This week representatives of the Board of Supervisors and Amador Water Agency got up to speed on local water issues at their regular joint water committee meeting. Jim Abercrombie, General Manager of the Water Agency, reported that the Agency and the City of Sutter Creek are working to improve the capacity of the Sutter Creek wastewater plant in order to avoid sewer and water moratoriums for builders in the Martell area. Abercrombie also reported that…

The State Department of Water Resources has announced the grant winners under the first stage of the Proposition 50 funding designed for Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWMP) Implementation Grant Program. Those awards went primarily to Southern California entities, with the lone exception of a Humboldt County group. The Amador Water Agency has been participating with other Mokelumne River water users in and integrated Regional Plan. Partners include the East bay Municipal Utility District, Calaveras County…

How the US Forest Service manages the Mormon Emigrant Trail (MET) that connects Highway 50 at Pollcok Pines to Hwy 88 will change this winter season to improve public safety and to better assist forest visitors recreating on the Eldorado National Forest. Wheeled motor vehicle use such as, cars, trucks, four-wheel drives, and all-terrain vehicles, is now prohibited along the five mile section from the Iron Mountain Sno-Park near Highway 88 to the Silver Fork…

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations to fill an unexpired term on the 12-person Central California Resource Advisory Council, a citizen’s panel which advises the BLM on the stewardship of Federal public lands. The term expires September 30, 2007. It became vacant in January when Mariposa County Supervisor Lee Stetson left the Board of Supervisors. The vacant position is reserved for an elected official of general purpose government. Each nomination must include the…

Former Jackson City Council Member Marilyn Lewis made it clear that city politics are still a major interest and concern to her at this week’s Jackson City Council meeting. “You know my favorite little thing is the Brown Act,” she commented upon approaching the Board. She proceeded to inform the council that she felt the act had been violated at a Dec. 12th meeting when the council gave direction to staff under the Council reports,…

The Ione Band of Mi-Wok Indians has applied to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for a determination of land trust status under Federal Indian gaming rules for 229 acres in Plymouth. The tribe plans to purchase and then develop the property into a gaming facility and resort. Currently, the property is owned by a private individual who is not a member of the tribe. The tribe was given approval for the first step toward their…

Recently, Cingular Cell Service in the Upper Jackson and Pine Grove areas has become noticeably erratic. For some users of the cell provider conglomerate’s services local service was improved; but for many there was a sudden and dramatic decrease in service. According to Cingular Wireless officials the company is a victim of pure economics regarding their main tower in the Pine Grove area. In 2006, the California Department of Forestry, which owns the Mt. Zion…

The Amador County Transportation Commission discussed the recently proposed Caltrans Cost sharing agreement for the Angels Camp Bypass as well as the relinquishing agreement for the “old” Hwy. 49.  The cost sharing approach consists of 3.2 million dollars from the Cal Trans Discretionary STIP, or State Transportation Improvement Program funds, 5.2 million dollars from the Tri-County STIP Augmentation, and finally a 4.4 million dollar funding request from the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) available under…

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 is Election Day for the River Pines Public Utility District as a special recall election will be held to determine whether or not Frank Sexton shall be recalled as Director. The election was conducted by a mail in ballot. Sheldon D. Johnson announced that these ballots will be counted and a semi-final official canvass will be conducted after 8:00 pm in the Elections Office, 2nd Floor at 810 Court Street, Jackson.…

On January 3, 2007 the Amador County Sheriff’s Office responded to Mission Electronics located at 11968 Hwy 88 in the Amador Plaza to the report of the theft of a 42” LCD flat screen television valued at $1950.00 from the loading area.  During the investigation, deputies obtained surveillance video of the area.  The video depicted a blue Ford Bronco as possibly being involved.  Law enforcement personnel in the area were provided this information and requested…