Amador County – The Amador County Social Services Department saw an alarming trend mirroring the national economic flux in the early part of the year, last week, with early walk-in customers hinting at surpassing the previous month. “The number of people applying is just going through the roof,” said Amador Social Services Director Matthew Zanze, who added that “something is happening here.” Zanze said December of 2008 had a total of 216 walk-ins, or first-time customers seeking some sort of aid from Social Services. But he said that as of 2:22 p.m. last Thursday, they had 74 walk-ins for the month of January, and it was “only the fourth day of the month.” Walk-ins were seeking applications for food stamps, MediCal or cash assistance. Zanze said many were applying for MediCal because they had lost their job or their employers were no longer offering insurance. “It’s been very busy – something that we haven’t seen,” said Zanze. Data comparing applicants in Amador County the last three years showed that monthly food stamp applicants in Amador number more than 600 cases each month last year, including more than 700 in each of the last four months. Food stamps numbered 605 cases in December 2007, breaking 600 for the first time in a month, but numbered 500 or more cases for all of 2007 except for the month of January, up from around a 450 average in 2006. October of 2008 had the highest number of food stamp applications with 151 applications, topping all single-month applications in the last three years from 2006 to 2008. Applications for cash assistance also rose in the Amador Social Services department last year, over the previous two years. The Amador Social Service office is at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County - At Tuesday’s Board meeting, Supervisor Richard Forster expressed his concern over the possible closure of another major institution, the Preston Youth Correctional Facility in Ione. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is 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. After the meeting ended he said that roughly half the people in town are associated with or employed through Preston or Mule Creek Prison. Forster said Preston has become an institution and, as a result, Ione has become a company town. “There is well over 100 years of history and that needs to count for something,” said Supervisor Louis Boitano. Forster encouraged the other Supervisors to spread the word about the pending decision and talk to people within Preston who may have influence at a State level. The item was not an official part of the agenda but may be added to a future meeting. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County - The Board of Supervisors met last Wednesday for a special meeting to certify the results of the November 4th Election. The brief meeting that was planned took somewhat longer when Registrar of Voters Sheldon Johnson surprised the Board with the presentation of an antique County map. The map is dated 1896 and outlines in detail the numerous mining claims from that period. The map includes Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties. It was given to Supervisor Oneto as a gift during a property deal. The Supervisors were all impressed with the generous gift. “This will be a great addition to the County,” said Forster. As for the certification, the Supervisors unanimously approved to make all vote tallies official. Johnson proudly noted that this year’s voting percentage in Amador County was 88.56 percent, up from 88.34 percent in 2004. Amador County has one of the highest voting percentages in California. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County – A lengthy debate over a request to install public bathrooms at Pioneer Park became the prevailing agenda topic at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. Tracey Towner-Yep, Executive Director of the Amador County Recreation Agency, requested permission to fund the project through Quimby fees, which are paid by developers to help offset the density impacts of development by setting aside land, donating conservation easements, or paying fees for park improvements. The presentation quickly shifted into a debate over the future costs of maintaining a facility in a public area that would be subject to vandalism. “Let’s find a way to present a plan to prevent vandalism,” said Chairman and Supervisor Ted Novelli. He recalled many times in the past when he had to go to public recreation areas and assess the damage from vandals. Past vandalism has ranged from graffiti to the destruction of water fountains with baseball bats. “Since ACRA’s been in charge, we have stopped some vandalism and the rates have gone down,” said Towner-Yep. The Supervisors suggested different options, such as the rental of Port-O-Potties, or a gate system around the field. Towner-Yep shot these suggestions down one at a time, saying a permanent bathroom structure was the “best option” available. Novelli said the costs to clean up public restrooms is taxpayer money. “Let’s make it clear: I’m not saying I don’t want restrooms at Pioneer Park, I want to hear how we’ll secure restrooms in Pioneer Park,” said Novelli. Debbie Dunn, a member of the ACRA board, said the County has time and again failed to follow through with this project. Prop. 12 and Prop. 40 monies were approved in the past but the opportunities to authorize construction of the project passed, she said. Now the Quimby funds were lying in wait. “I’m all for solving problems, but I thought this decision had already been made twice,” Dunn said. In the end, the Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Richard Forster to approve implementation of the project using Prop. 40 funds. