Amador County – The Amador County School Board heard an emotional complaint Wednesday from Shelly Scott, who claims her daughter – a cheerleader at Amador High School - suffered “mismanagement and discrimination” because of her Type 1 Diabetes. The complaint was voiced during public comment and after her daughter, Lyndsay Gray, took the podium to read a poem she had written titled “ Distinguish.” Scott read a prepared statement that had been circulated amongst the media earlier in the week. In it she says “the (School District) administration and staff are ignorant and biased of the laws that protect my daughter for the discrimination she is suffering as a result of her disability.” She said the “Cheer Advisors and Athletic Director have not been adequately trained to care for a student with Type 1 Diabetes.” She also claims the school district “is allowing discrimination based on financial need” because staff fails to acknowledge that there are monies available to those in need for cheerleading costs, girls must pay out of their own pockets, and they cannot try out the following year unless “their cheer tab has a zero balance.” In her statement, Scott makes strong accusations against Superintendent Dick Glock, Amador High School Administration and the Cheer Advisors, claiming they have been uncooperative in her attempts to make accommodations on behalf of Lyndsay. While in tears, Scott told the board the safety and mental well being of her daughter has been compromised. The school board sat silently and voiced no opinion on the matter. When questioned by TSPN as to what she hopes to accomplish, she said “I want coaches and staff to respect my daughter and treat her the way she needs to be treated.” She said she is meeting with school officials to discuss the matter further and has complaints pending with various civil rights and equal opportunity agencies. School officials have so far issued no comment. 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 board of directors on Thursday approved a land purchase agreement with the Gayla Manor Homeowners Association, for 3 acres to be used to expand the Gayla Manor leachfields for wastewater disposal. Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said there is no stimulus funding for land acquisition, but the land is needed to expand the system to meet 100-year flow capacity required by the state. “We did not want to buy the land and pass that cost on to customers,” Mancebo said. “They recognized that as well.” He said after his report was written, he learned that “there was a geotechnical investigation of the property, looking for hazardous waste, and none was found.” He said environmental documentation was done on the project about a year ago, with a negative mitigated impact declaration, when the agency tried to get a “Small Community Grant.” Director Bill Condrashoff asked about the $310,000 in the project that pays for rock, to pave an easement and access road that crosses the field. He asked if a grant pays for the rock. Mancebo said yes, but the agency looks at it as part of the project, to pave the trails and access roads, as well as another part of the agreement, to plant some trees on the property there. Condrashoff said he was “concerned about these, what you call minor costs of this extra work.” He said, “as something paid for by the AWA, as we all know, the AWA has no money, so it would go to the ratepayers.” General Manager Jim Abercrombie said staff would bring a list of the projects, the grant funding and where the funding would go, and you would approve it. He said “we need this agreement” to show the state that the purchase has been made to expand the leachfield and meeting requirements. He said the agency staff’s hope is that then the grants funding will come. AWA Attorney Steve Kronick explained the contract out clause, that says if the 3 acres is not used as a leachfield for 5 consecutive years, the Homeowners Association “can have the property quit-claimed back to them.” The contract changes ownership of the land to the AWA, for no money, but the $310,000 dollars in work to improve the property. The agreement passed, 5-0. 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 heard a report Thursday that staff is trying to impress various federal agencies to get projects funded. Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said environmental paperwork for 2 lead projects “were in the final revision of the draft,” then both would be available to the public. General Manager Jim Abercrombie said the agency is “trying to lock in some opportunities with the Rural Utility Service” department, which is to decide by July 23rd. One project RUS likes, he said, is a Gravity Supply Line to the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant. Another is the expansion of the system at Camanche Lake. Mancebo said “we weren’t successful with the Public Department of Health Services” for funding. But Abercrombie said they are “starting to see what we will be successful with.” Abercrombie said RUS is moving away from grants and toward use of loans, but it will disperse grants until the stimulus funding is all obligated, likely by July 23rd. Mancebo said the Camanche upgrades are really 3 parts, including a new connection pipeline, and building a newer, bigger storage tank. The state has indicated it will try to fund projects with a $1 Million dollar limit, and so the Camanche project could be portioned. Included in that is replacing the existing 100,000 gallon storage tank. The aim was to “bid it as a 1 million gallon tank,” Mancebo said, then it could also be sent for bids as a 750,000 gallon tank and a 50,000 gallon tank, to reduce project costs. Board member Bill Condrashoff asked if 500,00 gallons would be adequate. Mancebo said “we have a 100,000 gallon storage tank, so anything bigger than that is an improvement.” 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 reported that the contractor for the Plymouth-to-Sutter Hill potable water pipeline is about 30 days ahead of schedule, with parts of the line ready to activate now. Agency Engineering and Planning Manager Gene Mancebo said the pipeline should get to Jackson in about 3 weeks. Contractor Mountain Cascade is now working in the area of Dry Creek, is laying around 800 feet of pipeline a day and “they are approaching 20,000 feet of pipe” already installed. Mancebo said Plymouth operates its water system on 3 wells, one of which “typically goes dry in the summer.” That well is dry now, he said, and if another well dries up, they man have to take drastic measures. Mancebo said “we could energize a portion of this using existing pipeline in Amador City,” and send water to Plymouth. But he said “Plymouth is used to existing on 2 wells.” But they could use part of the pipeline now in an emergency. I business not of the agenda, District 4 resident David Evitt asked the board why his request to be on an agenda was rejected and referred to a closed session. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said the request was to release water from Lake Tabeaud to flow down New York Ranch Gulch, to be used to water Russel Evitt’s alder trees. David Evitt said the trees are dying during the summer dry season, and his was a request, not a demand. Abercrombie said the board could talk in open session “about giving you free water,” but the board must be briefed in closed session about a settlement between the agency and the Evitts. Attorney Steve Kronick said: “I think it would be important for me to brief you on the litigation aspects of this.” Abercrombie said he thought the board needed to know the details of the settlement. Abercrombie said: “The agency doesn’t give free water to anyone. And if you choose to do that, I would be concerned with the gift of public funds.” He said “Evitt Ranch has a raw water service. They could just choose to water that themselves.” Kronick said the board could choose to discuss the settlement in open session, but should be briefed in closed session first. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - They ran, walked, volunteered, donated and in the end, participants in the Bedbug Challenge raised over $5000 for the Ione schools. The Bedbug Challenge 10K run and 5K walk was held on Saturday, May 9 during the 133rd Annual Ione Homecoming Weekend. Entry fees and major donations from the business community, service groups and individuals raised $5,535 for Ione schools. Distribution of funds was based on a percentage of participation by each school, with the Elementary School receiving 70 percent of the donations, and the Jr. High School 30 percent. There were 58 runners and over 120 walkers registered for the event. Ione Elementary School Principal Laurie Amick led the way for the 5K walkers. The first runners to cross the finish in the 10K were David Anderson of Sacramento with a time of 38:48 and Erin Devlin of Jackson with a time of 41:03. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Pine Grove Council last week talked about various sources of frozen funding, including an earmark by Congressman Dan Lungren that would study the Pine Grove Corridor. Funds are stalled from distribution because proper forms have not been submitted, according to council member John Carlson. He and Lynda Burman spoke with Neal Peacock of the Amador County Transportation Commission. Burman reported that “Neal said he felt like a bride jilted at the altar.” Carlson said Peacock is working to process the request for federal funding through the California Department of Transportation. One man asked about the possibility of a public outcry putting a stop to a 5-line expansion on Highway 88, through Pine Grove. Council member Andy Byrne said the “community cannot say no until we know the options,” and the community, and ACTC, “must explore what the project would be.” Carlson said they will try to set up town hall meetings to tell people what is going on and what the funding will do for what studies. He said a total of $640,000 dollars was coming to study the Pine Grove Corridor project, of which Peacock will spend about $360,000 dollars for consultants. He said Peacock “has been very adamant about public involvement.” Byrne said the process will ask the people what they want, and the “community might say, ‘Well, go screw yourselves, we don’t want it.’ ” One man asked again if that would kill a 5-lane expansion on Highway 88. He also asked if the community wanted to “spend $360,000 dollars to study this?” Byrne said after past community meetings, “the consensus was: There is a problem. And the next step is to study it and come up with potential solutions.” The Pine Grove Council meets 5:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, at the Pine Grove Town Hall. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Jackson City Council on Monday reviewed applicants and made appointments to the new Jackson Architectural Regulations Committee. At there April 13 meeting, Council “directed staff to advertise for potential committee members who could provide more detailed answers as to how architectural review could work in the City of Jackson,” wrote City Planner Susan Peters in a memo to the council. A total of nine applicants with varying backgrounds applied to fill the five person committee. Staff had originally recommended a five member committee consisting of at least one contractor familiar with historic renovations and restorations, at least one architect, a person familiar with Jackson’s history, and two general members of the public. Peters said the committee will “outline architectural regulations and present recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council.” Those who applied consisted of David Carlson, Broker/Owner with Coldwell Banker Award Realtors; John Gonsalvez, a contractor; Kevin Fritson, a Civil Engineer and Architectural Designer; Ron Regan, a Business Owner and Developer; Phillip Giurlani, Owner of Teresa’s Place Restaurant and a contractor; Kathryn Devlin, a retired teacher and fitness center owner; Errol Esbit, an architect; Dan Gottstein, a contractor; and Shannon Hewitt, a retired office manager. Mayor Connie Gonsalves recused herself from the decision, saying she felt “uncomfortable” discussing the matter. Three of the applicants, Devlin, Gottstein and Hewitt, were present at the meeting. During public comment, Amador County Historical Society member Judy Jebian expressed concerns that the “architectural review guidelines don’t include anything about historic preservation.” She though the committee should consist of more architects than the one required. Citizen Thornton Consolo said he hopes “we can bring together people who have talent, but people who also have…our charm and history in mind.” Councilmember Keith Sweet said he was happy with the large number of “qualified” applicants and proposed accepting all nine, but said he would want a consensus vote from at least seven. Councilmember Pat Crew proposed five and two alternates or seven and two alternates. Councilmember Marilyn Lewis said she had concerns with applicants “Regan and Esbitt” but would not elaborate as to why. The council unanimously approved of Sweet’s recommendation to accept all applicants. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Also during Monday’s meeting, the Jackson City Council discussed the best policy for use of Measure E funds in fiscal year 2009/10. Also known as the “Transient Occupancy Tax,” Measure E funding has traditionally been put towards tourism and business promotion, economic development and downtown revitalization. According to a memo by City Manager Mike Daly, the Council approved raising the city’s transient occupancy tax in November, 2002, from 8 percent to 10 percent, resulting in an average of $60,000 additional funds per year. The amount available from 2008 is $61,575, said Daly. Over the past two years, the council has set aside $30,000 for use by the city on its own economic development projects. Daly wrote “the second year of the set aside has not been allocated, but the Jackson Revitalization Committee is looking into several projects and grant opportunities that could utilize at least a portion of this funding.” A Measure E advisory committee consisting of citizens Stan Lukowicz, Paul Molinell, Jr., Tom Peyton, Tracey Berkner, Michael Clausen and Councilmember Keith Sweet met last week to review ways to best use this funding. Lukowicz and Clausen were not in attendance at this final meeting. Based on their recommendations, council opted to reserve $30,000 for economic development needs for the city. This year, both the Amador Council of Tourism and the Amador Chamber of Commerce submitted separate proposals for the funds equaling a total of $67,500. The Amador Council of Tourism requested $30,000. The Chamber of Commerce requested $37,500. Under the recommendation of the Measure E advisory committee, council unanimously approved a recommendation of $25,310, plus $11,000 for partner projects with the Historic Jackson Business Association, to go to the Council of Tourism for development of a more comprehensive strategic plan and tourism marketing. $9000 dollars will go to the Amador Chamber of Commerce. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Ione City Council next week will consider adopting a resolution opposing the state government’s taking a loan from municipal property tax funding. The resolution is patterned on one sent recently in a memo from Chris McKenzie, Executive Director, of the League of California Cities. The city council will consider passing the resolution that says “a severe fiscal hardship will exist if additional city property tax funds are seized and additional unfunded mandates are adopted by the state of California.” Ione City Manager Kim Kerr in a report to the council Tuesday said the California Department of Finance on May 5th “announced it had proposed to the governor that the state “borrow” more than $2 billion dollars in “local property taxes from cities, counties and special districts to balance the state budget, causing deeper cuts in local public safety and other vital service.” Kerr said in order to start that process, the governor would have to issue a proclamation declaring the existence of a “severe fiscal hardship.” The Legislature would then have to implement the “borrowing” program by passing urgency legislation, with a 2/3rds majority vote, which identifies how the “loan” will be repaid with interest. The Ione resolution notes “cumulative property tax losses of cities statewide” is $8.6 billion. Kerr said Ione has lost $25,524 dollars due to the shift, since the early borrowing began statewide, in the 1990s. If the state “borrows” these funds from Ione, the city will lose approximately 8 percent of its property taxes for fiscal year 2009-2010. In 2007-2008, Ione received $1.49 Million Dollars in property taxes and vehicle license fees. Kerr said if Ione gets the same amount next year and the State “borrows” 8 percent, the city would lose $119,174 for the year. The property tax loss would impact the city’s budget and require reductions to ensure a balanced budget. Kerr recommended the council pass the resolution, which states that Ione “cannot sustain the loss of any more property tax funds or to be saddled with any more state mandates as they will only deepen the financial challenge facing our city.” If passed, copies of the resolution would be sent to the governor, state senators and assembly members and the League of California Cities. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek Planning Commission nearly stalled Monday discussing affordable housing at Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort, then adjourned the meeting to May 26th. Commissioner Mike Kirkley said they would have to sell those homes for “under $100,000 dollars,” adding: “Why would you even say that if you know you can’t do that?” Consultant Anders Hague said “people in the low income housing category cannot buy housing. They are renting.” Commissioner Robert Olson said he was “adamantly against this approach,” and “it should be up to the city council to make the financial decision.” Commissioner Frank Cunha tried to put the issue to a vote, or take a poll of commissioners to decide, but discussion continued. Cunha pointed out that 9 “large lot” parcels in the Gold Rush specific plan would have “Low” or “moderate” income level housing, at 8 to 12 percent of the dwelling units. Some wording said 70 units would be “affordable by design” – smaller houses on smaller lots. Gold Rush Project Manager Jim Harnish said the wording was several years old. That wording was omitted by the commission, which also kept wording the same in the 9 large-lot parcels, to have 8 to 12 percent of units be “affordable for low-income or moderate-income households,” and added wording saying it “may include housing that is affordable by design.” The commission added requirements for low- and very low-income housing. Resident Sharyn Brown said Granny Unit’s, or “second units” on lots “can be considered affordable housing.” Resident John Mottoros said “did not think the city has any business being in the business of affordable housing,” and the requirements are causing the developer to play Robin Hood, charging more for moderate and higher income homes, whose buyers are “paying for those lower income houses.” Hague said the city already is in the housing business and has built affordable housing. Harnish said the city already has “zoned enough land for those very low-income housing areas,” though “it’s very different from building them.” He said the city has a surplus of areas zoned for low income housing. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.