ACRA Bingo Nights

Amador County – Amador Fire Protection Authority board of directors discussed their chiefs’ work on a consolidation document last week, asking them to report their progress at the next quarterly meeting in July.

Amador Fire Protection District’s Dominic Moreno said Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey had written part of the plan for consolidation, as the six chiefs have been meeting to discuss consolidation the past three months, using guidelines previously approved by the AFPA board.

Supervisor Chairman Louis Boitano and the Board of Supervisors sent a letter to AFPD Chief Jim McCart to ask for a consolidation plan for fire departments, and accounting of 172 spending, giving a year to respond with a definitive plan for consolidation.

Board member Hal Gamble said Sutter Creek Fire District has spent zero 172 funds. Jackson City Manager Mike Daly said Jackson has spent Measure M and 172 funds on salaries, benefits, and protective equipment. Mackey said the same was for Ione, along with recruitment. Lockwood fire said an audit was under way there.

Jacks Valley Fire’s board member Jake Herfel said his department has spent $35,000 in 172 funds: “We are a small department and that’s a small wedge, but it’s big to our budget.”

Jackson Vice Mayor Connie Gonsalves said she thought they better give Supervisors what they want, and “maybe include a note that we’re working on a consolidation plan and our thoughts” on that. The chiefs and board members all reported a majority of support for planned, non-forced consolidation.

Moreno said departments could give Prop 172 spending reports without a special AFPA meeting and the info was directed to be given to AFPA staff to be placed in spread sheets.

Ione Mayor Ron Smylie asked if the chiefs would be building the consolidation agreement in their meetings, and Gonsalves asked if the chiefs’ association has a chief.

Moreno said the chiefs’ group is not an association, and “everything we do we bring back to our boards to talk about it.” He said the framework would get the basic ideas.

Gonsalves said Jackson Fire Chief Marc Crain attends every city council meeting and reports on progress at the chief meetings. Gamble said board members need to ask their chiefs for updates. Herfel said his chief tries to attend board meetings but sometimes he is working a 24-hour shift.

She said the arena of the chiefs’ group was the best place to keep the dialogue going, then they can give a more thorough report, which the AFPA board can forward to Supervisors. Gonsalves asked that they try to get the plan to the board early to have time to discuss it.

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Amador County – California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection will require residential burn permits beginning May 1 in the Amador-El Dorado Unit.

Permits are issued free, valid for three years from the date of issuance and allow burning dry vegetation (not household trash) that originates on the landowners property. Pick up residential burn permits at most local staffed fire stations.

CDF Amador-El Dorado Unit Chief Kelly Keenan urged safety in burning. Keenan encouraged people to get an early start now when it is safe to burn the piles versus later in the year when it is riskier due to drier, hotter conditions.

Keenan said “last year 23 percent of our wildland fires in Amador and El Dorado counties were from residential landscape debris piles that escaped the control of the person in charge.”

To reduce risk, take steps to safely burn debris piles when the ground is still damp from the recent storms, he said. Use piles no larger than 4x4 feet. Scrape a 10-foot wide bare earth ring around each pile. Keep a shovel and charged water hose nearby. Make sure an adult attends the pile until it’s completely extinguished.

Immediately before burning, call Amador County Air District at (209)223-6246 to see if it is a “permissive burn day.” For alternatives to burn piles, contact Amador Fire Safe Council at (209)295-6200.

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Amador County – Amador Fire Protection Authority board of directors last week discussed Proposition 172 public safety funding and its possible loss, along with consolidation.

Supervisor Ted Novelli read an e-mail from Sheriff Martin Ryan, that said lost revenues of Proposition 172 to county public emergency response agencies would be $462,000 in 2012-2013, and the loss would increase by $80,000 to $90,000 each year until 2016. Ryan said the distribution formula for 172 funds was written in good economic times, and he might be asking supervisors to revisit that formula.

Novelli said: “We don’t know what is going to happen with these Prop 172 funds,” and like the sheriff pointed out, the county faces a $3.8 million deficit next year.

Jackson Valley Fire’s Jake Herfel said he was sympathetic about economics, was interested in the chain of command, and his department is bound by a service agreement with the Buena Vista Band of Me-Wuk Indians and its casino project.

Novelli said it affects not just the sheriff’s department but jails and probation. Ryan in the e-mail said he also lost money from Prop 109’s realignment of jails. Novelli said: “I don’t think anybody here wants Prop 172 funds to go away,” including the sheriff, but with the budget the way it is, he did not know the future.

Jackson Vice Mayor Connie Gonsalves suggested members gather Prop 172 accounting, “so we can prove we need the money when the fight comes, in my mind.” Sutter Creek Fire District’s Reed Shugart said “this board may want to ask supervisors if that money will be there because you can’t talk about consolidation without knowing if the money will be there for their future.”

Gonsalves said: “I’m not so sure I agree with Reed.” She said voters approved the county-wide Measure M tax to fund fire services, which it can rely on. She said “the Prop 172 money is a factor but I don’t know if it’s a break-it factor.”

