Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday to allow licensed wineries and vineyards that operate in Amador County open wine tasting rooms in agricultural areas of the county, on parcels at minimum 10 acres in size.

The ordinance would stop out-of-county master licensed wineries or vintners from opening secondary licensed sales facilities and tasting rooms in the agriculture zoned areas. Planner Heather Anderson said any out-of-county master licensed winery or vintner can still bring a tasting room into commercially zones areas. The facilities must remain primarily a tasting room, and the ordinance will not allow them to become gift shops.

Anderson said the Amador County Planning Commission voted March 8 to recommend Supervisor approval of the ordinance, which was written with the help of a Winery Committee formed in late 2009, made up of Supervisors Ted Novelli and Brian Oneto, plus three members each of the Amador Grape Growers Association, Amador Vintners Association, and public with knowledge of those industries.

Supervisors also authorized paying a fee of $2,044 to the California Department of Fish & Game, for it to issue a “No Effect Determination” on the ordinance. Each company that wants to open the tasting room would have to pay the same fee, Anderson said.

Oneto said he could see why California was recently named the worst state of the Union to do business. Supervisor Louis Boitano said Fish & Game is just looking for revenue money, and the “state should stop doing business this way or we won’t have any business.”

Vintner Jim Gullett of Vino Noceto Winery, a member of the Winery Committee, said the state requires that 50% of tasting room products must, in theory, be made by the master licensed winery. He said Scott Harvey Winery, with roots in Amador County, makes very little of his wine in the county, due to climactic issues. Gullett said certain styles of wine sell well in Amador “but don’t necessarily grow well here.”

Bruce Norton said owner of the old DeMill property, near Bantam Cellars and Nordquist, said “Scott Harvey buys a lot of grapes from Amador, including mine, and has been doing so for years.” Norton said the 10-acre rule was not consistent, and as a result, “I could have a winery and tasting room on my property, but not a tasting room.” He asked that the acreage requirement be changed from 10 to 5 acres. Oneto said the “driving force was to keep things more rural” with the 10-acre size limit.

Novelli said Anderson was “very instrumental” in helping the committee get through all of the hurdles in the ordinance work. He and Oneto acknowledged the help of the winemakers and vintners. Oneto said it was a good experience.

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Amador County – The Plymouth City Council has approved an interim fireworks policy for sales and use of fireworks inside city limits, in designated areas, and will also discuss plans for a concert to benefit the Amador County Fair, set for July 2, after the Independence Day Parade.

Plymouth City Manager Jeff Gardner said Tuesday that the council will also consider a Community Development Block Grant for a planning technical grant on an update of the city zoning ordinance. The Council will also consider allowing installation of a Main Street banner for a June 2 home show.

On the fireworks, Gardner said the “City Council agreed to temporarily have a trial period to sell in city, and use fireworks in the city, in designated areas,” for a two-year trial period. For the Independence Day Parade, “We’re going to run some bulls down main street,” Gardner said, to start the July 2 parade, which will end with a benefit concert.

The “Fair Aid Battle of the Bands Concert” will be held July 2, at the Amador County Fair Grounds, after the parade in Plymouth. Gardner said this year, the parade ends at the fairgrounds. The new trial ordinance will also allow people to display their own “safe and sane” fireworks at Harold Colburn Park on the Fair Grounds. Proceeds from the Fair Aid Battle of the Bands Concert will go to the Amador County Fair, which had its budget cut by the state, starting next fiscal year.

Gardner said: “We’re really trying to help support the fair.” He said the funding cut amounts to nearly a quarter of a million dollars a year, “which is a significant part of their budget.”

The 2011 fair theme is “Dancing with the Steers,” and is planned for July 28-31 at the Plymouth fairgrounds.

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Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday accepted three traffic studies, including one that increases the speed limit on Willow Creek Road, but they put the brakes on two more studies, until a committee can discuss the issue.

