Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors studied proposed rate increases on Monday, then continued the meeting to May 12th. The workshop was to inform the board on reasons for staff’s recommendation to raise rates in Camanche, LaMel Heights, Upcountry improvement districts. Those include about 600 water customers in Lake Camanche Water Improvement District Number 7; roughly 300 wastewater customers in Lake Camanche Water Improvement District Number 11; about 400 customers in Wastewater Improvement District Number 1; and about 50 water customers in the La Mel Heights Water District. Finance Manage Mike Lee led the board through the 4 district budgets, discussing existing deficits and forecasts. Each showed the last 3 years’ numbers, and projections for this fiscal year and the next 6 fiscal years. Lee said Wastewater District Number 1 “won’t see a positive ending balance until the end of fiscal year 2014-2015.” Camanche water District Number 7 also showed its first positive end balance at the end of 2014-2015. Wastewater District 1 began the year with a balance of negative-$292,000 dollars and was expected to close the year a negative-$401,000 dollar balance. Board members pointed out a funding slump in salaries and benefits, and Lee said it was due to loss of a part-time employee, whose position was vacated and unfilled. Lee said AWA’s 3 wastewater systems have a total of about 1,000 customers. The staff has been the same 5 people, whose hours are spread between the 3 systems. Lee said Martell sewer needs more labor and Camanche may need slightly more that $180,000. He said his forecast to need $180,000 dollars in labor at WW District Number 1 “might be more optimistic than actual needs.” He said he was “predicting Camanche will have a smaller share on paper.” All 4 districts started the year with negative operating budgets and are projected to end the year further in the hole. Camanche Wastewater District Number 11 opened at negative-$385,000 dollars and is expected to close at negative-$413,000 dollars. Camanche Water Number 7 opened at negative-$400,000 dollars and should close at negative-$416,000 dollars. The La Mel Heights Water opened at negative-$103,000 dollars and is expected to end at negative-$128,000. General Manager Jim Abercrombie said the board finished discussing Wastewater District Number 1, and directed staff to review salaries and benefits and look at “debt service financing that we were considering.” No rate meetings were set, and the board continued the rate workshop, asking for changes to be brought back to that continued meeting on Tuesday, May 12th. 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 - A power line through the high country proposed by Kirkwood Ski Resort is a red flag among local environmentalists. The Kirkwood Meadows Utility District has proposed a power line to run from Kirkwood to Salt Springs Reservoir. The line will run above ground in some locations and may run underground in others. Two routes are under consideration, one generally to Bear River Reservoir and then along Highway 88, and the other in the backcountry through Long Valley. Katherine Evatt, Board Director of the Foothill Conservancy, says that the project could benefit the environment, but could also be detrimental if not implemented properly. The power line would replace diesel generators at Kirkwood, which have a history of air pollution and diesel spills. But Evatt says the power line could also have potential impacts on scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, adjacent wilderness, historic and cultural resources, and the backcountry character of the area. As previously reported, two public meetings were held at the Jackson Civic Center on Wednesday and the KPMUD office in Kirkwood. We’ll have details on the outcome of these meetings in an upcoming broadcast. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council worked before a packed room Monday choosing a replacement for Bill Hepworth, who resigned last month for health concerns. The council chose Linda Rianda, a retired peace officer, associate warden and former teacher. Mayor Gary Wooten opened discussion saying, “speaking for myself, this is really stressful, picking one of you.” The 7 applicants for the 2-year council seat were quickly reduced to 5. Wooten said Reed Shugart, a board member of the Sutter Creek Fire Protection District, pulled his name after finding he could not hold 2 elected offices simultaneously. City Manager Rob Duke said he received a call from Dennis E. Griffin at 1 p.m. Monday: Griffin “pulled his application citing personal reasons.” The remaining 5 applicants were questioned by the council. Wooten asked each what they thought was the biggest issue in Sutter Creek, and their solution. Bart Weatherly said the biggest issue was “remaining solvent and incorporated as a city,” but he had no solution. Councilwoman Sandy Anderson said “we know how you feel about a certain issue. How do you feel about growth?” Weatherly said he was “sort of a non-believer in promises that are given” and he “would love to see commercial growth that produces taxes.” Getting to her point, Councilman Pat Crosby asked if Weatherly could “see any condition in which you could accept (Gold Rush) into the city?” Weatherly said “that was an issue I had to resolve – yes, I do.” Mimi Arata said the major issue was the “upside-down budget,” which she would approach by deciding how and where to increase income and decrease expenses. Rianda said the economy was the biggest issue, which she would approach by first learning the current budget, then looking at long-term revenue increase possibilities and decreases in spending and working on ways to increase tourism and entice businesses to the city. Mike Kirkley said the top issue was the “fiscal crisis,” which the council could solve by getting “back to basics,” providing the services of a city. He said the city should use “conservative revenue projections,” and push through developments that would generate revenue. Councilman Tim Murphy asked what were his top 3 areas for budget fixes. Kirkley said those would be reducing employees and the police budget, and working with other jurisdictions. Jack Mitchell said he would try to “see what positions can move into other positions” in city staff, but he didn’t think there were “any easy fixes.” Rianda was a unanimous selection to the position and was sworn in after the vote. 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 week heard an update on a drainage issue that was affecting a resident’s property next door to the new Ione Firehouse. Charles Broussard appeared at the meeting on behalf of Heather Broussard, whose property next door to the newly built firehouse was being affected by rainfall runoff from the firehouse property. Mr. Broussard showed photos of the property from February 14th, and brought a letter from Heather to “make the council aware of the problem out there,” and to “put the council on notice.” He said water was flowing off the sidewalk through cuts in the curb, and “the retention basin does not catch water.” City Manager Kim Kerr said she spoke with Heather about the date the photo was taken, February 14th, and told the council that city maintenance staff “has had some improvements made,” on February 25th. She said “unfortunately we haven’t had any rain since then.” Kerr said she would like to meet at the site with the project engineer and with Heather, and she would like to eventually make corrections along the “whole length of the property line.” She said the engineer drew up the repair project but it has not yet been done. Kerr told the council and Broussard that “we are continuing to work on this” and the city’s intent is to complete the repairs. She said “we have impacted it when we put the building there.” Councilman Jim Ulm said the city staff realized “there is a problem there and you want to do something about it.” In other correspondence, Mayor Lee Ard mentioned a letter from Jackson City Councilman Keith Sweet asking the Ione council to consider passing a resolution in protest of the East Bay Municipal Utilities District’s plan that would make a larger dam at Pardee Lake, in effect flooding portions of the banks along the Mokelumne River. Ard said the letter included a draft Resolution, an edition of which the Jackson City Council passed 2 weeks ago and which Sweet read at a public workshop hosted by East Bay MUD last week in Sutter Creek. Ard said Sweet sent the letter and resolution to all city councils in Amador, and also to the Amador County Board of Supervisors, to generate support opposing the Pardee Lake expansion plan. Ard and the council directed Kerr to place the resolution and letter on the next city council meeting agenda. 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 on Tuesday asked staff to set a public workshop to discuss several aspects of an Ione Community Preservation Project. City Manager Kim Kerr said the workshop will get input on the project’s “Main Street Program,” Redevelopment Plan, Economic Study and “Main Street Façade Program.” Kerr said the workshop could also educate the public about the programs. She said the redevelopment plan, which would lead to the city forming a “Redevelopment Agency,” had elements from its inception in the 1980s that likely would not withstand legal challenges: Specifically, the term “blight.” City Planner Christopher said there is a difference between the general concept of “blight,” and the “legal definition under redevelopment law.” He said certain criteria is used to score and assess blight. Jordan said forming a redevelopment plan and agency will collect property taxes in designated areas and use the funds to improve those areas. Kerr said funding from 2 closed Community Development Block Grants that were for low-income housing can now be used in other areas. She recommended the funds be used in the Community Preservation Project, including $50,000 dollars for the Main Street Program; $25,000 dollars for the Façade Program; $120,000 for Redevelopment Plan study; and $60,000 for the Economic Study. Kerr said the public meeting will start with the pros and cons of setting up a non-profit for the project, versus having the project run by the city, under the council’s direction. She said the “Main Street Program” is volunteer-driven and likely would be subject of a later town hall meeting. But the workshop could be used to help recruit volunteers. She said she has received information on the program, which she will put into a presentation. Mayor Lee Ard said it was probably the biggest project the city has seen in the last 10 or 15 years, and he hoped they get good public turnout. He wanted to “make sure we thoroughly go through all of it.” Kerr said the goal of the meeting is to draft a request for proposals, with people’s input. Councilman David Plank asked about PMC Consultants’ bid for $120,000 dollars for the work. Kerr said it was a very detailed bid, a “total package” and “it will take you from scratch to a final Environmental Impact Report.” The Ione Community Preservation Project public workshop is 6 p.m. Thursday, April 2nd at Evalynn Bishop Hall. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Two motor vehicles collided on Pine Grove Volcano Road near Masonic Cave Road yesterday around 4:45 pm. A woman traveling in a sedan noticed a cow caught in a fence. She then attempted to make a left turn into a driveway at the same time a pickup truck traveling behind her attempted to pass. The vehicles collided and crashed into a fence on the left side of the road. The woman in the sedan was taken to the hospital via ambulance. The CHP was still investigating the accident when I left. Contributed by Bill Lavallie.

