Jackson – The Amador County Board of Supervisors reinforced their position on the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s 2040 Water Plan and its impact on the Mokelumne River. Tuesday’s agenda item was relative to the approval of Chairman Ted Novelli’s signature on a letter to EBMUD reiterating the Board’s opposition to the proposed plan. The item was added based on a past request by Novelli to have a letter to present in person at the EBMUD Board meeting this coming Friday. The letter states “that EBMUD should be able to meet the expected demands of consumers even during consecutive drought years through rationing, conservation, recycling, and the Bayside groundwater Phase 2.” One of the proposed 2040 plan options would expand the Pardee Reservoir and flood portions of the Mokelumne River in order to provide more water to customers in the East Bay. The vast majority of local individuals, groups and government entities have publicly objected to the plan, citing potential damage to the river’s ecosystem, the destruction of historic sites like the Middle Bar Bridge and irreversible damage to a river considered important to Native Americans. During public comment, Katherine Evatt of the Foothill Conservancy said “I’ve never seen so many people agree about one issue as they do about this issue,” referring in part to the parade of vehement protestors who lined up to voice their objections at EBMUD workshops earlier this year. Supervisor Louis Boitano called EBMUD’s outreach to the county a “dog and pony show” and said “they need to show us something more.” Michael Weir, a fly fishing guide, commented on environmental concerns, calling the area in question “the last stretch of riparian habitat on the river.” Supervisor Brian Oneto questioned objecting to the project and instead suggested negotiating for infrastructure like paving “a two-lane county road” leading to boat ramps along the river. “This is pretty strong language…it’s like a period,” he said. He was skeptical about the preservation of historical sites and asked “what is a historical site?” Evatt replied that most of the sites in question were Native American, and “they might consider them a sacred site just as you consider your church a sacred site.” Oneto worried aloud about traffic generated “once people get used to rafting there.” Evatt replied that boaters are typically taken down to the river by van. Supervisor Richard Forster recommended an addendum that opposed any other new reservoir with additional impacts to the river. The Supervisors also agreed to include recorded comments from EBMUD Director John Coleman stressing the corporation’s desire for cooperation with stakeholders before any plan is approved. “Sometimes the best action is to hoist somebody with their own petard,” said Supervisor John Plasse. “We should reiterate what they said in their own letter.” A motion was made by Boitano and all addendums and the letter were approved 5-0. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Conductor Boulevard – Amador County Public Health hosted its first of 3 public seasonal flu shot clinics Tuesday at the health office on Conductor Boulevard. The clinic featured flu vaccinations by mist and by injection. Angel LeSage, RN, Public Health Director said the clinic gave 240 seasonal flu shots, to mostly adults. LeSage said Public Health has “been doing school seasonal flu vaccinations,” but “they don’t give injections at the school sites to children,” so the children must get them from doctors or the clinics. The clinic gave a lot of mist vaccinations, which people can get if they are older than 2 or under age 50. Besides the 240 seasonal flu vaccinations, the clinic gave tetanus shots and boosters, and the new combination vaccine that includes, diphtheria and whooping cough prevention treatments. LeSage said Public Health was “finding that people are passing (whooping cough) to their small children,” whose illnesses can be severe. Adults pass it through the community because they are not vaccinated for it. The one-time whooping cough vaccination was licensed in 2005, after a national outbreak in 2004, affecting more than 8,000 adolescents and 7,000 adults. 5 volunteers helped at the clinic. School clinics have been volunteer-staffed as well, undertaken by retired nurse, Barbara Barenfeld, “who is a very experienced vaccinator.” Public Health plans a lot more seasonal flu clinics. LeSage said: “We’re also doing some clinics for Amador County employees only,” paid for by county administration. They will also go to 4 long-term care facilities in Amador County, and hold night clinics for emergency responders, including police and fire fighters, in Sutter Creek, Plymouth, Ione and Lockwood FPD. Public Health also provided ambulance services with vaccines, “and they are vaccinating their own folks.” 