Amador County – The Ione City Council took a “huge step” in the city’s 3 years of work on a wastewater master plan by approving the project’s Final Environmental Impact Report. The council held a public hearing with one member of the public speaking, that being Jim Scully, a long-time critic of the city’s treatment plant storage ponds, who lives next door to the plant’s “Pond Number 7.” The council heard reports from staff before voting 3-1 with Councilman Jim Ulm against the project, saying he thought it “should be more broad.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham was absent. Scully asked if Pond Number 7 was fixed, and if its disputed “lateral” leakage was really fixed. He said “based on hydrology alone, (he) would recommend” that the council not pass the FEIR. He said: “I don’t think it’s ever been fixed.” Consultant Bob Godwin of Lee & Ro said the city must file a “Report of Waste Discharge” with the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The board may find inadequacies or inconclusive information and request more. Godwin said his knowledge of how the Ione treatment system was operated (before he signed on with Ione) is based on past files. He believed the problems – the “very obvious lateral leakage” in Pond 7 – were addressed when it was rebuilt. City Manager Kim Kerr said they were not giving an “engineer’s stamp” on the project. Ulm asked if Pond 7 was a problem, and whether it was ever tested or failed since the repairs. Godwin said he could only tell about his experience when he has been at the pond. He said the repair was done by a levee designer, a geotechnical engineering company. Godwin said the plant would seek permits for 1.6 million gallons a day treatment capacity, at a “tertiary level.” It would also seek disposal abilities of 800,000 gallons a day. The first phase would have 800,000 gallons a day treatment capacity, with 1 percolation pond. Godwin said Ponds numbered 1 through 4 would be closed, and plans included partially filling 2 other ponds, on the state board’s recommendation. He said the state was concerned about the ponds’ close proximity to the actual Sutter Creek, and wanted to increase the distance between them. Kerr said the plant would have fully enclosed treatment facilities, unlike the current open pond treatment system. Godwin said the percolation pond will be the backup pond, used when reclaimed water users will take less water, typically in the winter. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Plymouth City Manager Dixon Flynn said Wednesday that there are no obstacles remaining with Amador County regarding Plymouth’s search for an agreement on the sale of water from its Arroyo Ditch. The Amador County Board of Supervisors last week approved a deal with the Plymouth City Council that opens the door for a deal, but Flynn said they have yet to reach an agreement with the Shenandoah Water Company. The Plymouth City Council last week in closed session discussed and approved an extension of an exclusive negotiating agreement with Shenandoah Water. The council gave closed-session instruction to the its negotiating team, made up of Flynn, Councilwoman Patricia Shackleton, Councilman Jon Colburn, Finance Director Jeff Gardner and Consulting Engineer Richard Prima. Flynn said “if there is no agreement in the near future,” the city “will probably start talking to other parties.” He said the company owes the city some money, and they need to pay the city. He said there was “no obstacle with the county.” Supervisors approved Chairman Ted Novelli’s signature of an amendment to their original agreement with Plymouth on the Arroyo Ditch. Supervisors then placed the decision in abeyance, and lifted it again, with stipulations. Flynn said “any agreement will come back to the people” of Plymouth “for public comment,” not a public hearing, but a public meeting. “Before going to the city,” they will take any agreement “to the county for their input.” Flynn said that was part of the supervisors’ “agreement to have this more forward.” Flynn said: “We’re not going to make any deal where someone else loses here. We’re going to look after the assets of the people for their benefit.” The council has been accused by some people of selling the city’s water rights, including former councilman Gary Colburn, a recent past city council candidate. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The second annual “For Kids by Kids” Guitar Hero Tournament was held Saturday, December 12th at the Jackson Civic Center. The event organizers were Michael Merzlak and Anthony Estrada. The tournament was the sixth event put on by the young promoters. After a practice round, twelve finalists battled it out to find the top three guitar rockers: Elijah Wilson, Matt Molles, and Noble Arnold. All three competitors played on the game’s expert level to determine the finals. First Place went to Wilson with over 120,000 points. Second place went to Molles, and third place went to Arnold. Merzlak and Estrada would like to thank Jackson City Manager Mike Daly for his continued support. Other event sponsors include Kam Merzlak, Kellee Davenport, Eleanor Caputo, Kate Harmon, CVS Pharmacy, Safeway, Hometown Radio, Carol Harper, Amador Ledger Dispatch, JB’s Awards and TSPN TV. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The Amador County Department of Environmental Health announced Wednesday it is offering residents a limited number of free radon test kits during the month of January 2010, which is also National Radon Action Month. Fifty free test kits to test homes or buildings for radon will be available on a first come, first served basis. The Health Department is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is conducting a nationwide campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage them to take action to protect their homes and families. Because of the wide spread occurrence of granite in Amador County there is a higher probability of having elevated radon levels compared to other locations. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that is dispersed in outdoor air but can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. Scientists have long been concerned about the health risk of radon, but there is now overwhelming proof that exposure to elevated levels of radon causes lung cancer in humans. EPA estimates that radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. “Because you can’t see or smell radon, people tend to downplay the health effects and ignore the possibility that there might be a silent killer in their homes,” said Amador County Public Health Officer Dr. Bob Hartmann. Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to that of many common home repairs such as painting and roof repair. In addition to the free test kits available through the Amador County Environmental Health Department, during January radon test kits can be purchased through the California Department of Public Health Indoor Radon Program for $5.00. To obtain a free radon test kit, contact Amador County Environmental Health Department at (209) 223-6439. For more information on radon, ordering the $5.00 test kit, mitigation, and radon-resistant new construction, call the California Department of Public Health Indoor Radon Program at 916-449-5674 or visit EPA’s National Radon Action Month Web site at www.epa.gov/radon/nram. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Jackson Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect in an early August string of 10 automobile burglaries in Jackson, made possible by the help of the Calaveras County Probation Office. JPD announced the arrest of Aaron Vance, 21, of San Andreas. Jackson Police Officer Mark Harmon responded on the morning of August 7th to reports of 10 auto burglaries throughout Jackson. JPD said “through further investigation, officer Harmon was able to obtain a surveillance photo from a local business security camera where the suspect had attempted to use a credit card that was stolen during the crime spree.” Detective Douglas Grey was then assigned to the case for further action. Grey “distributed the suspect’s photograph to surrounding allied law enforcement agencies as well as local probation and parole offices.” A Calaveras County probation officer recognized the suspect as Vance and notified Grey, who contacted the suspect and interviewed him at the Jackson police station. During the interview, faced with direct evidence, Vance confessed to the burglaries. An arrest warrant was issued and he surrendered to JPD November 23rd. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Sutter Creek City Council earlier this month received recommendation of approvals by the city’s attorney, provided staff work was done according to council requests. City Attorney Dennis Crabb in a memo December 1st recommended approvals. He said to “staff’s knowledge, the only 2 outstanding issues” are “phasing” and the “length of the trail system.” Consultant Anders Hauge (How-Ghee) has said developers (Bill Bunce, John Telischak and Troy Claveran) likely would give 8.4 miles of trails. On phasing, Crabb said “there have been 3 separate discussions,” “all with somewhat different outcomes,” and “whatever the final result, appropriate language will be needed in both the specific plan and the development agreement.” He said the first discussion ended with language saying “the city desired improvements” including “golf course, hotel, commercial, park and trails” to be completed and “operational in the first phase and that no construction would be allowed on Phase 2 until Phase 1 was complete.” Crabb said in a later “council discussion, staff understood that was to be modified to say that so long as the city desired improvements were completed as required, the developer could proceed with backbone infrastructure in Phase 2, even though Phase 1 was not fully built out.” Crabb said “it was taken by some from that discussion that Phase 3 could not be commenced until Phases 1 and 2 were built out.” He said “staff took it to mean that so long as the city desired improvements were complete, and the necessary backbone infrastructure to support development was fully installed, the developer could proceed with whatever Phase the market would support.” Crabb said if staff was correct, there was no need to change related Phasing language, and “if not, further council direction is necessary.” Crabb said a final