The City of Jackson finally got some good news about the city’s wastewater treatment plant – the regional water quality control board adopted a permit that will allow the city to continue to operate its current wastewater treatment plant without multi-million dollar upgrades that had been looming over the heads of city decision-makers. The board action clarified that the city would not be required to bring the plant to the highest “Title 22” standards, avoiding extensive new wastewater storage and back-up plant redundancies. According to Jackson City Manager Mike Daly, estimates for the upgrades that are required are “closer to 1 million dollars.”

On Wednesday the Amador County Sheriff’s Office and the Amador County Agriculture Agency received several phone calls from residents in the Pine Grove area reporting a bear . The bear was seen in the area of the Tabeau Mobile Home Park, El Dorado Savings Bank and Pine Grove Elementary School, and had obvious significant injuries to its lower jaw and one paw. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office notified California Department of Fish and Game regarding the injured bear. At approximately 5:15 pm, the bear was sighted at the rear of the Sierra House Restaurant.  Unfortunately sheriff’s deputies and Fish and Game officials decided that they had to shoot the bear, based upon the animal’s evident injuries, its proximity to the school and due to concerns for public safety.

Sutter Creek now has a visitors center right on Main Street. Nearly 200 people came to celebrate and share in the Grand Opening of the new Sutter Creek Visitors Center on Friday evening. Hors d’oeuvres and libations were served to local town folks, dignitaries, Main Street shopkeepers  and other Amador County guests and popular local musician Herb Boxhorn entertained the gathering. The visitors center, at 71 Main Street, is part of the venerable Brignole Building that also houses The Fine Eye Gallery. Hours of hard work by volunteers has transformed the former location of The Amador Peddler store into an up-to-date gallery-style setting. The walls showcase works by local artists and give visitors a first glance at what Sutter Creek has to offer.

The successful Amador Transmission Pipeline has just celebrated its first anniversary. The pipeline became operational one year ago today, and “has exceeded our expectations,” says Amador Water Agency General Manager Jim Abercrombie.  The objectives of the new pipeline were to provide “clean, reliable water” for Amador County, to increase water supply and quality, and to increase water conservation.  Now, one year later, the pipeline project has met and exceeded those goals.  Before the pipeline, the Agency would lose about 30 to 50 percent of the water from Lake Tabeau that was transported through the old canal.

The construction of the pipeline has all but eliminated that water loss.  Perhaps the most added benefit is the reduction in turbidity, or suspended particles that cause the water to lose its transparency.  According to the Agency, reduction in turbidity has been 50 percent better than expected, going from 75 NTU (a measure of turbidity) down to 10 or 12 NTU during the winter months.  Another beneficial advantage is the reduction of bacteria in the water that arrives at the Tanner Plant.  Previous to the pipeline, water runoff from cattle ranch land would introduce coliform bacteria into the water.  The installation of the pipeline has greatly reduced this factor by eliminating the presence of surface water contamination. The Amador Water Agency “is proud to have completed a project that offers an improved and reliable water source for ratepayers that will last for many, many years.”

Pine Grove Community Park may soon see some much-needed amenities:  a new bathroom and stage.  Supervisor Louis Boitano has pledged 5000 dollars of his recreation funds for improvements to the park. Roy Ragan, a board member of the Pine Grove council, as well as the Pine Grove Community Services District, reports that the new bathroom will be located on the opposite side of the building, with the new stage in between, adjacent to the fire house wall. The stage will be cement, probably with an open-slat gazebo-type covering.

At Wednesday night’s council meeting, members discussed the myriad of uses for a stage at the park, including summer events such as Hot August Nights. Also, the stage could be used for parties and other public gatherings.  Once the club has obtained the funds, they will send out requests for bids and hope to have the project finished sometime this year. In the meantime, for this summer’s Hot August Nights, the council will again borrow the stage from the Jackson Senior Center. Ragan added that “we have the best small park in Amador County,” citing the fact that the park is completely fenced and has great play equipment for toddlers on up.  In addition to the recreation funds pledged to the park, Supervisor Boitano will also be giving $10,000 to Pine Grove Elementary towards their new playground equipment.  Boitano says, “We like to take care of our people.”

