Also at the meeting, Paul Molinelli Senior of ACES Waste Services proposed a rate increase of 10 percent based on the extraordinary rise in fuel costs over the past 6 months. The cost of diesel fuel has increased from approximately 3.45 dollars per gallon on January 1st of this year to a peak of 5.03 dollars per gallon this month. Although the price has decreased slightly in the past week, it is still much higher than it was at the beginning of the year. If approved, this would be the second rate adjustment for ACES in the past 12 months, which deviates from the franchise agreement between the City and ACES that allows for one increase per year. “The cost of fuel never seems to stop increasing, and ACES can no longer absorb the cost increases,” said Molinelli.

He also reminded the council that the cost of fuel was not the only increase plaguing him, but also the cost of tires, tubing, and other items frequently utilized by the company. Emergency cost cutting measures have been instated because of the rising costs and the decreasing total revenues. These cuts include: no longer providing uniforms for employees, waiving pay increases, and installing shut off devices on vehicles. Councilman Wayne Garibaldi stated that “as difficult as [increases are] this is probably still a pretty good deal, and it is one that I can support.” Questions regarding the legality of the increase were raised at the meeting, but were met with very little opposition as this is considered more of an emergency need.

A notice from ACES to its customers informing them of the impending increase will be required 30 days before the increase becomes effective. During public comment, Marilyn Lewis, a Jackson resident, stated that “ACES saved our butts and the County’s too,” recalling past issues regarding recycling and state mandates. A motion was proposed directing staff to prepare a resolution to be signed at the next City Council meeting, and an interim rate increase was approved unanimously.

Another upcountry lake is under emergency status in order to repair failing infrastructure, according to a spokesman for the El Dorado District’s hydroelectric division. Silver Lake, along with Caples Lake which straddles the border between Amador and El Dorado Counties, is undergoing immediate repairs after underwater inspections revealed serious deterioration of devices that control water storage and releases. The two lakes are both part of an intricate system of lakes and canals that provide a large portion of the hydroelectric generated power in the local area.

An inspection at Silver Lake found that steel bracing and gate stems on an outlet tower were extremely corroded. Last month’s inspection of Caples Lake revealed excessive leakage through underwater slide gates. Despite the damage and an emergency declaration by the El Dorado Irrigation District, there is no threat of dam failure, said one district representative. Under state law, the emergency declaration allows the district to contract for equipment and services without competitive bids. The 8,700-acre-foot Silver Lake represents some 38 percent of the district’s water storage capacity. Officials advise residents to take precautions when swimming or fishing in surrounding rivers and streams, as water levels could rise and fall erratically while repairs are taking place. Officials expect the repair to meet normal expectations for a quick project.

Well-known Amador Judge Martin H. Ryan passed away over the weekend. The judge became famous locally during his 13 years of public service in the Superior Court. He is the father of current Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan. A visitation will be held on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Daneri Mortuary. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 2nd at 1pm at the Sutter Creek Church of the Nazarene. The Internment will be private and donations can be made to the charity of each donor’s choice.

The main discussion at Monday’s Amador County Administrative Committee meeting revolved around proposed revisions to the “Retail Take-It-Back” recycling program. “Take-It-Back” was originally implemented as a way for the public to return and ensure the safe and environmentally friendly disposal of hazardous household wastes, such as used batteries and fluorescent tubes, and to provide a “no cost” system for consumers upon return of these items. But rising costs associated with the project led officials to reevaluate its effectiveness considering the current budgetary challenges. Supervisors Ted Novelli and Richard Forster weighed the programs pros and cons in a roundtable discussion with several other county officials.

“Take-It-Back” was started in 2006 in response to changes in the federal government’s Universal Waste Regulations. Despite its success as far as public participation, stricter regulations and a steady depletion of public funding have made the program more difficult to maintain. Stricter regulations have been imposed on businesses to dispose of the materials on their own and without county assistance. “Primarily what we want to be very clear on is that these costs will continue to grow and continue to impact our budget and unfortunately we haven’t seen much in the way of funding from the state,” said one County spokesman. Another factor is business support. While businesses such as Ace Hardware in Pine Grove and Meeks in Martell volunteered as recycling stations when the program was introduced, major companies like Wal-Mart have yet to step up to the plate. Novelli cited the difficulty of dealing with one specific branch of a massive corporation. “A big company like Wal-Mart, they go through these tubes every night. What are they doing with them?” said Supervisor Forster. “I think it’s a really positive image for a big-box store in a small community to be a recycler,” said Kristin Bengyel, Deputy County Administrative Officer. In the end, the Administrative Committee recommended to enforce limitations on the amount waste stations could receive as a way to limit the burden on local business. Discussions will continue at a future Supervisors’ meeting.