version of the “Development Agreement” for Gold Rush included “10 outstanding issues that were identified at the September meeting.” He said “broad outlines of the agreement have not changed, but the details have been worked and reworked.” Elements include a 15-year “vesting of project rights” with a 5-year possible extension. Developers must also “design and build a tertiary sewer treatment plant at its expense” for current and future demands; $1 million for open space; and formation of a “community facilities district” to offset all city service costs. Phasing language in the agreement says “the level and type of development within any approved phase will be at the developer’s discretion.” Crabb said if that was not correct, revisions were needed. Crabb recommended adopting an ordinance approving the development agreement, if all changes are correct. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council on Wednesday starts what could eventually be the final decision process for the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. The meeting was rescheduled due to the December 6th snowstorm, and will include a handful of items before staff presentations on the Gold Rush project, its “Decision Documents,” and its Final Environmental Impact Report and a related “Technical Memorandum.” City attorney Dennis Crabb in a December 1st memo to the city council recommended approvals, citing the city’s work to date. Crabb said the “council now has before it a series of decision documents.” The “purpose of these documents, beyond project approval, is twofold. The first is to make as clear a record as possible of the council’s decision-making process and intent so that future staffs and councils will be able to understand and implement them.” He said the second purpose is, “as Winston Churchill said in another context, this is not the beginning of the end, it is the end of the beginning.” Crabb said: “There are literally hundreds of decisions that will need to be made on implementation if the project is approved, and these documents provide a checklist to be followed as the process moves forward.” Crabb said the “council has previously received and reviewed” the FEIR, and has hearings, comments and responses on the “administrative record.” He said the California Environmental Quality Act requires approval of the “Technical Memo” and other documents before a project’s “merits” can be considered. Crabb in the memo said the related documents are contained in a resolution certifying the EIR, and he said: “It is recommended the (Sutter Creek City Council) adopt the resolution, with its supporting exhibits.” Crabb said “once the EIR is certified, the council can move to the consideration of the various findings and requested project approvals.” Those include “CEQA findings, findings of overriding considerations, findings in support of the vesting large lot tentative subdivision map, and approval of the proposed specific plan, amendments to the current city General Plan, zoning ordinance amendments, and a large lot subdivision map.” Crabb’s memo included an “executive summary” of extensive CEQA findings, and noted that the “resolution also has attached findings of overriding considerations, which will allow the project to be approved even though it has significant impacts which have not and cannot be mitigated.” He said the “purpose of this documentation is to clearly demonstrate, on the record, that the council has fully and fairly considered all of these issues in reaching its decision in the event of litigation challenging the project approval.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County Public Health will host a Swine Flu clinic Wednesday, and a dual swine flu and seasonal flu clinic next week. The department last week announced the clinic for both seasonal and Swine Flu vaccinations, set for next Tuesday (December 22nd) at the Public Health Department in Sutter Creek. The clinic is open to all Amador County residents, and nurses will be administering both seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccine at the clinic, while supplies last. There is a $10 donation request for Seasonal flu vaccine, and the H1N1 vaccine is free of charge. Medicare billing will be available. The dual vaccine clinic is 9 to 11:30 a.m. next Tuesday, December 22nd at the Public Health Department in Sutter Creek. Public health also hosts a Swine Flu only vaccine clinic free on Wednesday. This week’s H1N1 clinic is free and open to the public, to all levels of risk patients. Earlier this month, public health announced that “H1N1 vaccine supply has increased” within Amador County, “providing the opportunity to vaccinate all Amador County residents.” Prior to that announcement, only “high-risk groups” qualified for the H1N1 vaccines. The clinic this week is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday (December 16th), also at the Public Health Department in Sutter Creek. For further information, call the public health “Flu Line” at (209) 223-6697 (for English), and (209) 223-6642 (for Spanish) or the Public Health Department at (209) 223-6407. The Public Health Department is at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Sutter Amador