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County sent a string of opposition toward the proposed expansion of Pardee Reservoir last week. East Bay Municipal Utility officials reportedly asked the Amador Water Agency to rewrite a letter to the East Bay MUD. “They declined,” Katherine Evatt of the Foothill Conservancy said. “They stuck with their original letter,” opposing Pardee expansion. The Sutter Creek City Council last Monday passed a resolution opposing the expansion, and urging more conservation. East Bay MUD board member Bill Patterson spoke at an informational workshop before Amador Supervisors Friday, saying the utility does not want to “go back to the dark ages” of fighting between agencies. He said East Bay MUD “used less water in 2009 than we used in 1970.” Customers already conserve and asking them to go beyond the 2040 plan’s 10 percent conservation, his customers “can’t make their households run.” Peterson said East Bay MUD must determine needs, examine impacts, and make changed if impacts are too bad, “and we all get to decide that.” Dennis Diemer, General Manager of East Bay, said by California environmental law, the 2040 plan “must identify all worst case scenarios.” Pardee expansion is that scenario. He said a Buckhorn Reservoir in Amador County was removed from the East Bay “portfolio” 15 years ago, and again last spring. Supervisor Ted Novelli asked if East Bay would be willing to help western Amador and Calaveras “as far as water supply.” Diemer said that would mean “either physically storing water in Pardee or giving rights to that water.” Novelli said “if East Bay MUD wants to work with Amador or Calaveras counties,” then maybe they should speak with them, and maybe the “counties might want to help out by putting some new reservoirs in our area.” Amador supervisors on Tuesday will consider a resolution opposing Pardee expansion. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – First-term District 10 Assemblywoman Alyson Huber took public comment in her town hall meeting Wednesday in Jackson, while sharing ideas that have landed her a top committee assignment in her first half-year of service. Huber said unemployment is 18 percent in Stockton, while Amador has seen Prospect Motors and other businesses close. She said she has been in office 6 months and is “now chairing the Joint Legislative Audit Committee,” looking under every rock to end fraud and wasteful spending. She encouraged attendees to help with her contest, “There Ought To Be An Audit,” looking for suggestions on curbing state bureaucratic waste. Huber said the Assembly allowed her to form a “select committee on lowering California’s high school dropout rate.” She said the statewide dropout rate is 24 percent. But in Stockton Unified, the dropout rate is 54 percent. Nina Machado of First 5 Amador asked how vocational training fit her plans, and Huber said there are bills now addressing funding cuts that have impacted high school ROP and career technical programs. But she said it is “hard to do without a public-private partnership.” Al Lennox, state commander of the American Legion, said California ranked 50th among states for National Guard wages and benefits. Huber said she was also appointed to the Veterans Committee, and hopes to see that vets are getting services that the federal government should be giving them. She said a software tracking system for services rendered to vets could save an estimated $230 Million Dollars. Jim Spinetta, of Charles Spinetta Wineries, asked about the 10-cents per drink tax, costing vineyards $226 a ton. Huber said: “Would it make you feel any better if I said I was against it?” ACRA Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep asked about the Preston CYA school in Ione, and how it is said to be among the top 3 in such schools being considered for closure. Towner-Yep said ACRA uses Preston cadets quite a bit in her recreation work. Huber said she dissuaded a legislator from carrying a bill to close Preston. She said the problem is the $200,000 dollars a year cost to house each kid there, due to lawsuits. But Huber said she did “not think it is a possibility” of closure, and she will work to “make sure it’s fully utilized.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Amador County Transportation Commission Director Charles Field expressed his disappointment in what he sees as a relatively small portion of stimulus funding allocated to his agency through the new federal bill. ACTC staff has been advised that their share of Amador County’s funds should be approximately $733,000. “Since we are desperate for funds, we are willing to endure the pain,” said Field. The pain he refers to is costs involved with filing additional federal paperwork, which is a complicated bureaucratic process. In a memo to the commission, Field said, “the other half of California’s bridge and roadway stimulus funding will likely be made available through the State Transportation Improvement Program and the State Highway Operation and Protection Program.” This could mean an additional half million dollars could become available for the county. Despite its size, Field was disappointed that Amador County will receive such a small portion of $3 billion made available statewide for roads and bridges out of approximately $30 billion nationwide. During their meeting on January 21, ACTC authorized its staff to work with cities in the county to develop prioritized lists of transportation projects that may be successfully funded. He said that list has been paired down to cover only the highest priority projects. “We believe we are ready to submit and participate,” said Field. Supervisor Richard Forster said, “we will take what we can get.