California’s fire-fighting efforts have gotten some much needed support from an unlikely source- inmate firefighters. An average of 2,200 to 2,700 adult inmates, many from Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, have performed some of the most dangerous fire-fighting tasks in return for reduced sentences. In addition, 260 to 290 juvenile inmates, wards of the California Youth Authority, have joined the fight. "These crews provide critical support to the state's firefighting response, going where bulldozers and heavy equipment cannot go," said Governor Schwarzenegger. Along with inmate fire crews, strike teams made up of fire captains, staff and fire engines have been deployed from fire departments at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, California Correctional Center in Susanville, and Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, among others. Firefighters statewide have acknowledged the bravery of the inmates, many of whom have been on the front lines risking their life. So what’s in it for the inmates? "They get two days of credit (off their sentence) for every day served in the program," said Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. "It's a privilege to be in the program." Inmates are carefully screened before joining the program. Inmates must have no history of violent crime, including kidnapping, sex offenses, arson or escape. The State’s latest estimates calculate that inmates comprise 20 percent of the total state fire-fighters, although the proportion sometimes is far higher.

If you attend enough public government meetings, you will inevitably hear a debate revolving around a particularly pesky piece of legislation: The Brown Act. Originally a 686 word statute that has grown substantially over the years, The Brown Act was enacted in 1953 in response to mounting public concerns over informal, undisclosed meetings held by elected officials. City councils, county boards, and other local government bodies throughout the State were avoiding public scrutiny by holding secret 'workshops' and 'study sessions.' The Brown Act solely applies to California City and county government agencies, boards, and councils. Now, a local official and a concerned citizen have formed a free workshop designed to educate citizens on the complicated language of the statute.

Roseanne Chamberlain, Executive Officer of LAFCO will host the event along with upcountry resident and reporter Debbie Dunn. Chamberlain will present the basic premise behind this often misunderstood legislation. A number of topics pertaining to the act will be covered, including common misconceptions that the State yields its sovereignty and that the people, in delegating authority, give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the public to know. The free workshop will be held today, July 29th, from 7 to 8:30 pm at the Amador County Administration Building, 33 Court Street in Jackson. If you require additional information, please contact Roseanne Chamberlain at 418-9377, or Debbie Dunn at 223-6470.

Attention Amador commuters: after weeks of announcing and retracting statements that the I-5 freeway will reopen, the completion of construction has now been made official. A stretch of Interstate 5 that runs through downtown Sacramento has reopened after nearly two months of road construction. The project was just a few days late, despite delays prompted by high temperatures that slowed resurfacing work and pavement that was thicker than expected in some stretches. Sections of the freeway that are used by more than 200,000 vehicles each day were closed for 10-day intervals since early June. The $40 million project was needed to fix a section of the freeway known as "the boat," which sits below the level of the Sacramento River and suffered drainage problems.

California on Friday became the first state to prohibit restaurants from using artery-clogging trans fats in food preparation. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation that will ban restaurants and other retail food establishments from using oil, margarine and shortening containing trans fats. In a statement, Schwarzenegger noted that consuming trans fat is linked to coronary heart disease. "Today we are taking a strong step toward creating a healthier future for California," he said. Violations could result in fines of 25 dollars to 1,000 dollars. Food items sold in their manufacturers' sealed packaging would be exempt. The bill's author, Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, said he hoped the legislation would lead to similar laws in other states. New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle and Montgomery County, Maryland, have ordinances banning trans fats, but California is the first state to adopt such a law covering restaurants, said Amy Wintefeld, a health policy analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

California and Oregon already have laws banning trans fats in meals served at schools, she added. The legislation signed by Schwarzenegger will take effect January 1st, 2010, for oil, shortening and margarine used in spreads or for frying. Richard Garcia, a spokesman for Mendoza, said the delay would give restaurants more time to find trans fat-free margarine and shortening used in baked goods. Trans fats occur naturally in small amounts in meat and dairy products. Most trans fats are created when vegetable oil is treated with hydrogen to create baked and fried goods with a longer shelf life. Stephen Joseph, a Tiburon attorney who was a consultant to New York City in developing its ban, said trans fat is a larger health risk than saturated fat because it reduces so-called good cholesterol. The California Restaurant Association opposed the Mendoza bill. Spokesman Daniel Conway said the federal Food and Drug Administration rather than individual states should be developing regulations on trans fat use. He said the association has no plans to challenge the law, in part because restaurants already are phasing out trans fats to satisfy increasingly health-conscious customers.

Another successful Amador County Fair came and went this past weekend, drawing crowds from far and wide who were eager to get a taste of what Amador County has to offer. From the opening strides of the Kid’s Parade on Thursday to the final chime of the Bayou Boy’s Cajun band on Sunday night, the 70 year old event proved to be a fun-filled outing for all. “I’ve been coming here for as long as I can remember and I think this year had more activities than any other year I can remember,” said Roger Scholl, a Stockton resident. Other fairgoers were also impressed at the sheer number and variety of activities the fair had to offer. New events such as the motorcycle Demolition Derby, old favorites like the rodeo and Miss Amador competition, and outstanding musical acts like James Garner’s tribute to Johnny Cash were just some of the fair’s many highlights. The TSPN crew was on hand to capture many of the events, which we will be broadcasting throughout the week. Upon leaving the fair Saturday night, 11-year–old Amanda Jimenez approached us and excitedly volunteered her opinion of the event between bites of cotton candy. In her words, “This was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done and I can’t wait to come back.”