2 more seasonal flu shot clinics include one in partnership with Sutter Amador Hospital, at its Health Festival, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. October 16th. Another public clinic is 4 to 5:30 p.m. October 7th at the Health Department. LeSage said vaccination for this year’s other flu, the special strain H1N1 virus, is not yet available. She said officials are “anticipating maybe by the end of October” to release H1N1 vaccines. LeSage is in weekly conference calls for updates on both disease activity and vaccines. She said the H1N1 flu “is here in our county.” But she said “guidelines for testing aren’t as rigorous as they were last spring.” Now they are testing for H1N1 only in very ill or hospitalized patients. 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 last week directed staff to compile data for a water rate study of the Amador Water System. Staff was directed to complete a scope of work for consultants, the Reed Group, in preparation for water rate studies needed to update the financial plan for the Amador Water System. The study will include a look at actions that may affect Amador Water System rates, including the addition of the Plymouth Pipeline and the proposed addition of La Mel Heights customers. The AWS includes the bulk of Amador Water Agency’s potable water customers. Other possible impacts include use of treated water for agricultural use by former canal customers, and consideration of tiered pricing to encourage water conservation. Mancebo said public workshops on the financial plan for the Amador Water System are expected to be held in early 2010. 2 weeks ago, the AWA board approved sending a letter opposing a California Senate bill that would lower the amount of money public agencies can retain in lieu of construction projects. The AWA letter, approved in a September 18th special meeting, opposed Senate Bill 802, which seeks to lower the percentage of funds that a public agency can retain until a construction contract is completed and accepted as finished. SB 802, “requires that contract retention proceeds not to exceed 5 percent of the payment of all contracts entered into after January 1st, 2010, between a public entity and an original contractor.” That would be down from 10 percent now allowed. Mike Dillon, a lobbyist for the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, in a letter to members, including AWA, said: “Our only option at this point is to request a Governor’s veto.” But he noted that the bill was amended to have a “sunset date,” or termination, in 2014. AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said because public agencies must accept the lowest responsible bidder on projects, opponents of the bill argue that there are often situations where a contractor fails to complete work on a project and the 10 percent retention funds are used to complete the work. Dillon said the “10 percent retention level provides a source of funds to enable completion of the project.” The bill is currently on its way to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his signature or veto. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – About 15 people attended the ad hoc committee meeting Tuesday on Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort’s traffic impacts on Sutter Creek. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe told the committee and public that the committee was to discuss and determine recommendations to the Sutter Creek City Council, for Conditions of Approval and the Development Agreement, which the council must negotiate with Gold Rush. One topic was direct intersection improvements, and Amador County Transportation Commission director Charles Field said his commission “had no formal decision” on such conditions recommended by the Sutter Creek Planning Commission, meaning ACTC supports them as written. Field said as far as impact fees were concerned, if Sutter Creek used the developer’s “fair share,” as determined by a consultant, the “fees would be so low, we would not have a project.” Councilman Pat Crosby asked if Gold Rush build a road opposite Ampine at the existing intersection, would it be adequate mitigation. Field said that was a good question. ACTC Attorney Dave Richardson said: “not at the same time.” And Field said developers “would argue that they are only required to pay part of that cost.” Mayor Pro Tem Tim Murphy said Gold Rush requested $520,000 credit for installing traffic signals there, and for a reduction of “trip ends,” shown in a study. Field said “signals are already warranted” at the Ampine entrance; the property “has been approved for other development;” and Amador County Supervisors sent a letter to Caltrans promising they will get signals installed. Field said they were “leaning on the CMX,” ACTC’s Community Mapping Exercise tool, which will not be operational in time. Crosby said he thought the “greater portion” of traffic would go to the south side of the intersection, and Gold Rush should “be reimbursed in some agreed upon standards.” Gold Rush’s Greg Bardini said a study showed 48 percent of traffic would go to Gold Rush and 52 percent would go to the Martell business park. He thought the percentage of benefits to each showed fair shares of cost. Foothill Conservancy’s Tom Infusino said “without the CMX, they are underfunding this project.” He said: “We call it fair share, but it’s nowhere close to the fair share.” Field said rather than give a $520,000 credit for signal and improvements, they should recommend that the “cost of improving the intersection, including signals, can be reimbursed if it creates excess capacity” for traffic flow. The committee agreed. These and other recommendations will be taken to the city council October 19th. Story by Jim Reece

