The proposed site for Amador County’s new jail was the source of much eyebrow raising at the Sutter Creek City Council meeting Monday night. The city recently received an application referral from the County of Amador for the purchase of 8.2 acres of property in the Amador Central Business Park,  near the new Health and Human Services building off of Lower Ridge Road/ Highway 104. The County is proposing to build a 165-bed, 60,800 square foot jail on the site, to replace the county’s current 100-bed jail, which is quickly becoming obsolete. Council members reviewed a recommendation from city staff to write a letter to the County expressing the City’s concerns about the location of the new jail, which included “potential negative impacts on the City,” in the areas of Public Safety, Infrastructure, and Quality of Life.

Council members discussed the possibility of increased crime in Sutter Creek, the closest municipality to the proposed jail, due to the release of the jail’s clients who have nowhere to go.  Other concerns centered on impacts to the wastewater system and local roads, as well as the location of the facility across from the proposed Gold Rush Ranch Golf Course Project. After reviewing the recommendation, councilman Pat Crosby noted that the project’s environmental report does not comment on the proposed Gold Rush Ranch or Wicklow Way subdivisions. “I don’t have a problem with the location, but I would like to see those projects included in the EIR,” he stated. Councilman Brent Parson’s inquired whether there was a better site for the facility, but also stressed the need to be realistic, and not to fall back on “Not In My Backyard,” or “NIMBY” rhetoric. One resident suggested an alternative location off of Hoffmann Street in Jackson, close to the local court system, but down the hill and away from Argonaut High School. In the end, the council voted to draft a letter to the County outlining their concerns, as well as their desire for an alternative location for the proposed jail site on Ridge Road.

Saturday was the day of the annual Celebrate Our Children event at the Italian Picnic Grounds. This is a fun, interactive, informative opportunity for moms, dads, child care providers and care givers to learn about the various services available to children in Amador County. From child safety to nutrition, health care to education, there were booths set up for sharing information and providing handouts, crafts and healthy snacks.  Kids had a chance to exercise, make crafts, learn about good nutrition and try new activities.  For more information on this yearly event contact Joyce Stone at the Amador County Child Care Council. 

Downtown Jackson will be getting three new signs that direct motorists to historic Main Street. The signs will be posted on northbound Highway 49 near Amador Realty, on southbound Highway 49 between Martell and Jackson, and on westbound Highway 88, just before the Highway 49 stoplight near Broadway.  The signs will have the traditional brown background with white lettering, characteristic of historic signs, and will be approximately 102 inches wide by 42 inches tall. The addition of these directional signs will hopefully steer travelers to historic downtown Jackson, with its abundance of shops, restaurants, and historic spots. “It also helps even the locals with awareness that Downtown Jackson is officially designated as a historic district,” said Jackson City Manager Mike Daly.  For more information on those historic places, you can visit the City of Jackson’s website at CI.JACKSON.CA.US, and click on “Walking Tours.”

When the Jackson Branch of the Amador County Library re-opens today, patrons can expect a cleaner, more accessible and inviting atmosphere. The Library has been closed the past two days for administrative activities such as maintenance, cleaning and upgrades to the phone system from analog to digital, making it consistent with the other county departments. But it also got a bit of a facelift as employees shifted the Audio Books, New Books and Reference materials to a more easily accessible layout. Library employees say children and parents will be excited by the new collection of children’s book that will occupy the children’s section.

Argonaut High School student art is on display at the Amador County Library. For the month of February, the library is exhibiting the Argonaut High School Winter Art Show. Student art includes a variety of media and Librarian Lynda D. Laolagi says, “There are some very talented young artists in our community.  Come and see their amazing work!”

Monday night, Wayne Garibaldi was sworn in and served as councilman at his first meeting of the Jackson City Council. Garibaldi was chosen by the Council to fill the seat left vacant when Drew Stidger resigned from the council at the end of the year. Garibaldi is a Jackson native and was serving on the Jackson Planning Commission at the time of his appointment. During an interview at a Council meeting earlier this month, Garibaldi stressed that his economic background as a credit officer at Bank of Amador prepared him for addressing the economic issues facing the city. Garibaldi’s appointment was unanimously approved by the Council 2 weeks ago.

The Amador County Peace Officers’ Association has named this year’s Peace Officer of the Year and Citizen of the Year 2007. They are Lieutenant Charles Ray of the Amador County Sheriff’s Office is the Peace Officer of the Year and Al Lennox of American Legion Ambulance is the Citizen of the Year. The Peace Officers’ Association will hold an Awards dinner on October 27 to honor the two worthy recipients. Congratulations to Lieutenant Ray and Al Lennox from TSPN!

Last week, the Jackson City Council was presented with over 700 signatures from the Concerned Citizens of Jackson, protesting the Council’s certification of environmental impact report and zoning action on the  Jackson Hills Golf Community. Judith Jebian, spokesperson for the Concerned Citizens group, said the petitions were designed to force the city to take the recent decisions on the proposed Jackson Hills development to a referendum vote by the citizens of Jackson. Only 234 signatures, or 10% of registered voters in Jackson, were needed to place a vote on the issue on the ballot. The petitions are currently with the County Elections office for verification of the signatures. The City Council has two options at this point – to rescind their previous decision to move onto the Development Agreement phase with New Faze, or to continue with the process underway and put the issue on the ballot in either June or November of 2008.

The public is invited to tour the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed on Saturday, October 6th. The event is sponsored by the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Council to educate the community about the Mokelumne River and its unique physical, biological, and historical resources, and to discuss watershed management and stewardship activities on the river. According to Project Coordinator Susan Snoke, “You will see and experience views of the river and landscapes only seen on this tour, not open to the public.” The tour will run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm., beginning at the parking lot of Wendell’s Restaurant in Mokelumne Hill on Hwy 49 and continue on to Electra Road off Hwy 49 at Box Beach, South Fork of the Mokelumne River in Glencoe, Middle Fork at Barney Way in West Point, and the North Fork on Hwy 26 at the bridge (Red Corral Road). There is no cost to attend the tour and lunch will be provided but space is limited. For more information regarding the activity or to reserve one of the limited spaces, call Susan Snoke at 257-1851

Recently, a presentation was given to the Mokelumne River Water Council Forum on the regulation and control of aquatic species of birds, specifically geese, impacting Lake Camanche. The conditions of some of the beaches around the popular lake, at times have been declared unhealthy, and the beaches have been closed. Last summer, the summer of 2006, some beaches were closed for as long as 10 weeks after e-coli was found present in water samples. Although camp grounds remained open, beach access from those campgrounds was closed to visitors. According to Mark Bolton, East Bay Municipal Utilities District Camanche Recreation Unit Supervisor, the problem is taking some time to work out.