Jackson City Manager Mike Daly said $163,000 was allocated to all AFPA agencies last year. Jackson received $20,000. In October 2011, Supervisors decided to fund the Amador Plan with it, including Camino dispatch. Daly said money coming back to the cities and agencies, if any is coming back, would be $39,000 to split among all departments, instead of $163,000.

Sutter Creek Fire’s Hal Gamble said “I hope the Amador Plan is going away next year.” Jackson Valley Fire’s Jake Herfel disagreed because the sheriff does not want to take over the work, and “I think we’re getting a good deal for the money now.”

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Amador County – The Woman’s Club of Jackson recently donated $885 to the Jackson Revitalization Committee.

On April 12, Club president Jane Gleason, and members Evelyn Caccia, Ruth Holtorf, Mary Heidecker and Connie Gonsalves presented the money to Jackson City Councilman Wayne Garibaldi, a member of the Revitalization Committee.

Gleason said the money will be used to assist in the City enhancement efforts that are currently under way. All proceeds were raised from the Club’s rummage sale, “Time Worn Treasures,” held “Dandelion Days” weekend.

Gleason said for 101 years the Woman’s Club service organization has fulfilled its commitment to the City of Jackson through Social, Civic, Educational and Philanthropic efforts.

Gleason also invited all women of Amador County to a Friday, May 4 lunch meeting, with guest speaker Shirley Harper, a retired employee of The National Hotel, who was not only the Bookkeeper but also an entertainer at the historic Hotel. Harper will share some of her songs and some intimate details about the Hotel that will only be shared with The Woman’s Club of Jackson.

Registration is at 11:30 a.m. and lunch is noon at the Native Sons Building, Excelsior Parlor Number 31, on Court Street. For info call 223-4193 or 223-4092.

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Amador County – The California Department of Transportation removed more than 2,400 bags of trash from District 10 highway roadsides last week, including 234 bags filled along Amador County’s State Roads 16, 124 and 88.

Caltrans held a statewide Litter Removal Day on Thursday, April 19, to pick up litter and debris along the state highway system and to educate the public about this costly issue.

Caltrans District 10, based in Stockton, picked up 2,442 bags of trash in the eight counties in which it works, said Angela DaPrato of Caltrans District 10, including more than 234 bags of trash in Amador County for the entire day along Highways 16, 124 and 88.

There was also an Amador County Adopt-A-Highway group that participated with Caltrans for this event. They were the Clos Du Lac Cellars. They picked up on Highway 108 from Jackson Creek Road to Martin Lane.

Caltrans reported a total of 2,441 bags of trash picked up from along roadsides in District 10. By County, those included seven bags in Alpine, 47 in Mariposa, 110 in Calaveras, 158 in Tuolumne, 436 in San Joaquin, 583 in Merced, 867 bags of trash in Stanislaus County.

Daprato said the best anti-litter campaign is to ensure trash never makes it onto the highways in the first place. Caltrans encourages people to carry a litter bag in vehicles and always dispose of trash properly. Never discard cigarette or cigar refuse improperly. Always cover and properly secure loads of trucks and pick-ups.

Last year, Caltrans spent almost $43 million on litter removal throughout the State Highway System, Daprato said. More than 150,000 cubic yards of litter were collected and disposed. That’s about 9,500 Caltrans garbage trucks full of litter.

In addition to economic costs, litter presents a wide range of serious threats to the environment and human health. Wildlife can suffer from plastics in the environment. Roadside vegetation can be damaged by large debris. Fires can be started from burning cigarettes that can threaten human health.

Harmful chemicals and biohazards can cause a serious threat to human health and litter can clog roadway drainage systems that can lead to wet-weather highway flooding, congestion, and accidents. Litter can also aid in the spread of disease.

See Caltrans’ website for more info on the Adopt-A-Highway Program or call Kathy Cockayne, District 10 Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator, at (209) 948-7462.

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

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 4-24-12 - TSPN's Tom Slivick talks with Amador County Assessor Jim Rooney about residential property values and people’s concerns.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 4-24-12

·       Amador Fire Protection Authority discussed potential loss of Proposition 172 fire funding, as they move toward consolidation.

·       Caltrans removed more than 2,400 bags of trash from District 10 highway roadsides, including 234 bags full from Amador County’s State Roads 16, 124 and 88.

·       Residential burn permits are required starting May 1 in Amador and El Dorado counties.

·       Woman’s Club of Jackson donates $885 to Jackson Revitalization Committee.

·       AFPA board discusses consolidation as chiefs take reins in writing up a long-term plan.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 4-24-12

·       Amador Fire Protection Authority discussed potential loss of Proposition 172 fire funding, as they move toward consolidation.

·       Caltrans removed more than 2,400 bags of trash from District 10 highway roadsides, including 234 bags full from Amador County’s State Roads 16, 124 and 88.

·       Residential burn permits are required starting May 1 in Amador and El Dorado counties.

·       Woman’s Club of Jackson donates $885 to Jackson Revitalization Committee.

·       AFPA board discusses consolidation as chiefs take reins in writing up a long-term plan.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 4-24-12 - TSPN's Tom Slivick talks with Amador County Assessor Jim Rooney about residential property values and people’s concerns.