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 - In a rare moment during the current economic climate, the Board of Supervisors decided how best to use additional funds for local streets and roads made available through Proposition 1B. Public Works Director Larry Peterson explained that as a result of clean-up legislation to the state’s budget act, a final $63 million in Prop 1B funding for 2008-09 was made available. This required a separate budget authorization from the Board of Supervisors to allow Public Works to receive the $178, 218 funds allocated to Amador County. Peterson recommended stipulating these funds for two segments of Camanche Road in dire need of repair. Camanche Road was chosen due to its poor pavement conditions, which ranked a 0 out of 100 on the Public Works repair index scale. Average daily traffic compared to other roads needing treatment was also considered. Supervisor Novelli questioned whether Camanche was one of the roads being looked at by the proposed Buena Vista Casino. Peterson replied that he didn’t think there was a conflict there. The Board approved of the decision unanimously. Now that it has been approved, the project will be put into the mix of projects planned for the next construction season. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County – In its first meeting of 2009, the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors will consider resolutions to honor the service of its 4 outgoing board members. The resolutions will be part of a short agenda in the board’s 9 a.m. meeting Thursday at the AWA office on Ridge Road. Outgoing AWA Chairman John Swift leaves after 2 terms and 8 years on the board, and the resolution notes that he “made significant contributions to the installation of the Wildflower Storage Tank and pump station in Ione” as well as in the Lake Camanche area “with the addition of a new supply Well, Number 14, and acquisition of a $250,000 grant to conduct a water supply sustainability study.” Separate resolutions would honor Paul Scott, Madonna Wiebold and Dave Thomas, who all “volunteered to serve the AWA customers by completing the terms of board members retiring or moving from the area.” Scott served in the past as president and board member of the AWA, back when the board met on a rickety kitchen table and chairs in Jackson. Scott in the past helped toward the completion of the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant and the Amador Transmission Pipeline. He took over the post of Dan Brown. Thomas fulfilled the terms of two retiring board members, Wiebold took over for one, and both helped with the Regional Wastewater and Recycling Master Plan and policy. Also Thursday, the board will consider authorizing General Manager Jim Abercrombie to execute a cost-sharing agreement with three other agencies to study the feasibility of increasing water storage at Lower Bear Reservoir. The study would cost $120,000 total, with an even split of $30,000 in cost each to the AWA and the East Bay Municipal Utility District, the Calaveras County Water District and the Mokelumne River Water and Power Authority. The study would look at raising the Lower Bear dam by 32 feet. The AWA board also will consider reconfirming “authorization to staff to complete the Plymouth Pipeline Project not to exceed the total estimated project cost of $10.66 Million.” That price-tag includes Plymouth’s portion of the project cost. Story by Jim Reece.

Amador County – The City of Plymouth on Thursday will discuss a notice of preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for a new 300-unit housing subdivision to be located east of Highway 49 and north of town, with a goal of being annexed into the city. The city of Plymouth will be lead agency in preparing an EIR for Cottage Knoll Estates, being pursued by the company “Planning Partners” of Sloughouse. The subdivision project includes a “Sphere of Influence Amendment to place the entire project area within the city of Plymouth sphere of influence,” noting that the “majority of the project site is already located inside the city’s sphere of influence. That would require and the EIR would seek Cottage Knoll’s annexation into the city on approval by the Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission. The Cottage Knoll subdivision would also require a city general plan amendment, a boundary line adjustment, a master utility plan by the city and a development agreement between Plymouth and Planning Partners. The project includes extension of existing city sewer pipes to serve the project. The city’s notice of preparation of the EIR says that “additional infrastructure required by the project or to serve cumulative development will be identified during the preparation of the EIR. The environmental effects of building and operating these facilities will be assessed in the EIR.” A 30-day public comment period began December 17th and ends January 19th on the Cottage Knoll’s “Notice of Preparation,” and any written comments on the document must be submitted to the city or City Planner Paula Daneluk by January 19th. A public scoping meeting to receive comments is set for 5 p.m. Monday, January 12th at Plymouth City Hall. The project description is available at city hall and on the city’s website. Cottage Knoll Estates is proposed for 86.26 acres in and around Plymouth, to create approximately 300 residential lots for single-family development. The proposed project would be located east of Highway 49 and north of Shenandoah Road. The “project area consists of oak woodlands and gently sloping hills and grasslands,” and is adjacent to the north boundary of the city of Plymouth at Shenandoah Road. The project proposes to connect to Highway 49 by extension of Miller Way and Cottage Knoll Way. The project would have east-west bike lanes  on Miller Way and North-south bike lanes along Black Tailed Hare Way and Wild Oak Way.

