Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week approved seeking bids to remodel Lodge Hill, as soon as funds are available. City Engineer Roark Weber said he was there Thursday “to testify to the manifestation of this project” through the work of many volunteers in the community. He said his company compiled “the work of a lot of people,” including plans and specifications by volunteers, John Peabody and Doug Ketron. Volunteers brought a lot of ideas that were incorporated into the work, including a large, wooden deck the length of the west side of the building, overlooking the city swimming pool. Also, 2 paved handicapped accessible parking spaces will skirt the kitchen side of the building. A wheelchair ramp will allow access to the deck and building. Also on the west wall, French double doors, with 2 windows on either side, will bring in natural light. City consultant Terri Cox wrote a winning grant request for Lodge Hill’s remodel. Weber said that $220,000-dollar grant is in limbo, but “the grant has not lost its value.” Weber estimated remodeling the west side of Lodge Hill would cost about $300,000 dollars. Weber said after considering plans and specs, it was determined the project will remodel only the west side of the building, and not the upstairs portion, and its auditorium. Councilwoman Patricia Fordyce said it has been a 4-year project and “volunteers have done a great job getting people to offer services.” She said once the lower level is complete, City Manager Dixon Flynn had some good ideas to raise money to finish the upper section. Fordyce said Weber charged $10,000 for engineering but “he has not charged us any more. He has put in a lot more time and money on this than he was ever paid.” Fordyce, a member of the Lodge Hill Committee, said they will be looking for more funding sources. Councilman Michael O’Meara said: “Honestly, if there was ever a project that should get some of the stimulus money, this is one of them.” Committee member Maria Nunez Simon asked the council to approve the project so they can “finish a dream of 30 years,” which they picked up again 4 years ago. Amador County Recreation Agency Director Tracey Towner-Yep said the project might be a good candidate for Proposition 84 funding, should that program get more funding. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Earmarks inserted into the $410 billion federal spending bill were signed into law Wednesday, including $180,500 for the Pine Grove Corridor Improvement Project. Congressman and Amador County Representative Dan Lungren included the funding as part of nearly $38 million in earmarks he authored or co-authored with other local representatives. This was far more than the Amador County Transportation Commission expected, with original fund estimates closer to $40 or $50 thousand. … In total, the federal bill includes at least $69 million for the Sacramento region, including money to extend the city’s light rail system, repair ship channels and fix sewer systems. Lungren’s largest approvals were joint requests for funding with Democratic Representatives Doris Matsui of Sacramento and Mike Thompson of St. Helena. These include $13 million towards American River watershed improvements, $12 million for South Sacramento flood control, $11 million for Folsom Dam modifications and raising the dam, and $1.4 million for food safety research at UC Davis. “In the face of the current economic situation, it is vital that we continue to bring federal resources to Sacramento,” said Democratic Representative Matsui. Lungren’s solo requests include $500,000 for a Folsom Emergency Operations Center, $275,000 for wastewater upgrades in Galt, and $142,500 for ADA-compliant infrastructure in Citrus Heights. All this comes at the same time that many in Washington have criticized pork-barrel earmarking for bloating the federal budget. Republican Senator John McCain and many House Democrats have been staunch critics of the system while still receiving large earmarks for priorities in their own states. Senator McCain and Tom Colburn of Oklahoma tried to pass an amendment that would eliminate earmarks, but with no success. Two Democrats voted with McCain and eight Republicans voted against him. President Obama called the bill “imperfect” but said he didn’t want Congress to get “bogged down at this critical juncture in our economic recovery.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State - A list of 57 transportation projects – totaling $625 million – were adopted Thursday by the California Transportation Commission, as the first in line to receive infrastructure-focused federal economic stimulus dollars. Caltrans also voted to allocate funding for 56 of these projects, pending final approval by the Federal Highway Administration to release the stimulus funds, enabling construction to begin. “This is about jobs-jobs-jobs,” said Caltrans Director Will Kempton. “We plan on starting the first of these projects within 60 days – putting people to work as soon as possible. Caltrans will use the $625 million in federal economic stimulus funding to leverage other state resources, enabling construction to begin on hundreds of projects throughout California.” Nearly $565 million of the funding is targeted for projects in the State Highway Operations and Protection Program, including work on both rural and urban highways. Caltrans said these projects, including paving, fixing potholes, safety, and bridge preservation, receive funding first because protecting public safety is the highest priority and preserving the state’s investment in its highway system is highly cost-effective. The remaining $60 million of funding allocated today will go toward pavement preservation projects. California is expected to receive approximately $2.57 billion for highways, local streets and roads, freight and passenger rail, and port infrastructure projects from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama on February 17. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The Old Well Motel and Grill in Drytown is seeking the culprits behind a hit-and run accident that did heavy damage to the building’s restaurant. Owner/Operator and Chef Edwin Kaffer, who lives adjacent to the restaurant, was awoken around 3:20 Wednesday morning by neighbors who heard the sound of the collision. He exited his home to find an abandoned 2003 Chevy Impala had collided with the front corner of his restaurant. According to reports released by the California Highway Patrol, the vehicle came around the curve heading south into Drytown and lost control. The vehicle jumped a row of concrete abutments designating parking spots and collided head on with the building. The occupants of the vehicle abandoned it at the scene. The impact was so great that it shattered most of the windows and knocked the walls six inches off there foundation. Kaffer said he had an idea of who was involved in the wreck because they left their insurance card, but precluded providing further information until police conclude their investigation. “We’re looking at close to $20,000 in damages, and here’s hoping it will be covered by insurance,” he said. The Old Well has become an institution in Drytown, and Kaffer and his family have operated the stalwart since the early 1960s. The restaurant has been around since the early 1950s or late 40s. He said this happened right as business was beginning to pick up. Kaffer hopes to reopen the restaurant soon. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek Planning Commission discussed wastewater obligations in the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort’s Specific Plan Monday, while staff and the developer acknowledged negotiations continue. Gold Rush Project Manager Jim Harnish said “I know you, like the rest of us, would like to get to a conclusion and move on with the project.” Consultant Anders Hauge said the word “treatment” should not be in the specific plan because it is in the development agreement. He said funding and financing of the treatment system are being negotiated. Commissioner Mike Kirkley said the specific plan does not talk about treatment. Commissioner Frank Cunha said “personally, I’d like to see it included in the conditions of approval.” Commission Chairman Robin Peters agreed, saying “the lack of discussion of treatment capacity stood out like a sore thumb.” Cunha said they should “make sure … that we are going to have a discussion on a wastewater treatment plant facility,” now or in the future. Gold Rush attorney Diane Kindermann Henderson said the city wastewater committee includes 2 City Council members, who will give a presentation about the negotiations. She said talks intend to “make this document consistent with the EIR” and other documents. Cunha said he didn’t think the council was supposed to “recommend to the planning commission what they think is good planning.” He saw the commission’s job as looking at planning questions and making recommendations. Cunha said “to do the exact opposite with the biggest issue of the project is wrong.” Hauge said a number of state laws determine when the wastewater plant comes on-line. And he noted that Gold Rush is paying for a “fair share” of the facility, “not the whole thing.” Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe (Ruh-Bay) said the presentation would not be ready for the next meeting and negotiations are “constantly in flux.” Hauge said it was a “policy level” issue and Peters agreed, noting that the term “fair share” belonged in the development agreement. Kirkley said the city has adequate water treatment and “the only reason we need to go to the tertiary (treatment) level is to water the golf course.” Cunha said “there has to be a timing” element to the wastewater facility agreement. He said his “biggest fear” is that the “golf course doesn’t get built,” and the city gets 500 new houses but cannot spray tertiary water there. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - East Bay MUD will hold public meetings in our area to take comments on the 2040 water plan, which includes the controversial proposal to raise the Pardee Reservoir. Under the proposal, East Bay MUD would flood the entire Middle Bar reach of the Mokelumne and nearly a mile of the Mokelumne above Highway 49 in order to meet its water needs in dry years. Local opponents are concerned about any EBMUD decision that would drastically alter a vital component of their own backyard. “We don’t feel we should have to give up more of our river so people in the east bay can take longer showers and water their lawn,” said Katherine Evatt, Board Director for the Foothill Conservancy. The EBMUD Board of Directors is currently discussing methods of effective water conservation for the future. Meetings will take place at 1:30 to 3:30pm Monday March 16 in the Lodi Police Department Community Room, 215 W. Elm Street in Lodi, and 6:30 to 8:30pm Monday in the Amador Water Agency meeting Room, 12800 Ridge Road, Sutter Creek. East Bay MUD is also accepting comments on the plan until April 6th. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – An Amador County Sheriff’s deputy rescued a bedridden woman from a burning home Wednesday afternoon in Pine Grove. One of the first deputies on the scene along with a member of the US Forest Service went to the aid of the elderly woman, who was trapped inside the burning home. A witness said the home, at 25495 Meadow Drive was fully involved when responders arrived but firefighters were able to save part of the 2-story, single-family home. Authorities soon learned that a bed-ridden and wheelchair-bound elderly woman reportedly was inside the home as it was burning. A sheriff’s deputy entered the house and took the woman to safety. The woman was reportedly being cared for by her daughter. Responders included the Amador Fire Protection District, Battalion 10, under Incident Commander, Chief Ray Blankenheim. Battalion 10 led the fight to douse the fire, after the initial call around noon Wednesday. The AFPD around 1 p.m. reported that there were no injuries resulting from the fire and everyone got out of the house OK. The Red Cross was expected to be dispatched to the home to assist the residents with their losses. Containment responders included a crew from the Pine Grove California Youth Authority Conservation Camp, which did mop-up work after the fire. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Criminal justice officials from the African country of Rwanda made a visit to Amador County on March 3rd and 4th to observe our system of law and how to best implement that in their home country. This unusual arrangement was made by Howard Mosley, Chief Deputy Inspector General for California and an adjunct professor a McGeorge School of Law. The Rwandan government contacted Mosley to help implement a witness protection program to safeguard witnesses called to testify against those people responsible for the genocide that killed between 800,000 and 1 million Tutsis in 1994. The Tutsi tribe population in that country was almost completely wiped out by opposing Hutus after the Hutu President was assassinated by Tutsi officers, sparking riots. Mosley developed a program for the Rwandan delegation designed to track a fictional case from its initial report to law enforcement to arraignment in Superior Court. “Mr. Mosley believed that the delegation would be more comfortable and learn more by observing the best practices implemented in a smaller agency with limited resources- since that is the reality of Rwanda,” said District Attorney Todd Riebe. The delegation was comprised of Martin Ngoga, Prosecturer General for Rwanda’s National Public Prosecution Authority, Anne Gahongayire, Secretary General of the Rwandan Supreme Court, Stephane Nyembo, Head of the Information Communication Technology Unit and Michael Rukata, First Counselor of the Rwandan Embassy in Washington, D.C. They visited the Sheriff’s office March 3rd for an overview of the Amador law enforcement agency before visiting the District Attorney the next day. Over the two day period, the delegates were informed on everything from preparation of trial exhibits, to the role of the D.A. and the victim witness office, to the utilization of technology systems. In a briefing before the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Sheriff Martin Ryan said “it was great having them here and showing them the latest technology. We’ve also been invited to Rwanda.” Riebe summed up his impression of the visit, saying: “It was a humbling experience to get to know people who have endured hardships beyond the imagination and yet have persevered and put themselves in a position where they can make their country a better place to live. Staff Reports, Contributions by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Planning Commission last week announced the continuation of the comprehensive General Plan Update serial meeting, set to resume the fourth week of this month. The series – called “The Path to 2030” – is a continuation of the serial meetings held in October and November, 2008. The joint meeting of the Amador County Board of Supervisors and Amador County Planning Commission see work from both local “stakeholders” groups and staff work on direction of the Supervisors and commissioners that began last fall. County Planner Susan Grijalva in the announcement said: “Because the General Plan is the basis for all regulations – such as zoning, subdivision improvements – and decisions made regarding the use of property and when considering development projects, it is vitally important to be informed of this Update.” The joint session will convene for 4 hours on consecutive days, noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 24th, 25th and 26th. Meetings each day conclude with a public comment period on the day’s separate topics. On Tuesday, March 24th, the agenda includes a presentation on the “UPlan;” and a discussion of “Optional Elements.” Wednesday, March 25th’s agenda includes "miscellaneous Items needing direction to staff;” along with General Plan Requests. The Thursday, March 26th meeting will include Supervisor and Commissioner deliberations and recommendations regarding a preferred alternative. Grijalva said “This General Plan will become the foundation document for future development of the County, defining appropriate locations for land uses and setting out the County’s policy direction to guide decisions on a wide range of county activities, including land use regulation.” She said maps that have been developed to this point may be viewed and printed from the County’s Website, www.co.amador.ca.us. Grijalvas said the Update process is on-going and the public can “continue to monitor the Website and watch for notices of future public hearings,” because “changes to the proposed General Plan can, and will, be made up until the last meeting.” The Meetings will be held in the Board Chambers, 810 Court Street in Jackson. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State - U.S. Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell announced yesterday the Agency’s plan to participate in the nation’s economic recovery program. The Forest Service has received $1.15 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The first group of Forest Service projects nationwide created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, totaling $98 million, have been selected. These initial projects will create 1,500 jobs, giving the Agency the early opportunity to put people to work. The remaining projects, totaling $1.052 billion, will be announced shortly and will create an additional 23,500 jobs nationwide. First round projects on lands managed by the Forest Service in California will include maintenance and construction on facilities, roads and trails totaling 70 jobs and $7.75 million. The jobs are estimated to last from four months up to a year. These projects will benefit 11 counties. The Eldorado National Forest will receive funding to replace roofs at five locations: the Forest Service auto shop and fire cache near Camino; an historic cabin at Alder Ridge Lookout; the historic Bunker Hill Lookout; and a Forest Service building at Echo Summit. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to provide private sector jobs,” said Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo. “This is the first round of funding and we look forward to receiving additional funds to put more people to work. The roofing project will be a good start.” Under the language of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Forest Service will create as many jobs as possible to support nearby communities and to get money flowing through the economy again. All funds will be spent on specific targeted projects that are, or soon will be, ready to go. “The Forest Service anticipates playing a key role in our nation’s economic recovery,” said Chief Kimbell. “We are grateful for the confidence Congress has shown us and look forward to demonstrating how the Forest Service can create good jobs during difficult times,” Kimbell added. Many of the most affected communities of the economic downturn are located near national forests. Rural jobs will be created in areas needing restoration work with shovel ready projects related to fire prevention, roads, bridges, buildings and recreation facilities. More detailed information about new Forest Service projects and jobs in California will be forthcoming. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.