Amador County Public Works director Roger Stuart said the studies were requested by California Highway Patrol, among 11 priority studies needed. The studies determine safe speeds and allow for enforceable use of radar guns and speeding tickets. Stuart said previous studies were all expiring in 2007, and Stantec was contracted to make the studies, which must be redone every 5-10 years.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said he would like to see the benefit to the county for the studies, which cost $2,500 each. He said Willow Creek Road, Village Drive, and Shenandoah Road, are ancillary, and he wondered why CHP made the requests for them to be studied.

Supervisor Richard Forster said you rarely see CHP on Willow Creek Road. He said there are quite a few houses on the road, and two wineries, and he wondered if that was considered, when the study determined the speed limit of 50 mph. Plasse said a new green waste processing plant could also be affected.

Forster asked if they voted against the 5 mph increase on Willow Creek Road, would it be enforceable. Stuart said it would not be radar enforceable without the increase, though other speed limit methods could be used.

Supervisor Brian Oneto said he asked the CHP commander if they could get statistics on the number of tickets written on county roads, but they could not say. He said without CHP there, they cannot get tickets written.

Forster said he was not going to vote for something that was not enforceable. The board voted 4-1 to approve the studies, which Stuart said would all be brought back with a draft ordinance for enactment. Plasse wondered about the list of CHP priorities, and Stuart said it went to Public Works.

Forster said: “To me, we actually hurt ourselves there” because the study said to raise the speed limit, and if we did not do it, then we can’t enforce it.” Forster said the issue should go to committee.

Administrative Officer Chuck Iley told Stuart to hold the last two “task orders” for studies, of Buckhorn Ridge Road, and Upper Ridge Road, until the issue goes to the Public Works Committee. Plasse said they should “talk about policy relative to speed studies.” He said “if enforcement is not happening despite the studies, then what good are the studies?”

Supervisor Ted Novelli wondered about liability, if they kept the studies from occurring or taking effect. Supervisor Louis Boitano said the county recently won a lawsuit over traffic deaths that occurred on Electra Road.

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Amador County – The Ione City Council last week congratulated City Manager Kim Kerr on her new position with El Dorado County, and wished her well, even as they must prepare to replace her in less than 90 days.

Mayor David Plank said he personally regrets her leaving, and he thought the city “would be blessed with her for six years,” instead of four. He said Kerr’s “expertise was immediately recognized around Amador County,” inlcuding former Amador Chief Administrative Officer Terry Daly, who selected Kerr for her Number 2 spot in El Dorado County.

Plank said those people who have the power to hire and fire know that there is no perfect candidate, and he was “certain Kim learned a lot in Ione.” He said she “succeeded in establishing a new, very high standard of governance here in Ione.” Plank said “congratulations to you on your new position.”

Vice Mayor Ron Smylie said “it was news to us on Friday,” May 29, when Kerr offered her resignation. He also offered congratulations, and commendation for her being able to step out of this role and into her next career role.

Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said it was good to work with Kerr for 4 years, which is the longest stint the city has received from a City Manager. Bonham said they “butted heads” sometimes, but “I enjoyed working with you.”

Councilman Lloyd Oneto wished her the best of luck. He said he did not know Kerr that well but she is a “strong-willed person and I’m sure you’ll do fine in your next endeavor.”

Councilman Daniel Epperson said: “Thank you for your hard work.” He said it had not gone unnoticed, as the progress occurred in Ione through Kerr’s term as city manager.

Kerr’s last day at Ione is July 29, and she will take over in El Dorado County as Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, to CAO Terry Daly.

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Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-11-11 - Amador County Supervisor Richard Forster with the Supervisor Report on the meeting of 5-10-11.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-11-11 - "Today's Seniors" host Laurie Webb and Virginia Manner discuss just a few of the many volunteer organizations that exist in Amador County.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-11-11 - "Today's Seniors" host Laurie Webb sits down with local volunteers John and Grace Nolan.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-11-11 - Supervisor John Plasse stops by the "Today's Seniors" set to discuss some of the bennefits of the County Prescription Drug Card.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-11-11 - "Today's Seniors" host Laurie Webb sits down with Tina Hurly, Director of the Amador Community Foundation.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-10-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Tracey Towner-Yep, executive director of the Amador County Recreation Agency, to discuss Proposition 40 building projects around Amador County.