Amador County – Five firefighters escaped injury when a roof collapsed on them during a house fire Monday in the Castle Oaks Subdivision. The City of Ione Fire Department and 6 other fire brigades responded to the fire at 1116 Fairway Drive after a call 5:01 a.m. Monday when a passerby noticed flames. Residents of the home, Boyd, Bonnie and Bryan Selves, were unaware of the fire, which burned above the smoke detectors. The Ione Fire Department in a report said upon arrival, fire crews found heavy smoke coming from the attic area of the 2,450-square foot home. The occupants had been alerted and evacuated by Ione Police, before the fire department arrived. The report said “fire crews engaged in an aggressive interior attack … to find the deep-seated fire, which was in the walls and attic area.” About 10 minutes after engagement, a section of roof collapsed, briefly trapping one firefighter and piling debris on four others. The first firefighter was able to break through an exterior wall and escape and there were no injuries. Ione City Manager Kim Kerr said a fire camera was lost in the fire, when, after the collapse, all personnel were evacuated, due to possibility of another collapse. The fire was controlled in about 30 minutes and caused an estimated $375,000 in damage. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Ione City Council swore in its newest member, Councilman David Plank and renewed the oath of Mayor Andrea Bonham in its regular meeting Tuesday, then selected its new mayor and vice mayor, who will serve effective January 1st. The council in a 4-1 vote selected Vice Mayor Lee Ard as the 2009 mayor to succeed Bonham, after a nomination by Plank. Councilman Jim Ulm voted against Ard. Ulm nominated Councilman Skip Schaufel to be vice mayor and he was selected to the position on a 5-0 vote. Ard and Schaufel will take over as mayor and vice mayor respectively and serve January 1st through December 31st, of 2009. Out-going Councilman Jerry Sherman, unseated in the November election, was honored with a council proclamation for his service on the council and as mayor. City Clerk Janice Traverso led the oath of office for newly elected council members, incumbent Mayor Bonham and former Planning Commissioner Plank and re-elected City Treasurer Sharon M. Long. Bonham then initiated the oath of office for Traverso.

