Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors last week received an award from the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions for funding a county-wide Municipal Services Review in 2008. Amador County LAFCO Executive Director Roseanne Chamberlain made an unexpected presentation of the award last Thursday during a public comment period, saying that AWA’s actions in joining the study as an “imaginative way” to get things done. Chamberlain said state LAFCO presented its Government Leadership Award to several Amador County area government agencies at its recent annual meeting in October. The award winners are the cities of Amador City, Ione, Jackson, Plymouth, and Sutter Creek; Amador County, Amador County Transportation Commission, Amador Water Agency, and Pine Grove Community Services District. Chamberlain said Amador LAFCO, a participating member of the state association, submitted the nomination. Chamberlain told the AWA board that Amador LAFCO was facing a $125,000 Municipal Services Review, required by a new law, and the agency did not have the funds to pay for it, when the Amador entities stepped in and funded the study. She said state LAFCO was impressed by the move, and selected Amador County entities over other nominees from large counties and cities, including San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles. Chamberlain said the award was given for the cooperative, joint funding of a county-wide Municipal Services Review. She said the “effort is remarkable because it equitably distributed the $125,000 cost of the MSR among those government agencies who will benefit from its completion, and allowed an essential report to be completed.” In addition, a comprehensive county-wide report was prepared because there was sufficient funding to do so. Undertaking the project on a county-wide basis generated cost savings of at least $25,000, she said. Every participating agency provided a proportionate share of funding, and Amador LAFCO put in funding. Chamberlain said the “MSR is comprehensive report with information about every local government agency within Amador County, including all special districts, county service areas and cities.” The study included descriptions of related non-governmental service providers, and has been called the “Encyclopedia of Amador County Government.” Chamberlain said LAFCOs review and make decisions on annexations, and Amador LAFCO would have been prohibited from doing so until the MSR was completed. She said the report is used by LAFCO staff and others involved in the governmental decision making process, and serves as a useful source of information for the public. The complete report is available online at www.co.amador.ca.us. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last Thursday amended a contract with Amador County that could allow potential income from selling Arroyo Ditch water. City Manager Dixon Flynn in a report said the city negotiated a “water transfer agreement” for several weeks with Amador County, to amendment a 1987 contract. The city this year with Shenandoah Water Company successfully got water flowing down the Arroyo Ditch. With completion of the Amador Water Agency pipeline to Plymouth, Flynn said the city is “exploring other ways to continue the beneficial use of the Arroyo Ditch and its water rights.” He said one option “is limited-term transfers of the water.” He said “if this turns out to be a viable option, it could potentially generate a revenue stream” for city’s water infrastructure and reduce debt service on the new pipeline. Amador County Supervisors approved the amendment last Tuesday. The pipeline’s construction is complete and functional but is not yet activated. Flynn said “full service from the pipeline cannot start until the city’s state drinking water permit is amended.” City staff plans to start full pipeline service January 1st, subject to issuance of the amended permit. One hurdle will be replacing a faulty water main valve near the city water storage tank, in a project set for overnight, November 23rd. Also last week, the City Council awarded a $253,000 remodel of Lodge Hill’s lower floor to create a public meeting space. Low bidder was Rancho Cordova-based Kaler-Dobler Construction, which underbid City Engineer Roark Weber’s estimate of $41,000. The council also authorized 2 extra jobs – foundation & plumbing, and a new roof – to be done if costs come in below the estimate. The project includes foundation; leveling; renovation of ceilings, floors, and walls; a new kitchen and restroom; and a 786-square-foot deck. Earlier Thursday, the Lodge hill project received funding in the amount of $95,000 from the Amador County Recreation Agency board of directors. The board allocated Proposition 40 recreation grants, which Councilwoman Patricia Fordyce said were coming to an end and needed to be committed. The Lodge Hill project received a $250,000 historic preservation grant, and Fordyce said about $20,000 of that had gone toward engineering and planning. She said excess funds could be put toward remodeling the upper floor of Lodge Hill. Fordyce said it will “be nice to have a place where people could meet.” The building will be used by ACRA for recreation programs in Plymouth. