Amador County - Assemblymember Alyson Huber is reminding residents of the 10th Assembly District of her Mobile District Office Hours. Residents can stop by to discuss the state budget, problems with state agencies, past or future legislation, and community issues with staff. Informational brochures will also be available. The Mobile District Office hours for Amador County are the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Human Resource offices of the Amador County Building, 810 Court Street in Jackson. For more information visit www.asm.ca.gov/huber or call the District Office at (209) 333-5530. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek Planning Commission last Monday discussed the Amador Water Agency’s internal struggle over the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. In particular, new board members are looking at an engineering study by Jackson Director Bill Condrashoff, in which he found that an agency Water Supply Assessment for Gold Rush was inadequate. Staff, however supported its assessment and the 2008 board’s approval last January of the document. Chairman Robin Peters said he thought “it would be irresponsible for the Planning Commission to do anything about this without a whole lot more information.” He said Condrashoff’s comments were addressed in the Final EIR by the AWA board. Peters said: “If AWA is concerned about the AWA’s document, a request for a re-evaluation of that document should come from the water agency.” The AWA ended a meeting on the issue with confidential staff direction given in closed session last Thursday. Sutter Creek’s planning commission talked about changes to its “Conditions of Approval” for Gold Rush, including one suggested by Peters that made “sure the city had first crack at serving water to” Gold Rush, and were considered before the AWA. Commissioner Mike Kirkley said that was discussed at the AWA meeting. He said if the “whole point was the tertiary plant, why are they talking about raw water?” Kirkley said he thought that “recycled water needs to be available before the golf course goes in.” Consultant Anders Hauge said having the existing raw water line available for use allowed Gold Rush to go forward. Kirkley said if Gold Rush can’t get recycled water, they would need to run a new pipe for raw water. Hauge said he is working on the timing involved, in the Development Agreement. Peters suggested a condition of approval that Gold Rush would have to “provide evidence that raw water will be supplied until tertiary water can be supplied by the city.” Peters said: “There’s got to be a mechanism to be able to get raw water to the golf course to make it viable.” The commission discussed upcoming meetings and having all 5 commissioners present for the big discussions and issues. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Vicini family of Amador County last week announced the opening of their sons’ green material recycling operation on Willow Creek Road, and a regional specialist called it the first facility of this kind in Amador County. Merv Vicini said the facility will grind the natural products it gets and eventually be able to have a big enough store of materials to sell mulch, base material and wood chips to the public. The company takes natural clippings wood waste, and will also use its product to sell as fuel to a biofuel project at the former Co-Gen plant in the Buena Vista, Ione area, which burns materials for electrical generation. Merv said he and his sons were development graders by trade, but the projects lately had been slowed by the economy. He said their company, Amador Mechanical Incorporated, has done all of the projects of Bob Reeder’s Reeder Sutherland development company. The developers has 2 projects in the works around the city of Plymouth, that could build out to as many as 500 luxury homes on ¼ to 1 acre sized lots. In the meantime, the Vicini's developed a brush and tree clearing surpluses of material, which they can now turn into usable byproducts at their facility on Willow Creek Road. Merv, and sons Tony and Rick, own some machinery and they hosted the company Rayco, of Wooster, Ohio, on Tuesday (July 14th). The company showed its grinder and a tree trimmer and brush cutter. Merv said he had already purchased a grinder, and they opened 2 weeks ago as the Vicini Brothers Green Waste Recycling facility. Jill Firsh, specialist with the California Integrated Waste Management Board, attended the demonstration and was pleased with the new facility. She said Vicini Brothers’ recycling was “the first facility of this kind in Amador County.” Firsh said it will assist the county in meeting requirements of Assembly Bill 939, which says counties must divert more than 50 percent of its waste from landfills, with diversion and recycling. She said “Amador is very proactive already,” and under Jim McHargue, the Amador County Waste Department is already diverting more than 50 percent of its waste from landfills. Firch AB939 requires annual reporting by September 1st, and this year starts a new process. Vicini Brothers currently gets green waste from ACES Waste Service of Pine Grove, CALTRANS and Waste Connections of Ione. The facility, at 15850 Willow Creek Road, will also accept loads from the public. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Ione City Council ended years of work by a Castle Oaks Subdivision resident to settle an ownership issue, with a July 7th decision to give ownership of 2,737 square feet of land to a property owner who has maintained the property for 10 years. The council voted 2-1, with 2 recused members sitting outside the hearing room. Councilman Jim Ulm voted against it, and Councilwoman Andrea Bonham and Vice Mayor Skip Schaufel in favor. Real estate attorney Ken Smith, speaking for the landowner, Charles Hambaugh and his property on Fairway Drive, said “the property has little or no value to the city, and it cannot be valued the same as property with street access, because it has no street access.” The city owned the property, but he said they should not worry about this setting a “precedent.” He also reminded the council that the Planning Commission did approve Hambaugh’s application, will “increase the size of the lot by 2,737 square feet to a total of 11,381 square feet.” City Planner Christopher Jordan said the “adjustment would resolve an issue regarding how the property was represented upon initial sale compared to the recorded property boundaries.” Part of the property was also owned by JTS Communities, and offered for dedication to the city by JTS. Dominic Atlan, Castle Oaks PGA golf pro, said the house stood alone by itself, fully landscaped, and the contention of who owns the property has been going on for 10 years. Atlan found out in 2002 that it was not golf course property, and was glad because he did not have to cut weeds. He said he did not think it was the “buyer’s responsibility to check lot lines when they make a purchase.” In public comment, Greg Murphy said “it will set a precedent” and Hambaugh spending money to tend the property could not be justification “for a gift of public funds.” City Attorney Kristen Castanos said the opposite was true, and the money spent by Hambaugh, calculated at $14,000 dollars over 10 years to keep up the lawn, would offset the value of the property and the city would “not be giving away property.” Jordan said the land value was not formally appraised, but it was calculated using the most recent assessor’s land value figures. Its value was estimated at $11,618 dollars. Hambaugh’s costs included $6,000 dollars in 1-time landscaping projects, and maintenance costs of $8,247 dollars. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County registrar of voters Sheldon Johnson announced last week the candidate filing dates for the Uniform District Election Law Election which will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 to fill vacancies in a number of special districts. These include the Drytown County Water District, Fiddletown Community Services District, Ione Memorial District, Lockwood Fire Protection District, Pine Acres Community Services District, Pine Grove Community Services District, Rabb Park Community Services District, Ranch House Estates Community Services District, Ridgewood Acres Community Services District, River Pines Public Utilities District, Sunset Heights Community Services District and Sutter Creek Fire Protection District. Each District has available openings for three to five directors. Nomination petitions for eligible candidates may be obtained from the office of the secretary of the district or the Registrar of Voters at the County Administration Center, 810 Court St., Jackson, CA 223-6465, on or after July 13, 2009, and must be filed not later than 5:00 p.m. on August 7, 2009. If nomination papers for an incumbent are not filed, the voters shall have until 5:00 p.m. on August 12, 2009 to nominate candidates other than the incumbent for such office. For all offices candidates must be a registered voter residing within the District; however, for two of the positions on the Ione Memorial District candidates must be a veteran in addition to a registered voter residing within the District. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Election Department at (209) 223-6465, Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Cynthia Turner of Detailed Travel in downtown Jackson has made a difference in a Pioneer family’s fight to rebound from a fire that took their home Saturday (July 11th). Wendy Frachon said Turner had 75 people looking for someone to repair the cooling fan on the family’s van on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, Turner reported that she had found the Frachon family a house to rent. Turner’s program, the Wish Exchange, uses modern technology to help families in need in Amador County. Turner said she “started the Wish Exchange Program last year for our County. It was just a way for me to help out some of the families in our area.” The way program works is that she has boxes around the area in different businesses. People with wishes can write down 3 wishes as well as their e-mail address. Turner said: “Once a month I send out a mass e-mail to all of the people who are participating in the program and some close friends and family. Then as a team we can work together and make someone’s wish come true.” She said they range from needing socks for school to “wood to keep warm or even someone wanting to ride a tractor.” On Wednesday, she met Mike Frachon, of Pioneer, who was filling out a Wish Exchange form. He and wife, Wendy and 2 boys, age 6 and 12, lost much of their belongings Saturday night, when their rental house on Silver Drive was lost in a fire. Turner said Wednesday she was “working most of the last few days trying to help them out.” So far she’s accomplished a lot. Lori Bullock of Castle Oak Homes made a money donation, and is looking into a rental property for them. Wal-Mart was waiting for an OK on a donation for school clothes. Susan Manning at the Feed Barn donated cat food and other items for the family’s 3 cats. Hahn’s automotive offered to repair the family’s car for free. Jackson Cleaners donated dry cleaning of their clothes, and a special treatment for smoke. Heaven and Earth Consignment donated work clothes for Mike and some toys for the kids. The biggest news is that Turner was able to find them a furnished house to rent. She said anyone with item to donate and help can drop it at her office, at 30 Main Street in Jackson. She said also, Mike lost his job Wednesday. She said he is a handyman and carpenter. E-mail Turner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A Frachon Family Fire Victim fund account is also open at Wells Fargo in Jackson. To donate, call Lisa Jabs at 223-0113. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Calaveras County – A total of 5,000 marijuana plants were eradicated in another regional marijuana bust Wednesday, according to reports by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department. 15 pounds of marijuana processed for illegal distribution were also confiscated. Reports say the grow was spotted during a routine observation flight in a remote area of Calaveras County off Fricot City Road, roughly ten miles from San Andreas. A seizure operation was organized and conducted by the Narcotics Enforcement Unit with assistance from the Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Justice. As in other recent raids, a Mexican Drug Trafficking organization is suspected. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Thousands more Mother Lode residents will now have high speed Internet access thanks to a $2.8 million California Public Utilities Commission grant. $2.7 million of that funding will go to Sonora-based Mother Lode Internet, who will in turn spend nearly $8 million over the next year and a half to build a high speed network utilizing pre-existing towers and frequencies. The Public Utility Commission, or CPUC, says the new, expanded network will provide Internet service to 14,629 households currently without access in Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties. “This fixed wireless broadband project shows tremendous innovation in bringing very fast broadband to…rural households in the Mother Lode region who have never had fast Internet access before," said CPUC Commissioner Rachelle Chong, a member of the state's Broadband Task Force. According to CPUC, the Mother Lode Broadband project will provide broadband service at an average speed of up to 14 mega bits per second for both download and upload. In December, 2007, the CPUC established a two-year, $100 million California Advanced Services Fund to provide 40 percent matching infrastructure grants to broadband providers who in turn put up matching grants of 60 percent. So far, $12.3 million in broadband infrastructure grants have been approved. Two other providers that lost out in the grant competition are also on board to provide experience and support. Golden State Cellular General Manager Dan Rule said his company will provide the region mobile broadband service before the end of the year. The CPUC estimates that nearly 2,000 California communities that are currently unserved and underserved by broadband. 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 the Gold Rush Ranch & Gold Resort draft “Conditions of Approval” Monday, which included suggestions by the commission chairman to require building a firehouse, buying a fire truck and developing 2/3rds of a 15-acre park. Chairman Robin Peters said he was not finished reading the conditions of approval, but Consultant Anders Hauge did have his comments thus far added in a “strikethrough” format, to show his and other suggested changes. His suggestions included requiring that Gold Rush signing a “School Facilities Mitigation Agreement and an Option and Agreement for Conveyance of Property” with Amador County Unified School District. His addition noted that “grading shall protect the existing skyline, oak trees, prominent hillsides, riparian corridors, and other topographically sensitive features and shall emulate the natural topography, which is the shape, height, and depth of the land surface.” Peters also added a requirement of building a firehouse before recording “the final large lot subdivision map.” The conditions included either providing or funding “acquisition of an adequate fire station site.” Peters added that it would include providing “a single-story 4,500 square foot facility with 2 bays, one fire truck, one Type 2 engine, dorm-room housing for 3 to 4 firefighters, a training room, a kitchen and a day room.” Gold Rush’s Greg Bardini said developers had already identified a 1-and-a-half-acres parcel to be specified as the location for the firehouse. Also, Peters added a requirement that Gold Rush developers – prior to recording the large lot final subdivision map – shall “make dedication of a community park containing or providing at least 15 acres of usable area in or adjacent to the Gold Rush Ranch Specific Plan.” It included Gold Rush paying a “fair shair” to construct and maintain 10 acres ( or 2/3rds ) of the park. Peters said the term “adjacent to” the planned area allowed Gold Rush to acquire a site outside of the development area for use as the 15-acre community park. Peters also suggested a stand-alone category for the golf course. The commission returns to the conditions of approval at its next meeting, along with the suggested mitigation measures. The documents are available at City Hall, and online at the city’s website. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - A 14-month streak of year-over-year gains in home sales ended in June, when the number of sales fell to fewer than in June of 2008. In total, homebuyers in the Sacramento closed deals on 3,758 existing and new homes in June, the most since last October, according to MDA Dataquick, a research and statistics company. The region’s monthly sales have yet to reach 4,000 this year. Dataquick credits a rise in median priced home sales and diminishing sales of lower priced bank repos. Amador County had 31 sales compared to 30 in May. The county’s median price, $210,000, was 18.9 percent below June 2008. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.