Jackson – Officials with the Buena Vista Biomass Power company last week took public comment and direction from the Amador Air District board of directors to answer questions raised. BVMP Managing Partner Mark Thompson answered some last Tuesday, and will answer more in a September 22nd meeting. But he also made it clear the company wants to open and will do what it needs to open. He said partners hope to get the plant “on line” by May or June of 2010. It has been extensively restored, since 2000. The plant has received a $2.4 million federal stimulus grant, awarded to Buena Vista Power through the U.S. Forest Service. He said wildfire emissions “are much more damaging that the project would be.” Regarding permitting, he said they will “not receive the permit to operate until we prove we can do what we say we can do.” Supervisor Richard Forster asked about monitoring, and if there was any way to get direct access or an immediate tie-in to monitoring data. Thompson said the “Sims System is exactly that,” a computer data relay system. He said they will have a metering system that organizes data, including “emissions, heat levels, output, conditions in the boiler – about 250 to 300 different numbers of data.” He said every 4 seconds it sends information to powerful software. Thompson said they will have 200 miles of coax cable and conduit, connecting software to 250 motors and valves throughout the plant, with all the sensors part of the “energy management system.” Thompson said the technology exists to have immediate data, but “it’s a massive amount of data.” Supervisor John Plasse asked about forest fuel sources for the plant. Thompson said Buena Vista Power had identified 180 slash piles in the Amador and El Dorado forest service district, and “we are working to contract for those.” He said each slash pile amounts to 8 to 10 loads per pile, and “that’s about 25,000 tons, or about 25 percent of what we would need to operate for a year, so there is some concern about getting enough fuel.” Top among the questions staff will try to answer is whether Buena Vista Power is legally required to conduct a new Environmental Impact Report or supplement, and whether the plant’s operation permit is transferrable. Thompson said Buena Vista Power will post answers to questions raised last week on its website, www.bv-biomass.com. The air district board next meets 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 22nd. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – A banquet room full of Amador County community leaders became a steering committee for Amador Regional Transit System last week at Days Inn in Sutter Creek. New ARTS Manager James Means said the meeting is kind of a “let’s get the word out” activity. Leaders from cities and the county brainstormed over mass transit in Amador. Most groups said people did not always get information they needed, due to difficulty reading the ARTS bus schedule. Means, whose “professional heritage is centered around rebuilding stagnant entities,” said understood the importance of getting information to people. He said “not only are we going to make it happen, we are going to make it happen first.” Means said the group is a “steering committee,” and wanted it to meet regularly and determine changes needed to the bus system. Some ideas included a mid-week senior bus to Kirkwood Mountain Resort. Tracey Towner-Yep suggested after-hours routes for late workers. Tracy Birkner said so many local young adults are going to colleges, it would be a good idea for express routes to some of the colleges around Sacramento. Stan Lukowitz said his store has a bus stop out front, and his staff finally got a schedule and learned to read it, to help people use ARTS. Mike Daly suggested getting a core backbone to the system, focusing on senior needs, looking at comfort for riders, getting adequate bus stop shelters, and using private shuttles. Pat Crosby suggested a Sacramento to Mokelumne Hill backbone to have regular service people can count on. Means said “ridership is really depending on people knowing where we are, what we do, where we can take them and when we can bring them back.” David Plank said you should make the entire county aware that you exist. He said a handicapped community in Ione, living at Josie’s apartment complex, could be a dedicated customer of ARTs. And he said the Highway 124 & 16 area is a “natural hub.” He said the Ione area would benefit from a Wal-Mart service, and “clearly, easily understood, marked routes.” He said “tourists are blind until they can see a route.” He also suggested a bus route from Ione to Sutter Hill. Pam Weatherly and Maureen Funk suggested coordinating with B&Bs to have Saturday winery tours. Means said “you can have an extra route, as long as it’s clearly defined.” He said special routes can also include special events. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – Authorities say that Todd Castaldi, 40, of Pine Grove, is facing pending felony charges, possibly manslaughter and DUI, after his passenger was killed in a 3-vehicle crash Tuesday morning on Ridge Road. California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Craig Harmon said Wednesday that Castaldi has felony charges pending against him, and was under the care of Sutter Roseville Hospital. Harmon said charges will be filed when he is released from the hospital or when the CHP finishes its investigation. CHP arrested Castaldi at Sutter Roseville Hospital on Tuesday, then released Castaldi to the hospital for medical care. Harmon said the investigation continues, but charges could lean toward vehicular manslaughter and DUI involving alcohol and/or drugs. Harmon said Castaldi faced similar charges after a 2002 crash on Highway 26, after CHP arrested him for a DUI after a fatal crash. Castaldi faces charges pending from Tuesday morning’s fatal crash in which his passenger, Christina Wise was killed in Amador County. CHP reported that Wise, a 27-year-old Pine Grove resident, died from injuries sustained in the crash on Ridge Road, when Castaldi turned directly into the path of a 40,000-pound crane truck that was travelling west on Climax Road. Harmon said other charges are pending, and the investigation was leaning toward manslaughter charges. Harmon said Castaldi was arrested for same thing in 2002, after a vehicle collision death, resulting in DUI charges. CHP’s Amador Unit reported Tuesday that Wise was a passenger in a 1998 Dodge Intrepid driven by Castaldi when the collision occurred about 7 a.m. Tuesday. The Intrepid was east bound on lower Ridge Road when Castaldi turned left onto upper Ridge Road, into the path of a 2002 Sterling crane truck, which was travelling west on Climax Road, approaching Ridge Road. The crane truck broadsided Castaldi’s Intrepid. Following the impact, Castaldi’s vehicle was sent out of control, and clipped a three-quarter ton Chevy pickup truck, which was stopped at the stop sign on upper Ridge Road. CHP said the crane truck driver began to lose control of the vehicle, and yanked his steering wheel hard to the right, turning the truck onto its left side, to avoid traveling into oncoming traffic. The crane truck came to rest on Woodside Lane. Castaldi suffered right rib pain and was taken by helicopter ambulance to Sutter Roseville Hospital. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – Amador County Solid Waste Program Manager Jim McHargue received an award Tuesday for diverting state-mandated waste that he can no longer bury in the ground. More specifically, he was honored for his handling of “bans without plans.” Deputy Chief Administrative Office Kristin Bengyel said McHargue has already received recognition from the state, and said “we are more than fortunate to have an outstanding individual named Jim McHargue.” McHargue said state mandates to keep items out of the landfills, including electronics and light bulbs have kept increasing, “the list just keeps going and going,” compiling those “bans without plans,” or unfunded mandates. Items, such as batteries, cannot go into the landfill. Heidi Sandborn of the California Product Stewardship Council presented McHargue with the Annual Associate Award, “for outstanding support and dedication to the principles of Extended Producer Responsibility and making the planet healthier through actions and deeds.” Sanborn said McHargue has done exemplary work in Amador County, working with companies to be drop centers for light bulbs and other items that have been placed on the banned list for landfills. Supervisor Richard Forster said Monday that McHargue is in charge of florescent bulbs and battery capture at a couple of outlets in the county, and works with Meek’s as a bulb drop-off location. Forster said the award for extended producer responsibility, or, “when producers sell a product, it’s what happens to that product down the road.” Sandborn said “through (McHargue’s) outreach, ACES Waste Services actually became a partner of ours.” Supervisors thanked McHargue for his work and accomplishments. Sandborn said her council worked with manufacturers, such as thermostat makers, on legislation to help with easier recycling, and they try to tell the state: “No more bans without plans.” Earlier this year, Jill Firch, Integrated Waste Management Board specialist over Amador County’s region, said McHargue and the county are doing a great job in meeting state diversion mandates, of 50 percent. She said Amador’s programs are strong, including green waste diversion. Firch said: “Amador is above the curve. It’s very proactive.” Firch, whose region includes Amador, Alpine, Calaveras and El Dorado Counties, said Mule Creek and Preston also both have excellent programs. She said waste haulers and agencies report information on diversion numbers. Forster said Monday thought that the 50 percent mandated diversion goal is soon going to be raised, to a ratio of 65 percent or even higher. Firch said diversion goals are based on disposal pounds per person per day, and the number varies per jurisdiction. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – With the annual seasonal season fast approaching, Amador Health Department said Tuesday that it is important to remember that there are two different types of flu this year. Every year there is a strong focus on seasonal flu prevention, but this year there is also the H1N1 flu strain to deal with. At this time, the severity of H1N1 illness is no worse than the seasonal influenza. Amador County Health Officer Bob Hartmann said symptoms of both types of flu include a fever of 100 degrees or higher and a cough. In addition some people experience headache, muscle aches, runny nose or sore throat. Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea could also be present. People should stay home from work or school when they have a fever of 100 degrees or higher. They should return if they have been fever-free for 24 hours. Hartmann said: “It is recommended that everyone plan on getting their seasonal flu vaccination this year.” He said “vaccination against flu is the best prevention measure we have.” The vaccine is now available at some local pharmacies and health care providers now. Amador County Public Health has organized the seasonal flu vaccination clinic schedule with the first clinic scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 29th at the Amador County Health and Human Services Building conference rooms. An additional clinic at the same location is scheduled for 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, October 7th. A third seasonal flu clinic is at the Sutter Amador Health Festival on October 16th. A separate set of H1N1 flu vaccination clinics will be organized focusing on different high-risk groups than the seasonal flu. H1N1 is a new flu strain which requires a different vaccine with 2 vaccinations given at least three weeks apart. High-risk groups include pregnant women, children age 6 months to 24 years and individuals with underlying conditions that would compromise their immune system, such as heart disease, diabetes or asthma. Flu prevention measures are important every year, but are particularly crucial during this flu season. Key recommendations include washing hands often with warm, soapy water for at least 30 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizers. Also, cover your cough and sneeze. If you cough or sneeze into a tissue, throw if away and then wash your hands. Stay home if you are sick. Get your annual seasonal flu vaccine. For current flu information, see the Amador County Public Health website, call (209) 223-6407, visit Public Health at 10877 Conductor Blvd, Ste 400 Sutter Creek, or -mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – The Amador Water Agency board of directors approved changes to its water conservation policy last week, with one portion aiming to help meet state standards. The board also sent an issue raised in the public relations committee to the policy committee, for consideration of a “media relations” protocol rule, or policy. Director Debbie Dunn said she looked at the agency handbook and found “no protocol” addressing board or employee relations with the media. She said the “media is a good thing” but thought the board should consider a policy on media relations, and rules in the handbook. And she wanted to hear from her colleagues. She suggested they consider a corporate style policy. Director Don Cooper said it should be discussed by the rules and policy committee, made up of himself and Director Gary Thomas. The board sent the topic to the rules and policy committee for consideration, at its September 9th meeting. Dunn said reported on an “item in dispute” in the PR committee. The issue was whether to include the term “reuse” in the water conservation policy. She said she thought “reuse” deserved its own policy. Cooper said it was important for the term “reuse” to be in the conservation policy, for future guidance of agency policy and practices. Dunn said “the state will not recognize the Purple Pipe as a measurable conservation plan.” She said it did not mean that they should not have the Purple Pipe. The Purple Pipe program is a proposed county-wide system to reuse treated water and wastewater throughout the county. Finance Manager Mike Lee said a consultant recommended some slight changes to the policy, to help meet state best management practices. Consultant Leslie Dumas suggested AWA follows California Best Management Practice Number 13 on Water Waste Prohibition. She said if the policy statement includes “a description of agency support positions with respect to adoption of legislation or regulations consistent with this BMP,” then the agency “can take some credit for this BMP.” The change, approved 5-0, included a statement that the AWA “shall manage its water supply to assure future availability,” and and added that it will “support other local water initiatives that achieve the same goal.” Lee said that support would include city and county ordinances. The BMPs are state requirements recommended earlier this year in an effort to conserve water statewide. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – The 2040 Plan reportedly goes for final approval by the East Bay Municipal Utility District board of directors at the end of October, and Foothill Conservancy’s Katherine Evitt urged the Amador County Board of Supervisors to send another comment letter on the plan. Evitt raised the issue during a discussion of public matters not on the agenda Tuesday, and the board agreed to put the issue on a future agenda for discussion of a letter to East Bay MUD (mud). Evitt said at a recent East Bay utility meeting on the 2040 Plan, the board was presented with 5 different dam options at Pardee Lake. She said Foothill Conservancy members asked the East Bay utility board to analyze all 5 of them. Evatt said 2 of East Bay MUD’s own board members actually suggested at the meeting that they pull Pardee Dam from the 2040 Plan. She urged that a comment letter be sent before their approval meeting, October 27th. Supervisor Louis Boitano suggested they could possibly deliver the letter at the East Bay MUD barbecue on October 2nd, for which he has already “broken tradition and RSVP’d” that he would attend. Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Kristin Bengyel (Bengal) reported that she had received an update from Supervisor Richard Forster, who was attending an Association of California Rural Counties meeting. Forster reported that Senator Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) was trying to get an exemption for small counties for the state’s attempt to defer gasoline tax payments. Bengyel said the state was trying to defer that payment of fuel taxes to counties for 6 months or more. Chairman Ted Novelli said the state “lost 2 dedicated firefighters,” and his heart went out to their families. Novelli said he was given daily updates by Amador Fire Protection Authority Chief Jim McCart, around 5 p.m., on different fires around the state. Novelli said: “I just hope the governor keeps on replenishing our funds.” He said California is unique in that all the small, rural county fire brigades went all over the state to assist with fire control and battle big fires. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – A long-time El Dorado County resident, Amador Water Agency General Manager Jim Abercrombie lives in Placerville, and returns to work there this month after 11 years at AWA. He leaves a legacy of completed projects legal battle victories, and a revitalized agency, and he takes with him 30 years’ management experience. He serves his last day on the job Friday, during which the agency will open the new bridge over Sutter Creek (part of the AWA-Plymouth water pipeline). Abercrombie will start his new job as General Manager of the El Dorado Irrigation District on September 8th. EID Board President George Wheeldon last month announced Abercrombie’s selection from 41 “well-qualified applicants,” saying he is “very knowledgeable about the water industry and the issues facing EID,” and knows El Dorado County well. Wheeldon said Abercrombie is “definitely the right choice for the district,” and the board looks “forward to the strong partnership he will develop with our employees and the board in the coming years.” At the AWA oversaw the completion of the $24 million Amador Transmission Pipeline. Wheeldon said he also “carried out a team-based performance management process that led to achievements in reorganization, cost reduction, and increased customer satisfaction.” And Abercrombie developed a 5-year strategic plan for the agency and a quarterly training program for managers and supervisors. Abercrombie’s 30 years’ management experience includes 11 years at the AWA and 20 years with Pacific Gas & Electric, including as El Dorado district manager, from 1987 to 1998. Wheeldon said when promoted to that position, Abercrombie was PG&E’s youngest ever district manager. Abercrombie is also a registered civil engineer, with a master’s degree in business administration. He is currently a board member for Region 3 of the Association of California Water Agencies. He is a past president of the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, El Dorado County Development Corporation, and El Dorado County United Way and past chair of the El Dorado Leadership Program. Abercrombie recommended his successor, Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo, who takes over the position at 5 p.m. Friday (September 4th). Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – Argonaut High School students, teachers and staff; city and county leaders; parents; and others celebrated completion of a “Safe Routes to School” project Tuesday morning at the school. A parent said in a release that the students from Argonaut High School were walking and riding bicycles to school along with parents, teachers and community leaders. Jackson this month completed a Safe Routes to School project along Argonaut Lane, to Pioneer Street. The project added curbs, gutters, sidewalks and bike lanes, through a Safe Routes grant. Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County health officer said: “We know that physical activity reduces childhood obesity and diabetes and enhances learning.” He said he was “grateful to the city of Jackson and Argonaut High School for promoting physical activity and public health.” He said: “Safe Routes to School projects give students an opportunity to bike and walk safely to school, making us a healthier community.” Hartmann said: “Safe Routes to School projects create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.” There will be other activities throughout the school year to highlight the benefits of the project. An organizer said Tuesday’s dedication ceremony drew an “impressive line-up of students and community leaders,” which included Mayor Connie Gonsalves, Councilman Keith Sweet, Hartmann, Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison and City Manager Mike Daly. Argonaut Principal Dave Vicari and Vice-Principal Julia Sierk-Zanze also attended with some of the school’s teachers. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.