Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors will have a special meeting Wednesday for a Strategic Planning Workshop. The meeting is set to start 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Jackson Rancheria Hotel & Conference Center and should run most of the day. The annual meeting includes a Strategic Plan Review and a presentation on Expected Outcomes, plus 10 other agenda items. Chairman Terence Moore (District 5) called the special meeting, with the other four newly elected members expected to attend: Bill Condrashoff (District 1); Gary Thomas (District 2); Don Cooper (District 3); and Debbie Dunn (District 4). Agenda items include: Working Relationships and Ground Rules; Board Roles and Responsibilities; Staff Roles and Responsibilities; Core Values of the AWA; and The “7 Trends in Industry.” The board will also review and discuss the agency Mission Statement and have a work session on Strategic Planning Issues. They will Review and Update Strategic Plan for 2009 to 2014 and review the Capital Improvement Plan for the next 10 years and also review Customer Satisfaction Results and the agency’s “Next Steps.” The meeting is open to the public and will be held in the Fire Conference Room at the Jackson Rancheria, 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Upcountry Communities Council heard guest speaker updates last week, including on the long-term Highway 88 project and also the fireproofing of a housing development on Tabeaud Road. Neil Peacock of the Amador County Transportation Commission updated the council on the commission’s intent to pursue a project in the Pine Grove area to ease traffic on Highway 88. The project will still get $356,000 dollars of its original $400,000 from the government for planning. Peacock said any project will take years and years of planning, including many meetings. Debbie Dunn, president of the Upcountry Council, said that at a meeting 6 years ago, someone drew on a map with a Sharpie, to suppose where a “north bypass” and a “south bypass” could go, along with the 5-lane widening project up the middle of Pine Grove. She said “it was not engineered, it was just a simple Sharpie.” A man who said he was a former planning commissioner said the standard number of trips per household could be lowered if development created services that were closer and reduced mileage. Peacock said “that’s why we have a traffic engineer, so they can review traffic impact studies and improve them.” Marc Bowman and his brother, Steve Bowman, commented on their 85-unit Aqueduct residential and commercial project east of Highway 88 on Tabeaud Road. Steve Bowman, an expert in fire readiness, said he is a trained firefighter and has fire-readied his home, with a mule, a goat, irrigated land, hoses and a Class “A” roof. He said if there is a fire, he would “stay and fight it,” though not everyone can do so. Bowman said statistics show that in big fires, most fatalities in the United States occur during evacuation. He said the Aqueduct development “will be designed to be safer to stay in the development,” during such a big fire. The group deferred until next meeting its Annual Review and also its Media Policy. Story By Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - At last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting Amador County was recognized by the National Weather Service, or NWS, as a “StormReady” community and now becomes the sixth out of fifty-eight counties to receive this designation. During the presentation, Dan Keeton, Meteorologist in Charge of the Sacramento Office, presented Board Chairman Ted Novelli, Sheriff Martin Ryan and Emergency Services Coordinator Lynne Olson with the official “StormReady” designation. “StormReady” is a nationwide program designed to help communities better protect their citizens during severe weather by focusing on improving communications and preparedness. The program is voluntary and encourages communities to take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations. To be certified as “StormReady”, communities must: establish a 24 hour warning point and emergency operations center; have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings/forecasts and to alert the public; create a system that monitors weather conditions locally; and develop a hazardous weather plan which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises. After the NWS presentation, Sheriff Martin Ryan detailed some of the county’s activities that support the “StormReady” program. The county receives weather alerts through the Sheriff’s Office 24 Hour Communications Center via State systems. NWS weather radios that are programmed to sound an alarm during severe weather warnings are also present in county buildings, in the Jackson, Ione, Plymouth and Sutter Creek City Halls, and all of the public schools in the county. The county also has the Reverse 911 community alert notification system for homes and businesses and a portable advisory radio system that can transmit messages to the motoring public via 530 AM radio when deployed. Additionally, the Office of Emergency Services and the County Public Health Department provides preparedness information to the public through the local media and at community events throughout the year. The “StormReady” program is a bit more established on the east coast and in the mid west where severe weather such as thunderstorms can turn into deadly tornados within minutes. It is slowly gaining more awareness on the west coast mainly due to flooding and the threat of tsunamis. Staff Report

