34 Million, with $58.96 Million in shortfalls for its 57 projects. The biggest was constructing the Amador County Sheriff’s Office’s new detention facilities, at 61,000 square feet for $34.28 Million, of which $31.98 Million was unfunded. The county also had a $7.3 Million project to demolish 4 buildings and remodel 2 others at the old courthouse property, and a $12.8 Million shortfall for the entire cost of building a new 25,000-square-foot main library branch. The list also had an unfunded $1.679 Million project to build a parking structure with photovoltaic lights at the county Administration Building, one of 24 “green” or energy saving projects among the 57 facility projects. The County Road Department listed $49.68 Million in projects, all unfunded, with 16 of the projects priced at $2 Million each and 8 others at $1 Million or more. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors approved a study of the feasibility of increasing the storage capacity at Lower Bear Lake by building up the dam. The approval in effect will simply pay for the study already approved in a consultant agreement with the URS Corporation executed in July of 2007. General Manager Jim Abercrombie said the board was simply approving the cost share agreement of the $120,000 project, to cost AWA $30,000. Board Member Don Cooper asked why there was no incentive in the agreement for a completion time-frame for the study. Abercrombie said it was left out because of other AWA construction projects and because a Pacific Gas & Electric study related to the lake would not be completed for another 3 years. He added that part of the project agreement would be about preserving AWA water rights, which staff wanted to discuss in closed session. Board Chairman Terence Moore said the study would find out if it was possible financially and physically to raise the dam at Lower Bear, and the board was only approving the study. Board Member Bill Condrashoff asked if the estimated 72 Million Kilowatt Hours for replacement of loss of water in a 4,000-foot drop of water above the dam would be more like a 5,000-foot drop. Abercrombie said the kilowatt hours were estimated with a study done in the 1990s and could be updated with more current numbers. Moore said the agreement and study were aimed at future water rights and a water rights workshop, possibly in February, would help new board members better understand the elements involved. AWA Attorney Steve Kronick said a 1975 agreement with PG&E gave the agency 2,200 acre-feet a year of water rights in Lower Bear Lake, with 3,000 acre-feet of storage paid for by AWA, 2,200 taken in yield, and the balance paid for as insurance for future needs if or when the Central Amador Water Project water supply runs out. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – On Friday, Congressman Dan Lungren, member of the House Administration Committee and Representative for Amador County, was chosen to represent his Republican colleagues during the Electoral College vote on the House floor. “This historic vote, confirming the election of the 44th President of the United States, is an important part of the American democratic process. I am honored to be involved in today's ceremony,” Lungren said. Often misunderstood, the Electoral College was set by the Founding Fathers of the United States to accompany the popular vote. Although there are a small number of electors, this vote is just as important as the popular vote. The Electoral College, rather than the popular vote, has decided the election three times in our nation’s history. Congressman Dan Lungren also serves on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Budget, and House Administration Committee. Staff Report

Amador County - In a rare moment during the current economic climate, the Board of Supervisors decided how best to use additional funds for local streets and roads made available through Proposition 1B. Public Works Director Larry Peterson explained that as a result of clean-up legislation to the state’s budget act, a final $63 million in Prop 1B funding for 2008-09 was made available. This required a separate budget authorization from the Board of Supervisors to allow Public Works to receive the $178, 218 funds allocated to Amador County. Peterson recommended stipulating these funds for two segments of Camanche Road in dire need of repair. Camanche Road was chosen due to its poor pavement conditions, which ranked a 0 out of 100 on the Public Works repair index scale. Average daily traffic compared to other roads needing treatment was also considered. Supervisor Novelli questioned whether Camanche was one of the roads being looked at by the proposed Buena Vista Casino. Peterson replied that he didn’t think there was a conflict there. The Board approved of the decision unanimously. Now that it has been approved, the project will be put into the mix of projects planned for the next construction season. Story by Alex Lane