Amador County – Ione City Council on Tuesday deferred a decision on contracts for a State Revolving Fund application and a Report of Waste Discharge for the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and voted 4-1 to place those on the Feb. 15 agenda for a vote.

Councilman Daniel Epperson dissented, and said this is the closest the Council has come to finishing the issue, to meet state timelines toward lifting a Cease and Desist Order for the city sewer plant. Epperson said if they do not go forward, then the Regional Water Quality Control Board will start fining the city, likely not the entire $11 million it could face, but enough to “put pressure on us.”

Councilman David Plank said the city has not had the best record of meeting Regional Board deadlines, until they hired Robertson-Bryan Incorporated (RBI), which on Jan. 26 delivered the city’s Seepage Discharge Compliance Plan to the Regional Board.

The Regional Board on Friday will review Ione’s Seepage Plan, and Councilman Lloyd Oneto said they should wait to see how that is received, before deciding on the sewer plant. Oneto said he would like to get a second opinion on the wastewater plant.

Mayor Ron Smylie asked if they were considering other offers for the Report of Waste Discharge contract, or if they were only considering RBI’s.

City Attorney James Maynard said professional services can be sought without Request For Proposals (RFPs), and he recommended going with RBI because they are familiar with the issues.

Epperson said going through another RFP process, they would just have to pay people to go through the city’s history again.

Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said the Council in November gave direction to find the cheapest way to get the wastewater plant funded, which is the State Revolving Fund. She said it costs more money up front, but saves in the long run. She said RFPs found the best company, Winzler & Kelly (whose contract approval was tied in a 2-2 vote in Bonham’s absence at a previous meeting).

Oneto said: “How do we know we are going to get the money? How about giving Winzler & Kelly $170,000 – if we get the State Revolving Fund money? Can we get odds?”

Maynard said they cannot get odds. He said “you’ve sunk $3 million dollars into this” and then gone in another direction, a 180-degree turn, and “now you are about to do it again.” He said they could change direction again, but new RFPs could take two months.

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