Amador County - A new information center built by Merzlak Signs and sponsored through the Amador County Recreation Agency is now up and running in downtown Jackson. It is located on the main Highway 49 corridor near the State Farm Insurance Building and Mel and Faye’s Diner. It’s hard to miss the 8 foot by 16 foot informational sign adorned with a revolving snowboarder mannequin on top. ACRA hit a roadblock in approving the unusual display late last month, when approval was turned down until board members could gain exception to Jackson’s sign ordinance, which prohibits a revolving display. After approval, ACRA Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep then contacted Merzlak Signs Owner Kam Merzlak to brainstorm ideas after Anne Lintz of State Farm Insurance offered the space. Merzlak and his company’s personal fabricator, Doug Wescott, designed the rotating assembly that would spin the snowboarder atop the sign. Merzlak and Wescott last teamed up to create their award winning exhibit for Amador County at the California State Fair. The ACRA logo was designed by Merzlak's father Ralph and has received accolades at the state level. ACRA plans to have information updates on country recreation available at the center in the near future. Businesses interested in sponsoring the lower portion of the sign should contact Tracey Towner Yep with ACRA 223-6349. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County – Developer Marc Bowman addressed the Upcountry Community Council Thursday. His Aqueduct housing development is in design mode only, as Amador County has a building moratorium. Once the moratorium is lifted, he can file his application. Aqueduct would have 85 homes, and “keep local traffic local” by offering “high quality commercial and retail space,” such as medical, dental, pharmacy and assisted care, with grocers, retail shops and restaurants. Bowman said he wants to work with ACTC and Caltrans on its Highway 88 project and he would encourage seeking the potential $40 million dollars in funding for it. He didn’t think a 5-lane expansion through Pine Grove would be the solution. Bowman thought it would be better to identify organizations that have traffic issues and move them, such as Pine Grove Elementary School. He said former School Superintendent Mike Carey approached him about his development, east of Highway 88 at Tabeaud Road. “Traffic congestion and safety was their Number 1 issue” at the school, Bowman said. Number 2 was lack of space for 7th and 8th graders at the school. Junior high students are now bused daily from Upcountry to Jackson Junior High. The school district looked at a 15-acrea area in Aqueduct – a big, flat meadow – and they liked it: “It appeared at the time that they were going to buy it because they were pursuing us.” Now he pursues the school district to donate the land for a school “because he feels that it is the appropriate thing to do.” The school would be about 100 yards from Highway 88, Bowman said, and it could help to lift the congestion during school drop-offs and pick-ups. He said if they relocated the school to successfully reduce and redirect traffic flow, the state and ACTC might make it a “model program.” For funding, Bowman said “if we don’t get close to 100 percent to build that facility, that school will basically stay where it is.” He said “once we donate the land, we will still have our school impact fees to pay as a developer.” He said he found out last year the school district’s problem on getting a new school for Pine Grove Elementary was the lack of funding. Story by Jim Reece

State - Federal water managers said they may have to cut off all water to some of California’s largest farms as a result of the deepening drought affecting the state. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials said Friday that parched reservoirs and patchy snow and rainfall this year would likely force them to cut surface water deliveries completely. It would be the first time in more than 15 years such a move was taken. The move would be a blow to farmers, who say the price of some crops would likely rise if they have to rely only on well water. The state estimates it would cause $1 billion in lost revenue and cost 40,000 jobs. “We're talking about a huge band of area that will be affected," said Richard Howitt, professor of resource economics at UC Davis. "I heard these predictions coming down the line, the $1 billion loss in revenue and 40,000 jobs, so I ran the numbers again.” He said new figures to be released later Friday showed even more trouble headed for the state. "As far as job losses? The answer is the majority of losses will be related to farms and farm work, the processing done for all farm commodities, and all those secondary jobs that roll through the valley economy," Howitt said. California's sweeping Central Valley grows most of the country's fruits and vegetables in normal years, but this winter thousands of acres turned to dust as the state hurtles into the worst drought in nearly two decades. They also grow the bulk of the nation's lettuce crop each spring and fall. This year, officials in Fresno County predict farmers will only grow about 6,000 acres of lettuce, roughly half the acreage devoted to greens in 2005. Last year, federal water deliveries were just 40 percent of the normal allocations, fallowing hundreds of thousands of acres and causing nearly $309 million in crop losses statewide. That prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to issue a disaster declaration, ordering state water managers to expedite any requests to move water around the state, in part so high-value crops like wine grapes, almonds and pistachio trees would stand a chance of surviving. Federal reservoirs are now at their lowest level since 1992. Federal officials said conditions could improve when they announce new projections factoring in recent storms.

