Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board heard Monday it might not be the best time to refinance a $23 million dollar loan. Finance Manager Michael Lee said interest is $4.6 million dollars on the loan, which built the Amador Transmission Pipeline. Vice Chairman Bill Condrashoff asked if it could be refinanced, and Lee said “you’d have a hard time finding loan money, and rates would probably be higher.” Lee also answered questions on a $77,000 dollar budget request for telephone and communications. He said part of that is a high speed band width upgrade, from T1 to D3, at $2,600 dollars a month. Lee said due to the amount of data the agency transfers in its operations, “we would get calls daily from AT&T, saying you are banging up against the top of the band width. You are slowing up the whole network.” The budget line item includes Volcano Communications, a computer reporting system, 2 vendors, pagers, cell phones, the agency radio system, and “a lot of AT&T bills.” Another area, Lee said, is the federal GASB 45 retiree health benefits funding and future liability issue. GASB recommended and the agency has done an actuarial study of costs, and started putting money aside. They now put away $40,000 to $50,000 dollars a year, which Lee said is not meeting the amount actually paid. And the board could further throw off the balance by using the funds elsewhere. Elsewhere, the board looked at consultant costs per system, led by $221,700 dollars in “Agency General.” The Amador Water System had $27,165; Central Amador Water Project wholesale was $2,850; and wastewater was $3,275. The board asked if consulting was put out to bid. Abercrombie said it falls under professional services, which do not require the bidding process. He said several reasons help the agency stay with its current consultant, Bob Reed. Reed was originally selected in a bidding process as lowest bidder, his rates have not changed, and he is familiar with the system. Abercrombie said the agency is pleased with his past work and comfortable with him. Lee said a 2006 bidding for consultants, during the ENRON scandal era, nearly led to a loss of the agency’s bond rating, due to an inept company. Firing that company led to the rehiring of Reed, who was second lowest bidder. He has remained the agency consultant since then. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Crunching budget numbers in a workshop Monday, the Amador Water Agency board of directors dropped its Washington, D.C. lobbyists for the coming fiscal year and discussed other budget items. Dropping the D.C. lobbyist 2009-2010 will mean a savings of $90,000 dollars. Board Chairman Terence Moore recommended they “drop it for next year,” noting that the agency “could barely afford it last year.” Vice Chairman Bill Condrashoff agreed. General Manager Jim Abercrombie said the lobbyists, which were paid a total of $277,500 dollars over the previous 3 fiscal years, helped the agency secure $3 million dollars in funding from the USDA Rural Utility Service for expansion of the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant. The consolidated administrative budget line items included a 300 percent increase in the public relations budget, from $2,500 dollars to $10,000. Moore said: “I don’t have any heartburn with $10,000.” A woman in the audience showed a 1-page folded newsletter from Calaveras County that she said costs 50 cents, compared to the AWA’s full-color, glossy newsletter. She said the agency should come down a bit on its costs, because “we’re talking about ratepayers here.” Moore said may they need to “have department heads report to us on where we can see savings,” and they “should direct staff to come back to us with some cuts.” Abercrombie said “I would ask them directly. They will know right now.” In public comment, David Evitt said the AWA needs departmental cost savings reviews, and each department should “bring in their cost savings and analyses, then see where the fat is.” Abercrombie said he does not “ask the department heads to report on things that they should be doing” as part of their job, and that is finding “cost savings” for the agency. Construction department head Barry Birge said he does a lot of research for purchases, spending a lot of time on the phone and the computer to get the best product at the cheapest price. Condrashoff said he saw some items in staff reports that he thought were expensive, so he wrote down the items and did his own research of prices. He said Birge is “kicking butt” in his shopping. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Board of Supervisors Tuesday heard a two-part presentation by Amador County Recreation Agency Director Tracey Towner-Yep concerning the agency’s deepening financial concerns. The Supervisors unanimously approved to continue their contribution of $5 per capita for the next fiscal year. District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster said he “would like to stand by that commitment and keep supporting ACRA, rather than pulling the rug completely out from under them.” Towner-Yep said that even with the County’s continued support, ACRA “is still facing a 75 percent cut in operating funds” for the next fiscal year. Program revenues are down as people draw inward to weather the economic recession and cut extraneous costs. “Basically, as other companies and individuals feel the pinch, we as a soft funded agency feel the trickle down from those negative effects,” said Liz MacLeod, ACRA’s Coordinator of Services and Public Affairs. If ACRA were to provide all of the needed services in Amador County, a budget of 3.8 million dollars would be needed. “In other words, ACRA is already stretching every dollar to meet the recreation needs of the county. Now we’ll have to stretch them even further,” said MacLeod. Towner-Yep said the after-school programs the agency has “shepherded” this year may not be available next year as a result. ACRA also hopes for a $5 contribution per capita from each of the county’s five cities, which totals $170,610 when the county’s contribution is included. In the face of cutbacks and shortages, the agency remains proactive. “As the agencies grant writer, I am currently approaching private foundations with proposals for operating funds which will hopefully ameliorate the negative effects of the current budget cutbacks,” said MacLeod. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Also at the Supervisors meeting, Towner-Yep discussed funding through the Proposition 40 Bond Act of 2002, which has made $1.2 million available for Amador County capitol improvements through the sale of general obligation bonds by the state. Of that amount, nearly a million is allocated to seven projects throughout Amador County. $150,000 will go towards a River Pines Park renovation and upgrade, $250,000 will be used for ADA accessibility at Pine Grove Town Hall, $325,000 will be used for ADA Accessibility at Volcano Armory Hall, $45,000 provides ADA accessibility for Plymouth Restrooms, and $100,000 goes toward a Pioneer Park Vets Hall re-roofing, facilities and plumbing upgrade. Another $50,000 will build restrooms at Pioneer Park. $297,500 available for projects through Prop. 40 have not yet been allocated. “They called and said they wanted the money they already forwarded to us back and we said no,” said Towner-Yep, referring to the Department of Parks and Recreation. Funds had already been frozen earlier in the fiscal year when the budget didn’t pass, and there is concern they’ll be frozen again unless they are spent soon. Prop. 40 projects are initially paid for by the county with the understanding that they will later be reimbursed by the state. “I don’t trust the state, but it’s probably safer at this point to play Russian roulette and spend,” said Supervisor Louis Boitano. The other Supervisors agreed and encouraged Towner-Yep and her staff to continue with planned spending. “The projects will create jobs in our community and we need to keep moving forward,” said Towner-Yep. Dana Jorgensen, District Director for Senator Dave Cox’s office, said the funds will be there. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

California District 3 – Amador County Congressman Dan Lungren called North Korea’s sentencing of 2 U.S. journalists unacceptable Tuesday and called for their release. Lungren said in a release Tuesday that one of the sentenced journalists has family living in his District 3. Lungren said communications with the U.S. Department of State indicate “Laura Ling and Euna Lee were denied their fundamental rights.” Lungren said North Korea has a less than stellar record on protection of human rights, but the country “has acceded to a number of international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, under which those charged with a criminal offense have certain inalienable rights.” Lungren said it appeared Lee and Ling have been denied their rights to: “be informed of the nature and cause of charges against them;” prepare their defense; “communicate with counsel of their own choosing in a language they understand;” “confront and examine the witnesses against them; and “not to be coerced into a confession.” He said Ling “was sentenced last weekend to 12 years hard labor,” and noted that she “suffers from a medical condition, which could put her life in jeopardy should she be forced to serve out this undue punishment.” To date, very little information was released “on the nature of her trial and the crimes of which she was convicted,” Lungren said, so he could “only assume that she did not have the benefit of counsel, either before or during her trial.” The North Korean government said only that they were convicted of “grave crimes,” and “observers were not permitted to attend the trial,” meaning information was “selectively filtered through the North Korean press.” NPR reported that at least one of the two women was accused of espionage. North Korea seeks to avoid sanctions for violations of international law, Lungren said, indicating the arrests make Lee and Ling “convenient political hostages.” Lungren on Tuesday joined Rep. Ed Royce “in asking President Obama to take urgent action on behalf of” Ling and Lee and “to pursue every avenue to secure their release.” He called on U.N. Human Rights Council condemnation “in the strongest terms.” Lungren requested that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton investigate to ensure that Ling and Lee’s rights as U.S. citizens are upheld. And he supported Rep. Ros-Lehtinen’s legislation making the lifting of restrictions against North Korea contingent upon their release and “safe return.