Amador County – The Amador Water Agency on Thursday will discuss requesting input in the planning process for the Amador County General Plan Update, including a possible suggestion or recommendation on a Water Element. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said in the joint water committee meeting Monday that the board might feel the need for a separate element or a sub-element in the County General Plan. Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli said supervisors have talked about it and a consensus agrees that “rather than a separate element, like Calaveras County has, ours would probably be a sub-element, and part of some other element.” AWA Chairman Terence Moore said he and Vice President Bill Condrashoff agreed that they would look at Calaveras County’s Water Element in its General Plan, and if its good, they would take it to their board, and then maybe take it on to the Amador General Plan update panel. Amador City farmer Susan Bragstad asked why the county needed 20,000 acre-feet more water. Abercrombie said it was bases on data gleaned from planning departments at the county and at each city based on estimates for pending and future development projects. Condrashoff said you “don’t do a general plan and say, ‘this is what we will have next year.’” He asked that if it happens in 10 years, would it be quick, and a 50-year growth to need 20,000 acre-feet of water, “would it be more reasonable?” He said he did not know and other members of the committee “may know better.” Abercrombie said no one added up the pending and proposed Equivalent Dwelling Units of all county development, but he asked if “doubling is what the county wants” for its population. The AWA board will also get a verbal report of federal stimulus grant applications, and talk about participation in the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority “Regional General Plan Growth build out.” The board will also discuss the Recycle Wastewater Master Plan and the Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Project. The board meets at 9 a.m. today. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Joint Water Committee on Monday discussed some of the current and future water needs for both local and regional jurisdictions. Amador Water Agency General Manager Jim Abercrombie said an off-stream reservoir project at Duck Creek, south of the Mokelumne River, could possibly store 150,000 acre feet of water for the East Bay Municipal Utility District. And Foothill Conservancy’s Pete Bell said San Joaquin County can take up to 500,000 acre feet a year from the Moke. The joint committee was discussing the Mokelumne River Water Forum, whose 16 members signed a Memorandum of Understanding 4 years ago to study the water supply. Abercrombie said “the forum was put together because over the last 20 years, Amador has been good about protesting” East Bay MUD’s attempts to dam the Moke. The object is to work on each member’s projected future needs. “In our case,” Abercrombie said, “That’s 20,000 acre feet of firm water supply, excluding agricultural water.” He said that could also translate into additional firm ag water for the Jackson Valley Irrigation District, “we just don’t know yet.” He said “San Joaquin (County) really just wants to recharge the groundwater basin.” Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli asked about the possibility of “5 or 6 years of drought in a row.” Abercrombie said “JVID wouldn’t get any water,” and the Central Amador Water Project, which serves the Upcountry, “would need additional storage just to get the water rights out.” Abercrombie said the forum process has been funded by state grants, and the state is “very interested in this conjunctive use project,” which could use Prop 84 money for targeting inter-regional projects. The Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Plan is one of the elements in the East Bay MUD 2040 Water Management Plan that is being accepted by area water and municipal jurisdictions, while most of the local bodies have rejected the 2040 plan that would expand the Pardee Reservoir and flood parts of the banks of the Mokelumne River. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sacramento County – Probation officials have proposed shutting down two more local juvenile facilities, despite concerns over impacts on public safety. As part of the response to Sacramento County’s projected $187 million deficit, probation officials have suggested closing the Sacramento County Boys Ranch and the Warren E. Thornton Youth Center. This $37.4 million cost-saving measure also includes a proposal to eliminate 247 jobs. All this comes on the heels of a proposal to close another major institution, the Preston Youth Facility in Ione. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been considering closing a number of correction facilities and prisons as a result of the State budget crisis. “Preston is high on the list of potential closures, and if it were to close it would have a devastating impact on Ione and Amador County,” said Forster. No further word over the proposed Preston closure has been reported, and one representative of Assemblywoman Alyson Huber said it’s “in limbo.” About 85 youth are currently housed at the Boys Ranch, with an estimated 50 percent of them classified as gang members, according to the Probation Department. Some 275 offenders between 16 and 18 were sent to the Boys Ranch last year for terms ranging from three months to a year. Another 110 offenders between the ages of 14 and 16 are being held at Thornton. More than 500 youths spent time at Thornton last year. Opponents to the idea are alarmed over the untold number of convicted criminals who would return to their neighborhoods without serving full sentences. But Nav Gil, Sacramento County chief operations officer, called the probation proposal "very preliminary” and said it has not yet been reviewed by the county executive’s office. The proposed cuts would represent a 46 percent reduction in the county's $69.6 million in general fund spending on probation this year. The closure of the two Sacramento facilities would save the county $8.7 million and $6.6 million each. The elimination of 247 jobs would result in some $22 million salary savings, and drastically reduce supervision for the lion's share of the county's 15,000 adult probationers to intake interviews and paperwork reviews. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Calaveras County – Three Valley Springs men were arrested after they attacked a responding Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office deputy at a Valley Springs residence when. In a release from the Calaveras Sheriff’s Office Monday, Sergeant Dave Seawell said Michael Dittman, a 2-year veteran, responded to a report of a disturbance at a home in the 100 block of Daphne Street in Valley Springs. Upon arrival, Dittman saw 3 men fighting on the front porch. Dittman announced his presence and ordered the men to stop fighting. They ignored Dittman, who pointed his Taser at the subjects and again ordered them to stop. Thomas E. Jones, who at the time was trying to restrain his son, Thomas C. Jones from Michael Koppi, realized Dittman’s Taser was pointed at his son. Thomas E. Jones confronted Dittman and Dittman ordered him out of his way or he would be tased. Thomas C. Jones then broke away from Michael Koppi and charged at Dittman. Dittman shot Thomas C. Jones with the taser, which malfunctioned. Seawell said all 3 men then attacked Dittman. All three suspects were booked into the Calaveras County Jail. Thomas E. Jones, 51, was booked for battery on an officer, assault on an officer with a taser, obstructing and/or resisting a peace officer, removing a weapon from a peace officer other than firearm and public intoxication. Thomas C. Jones, 18, was booked for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, battery on a peace officer, obstructing and/or resisting a peace officer, removing a weapon from a peace officer other than a firearm and public intoxication, for marijuana. Michael Koppi, 22, was booked for battery on a peace officer, obstructing and/or resisting a peace officer and public intoxication. Dittman was treated and released from Mark Twain Hospital for multiple cuts and bruises to his head and neck. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A tentatively scheduled workshop with the East Bay Municipal Utility District is set for 10 a.m. Monday in Jackson, with the Amador County Board of Supervisors, to educate officials on the utility’s 2040 plan. Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli told the Joint Water Committee Monday that the tentative meeting would include East Bay MUD “and hopefully some Amador Water Agency people.” County Attorney Martha Shaver said it is less a public meeting and more a “briefing for supervisors to get information.” East Bay MUD has held two public meetings on the subject of the 2040 plan, in which the utility sees a preferred project in the expansion Pardee Lake in Amador County. AWA board Vice President Bill Condrashoff said the board sent a letter opposing the Pardee expansion, but saying the agency is willing to look into the Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Plan. The Sutter Creek City Council on Monday night passed a related resolution that “urges the Utility District to adopt higher conservation levels in its 2040 Water Management Plan instead of expanding Pardee Reservoir and destroying the Middle Bar reach of the Mokelumne River.” Councilman Tim Murphy, before the vote, said they supported the resolution and Pardee Lake, but they wanted to add stronger language urging conservation. The Sutter Creek council passed the resolution, 4-1, with Councilman Pat Crosby voting against it. Katherine Evatt of the Foothill Conservancy also spoke, saying there had “been a concerted effort the last 10 or 15 years to develop the whitewater resources” of the Mokelumne River for the rafting industry. 2 public meetings hosted by East Bay MUD in the area showed overwhelming support for preserving the Moke. 352 people spoke at the meetings and only one - a member of the Jackson Valley Irrigation District Board – spoke in support of the project. John Mottoros of Sutter Creek told the council he considered whitewater groups a minority, and if you stop the electricity and water, which are one and the same, “you go brown.” He said boaters should take the hit for the good of more people. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - A preliminary model of the 2009 California State Fair Exhibit was presented by local sign expert Kam Merzlak to the Board of Supervisors during Tuesday’s Supervisor meeting. Merzlak, who won both the Silver and Superintendent's awards on behalf of the county for last year’s exhibit, brought to the podium a miniature of what he plans to be a functional replica of the Kennedy Mine head frame and tailing wheel. This involved a 16 inch replica of the Kennedy Mine head frame and a 10 inch diameter functional replica of the tailing wheel. The actual exhibit will be many times that size and will be used to promote Amador County at the State Fair, August 21 to September 7 in Sacramento. “If people can leave our booth with a little taste of Amador County, we’ve done our job,” said Merzlak. An actual flowing stream is planned to surround the exhibit, which will include an area for visitors to pan for gold. Small clear vials of gold will be available for lucky prospectors. Supervisor Oneto questioned where this gold would come from, but as Maureen Funk of the Amador Council of Tourism put it, “Kam has a plan.” The meat of the funds will come from the Supervisors, who initially agreed to contribute $1,250 each from their discretionary funds. This was revised to $1000 each after Supervisor Richard Forster expressed concerns over coming up with the money. Supervisor John Plasse, whose fund has not yet been established, agreed to contribute funds from his own pocket if the other Supervisors could put in $1000 each. $3,250 was budgeted for the exhibit in the last fiscal budget. Another $2,800 leftover from the film commission budget could also be authorized for the exhibit. In total, Merzlak will receive a minimum of $7,250 to build the project. In reference to the flowing stream, Supervisor Novelli jokingly said: “Don’t get mad if you find me floating in there in an intertube.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The third annual 49er Bypass Fun Run & Walk race drew more than 100 entrants Saturday morning in downtown Sutter Creek. A crew of volunteers and staffers from the Amador County Recreation Agency led the 49er Bypass Challenge, and ACRA Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep emceed the event and handed out medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each age group. The event started and ended at the crosswalk on downtown Main Street, in front of the Native Sons of the Golden West hall. It included 1-mile, 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer routes for both walking and running competitors. Christian Mullan, a junior at Amador High School, took first place overall in the men’s 5K race, with a time of 21 minutes and 5 seconds. Second overall was Drew Nasiatka in 22 minutes and 6 seconds; and third was Andrew Smith in 21 minutes and 56 seconds. Diana Sillivan was first overall among the women runners in the 5K race, and she finished in 26 minutes and 23 seconds. Taking second overall was Julie Taggart in a time of 26 minutes and 45 seconds. Katie Ross-Smith was third in 28 minutes and 6 seconds. In the 10K men’s division, first overall was John Allen, who finished with a time of 45 minutes and 36 seconds. Second was Dave Tearpak, running a race of 47 minutes and 45 seconds; and third was Mike Nesler. The women’s division 10K race was paced by Kellee Davenport, who had a time of 49 minutes and 35 seconds. Second place went to Carol Dustyn. Third place in the 10K was won by Mimi Holob. The money goes to funding ACRA programs around Amador County. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State - On May 19th, Amador County voters will have the opportunity to vote on six budget-related propositions in a statewide special election. In a special series here on TSPN, we’ll bring you information on each ballot measure, what it means for California, and more specifically, how it affects Amador County. Proposition 1A, also called the "Rainy Day Budget Stabilization Fund," would create a spending cap and make it harder for the state to spend its emergency cash reserve, or rainy day fund. It also extends for two more years the increased income tax rate, the 1-cent sales tax hike and a near doubling of the vehicle license fee approved by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature just months ago. Supporters, which include many business groups, say it would “limit spending”, stabilize the state budget and help prevent roller-coaster ups and downs. It’s predicted that the teacher’s union will spend nearly $6 million in support of Prop. 1A, which is similar to Schwarzenegger's 2005 measure that the teachers' union so strongly opposed. Their reasoning for this is because school-supported Prop. 1B, which would eliminate the minimum school funding guarantee to protect K-12 and community college funding, is tied to a "supplemental education fund" created by Prop. 1A. Both 1A and 1B must pass in order for schools to receive the $9.3 billion," says a radio ad paid for by the teachers' union. Opponents to Prop. 1A, which include almost every Republican legislator, say it’s just a ploy to extract more money from taxpayers without truly reforming state spending. Proposition 1A would "make it harder to approve spending increases in some years," the Legislative Analyst's Office says, and “would not cap the total level of spending that could be authorized in any year.” This means a larger rainy-day reserve but also higher spending and taxes, which would suck the oxygen out of economic growth, opponents say. May 19th, you’ll have the opportunity to vote on this and other contentious issues. Stay tuned for more information on the propositions in upcoming newscasts. 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 finalized its review of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort Specific Plan last week, setting the calendar for several other hearings. Commission Chairman Robin Peters stopped short of calling for revising the Specific Plan in draft form, but he said it was difficult to stay on target. Consultant Anders Hague acknowledged that, adding that “one of the difficulties is continually having to revise these things.” He said “it is good to talk about the elements of conditions of approval,” and he said the “overall Wildlife Habitat Management Plan must be approved so the developer can follow it.” The details will come with the conditions of approval, agreed upon by Gold Rush and the Sutter Creek City Council. Peters agreed, saying it would answer questions, such as “who would build or pay for which trails.” Commissioner Franck Cunha said the specific plan included “5 miles of trails” that are “not tied to any other phase.” He said the point is, “when are those trails going to be built?” They agreed that the Wildlife Plan should have its own language associated with the state Fish & Game Department, then have the final authority be Fish & Game. Commissioner Robert Olson said the wildlife section required a “qualified biologist,” but he did not “see anything where a penalty is provided for cutting too many trees.” Gold Rush Project Manager Jim Harnish said local, state and federal governments provide penalties for environmental violation. Peters said “it seems that any permit sought will be in for a difficult process,” and he thought Olson’s point was a good one. Commissioner Mike Kirkley said the “procedure needs to be spelled out a little more clearly.” Haque said he liked Peters’ idea of a chart for the process. Kirkley said he did not “like the biologist concept, because they are not licensed.” For the environmental aspect, he said “we better have our ducks in a row, because if our environmental document is not good, or if the specific plan is not good, it will be thrown out” in court. On Monday, the planning commission hosts a public hearing on the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for Gold Rush, specifically for the traffic impact study. The commission’s first meeting in May will wrap up loose ends and look at the errata sheet and conditions of approval. The commission could have a recommendation ready for the city council by the end of June. The council could consider the recommendation in July. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A new workshop is designed to educate private landowners as to the best method to maintain and manage thousands of miles of forest roads. Titled “Designing, Improving, and Maintaining Forest & Ranch Roads,” the seminar will cover the thousands of miles of roadways that crisscross the forests and ranches of rural California. The event is organized by the University of California Cooperative Extension, the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Resource Conservation District. “This one-day workshop emphasizes field evaluation of road system conditions. Rural landowners are in need of good practical information to help them manage their road systems,” said Scott Oneto, UC Cooperative extension farm advisor. The workshop is instructed by Richard Harris, a forestry specialist with the University of California; John Schlosser, Engineering Geologist with the California Geological Survey; and Peter Cafferata, hydrologist with CALFIRE. Topics include landowner rights in relation to property access, environmental impacts from rural roads, rural road design standards, road surfacing and drainage alternatives, and the costs and funding for road projects. The workshop is offered in two locations. The first is Friday, May 8th at 12200B Airport Road in Jackson. The second is May 22nd at the Poverty Hill Schoolhouse, on Stent cutoff Road in Jamestown. Both workshops run from 8am to 5pm. The $20 cost includes lunch, refreshments and a road handbook. For more information, call Robin Blood at the UC Cooperative Extension office at 209-533-5695. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.