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office said they believe they know the identity of the decomposed body found in the Mokelumne River on Sunday, November 8. The Coroner believes the remains are those of Steve Leslie Sid, a 52-year-old Stockton man who went missing June 7 at the Moore Creek Campground in Calaveras County. Sid went camping with friends from Stockton and reportedly walked away from the campground in the evening. His companions returned to Stockton and reported him missing. Since the initial missing persons report, there were many possible sightings from individuals who claimed to have seen Sid in the area, including a Pacific Gas & Electric employee who said Sid “did not appear to be in distress.” A week of searching turned up no signs of the former Stockton School District employee. After a decomposed leg was discovered by a fisherman near Salt Springs Reservoir on November 8, a police search uncovered the body approximately 25 feet further upriver. The body was located in an area between several boulders near the middle of the river. Although the area was dry, investigators say the body could have been completely submerged in water as late as last month. The area is remote and roughly half an hour from Highway 88, making it difficult for investigators to access. Sid’s wife has said she suspected foul play in her husband’s disappearance. The Stockton Police Department deemed Sid’s disappearance as “suspicious in nature.” Stockton officials say foul play “is not ruled out” and they are still investigating why Sid’s van was later found in Stockton. The official cause of death is still being determined. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Amador County Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann announced Friday that the Public Health Department has scheduled another H1N1 vaccine clinic open to individuals that fall into H1N1 high risk groups. Hartmann said limits in the amount of vaccine distributed means his department must first focus on priority groups. These groups are individuals age 6 months to 24 years old, pregnant women, individuals who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months, health care and emergency medical services personnel, and individuals who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications. Hartmann said it takes four to six months to produce the vaccine, and since the virus burst on the scene in March, an H1N1 vaccine was not included in this year’s initial flu vaccine production. Public Health Director Angel LeSage said the vaccine is coming “in waves.” Waits of up to three hours have been reported for the free clinics provided so far to those determined to be at the highest risk of catching the virus. Between 2000 and 2500 people have been vaccinated in Amador County. “There have been problems with the distribution of the (H1N1 vaccine). Thus far, Amador County has received only about 60 percent of the amount we’re supposed to get though the end of October, and then we were to get additional November shipments and we just haven’t seen those yet,” said Hartmann. He said there is currently a scarcity of H1N1 vaccine in the entire state. On a positive note, Hartmann said Amador County has received more vaccine per capita than most counties in the state. “The Health Department here in Amador County has really jumped on the ordering right away and we’re really in a lot better shape than some counties are,” he said. A frequent question posed to Hartmann has been when the vaccine will become available to other residents who don’t fall in the high risk categories. “We anticipate that when we get an adequate supply we will be having clinics up at the Health and Human Services building…but right now that could be as soon as late November or in reality it’s probably going to be December or even early January,” said Hartmann. The clinic will be Thursday, November 19th from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek. For further information, call the Flu Line at 223-6697 or Public Health at 223-6407. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Amador County Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann announced Friday that the Public Health Department has scheduled another H1N1 vaccine clinic open to individuals that fall into H1N1 high risk groups. Hartmann said limits in the amount of vaccine distributed means his department must first focus on priority groups. These groups are individuals age 6 months to 24 years old, pregnant women, individuals who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months, health care and emergency medical services personnel, and individuals who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications. Hartmann said it takes four to six months to produce the vaccine, and since the virus burst on the scene in March, an H1N1 vaccine was not included in this year’s initial flu vaccine production. Public Health Director Angel LeSage said the vaccine is coming “in waves.” Waits of up to three hours have been reported for the free clinics provided so far to those determined to be at the highest risk of catching the virus. Between 2000 and 2500 people have been vaccinated in Amador County. “There have been problems with the distribution of the (H1N1 vaccine). Thus far, Amador County has received only about 60 percent of the amount we’re supposed to get though the end of October, and then we were to get additional November shipments and we just haven’t seen those yet,” said Hartmann. He said there is currently a scarcity of H1N1 vaccine in the entire state. On a positive note, Hartmann said Amador County has received more vaccine per capita than most counties in the state. “The Health Department here in Amador County has really jumped on the ordering right away and we’re really in a lot better shape than some counties are,” he said. A frequent question posed to Hartmann has been when the vaccine will become available to other residents who don’t fall in the high risk categories. “We anticipate that when we get an adequate supply we will be having clinics up at the Health and Human Services building…but right now that could be as soon as late November or in reality it’s probably going to be December or even early January,” said Hartmann. The clinic will be Thursday, November 19th from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek. For further information, call the Flu Line at 223-6697 or Public Health at 223-6407. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office said they believe they know the identity of the decomposed body found in the Mokelumne River on Sunday, November 8. The Coroner believes the remains are those of Steve Leslie Sid, a 52-year-old Stockton man who went missing June 7 at the Moore Creek Campground in Calaveras County. Sid went camping with friends from Stockton and reportedly walked away from the campground in the evening. His companions returned to Stockton and reported him missing. Since the initial missing persons report, there were many possible sightings from individuals who claimed to have seen Sid in the area, including a Pacific Gas & Electric employee who said Sid “did not appear to be in distress.” A week of searching turned up no signs of the former Stockton School District employee. After a decomposed leg was discovered by a fisherman near Salt Springs Reservoir on November 8, a police search uncovered the body approximately 25 feet further upriver. The body was located in an area between several boulders near the middle of the river. Although the area was dry, investigators say the body could have been completely submerged in water as late as last month. The area is remote and roughly half an hour from Highway 88, making it difficult for investigators to access. Sid’s wife has said she suspected foul play in her husband’s disappearance. The Stockton Police Department deemed Sid’s disappearance as “suspicious in nature.” Stockton officials say foul play “is not ruled out” and they are still investigating why Sid’s van was later found in Stockton. The official cause of death is still being determined. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last Thursday amended a contract with Amador County that could allow potential income from selling Arroyo Ditch water. City Manager Dixon Flynn in a report said the city negotiated a “water transfer agreement” for several weeks with Amador County, to amendment a 1987 contract. The city this year with Shenandoah Water Company successfully got water flowing down the Arroyo Ditch. With completion of the Amador Water Agency pipeline to Plymouth, Flynn said the city is “exploring other ways to continue the beneficial use of the Arroyo Ditch and its water rights.” He said one option “is limited-term transfers of the water.” He said “if this turns out to be a viable option, it could potentially generate a revenue stream” for city’s water infrastructure and reduce debt service on the new pipeline. Amador County Supervisors approved the amendment last Tuesday. The pipeline’s construction is complete and functional but is not yet activated. Flynn said “full service from the pipeline cannot start until the city’s state drinking water permit is amended.” City staff plans to start full pipeline service January 1st, subject to issuance of the amended permit. One hurdle will be replacing a faulty water main valve near the city water storage tank, in a project set for overnight, November 23rd. Also last week, the City Council awarded a $253,000 remodel of Lodge Hill’s lower floor to create a public meeting space. Low bidder was Rancho Cordova-based Kaler-Dobler Construction, which underbid City Engineer Roark Weber’s estimate of $41,000. The council also authorized 2 extra jobs – foundation & plumbing, and a new roof – to be done if costs come in below the estimate. The project includes foundation; leveling; renovation of ceilings, floors, and walls; a new kitchen and restroom; and a 786-square-foot deck. Earlier Thursday, the Lodge hill project received funding in the amount of $95,000 from the Amador County Recreation Agency board of directors. The board allocated Proposition 40 recreation grants, which Councilwoman Patricia Fordyce said were coming to an end and needed to be committed. The Lodge Hill project received a $250,000 historic preservation grant, and Fordyce said about $20,000 of that had gone toward engineering and planning. She said excess funds could be put toward remodeling the upper floor of Lodge Hill. Fordyce said it will “be nice to have a place where people could meet.” The building will be used by ACRA for recreation programs in Plymouth. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors last week received an award from the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions for funding a county-wide Municipal Services Review in 2008. Amador County LAFCO Executive Director Roseanne Chamberlain made an unexpected presentation of the award last Thursday during a public comment period, saying that AWA’s actions in joining the study as an “imaginative way” to get things done. Chamberlain said state LAFCO presented its Government Leadership Award to several Amador County area government agencies at its recent annual meeting in October. The award winners are the cities of Amador City, Ione, Jackson, Plymouth, and Sutter Creek; Amador County, Amador County Transportation Commission, Amador Water Agency, and Pine Grove Community Services District. Chamberlain said Amador LAFCO, a participating member of the state association, submitted the nomination. Chamberlain told the AWA board that Amador LAFCO was facing a $125,000 Municipal Services Review, required by a new law, and the agency did not have the funds to pay for it, when the Amador entities stepped in and funded the study. She said state LAFCO was impressed by the move, and selected Amador County entities over other nominees from large counties and cities, including San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles. Chamberlain said the award was given for the cooperative, joint funding of a county-wide Municipal Services Review. She said the “effort is remarkable because it equitably distributed the $125,000 cost of the MSR among those government agencies who will benefit from its completion, and allowed an essential report to be completed.” In addition, a comprehensive county-wide report was prepared because there was sufficient funding to do so. Undertaking the project on a county-wide basis generated cost savings of at least $25,000, she said. Every participating agency provided a proportionate share of funding, and Amador LAFCO put in funding. Chamberlain said the “MSR is comprehensive report with information about every local government agency within Amador County, including all special districts, county service areas and cities.” The study included descriptions of related non-governmental service providers, and has been called the “Encyclopedia of Amador County Government.” Chamberlain said LAFCOs review and make decisions on annexations, and Amador LAFCO would have been prohibited from doing so until the MSR was completed. She said the report is used by LAFCO staff and others involved in the governmental decision making process, and serves as a useful source of information for the public. The complete report is available online at www.co.amador.ca.us. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The annual Sutter Creek Parade of Lights will take place this year on Main Street in Sutter Creek on December 12 at 6:30 pm. Staging will be in the Sutter Creek Post Office parking lot and continuing on Broad Street in front of the Sutter Creek Elementary School. Event organizer Toni Linde said all entries must be made by Saturday, November 28. “If you have a long entry, please call me to find out where you need to go before you come to the staging area to make sure there won’t be a problem with your entry turning around,” said Linde. All entries must be at the staging area by 5:30 pm and the main rods will close to traffic about the same time. Linde said all entries must have lights on them, including people that are walking in the parade. For more information, contact Toni Linde at 256-1750. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors heard the history and workings of the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority Thursday, with the object of learning enough to decide whether or not to join the 31-year-old Joint Power Authority (JPA). AWA attorney Steve Kronick said “it is an extensive amount of information” and he is not fully versed on the subject, including legal agreements, obligations and shared liabilities. Kronick planned to give the presentation over 3 meetings, and he said questions may arise from AWA board members that he may not be able to answer. He said the goal was that the board be “fully informed” about ARSA in order to decide whether or not to try to become a member of it. ARSA was formed in 1978 by Jackson, Amador City, Sutter Creek and Amador County. Kronick said “the original intent was to have 1 government agency carry out regional disposal of treated wastewater.” Jackson extricated itself from the JPA in 1982. AWA Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo said the agency does “not know to what degree Amador County wants off of the board” of directors of ARSA. He said Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli was going to bring that back to a Joint Water Committee meeting, after hearing from supervisors. Kronick said state joint power law says that the liabilities of a JPA are the same to all its members, unless otherwise specified in the JPA. He said the ARSA JPA agreement does not say otherwise, “so the debts of ARSA are the debts of its member entities.” Kronick said breakdown by “proportion” of the share of debt is not indicated in the JPA, so in the event that someone is owed a debt by ARSA, that person “probably can pick who they want to sue to fulfill the obligations due.” Kronick said logically, the debtor “would look to a deep pocket to fulfill that obligation.” He said an amendment to the JPA would not erase past debts, only change proportions from that point forward. Mancebo said the partially state-owned ARSA system, with pipelines between Amador city and Castle Oaks Golf Course could require an estimated $30 million to as much as $50 million in upgrades, to replace pipelines and systems. Kronick said adding a new member to ARSA’s board would require an amendment to the agreement, and he said the AWA could not simply take Amador County’s membership on the board. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.