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County supervisors and planning commissioners last week discussed the county business environment, while ironing out the Economic Development Element of the draft General Plan. Panelists asked questions of local activist Kathy Allen, whose group, Amador Citizens For Responsible Growth claimed a victory when Home Depot pulled the plug on its pursuit of locating a franchise in Jackson. Allen said the county should work on its economic attractors, and she urged protection of the county, because “we don’t want to set ourselves up to be a bedroom community.” She criticized Starbucks as being “not local,” with “low-paid” jobs “and all of the money goes to Seattle.” Allen said: “Let’s say somebody wants to open a nudie joint next to the Kennedy Mine? We really don’t want to attract that kind of business.” Jim Conklin of the Amador County Business Council said Amador does not want to restrict development near tourist attractions, and Allen said “yes we do.” She said she did not want Petcos built near mines and historic destinations, and “no tacky businesses” next to the Chaw’se Indian Grinding Rock State Park. She urged the county to not “repeat a bad model” by emulating Elk Grove. On the Home Depot, she said “we have a Lowes, a Meeks, a True Value. Did we really need a Home Depot? No.” The panel eventually agreed on verbiage to say “a fiscal impact study may be required.” Allen argued that they should “require nationally owned chains to do it.” Board of Supervisors Chairman Ted Novelli asked if she would also require that for car dealerships. Allen said “you can’t have a locally owned car dealership.” Novelli asked Allen how she felt about manufacturing. Allen said “bring it,” calling manufacturing “pure profit.” Art Marinaccio, of Amador Citizens For Responsible Government, said Allen’s suggestion was illegal and “you can’t just say” we “don’t like Petco.” He urged the panel to talk to the county attorney about what they can and cannot do about “big box” stores. Rebecca Brown of District 5 thanked the panel for its “hard work,” and said “we want our businesses to be county-friendly.” Brown said: “I’m really glad I’m not you,” having to make the hard decisions and take public comment in the face of economic hard times. She said the board has the ability to limit developments’ total square feet, and reduce traffic, runoff and other impacts. She said “a big box store is not the same as retail or large national chains.” Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – The Amador County General Plan panel discussed the Williamson Act last week, hearing the limitations and allowances on county agricultural land. Supervisor Richard Forster said “you can’t have a commercial business.” County Planner Susan Grijalva said “our local Williamson Act zoning does allow some business operations.” Amador’s planning department is looking into home occupation permits and home-based industry, but the county must define agricultural property, she said. Forster said “in this county, there are huge amounts of businesses that are being run on Williamson Act land.” Supervisor Brian Oneto said: “How do you shut down an economy? You make it hard to do anything.” He said ranchers may find themselves “starving to death,” so they do welding side jobs, or open fruit stands. Commissioner Andy Byrne said the law “protects neighbors from traffic impacts and a whole list of things.” Jeffrey Gibson of the Amador Wine Grape Growers’ Association said Amador County’s zoning and laws are, by comparison, a godsend. Gibson said a “winery conditional use permit” in Napa “will tell you where you have to buy your grapes” – that is, from Napa – and “you have to run your tasting room by appointment because of traffic” impacts. “I didn’t end up in Amador County just by chance,” Gibson said. “I shopped around.” Grijalva said if the state cuts Williamson Act funding, as is being talked about, the local Williamson Act zoning and programs will remain in place. The California Department of Conservation’s website said the Williamson Land Conservation Act of 1965, “enables local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use. In return, landowners receive property tax assessments which are much lower than normal because they are based upon farming and open space uses as opposed to full market value.” The act “has been the state’s premier agricultural land protection program since” 1965. “Nearly 16.9 million of the state’s 29 million acres of farm and ranch land are currently protected under the Williamson Act.” One-third of Williamson Act farmers and ranchers said “without the act they would no longer own their parcel,” according to a 1989 University of California study, “Land in the Balance.” Story by Jim Reece