Sacramento - 1st District Senator and Amador County representative Dave Cox addressed the concerns of constituents last Friday on the proposed closure of many state parks in order to help solve California’s budget crisis. “California’s state parks are an integral part of many local economies. Thousands of small businesses partner with the state to provide recreational services to vacationing families. Keeping the state parks open means keeping more Californians employed,” said Cox. In the latest news release from Sacramento, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger assured that about 100 of California’s 267 parks would be spared full closure under a plan to achieve $14.2 million in savings during the fiscal year. Schwarzenegger called this “fantastic news for all Californians.” Cox, whose district is home to 19 state parks including those near Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes and the Chaw’se Grinding Rock State Park, called the Governor’s latest announcement great news for families and school children. “With students back in school, many will now be able to take field trips to visit state parks to learn about the history of California,” he said. While the announcement comes as relief to many, it does not emphasize that just as many parks will be open only partially or seasonally under restricted hours. The plan is a cooperative effort between the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Finance and many actions outlined in the plan were already being considered. The California State Parks Foundation responded suspiciously to the Governor’s statement, saying: “While the Governor has found a clever way to get political cover on this issue, it’s not clear that this plan won’t actually leave Californians with just as limited access to their state parks as if they had been fully closed.” Still, Cox sees this latest action as an important step in the right direction. Cox said: “The Governor and his Administration…should be applauded for their dedication and creative thinking that will result in keeping our state parks open.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ione – The Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested 4 Amador County residents on charges of manufacturing and possessing drugs, and for endangering three children, including a 17-month-old child by operating a marijuana oil extraction lab in a home near Ione. The Narcotics Team in a release Monday said an investigation led to the arrest last Thursday of 4 adults; while 3 minors (ages 17 months, 14 years and 17 years) were placed into protective custody. The adults were arrested and booked into Amador County Jail. Justin Bell, 34, and Jennifer Bell, 37 of Ione, each face charges of manufacturing a controlled substance, child endangerment and violation of probation. Allen Lydell, 50, of Ione, was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of meth and violation of parole. Linda Eisenhauer, 33, of Jackson, was charged with possession of meth for sale, possession of meth and violation of probation. The arrests came last Thursday after the Narcotics Team “responded to an anonymous tip of methamphetamine sales” from a home in an unincorporated area near Ione. The Narcotics Team, assisted by members of the Ione Police Department and Amador County Sheriff’s Office, found the adults and children at the residence, and conducted a parole search of Lydell and a probation search of Justin Bell and Eisenhauer. “During the search of the residence, agents found the living conditions not suitable for the children,” and contacted Amador County Child Protective Services, which took them into custody under “Drug Endangered Children” protocols. ACCNET Commander Jackie Long in a release said: “As agents were searching the master bedroom of the residence they found a Butane Honey Oil (BTO) extraction laboratory,” equipment that extracts “THC from marijuana using a highly flammable solvent of butane. The resulting material is pure THC oil.” Long said “BHO laboratories are extremely dangerous due to the volatility of Butane as it evaporates from the collected THC.” He said: “The solvent extraction of THC (the active component in marijuana) is classified in California as the same as a methamphetamine laboratory.” After finding the marijuana oil lab, the Narcotics Team obtained a warrant from Amador County Superior Court Judge David S. Richmond to search the residence and grounds. In the search, Long said agents seized 7.8 grams of “ice” methamphetamine, 108 grams of marijuana, 22 pharmaceutical pills, scales, packaging materials, and a complete THC extraction laboratory from the residence and from inside multiple parked vehicles on the property. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – Amador Council of Tourism (ACT) Director Maureen Funk announced on Sunday her organization’s activities after receiving $25,000 in funding from the Amador County Board of Supervisors last Tuesday. During a lengthy and somewhat contentious debate, ACT was awarded the lions share of the $28,109 initially alotted for funding and county promotion in the current fiscal year budget, $20,000 of which was strictly relative to ACT and its competitor, the Amador County Visitor’s Bureau (ACVB). ACT was awarded the full amount, including an additional $5000 from the contingency fund. Another $10,000 was given to ACVB. Amador County, which depends on tourism for much of its revenue stream, has traditionally invested liberally in methods of promotion. In past years, the two organizations had split a funding budget of up to $47,000, but the economic depression combined with the closure of major business sponsors like Prospect Motors has strained funding limits. At that Board meeting, ACVB Executive Director Jacqueline Lucido said “over 86 percent of business in this county is affected one way or another by tourism.” Funk said over 60 percent of her organization’s budget is used to promote tourism. In a release Sunday, Funk thanked the supervisors and supporters, saying “the funding will go a long way toward promoting Amador as a destination.” She outlined presentations she saw at the latest ACT meeting, including a discussion about the possible closure of Chaw’se Grinding Rock State Park as a way to help alleviate the state budget crisis. Funk told TSPN the “funding given to us is vital to ACT and our effectiveness when promoting the benefits of Amador County.” She quoted a letter from Steve Hammond, CEO of Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, regarding the economic situation and a course of action for tourism promoting agencies. Hammond said “while there is no 'silver bullet' solution to the drastic decline in the American and global economies, we can pull together and act collectively to communicate the priority and value of travel and meetings in Sacramento and its benefit to associations, businesses and individuals.” ACT holds multiple meetings each month. Their next meeting is October 8th at 5:30 pm at the Holiday Inn Express in Sutter Creek. Call 245-4503 for more information. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – A Sutter Creek City Council ad hoc committee on traffic impacts looked over a few key issues of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort project on Tuesday, looking for recommendations to take to the full council. About 15 people attended, and hashed out some issues. Some of the recommendations merely identified issues that the city council might ultimately have to settle in the development agreement. One of those was whether to have Gold Rush pay locked-in fees, as they wanted, or to have another method to determine those. Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field said the Community Mapping Exercise tool, or CMX could be used, but he has said it will not be finished until 2010 or later. But with flexibility in the Gold Rush agreements with Sutter Creek, the CMX could be used to determine Gold Rush fees. Gold Rush’s Greg Bardini said Gold Rush will pay regional and local fees, but if the CMX is approved by Jackson and Sutter Creek, Gold Rush would not be required to pay local fees. He said the city requiring that “would be unfair to hold Gold Rush to different standards than anyone else in the county.” Field said there was one member of the ACTC board that did not want sidewalks on a 45 or 30 mph roadside without curbs and barriers between the sidewalks and the road. That would be a part of the CMX. Thomas Infusino of the Foothill Conservancy suggested that they “condition the project on CMX approval,” so that if there was no CMX, there would be no Gold Rush. Bardini said if Gold Rush joined the CMX plan, “we would not be required to pay local traffic fees.” Sutter Creek Mayor Pro Tem Tim Murphy told Bardini he did not know what the CMX would say and require, and the city must give input on that verbiage. But Murphy said he did “not see the city giving up local fees,” which could be wording in the final CMX. The CMX would generate the fees owed in participating properties, and Field said if they could get the Martell business area to agree to adhere to the CMX tool, the entire area would be paying the same impact fees. But he said Amador County Supervisors did not require sufficient fees there. The committee agreed to leave the decision on fee amounts to the development agreement, for the city council and Gold Rush to settle. They also agreed not to change the Planning Commission’s recommended wording. The next council meeting on the subject is October 19th. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ione – The Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested 4 Amador County residents on charges of manufacturing and possessing drugs, and for endangering three children, including a 17-month-old child by operating a marijuana oil extraction lab in a home near Ione. The Narcotics Team in a release Monday said an investigation led to the arrest last Thursday of 4 adults; while 3 minors (ages 17 months, 14 years and 17 years) were placed into protective custody. The adults were arrested and booked into Amador County Jail. Justin Bell, 34, and Jennifer Bell, 37 of Ione, each face charges of manufacturing a controlled substance, child endangerment and violation of probation. Allen Lydell, 50, of Ione, was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of meth and violation of parole. Linda Eisenhauer, 33, of Jackson, was charged with possession of meth for sale, possession of meth and violation of probation. The arrests came last Thursday after the Narcotics Team “responded to an anonymous tip of methamphetamine sales” from a home in an unincorporated area near Ione. The Narcotics Team, assisted by members of the Ione Police Department and Amador County Sheriff’s Office, found the adults and children at the residence, and conducted a parole search of Lydell and a probation search of Justin Bell and Eisenhauer. “During the search of the residence, agents found the living conditions not suitable for the children,” and contacted Amador County Child Protective Services, which took them into custody under “Drug Endangered Children” protocols. ACCNET Commander Jackie Long in a release said: “As agents were searching the master bedroom of the residence they found a Butane Honey Oil (BTO) extraction laboratory,” equipment that extracts “THC from marijuana using a highly flammable solvent of butane. The resulting material is pure THC oil.” Long said “BHO laboratories are extremely dangerous due to the volatility of Butane as it evaporates from the collected THC.” He said: “The solvent extraction of THC (the active component in marijuana) is classified in California as the same as a methamphetamine laboratory.” After finding the marijuana oil lab, the Narcotics Team obtained a warrant from Amador County Superior Court Judge David S. Richmond to search the residence and grounds. In the search, Long said agents seized 7.8 grams of “ice” methamphetamine, 108 grams of marijuana, 22 pharmaceutical pills, scales, packaging materials, and a complete THC extraction laboratory from the residence and from inside multiple parked vehicles on the property. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – A Sutter Creek City Council ad hoc committee on traffic impacts looked over a few key issues of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort project on Tuesday, looking for recommendations to take to the full council. About 15 people attended, and hashed out some issues. Some of the recommendations merely identified issues that the city council might ultimately have to settle in the development agreement. One of those was whether to have Gold Rush pay locked-in fees, as they wanted, or to have another method to determine those. Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field said the Community Mapping Exercise tool, or CMX could be used, but he has said it will not be finished until 2010 or later. But with flexibility in the Gold Rush agreements with Sutter Creek, the CMX could be used to determine Gold Rush fees. Gold Rush’s Greg Bardini said Gold Rush will pay regional and local fees, but if the CMX is approved by Jackson and Sutter Creek, Gold Rush would not be required to pay local fees. He said the city requiring that “would be unfair to hold Gold Rush to different standards than anyone else in the county.” Field said there was one member of the ACTC board that did not want sidewalks on a 45 or 30 mph roadside without curbs and barriers between the sidewalks and the road. That would be a part of the CMX. Thomas Infusino of the Foothill Conservancy suggested that they “condition the project on CMX approval,” so that if there was no CMX, there would be no Gold Rush. Bardini said if Gold Rush joined the CMX plan, “we would not be required to pay local traffic fees.” Sutter Creek Mayor Pro Tem Tim Murphy told Bardini he did not know what the CMX would say and require, and the city must give input on that verbiage. But Murphy said he did “not see the city giving up local fees,” which could be wording in the final CMX. The CMX would generate the fees owed in participating properties, and Field said if they could get the Martell business area to agree to adhere to the CMX tool, the entire area would be paying the same impact fees. But he said Amador County Supervisors did not require sufficient fees there. The committee agreed to leave the decision on fee amounts to the development agreement, for the city council and Gold Rush to settle. They also agreed not to change the Planning Commission’s recommended wording. The next council meeting on the subject is October 19th. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.