The Ione City Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday for its regular meeting and will hold a public hearing for its new, state-required conflict of interest law. Those affected by the new law would be “elected officials, members of boards and commissions appointed by the city council, consultants and city employees holding designated position.” The law will cover 17 different jobs areas on the city payroll, all who would be “subject to reporting requirements under the conflict of interest code, and shall disclose financial interests.” Those designation positions would include the city manager, attorney, clerk, treasurer, police chief, fire chief, accounting technician, building inspector, public works project manager, fire captain, assistant fire chief, police sergeant, chief wastewater operator, street and park maintenance supervisor, engineer, planner and finance director. The conflict of interest code is required to be adopted by the Political Reform Act, which requires the code for all public agencies. Attachments to the code described consultant contract requirements, in which the consultant would have to file a statement of economic interest if the city manager finds that a consultant will make a number of government decisions to “approve a rate, rule or regulations; or Adopt or enforce a law.” It also covers permits, licenses, applications, contracts, plans, designs, reports, policies, standards and guidelines, or in doing a job for the city that falls in the areas of designated positions that require disclosure. All city officials and designated employees are required to do full disclosure, reporting “all business entities and non-profit organizations in which they have an investment or in which they are a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or hold any position of management.” They must also report all interests in real property; and all sources of income, including gifts, loans and travel payments.” Three designated positions had special disclosure requirements listed, for fire captain, street and park maintenance supervisor and accounting technician. Story by Jim Reece.

By Jim Reece -

With a 5-0 vote Monday in a special meeting, the Plymouth City Council passed another milestone in its trek toward a new water supply. City Manager Dixon Flynn said it was a huge project for the city of Plymouth and “I don’t envy the people sitting on the city council. This isn’t easy.” Flynn gave an overview of the project, which in its vote Monday, the city council sent out to bid. In 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversaw Plymouth’s attempt to build a water reservoir on its sewer spray property. When the numbers came out, the USDA urged the city to scrap the reservoir and instead encouraged the city to entertain a water pipeline. That year, the pipeline was estimated to cost 9 million dollars. Now it is estimated at 12 million, of which 9 million would be the rough cost of construction. Flynn said that could possibly drop and save money for the city and partners, the Amador Water Agency. In July of 2008, Flynn said the city passed Amendment 2, what should have allowed the AWA to go out and seek bids on the pipeline. But another hindrance, 2 easements, stalled the project and were cleared up. AWA was looking for an August or early September return of bids. But after another meeting, the USDA and AWA said Plymouth “needed to have a firm financial plan in place.” With Monday’s vote, the city council authorized staff to notice a water a sewer rate hike public hearing, which allowed AWA to go out to seek bids and kept the USDA happy in financing loans that lie ahead for Plymouth, if, after bids come in, the pipeline remains feasible, Flynn said. Flynn said they expected bids back by October 23rd and a construction start date of Dec. 31, with water to flow in the new pipeline by January 2010, or, “the project could be done by early fall of next year.”

By Jim Reece -

The Award Winning Amador County State Fair Exhibit is on display at Prospect Motors in the Amador Auto Mall. The display was designed by Kam Merzlak of Jackson and built by Doug Wescott of Fiddletown. The Amador exhibit won the Silver Award and the prestigious Superintendent's Award, given specially to Amador County “because we were all volunteers who lived in the county. Most of the counties hire out large scale operations to build for them,” Merzlak said. Merzlak designed the exhibit and enlisted Fiddletown motorcycle customizer Doug Wescott to fabricate his vision. The rest is history. Merzlak said it was “a great idea for county residents who didn't attend the State Fair to see how we represented the county" by seeing the exhibit at Prospect Motors. The exhibit will be displayed there until the next Chamber of Commerce mixer October 8th at 5pm.