Amador County – Amador Water Agency candidates participated in a forum for the upcoming Nov. 2 general election Monday, with much talk on the Gravity Supply Line project.

The AWA approved the project for a funding application in March, on a 3-2 vote with President Bill Condrashoff and Vice President Debbie Dunn against.

Paul Molinelli Senior asked the crowd how many of them lived in District 3, and if they supported the GSL. He counted a slight majority in favor.

During public questions, Thornton Consolo of Jackson asked who would pay for the GSL in a 40-year loan.

Dunn said the Amador Water System gave a living example of how developers planned to pay for the Amador Transmission Pipeline. All three dissolved, and “those people now are funding it 100 percent.” She said there is no growth, and the GSL is too big for needs.

Robert Manassero said: “You can’t vote ‘no’ forever,” and called Dunn and Condrashoff’s “no” votes “a quick fix.” He said: “Is it oversized, or do we build it just for the needs right now?”

Manassero said they should let engineers do their work, and with construction costs subsiding, the $13 million estimate could be a high figure. He said yes, it will be paid for by ratepayers, but they need to continue study on the project, and look to reduce costs.

Condrashoff said the GSL is a “major issue” for the Central Amador Water Project service area, but: “I’m with Debbie” on opposing the project’s size. He said the Amador Transmission Pipeline “was built for three times the need” and triple the current capacity. And it left the AWA with a “$1.5 million mortgage.”

Molinelli agreed with Condrashoff and Manassero. He said the GSL “may be too expensive, but it’s worth looking at,” and a gravity-fed water supply is the best for fire fighting because it doesn’t rely on electrical power.

Dale Turner said future users and developers would fund the GSL, and the agency should work to get some of the $5 million it is owed in fees. He said the “GSL will last for at least 25 years,” and “the difference in cost is minimal between the size Bill wants and its design.”

Turner said as mayor of Livermore, he saw the city build a $21 million sewer treatment plant to meet needs five years out. Now Livermore faces a $100 million price to increase the plant’s size. He said: “Sometimes being a cheapskate doesn’t pay.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.