Amador County – Business people from various facets of Amador County gave input on goals and policies for the economic element of the county General Plan update last week, wrapping up two days of work. Amador Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli of District 3 and Supervisors John Plasse of District 1 and Brian Oneto of District 5 watched the panel of a dozen people sound off on the issues Wednesday. Al Lennox of American Legion Ambulance suggested that a retail component be added to the policies for tourism, along with a mention of B&Bs and restaurants. The suggestion was changed to lodging. One man suggested that “federal timber issues are very important to this county.” He also said the policy should encourage and promote Gold Country history. He called the term “encourage” a “kind of weasel-ly” term and he suggested adding a more active word. County Planner Susan Grijalva said the group was bordering on “implementation” with some work and “you don’t want to tie the county’s hands by being too specific in what you are going to do.” She said specificity is handled at the zoning level and can be changed by the county. If they get too detailed and perhaps not mention a type of business, it could be a business that could be taken for exception in the future. Jim Conklin of the Amador County Business Council suggested emphasizing the development of high tech communications. He said he would like to have it as the major focus of economic element. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – Ione held a workshop on transportation Tuesday and identified some of its policy wishes, which included establishing a system of trails and bicycle paths and also of keeping sidewalks, even if it means putting up with diminished automobile traffic. The joint session of the Ione City Council and planning commission was held to help the planning department focus its policy in drafting traffic plans as part of the city General Plan update. City Planner Christopher Jordan and consultant Daniel Hamilton led the discussion. Jordan said Thursday that most of the policy questions were answered in the affirmative, with the council wanting more study and information. He said the council wanted to decrease the “Level Of Service” standards for automobile traffic so that they are not taking out sidewalks. In doing so, he said they are “accepting a little bit more congestion on the existing roadway.” He said not taking out sidewalks helps increase the level of service for pedestrians, “so lowering a threshold of service to these roads was a good thing.” The council and planning commissioners also set a policy to identify a “backbone system” for foot trails and bicycle paths. Part of that would be to remove a bike path plan from the Silver Property, while staff will check to see that existing bike lanes were marked with proper paint striping on Shakely Road and Faiway and Castle Oaks Drives. Staff will look around town and also work on the system design with the General Plan Executive Committee. He said the intent is to have linked and circularly connected trails and bicycle paths, to give people route choices. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County - Efforts to clean up tens of thousands of abandoned mine sites throughout the West should get a boost from the economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama last Tuesday. Amador County alone is home to at least 39 registered mines and countless other abandoned shafts dating back to the 19th century. The stimulus bill apportions more than $1.5 billion to the National Park Service, Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management for related projects. These agencies anticipate using a large portion of these funds to address abandoned mines on public lands. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a strong advocate for this funding, anticipates that priority funding will be based on which projects generate the most jobs. The amount allocated is considered a first step, as more than $25 million was spent on mine cleanup in the last budget year. The Environmental Protection Agency says it could cost as much as $50 billion to clean up mines throughout the west. There are over 161,000 abandoned mines in Alaska and 11 other western states, plus South Dakota. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County – An intoxicated driver led Amador CHP officers in a dangerous high speed pursuit late Wednesday, involving law enforcement from three counties and two states. At approximately 9:45pm, CHP officers too evasive action to avoid colliding with the driver of a red pickup who was entering Highway 88 from the Silver Lake recreation area. A pursuit eastward on Highway 88 immediately ensued between the subject vehicle and CHP officers. According to official reports, the subject vehicle drove recklessly and without regard to other motorists, sometimes exceeding 100 miles per hour. As the suspect passed Kirkwood Resort and entered Alpine County, Alpine Sheriff Deputies and CHP units joined the pursuit. The chase continued into Douglas County, Nevada, where reports say the subject intentionally rammed a Nevada Sheriff Deputy. The gathering storm of law enforcement immediately converged on the location. The subject vehemently resisted arrest but was taken into custody. The suspect was identified as Marc George Dubois of Redwood City, California. He now faces numerous felony charges in three different counties, including felony evasion of law enforcement, driving under the influence of narcotics, drug possession, assault with a deadly weapon utilizing a vehicle, and driving with an expired license. The vehicle he was driving was registered in Gardnerville, Nevada. There were no injuries to officers or civilians. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.