 

The first lunar eclipse of 2008 is perfectly placed for observers throughout most of the Americas and Europe. During the eclipse, Saturn lies about 3 degrees northeast of the Moon and will shine brightly. The total phase is expected to last nearly 51 minutes. The public is invited to view the eclipse at the Columbia College observatory on the college campus. There is no charge to attend and the event is being presented by the arts and sciences department. The evening activity will be conducted by Wayne Christensen, a Columbia College community education astronomy instructor. The observatory will be opened from 5:30 until 8:00 p.m. for the viewing. Christensen suggests dressing in layers, as it will probably be chilly. For more information, contact Columbia College.

Amador County has been experiencing an unusual winter spell of warm days, cool evenings, clear skies, and little wind. But not for long - forecasters have been observing a change. Last night, Amador County saw wind gusts as high as 26 miles per hour in some areas. The night before was the same, with high winds gusting across the lower foothills. In Sacramento last night, erratic winds knocked down power lines, caused power outages and knocked down trees. Driving was dangerous for thousands of rush hour commuters in the morning hours. Wind-related accidents were reported across the Central Valley. Although the immediate forecast doesn’t call for it, more unpredictable winds should be anticipated in the coming week.

The board of ACRA (Amador County Recreation Agency) adopted a strategic board plan prepared by Executive Director Tracy Towner-Yep with the assistance of Community Foundation Executive Director Shannon Lowery. The organizations three planned goals: Stabilizing Funding, Maintaining the quantity of programs while continuing to improve there quality, and beginning  the planning process for the newly acquired Volcano Communications Park and the Molly Joyce Park.

Jackson City Council will consider several key issues at tonight’s city council meeting. Last week the Jackson Planning Commission approved sending a recommendation that the City Council allocate zero Housing Equivalent Units for 2008 – in other words, no new housing allocations for subdivision applicants. The council may go along with the planning commission’s recommendation, or choose a different allocation number. New councilman Wayne Garibaldi will be sworn in tonight and the council will begin accepting applications for those interested in serving out Garibaldi’s vacated seat on the Jackson Planning Commission. Letters of interest will be accepted until Wednesday Feb 6, for selection at the February 11 City Council meeting. Looking at one of Jackson’s most pressing issues, the council will conduct a public hearing on a Sewer System Management Development Plan, and may take action on the plan. The agenda also includes reviewing Regional firefighting proposals, and completing appointments to the city’s Oro de Amador Property Planning Committee. Tonight’s city council meeting will start at 7 pm at Jackson City Hall.

 

ACES Waste Service wants to raise trash collection rates in the City of Jackson by 3.3%, effective January 1st. The rate request reflects a 3.3 % increase in the Consumer Price Index – allowed under the terms of ACES’ franchise agreement with the city. ACES letter to the city of Jackson notes that a small additional increase may be necessary early next year due to an expected increase in fees charged by the Buena Vista landfill where ACES takes trash collected in Jackson. If the Jackson City Council approves the rate hike when they consider the request at tonight’s council meeting, the rate for a 96-gallon trash cart would increase about 45 cents per month. Also at  tonight’s City Council meeting, Bob Devlin will present his “Concepts for Alternative Transit in Amador County” and ask for a resolution of support for Devlin’s Amador Transit Project. Devlin has worked the past two years to research and promote the use of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles on special Alternative Transit Lanes in Amador County in order to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. Devlin’s project received a unanimous vote in favor of his project’s goals last week from the Sutter Creek City Council. And Bob Devlin will be joining us here at TSPN studios at noon to talk about the little electric cars he hopes will change the way we think about driving.