Hospital on Friday announced that its union employees have ratified a new 3-year contract. The action ends nearly 2 years in which the employees worked without a contract. Jody Boetzer (Bates-er), Sutter Amador Hospital public relations specialist announced the “contract ratification vote for union-represented employees” in a news release Friday. Boetzer said Sutter Amador Hospital Employees voted last Wednesday night to ratify the new 3-year contract. Sutter Amador Hospital employees are represented by Service Employees International Union, in a branch of the SEIU under the United Healthcare Workers West. Boetzer said the “represented employees ratified the contract, with all 42 who voted in favor” of the new contract. She said the “union represents 137 out of 429 employees” at Sutter Amador Hospital. About 20 of the employees and family members held picket signs on Highway 88 at Mission Boulevard November 6th. Theresa Talbert, a critical care registered nurse at the hospital, said the United Healthcare Workers West employees are considered “non-professional” by their parent union, SEIU. Talbert said they were not on strike and were not “picketing” but were instead holding an educational demonstration, to draw attention to union contract negotiations under way later that day. She said UHWW employees in Jackson had not had a contract in almost 2 years. UHW includes registered nurses or workers from physical therapy, medical surgery, critical care and pharmacy. Negotiators for the SAH employees were Talbert, RN Debbie Cheney, pharmacist Todd Berg and union representative Beth Haddorf. Negotiations began in June, and after 7 meetings in November, workers were seeking a 4 percent raise, while Sutter Amador Hospital was offering a 1.25 percent increase, a 2.25 percent increase for RNs, and a 20-cent raise for physical therapists. Boetzer said Friday that “all represented employees will receive benefit enhancements and wage increases. Registered nurses and clinical lab scientists will receive a minimum of a 10 percent across-the-board wage increase over 3 years.” She said RNs will receive an immediate 4 percent raise and another 3 percent in 12 months. Sutter Amador Hospital Chief Executive Officer Anne Platt said the hospital is “proud to have outstanding employees who provide exceptional patient care.” She said: “Our employees can now receive their well-deserved wage increases in these challenging economic times.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council on Wednesday starts what could eventually be the final decision process for the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. The meeting was rescheduled due to the December 6th snowstorm, and will include a handful of items before staff presentations on the Gold Rush project, its “Decision Documents,” and its Final Environmental Impact Report and a related “Technical Memorandum.” City attorney Dennis Crabb in a December 1st memo to the city council recommended approvals, citing the city’s work to date. Crabb said the “council now has before it a series of decision documents.” The “purpose of these documents, beyond project approval, is twofold. The first is to make as clear a record as possible of the council’s decision-making process and intent so that future staffs and councils will be able to understand and implement them.” He said the second purpose is, “as Winston Churchill said in another context, this is not the beginning of the end, it is the end of the beginning.” Crabb said: “There are literally hundreds of decisions that will need to be made on implementation if the project is approved, and these documents provide a checklist to be followed as the process moves forward.” Crabb said the “council has previously received and reviewed” the FEIR, and has hearings, comments and responses on the “administrative record.” He said the California Environmental Quality Act requires approval of the “Technical Memo” and other documents before a project’s “merits” can be considered. Crabb in the memo said the related documents are contained in a resolution certifying the EIR, and he said: “It is recommended the (Sutter Creek City Council) adopt the resolution, with its supporting exhibits.” Crabb said “once the EIR is certified, the council can move to the consideration of the various findings and requested project approvals.” Those include “CEQA findings, findings of overriding considerations, findings in support of the vesting large lot tentative subdivision map, and approval of the proposed specific plan, amendments to the current city General Plan, zoning ordinance amendments, and a large lot subdivision map.” Crabb’s memo included an “executive summary” of extensive CEQA findings, and noted that the “resolution also has attached findings of overriding considerations, which will allow the project to be approved even though it has significant impacts which have not and cannot be mitigated.” He said the “purpose of this documentation is to clearly demonstrate, on the record, that the council has fully and fairly considered all of these issues in reaching its decision in the event of litigation challenging the project approval.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.