Region - Representatives of the El Dorado National Forest reported late Friday that nine local projects were selected to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As announced by Secretary Tom Vilsack, these projects include road maintenance and decommissioning and associated watershed restoration. Projects specific to Eldorado’s include road decommissioning; road storm proofing, chip sealing, and surfacing. A variety of road restoration and decommissioning projects were funded in Amador County and a variety of chip sealing projects will be funded in Alpine County. “The road maintenance projects selected for the Eldorado National Forest will improve public health and safety, resource protection, and access to lands in the National Forest,” said Villalvazo. “The rehabilitation of roads will improve water quality by reducing sediments in nearby streams and help to restore natural resources and habitat for fish in areas impacted by deterioration and erosion of road surfaces.” Villalvazo says that in some cases multiple projects were lumped under one project title. As a result, the name of the project may include more than one activity. Vilsack said that nationally a total of 106 projects on National Forest Lands in 31 states were funded for more than $228 million. The amount of funding available for El Dorado Forest projects is unknown and will depend on bids received for the projects and the contracts awarded. The Forest Service manages almost 370,000 miles of road and 143,000 miles of trails on the 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. The Forest Service transportation system is a key element that supports the businesses and activities that occur within or adjacent to these lands. Story by Alex Lane, Staff Report

Amador County - Jackson couple Kam Merzlak and Kellee Davenport, along with various friends and family, were awarded first prize for commercial float at Sunday’s Italian Benevolent Society Parade in Sutter Creek. The innovative float promoted their respective businesses and showed off Merzlak’s bourgeoning reputation as a float and exhibit designer. Merzlak and Davenport accepted the prize from Paul Molinelli Jr. of ACES Waste Services and Richard Cavalleri on behalf of the Italian Benevolent Society. “Surprisingly, I do real well with talking people into these crazy ideas,” Merzlak said. Merzlak has been dubbed “The Catalyst” by his family and friends because of his ability to bring people together to develop these projects. The float was built to resemble a small house complete with a landscaped yard and For Sale sign. In homage to the animated film “Up,” a large grouping of balloons were attached to the chimney of the house and Amador County Anime Czar Alan Sprenkle chased along behind the float in a Boy Scout uniform. Merzlak orchestrated an elaborate skit meant to highlight the services provided by all businesses involved. Two couples played by Noelle Erosa and Leland Ruddock and Ryan Erosa and Jenny Bird approached the float as if they were interested in buying the house. Each couple had a 2 x 4 foot blank check on a dry erase board. Davenport and Tera Donahoo, both of Sierra Home and Properties, exchanged the checks with giant cutout keys and the “purchase” was completed. “We put a lot of effort into this and it paid off,” said Merzlak, referring to the three weeks it took to complete the project from idea to inception. Kurt Todden of All County Construction in Ione built the house and Don Ritchie Painting added the finishing touches. Merzlak also took both the Silver and Superintendent’s award at the 2008 State Fair for his exhibit titled, “Picture Yourself in Amador County.” The county has authorized him to build this year’s State Fair exhibit, an ambitious project that will recreate a real working gold mining operation. This year’s state fair takes place from August 21 to September 7 at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County –Amador County this week is following the lead of other in trying to help youths connect with nature. The “Amador Children in Nature Movement” group holds its first meeting Thursday, said Liz MacLeod, of the Amador County Recreation Agency. Experts say because children have fewer opportunities for “unstructured, outdoor play, they are at a greater risk for health and social problems,” MacLeod said. “Amador Children in Nature Movement” advocates the importance of outdoor play for children’s health and well-being. The group formed after an April showing of PBS’s “Where Do the Children Play?,” attended by more than 50 parents, educators and leaders. Sybil Griffith, an Ione instructional assistant, said “the stigma that if your child is hanging around, they are doing something wrong” can be a barrier to getting children outside. Ione Elementary Principal Laurie Amick said: “I will really try to get my staff to focus on play and access to play.” Children In Nature’s main purposes are: To address health, education, policy and the environment; and be a hub for sharing information in getting children to experience nature through play. MacLeod said: “The only prerequisite is having an interest in connecting our community’s youths to the outdoors.” The movement is a collaboration between ACRA, First 5 Amador, Amador Child Care Council and The Resource Connection. For information, call First 5 Amador or ACRA.. Story by Jim Reece