Amador County – The Ione city council approved an agreement with the police union on Tuesday and authorized City Manager Kim Kerr to work to finalize revisions. The council approved a $186,000, 3-year contract with the Ione Police Officers Association Tuesday. Kerr said a comparison of pay rates between Ione Police Department officers showed they were paid 8 percent below the rates paid to Jackson Police Department officers. The sergeant pay was 20 percent under JPD’s pay rate, and the agreement, covering January 2009 to July 1, 2010, aimed at narrowing the differences through annual raises. She said the officers’ first raise will be 5 percent, and a sergeant’s rate raise will be 8 percent. Councilman Jim Ulm said basing the pay on Jackson P.D. was not a good idea as the JPD was looking at layoffs to balance its budget, not unlike every other municipality and also the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. Ulm said he would rather not give raises if they must look at layoffs and he hoped the money holds out, saying: “we are the only ones not cutting.” Vice Mayor Lee Ard said Ione has “the luxury of a fine management team and a strong balance sheet.” Ard said he found no discomfort in raising police pay because public safety is the most important thing. Councilman David Plank said the main objective should be retaining quality officers and the IPD has one officer who has been there 3 years. Plank asked if the city can absorb $186,000 in 3 years. Councilman Skip Schaufel said if the city had a catastrophic event, it could renegotiate the contract, and the agreement “shows good faith on our part.” Bonham said “there is a cost to recruiting and not keeping your officers in place,” noting that they police force had lost good officers all because of money. She said they like the community and still live in Ione but work elsewhere. The contract passed 4-1 with Ulm voting no. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County Supervisors voted Tuesday to require a fiscal analysis of the Wicklow Way Subdivision. Supervisor Louis Boitano said he would like to see a more analysis on carbon emissions so that the county does not anger the state attorney general. Both were approved by the board. Susan Larson, Planning Manager of Lemke Construction, said the project would build about 100 homes a year and start with residents, but also include commercial construction, in the first or second year. The project proposes zoning change from Single Family Residential, to High Density Multiple Family Residential. The project would have between 29 and 38 acres of commercial property, and Larson confirmed that the size would be determined on discussions the developer is currently having with an interested company. Supervisor Richard Escamilla said he was not sure he supports “the whole project,” but down the road, Amador County does need homes, as there are still a lot of county employees that live out-of-county. Escamilla said “we are not a Big Boom county, but we do need smart growth.” Board Chairman Richard Forster asked if Lemke would be bonding its infrastructure work on things such as roads in the project. Larson said Lemke “will submit full performance and maintenance bonds” and allow supervisors to refer to their bond companies on past projects. Supervisor Ted Novelli said he would like to see an oversight committee formed to guarantee that jobs were kept local, and it would be “nice to see some of our contractors work on this project.” Supervisor Brian Oneto said he was “not against requiring a fiscal analysis,” but it was too early to do so and should be required later. Oneto said he didn’t “want to put too many costs…on the applicant.” The board approved the fiscal analysis 5-0. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The Amador County Recreation Agency logo was chosen for an achievement award by the California Park & Recreation Society after a vote from the larger recreation community. ACRA’s recognition in the category of agency logo will be honored at the 2009 California and Pacific Southwest Recreation and Park Training Conference, held in Santa Clara March 3 through 6. According to Tracey Towner-Yep, ACRA’s executive director, the CPRS awards program is among the highest recognitions the agency can receive. “Our logo was designed and donated by Ralph Merzlak, who did a wonderful job incorporating Amador County’s many recreation opportunities,” she said, adding: “This award is a credit to him and a perfect example of the private and public collaboration that makes ACRA and its many benefits to our local communities possible.” Yep said the logo has come to symbolize the quality of ACRA’s programs and facilities. There are many historic and cultural images incorporated into ACRA’s logo. The Kennedy Mine, an historic landmark that was once one of the world’s deepest gold mines, stands majestically in the background as a tangible reminder of the county’s Gold Rush history, a sentiment echoed by the a gold pan and examples of period architecture in the foreground. Amador’s wineries and vineyards, some with vines dating back to the 1850s, are symbolized by zinfandel and chardonnay grapes in the Kennedy Mine’s tailing wheel. The California Park & Recreation Society is a membership organization with 4,200 members representing the 525 local parks and recreation agencies throughout the state. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The City of Jackson has updated its website in preparation for a whole new year of challenges. City Manager Mike Daly outlined the updates in detail during the last Jackson City Council meeting. The new site was touted as a “one stop” link to information about Jackson and city government. “Hopefully this will reduce a lot of unnecessary copying and wasted paper,” said Daly. New updates include a cleaner, more colorful format with easy to read links, an up-to-the-minute list of agenda and meeting schedules, and a councilmembers link complete with photos. A list of monthly meetings and when they take place is easily readable along the column of every page. To see for yourself, visit Jackson’s website at: ci.jackson.ca.us. Story by Alex Lane