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Mayor Select Committee met Friday and chose seat holders for two Amador County joint-jurisdiction boards. The meeting was the second of the year for the panel of mayors from the 5 incorporated cities in Amador. The mayors chose Plymouth Mayor Jon Colburn and Ione Vice Mayor Skip Schaufel to take seats on the board of the Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission. The Mayor Select Committee also chose seat-holders for the Amador County Airport Land Use Committee. The mayors did not name particular people, but they voted to appoint someone from the Jackson City Council and someone from Sutter Creek City Council to hold seats on the Airport Land Use Commission. Specific members are to be named by those specific city councils and their mayors. The mayors also chose Jackson Councilman Pat Crew as the Alternate member of LAFCO. At the last Mayor Select Committee meeting, January 21st, the mayors were not able to determine whether one LAFCO seat was open after Ione Councilman Jerry Sherman missed his reelection bid in November. LAFCO Executive Director Roseanne Chamberlain said state statute determines the terms of seats, and Sherman held City Seat Number 2, which was a term that ran from 2007 to 2011. After it was determined that Ione still had a seat despite Sherman’s absence, Schaufel was appointed to fill City Seat Number 2 to serve out the remainder of that term. Colburn was appointed by the committee to City Seat Number 1, which has a term of 2009 to 2013. Crew’s Alternate city seat is a term of 2007 to 2011. Chamberlain said “the mayors decide who the appointments are and the statute determines the terms.” But she said “these city representatives are representing all the cities. They act on LAFCO on behalf of all cities.” She said the appointees may keep the “interests of their own cities on their mind,” but the “law says that they are to act on behalf of all the cities.” The new LAFCO board has its first meeting 7 p.m. Thursday in the county supervisors’ chambers. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Councilwoman Patricia Fordyce gave an update of the latest happenings in Plymouth at the Amador Regional Planning Committee meeting Wednesday in the Sutter Creek Community Building. Mayor Connie Gonsalves of Jackson asked about the funding of the Plymouth Pipeline Project, which is set to be started in the next two months, with ground preparation work. Fordyce said the projected cost is $10.2 million and was fully paid for by a USDA loan and grants. Developer Bob Reeder of Reeder-Sutherland, said the pipeline was funded by a $5 million USDA loan, plus grants, with the city obligated for $2.7 million in loans and the Amador Water Agency in for about $1 million in loan costs, due to improvements its system will garner from the project. Fordyce reported that the city was accepting letters of qualification for the management of the Arroyo Ditch, including physical rehabilitation and also legal delineation of water rights. Sutter Creek Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha asked about the amount of water to which Plymouth has rights through the ditch. Fordyce said “they use miner’s inches” to describe the rights. Reeder said the original diversion rights on the Arroyo Ditch were for 23,000 acre feet, “but the question is adjudicating that. The number might get smaller based on historical use.” Reeder said he has heard form a researcher looking at pre-1914 rights and the researcher thinks the Arroyo Ditch may be pre-1872 water rights. Reeder said “that could mean something a lot more different for Plymouth. It’s definitely worth getting that right established.” The committee discussed having water and wastewater updates from each member entity, with consensus to divide those into separate meetings, starting with wastewater. They also discussed having the AWA give a presentation on its water system. The committee agreed to have a financial status update report from each city and the county at its next meeting, set for Wednesday, March 4th in Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – Plymouth officially joins the Amador Regional Planning Committee this week. Plymouth City Councilwoman Patricia Fordyce has attended several meetings over the last few months and was impressed enough to recommend joining the Regional Planning Committee. Fordyce has said that she was the skeptical member of the council when it came to the committee, but was convinced otherwise by its members’ professionalism and willingness to cooperate. Fordyce will represent Plymouth on boards of LAFCO and Amador County Recreation Agency and also the city PR & Community Events and Public Service committees. She will be the newest member of the board, which now has four new members for 2009. Those are Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli and Supervisor Brian Oneto, and Amador County resident Rene Chapman. Chapman was selected January 7 by the Planning Committee as the “public member at large” on the committee. Fordyce said Chapman was selected from 10 “excellent” and “very qualified applicants,” for the post, vacated by Fiddletown resident and former Plymouth Councilwoman Elida Malick. The remainder of Planning Committee members are Councilman Tim Murphy of Sutter Creek, Mayor Connie Gonsalves of Jackson, and Councilwoman Andrea Bonham of Ione. Plymouth City Council in its December meeting approved membership in the Amador Regional Planning Committee, to be represented by Fordyce. Fordyce said last week that she took note of comments by Plymouth Councilman Greg Baldwin for some suggested changes to the Planning Committee’s “Memorandum of Understanding.” The annual review of the MOU is the topic of one of Wednesday’s agenda items, with possible updates listed as potential action. Also on the agenda is a “City of Plymouth Update.” Another agenda item will allow individual committee members to give updates on the status of the potential standardization of “Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines.” Also, there will be a presentation by the City of Sutter Creek entitled “Revenue sharing as an Economic Development Tool” … “followed by discussion of the committee’s plans for this open agenda item.” Rounding out the agenda will be discussion of potential committee projects for 2009. The Amador Regional Planning Committee meets at 7 p.m. today in the Sutter Creek Community Building, 33 Church Street, in Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece