Amador County – The Amador County Air District board of directors last week discussed a request for a seasonal, sliding scale for mining permit fees, and directed staff to look into the issue.

Carol Forster and Ron Matulich of Dry Creek Mine made the request, as its mine is a seasonal operation. Air Board and Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said it appeared it was not in the county conditions of agreement, but appeared to be a request.

Matulich said he has a road maintenance agreement with the county road department, which sets forth the use periods based on rainy season or weather. Supervisor Louis Boitano said since it was only a 6-month operation, why could the county not inspect the mine every other year, and charge half the cost each year.

Air District Officer Mike Boitano said the inspector still would have the same work to do. He said other companies, “other pits,” might deserve to get the same treatment if they are also seasonally in operation.

Louis Boitano said he supported inspection every other year. He said these are tough times, giving the example that at home, he was considering whether they really needed 300 TV channels, or if they could get by with the basic package, and also whether they needed a “land line,” when everyone in the family has cell phones.

Supervisor Ted Novelli said he would like to see the sliding scale make fees more “user friendly,” and he suggested they direct staff to look to see that the road department agreement with Matulich was in place, and to check its wording.

On a 7-0 vote, the board directed staff to look into the Dry Creek Mine road agreement, and also to do research on seasonal use permits, to be brought back to a later meeting. They also directed staff to look into Matulich’s request for a recalculation of the fees he paid over the last four years, for a possible refund.

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Amador County – The Amador County Air District board of directors approved the use permit and environmental documents of the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant last week, and also heard from a support group, made up of 25 members from around the county.

Amador County Business Council Executive Director Jim Conklin said his 25-member council of voting members “recognizes that governmental units throughout California are struggling with their revenue production issues.”

Conklin said: “In an era of reduced public sector revenue generation, diminished levels of service and increasing furlough days for public sector employees, we believe job creation is of critical importance to municipalities.”

He said members of the Business Council “believe the county has performed its due diligence in this matter,” and “hope the Biomass Power plant proceeds as quickly as possible to build out in order to help create the jobs that are so critically needed to help address revenue production in Amador County.”

Conklin said his Council’s membership spans a “wide range of businesses that include wineries, banking, agriculture, transportation, healthcare, retail, real estate and communications” throughout the county. He said the council is “formally and publicly supporting” supervisors and the planning commission “in their recent approvals of the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant project, and its Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report.” Conklin told the Air Board that he thought the county’s evaluation of the project satisfies the California Environmental Quality Act requirements, as well as state and local permitting regulations.

The board voted 7-0 to uphold the county supervisors and planning commission approvals of the project, and use permit. The Air Board includes Amador County Supervisors, of whom in attendance were Ted Novelli, Richard Forster, Louis Boitano and Chairman John Plasse. Also members are Amador City Councilman John Swift, Ione City Councilman Lloyd Oneto, and Jackson City Councilman Pat Crew.

The approval of the use permit is an authorization for construction, during which the plant must meet the air emissions requirements it placed in its request for permits.

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Amador County – The Jackson City Council on Monday heard from its auditor that it has $1.5 million committed to “post-employment benefits,” while the city has turned the corner in making its revenue match expenses.

Marilee Smith of the city’s auditing firm, Smith & Newell CPA, gave a report of fiscal year 2009-2010 and said she found the finances were mostly complete. She said it lacked some reporting in newly required GASBY 45 reporting standards, which still must be booked.

Smith said “the city has a very good handle of its finances,” but until its staff is familiar with the GASBY requirements, it should still keep the auditors involved. She said her staff has recently trained in the GASBY 45 standards.

She said she was able to issue an “unqualified opinion” about city coffers. She said fixed assets went up about $846,000, but the fund balance went down because capital outlay paid for the fixed assets was considered expenditures.

Councilman Keith Sweet asked how much the city owed in GASBY 45, post-employment benefits. Smith said the city’s “entire liability is estimated to be $1.5 million.” She said the city could continue to “pay as you go,” or it could pre-fund that amount. She said the city “must disclose any amount that you have not pre-funded.”

She said the independent audit report included her responsibility to “express opinions on these financial statements based on our audits.”

She said the city’s financial outlooks is “not really rosy yet, but is looks like the city may have turned the corner on making revenue match the expenses.”

The city’s net assets were $23.9 million as of June 30, 2010, of which total, $12.79 million “were governmental assets” and $11.2 million “were business-type assets.” Governmental revenues totaled $5.68 million and expenses were $4.8 million. Business-type revenues were $3.2 million, and business expenses were $3.05 million.

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Amador County – The Jackson City Council on Monday heard from its auditor that it has $1.5 million committed to “post-employment benefits,” while the city has turned the corner in making its revenue match expenses.

Marilee Smith of the city’s auditing firm, Smith & Newell CPA, gave a report of fiscal year 2009-2010 and said she found the finances were mostly complete. She said it lacked some reporting in newly required GASBY 45 reporting standards, which still must be booked.

Smith said “the city has a very good handle of its finances,” but until its staff is familiar with the GASBY requirements, it should still keep the auditors involved. She said her staff has recently trained in the GASBY 45 standards.

She said she was able to issue an “unqualified opinion” about city coffers. She said fixed assets went up about $846,000, but the fund balance went down because capital outlay paid for the fixed assets was considered expenditures.

Councilman Keith Sweet asked how much the city owed in GASBY 45, post-employment benefits. Smith said the city’s “entire liability is estimated to be $1.5 million.” She said the city could continue to “pay as you go,” or it could pre-fund that amount. She said the city “must disclose any amount that you have not pre-funded.”

She said the independent audit report included her responsibility to “express opinions on these financial statements based on our audits.”

She said the city’s financial outlooks is “not really rosy yet, but is looks like the city may have turned the corner on making revenue match the expenses.”

The city’s net assets were $23.9 million as of June 30, 2010, of which total, $12.79 million “were governmental assets” and $11.2 million “were business-type assets.” Governmental revenues totaled $5.68 million and expenses were $4.8 million. Business-type revenues were $3.2 million, and business expenses were $3.05 million.

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

Amador County – The Amador County Air District board of directors approved the use permit and environmental documents of the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant last week, and also heard from a support group, made up of 25 members from around the county.

Amador County Business Council Executive Director Jim Conklin said his 25-member council of voting members “recognizes that governmental units throughout California are struggling with their revenue production issues.”

Conklin said: “In an era of reduced public sector revenue generation, diminished levels of service and increasing furlough days for public sector employees, we believe job creation is of critical importance to municipalities.”

He said members of the Business Council “believe the county has performed its due diligence in this matter,” and “hope the Biomass Power plant proceeds as quickly as possible to build out in order to help create the jobs that are so critically needed to help address revenue production in Amador County.”

Conklin said his Council’s membership spans a “wide range of businesses that include wineries, banking, agriculture, transportation, healthcare, retail, real estate and communications” throughout the county. He said the council is “formally and publicly supporting” supervisors and the planning commission “in their recent approvals of the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant project, and its Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report.” Conklin told the Air Board that he thought the county’s evaluation of the project satisfies the California Environmental Quality Act requirements, as well as state and local permitting regulations.

The board voted 7-0 to uphold the county supervisors and planning commission approvals of the project, and use permit. The Air Board includes Amador County Supervisors, of whom in attendance were Ted Novelli, Richard Forster, Louis Boitano and Chairman John Plasse. Also members are Amador City Councilman John Swift, Ione City Councilman Lloyd Oneto, and Jackson City Councilman Pat Crew.

The approval of the use permit is an authorization for construction, during which the plant must meet the air emissions requirements it placed in its request for permits.

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Amador County – Fire safety grants are now available for assisting with fallen tree removal after the recent winter storms and another grant is available to help low-income seniors and the disabled to clear away defensible spaces around their homes.

Cathy Koos Breazeal, executive director of the Amador Fire Safe Council said the nonprofit organization has a couple of federal grants that can help residents clean up after these storms. Koos Breazeal said: “We can work until the funds run out” and she said people should call the Fire Safe Council for an appointment, at (209) 295-6200.

One of the programs is free roadside chipping, Koos Breazeal said, and it has no qualifications. But it does have some requirements. People must cut and stack their branches and the Fire Safe Council crew will chip it. She said “residents should drag and stack their downed branches near their driveway or the street,” but should “make sure they won’t fall into the street or impede the snowplows,” so that “the chipper crew can drive up to the stack.” She said branches need to be stacked with cut edges facing the driveway, so the chipper crew can easily grab the branch and shove it in the chipper.

Another federal grant program helps low-income seniors and the disabled to create defensible space around their homes. The program is free to qualifying residents. Koos Breazeal said: “Our contractor will create defensible space around your home at no cost.” Qualifications are that you must be age 62 and have a low income, that being a household of 2 with an income of $23,000. Or, you may have “verifiable disability and low income.”

For more information, call (209) 295-6200.

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

Amador County – The Amador County Air District board of directors last week discussed a request for a seasonal, sliding scale for mining permit fees, and directed staff to look into the issue.

Carol Forster and Ron Matulich of Dry Creek Mine made the request, as its mine is a seasonal operation. Air Board and Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said it appeared it was not in the county conditions of agreement, but appeared to be a request.

Matulich said he has a road maintenance agreement with the county road department, which sets forth the use periods based on rainy season or weather. Supervisor Louis Boitano said since it was only a 6-month operation, why could the county not inspect the mine every other year, and charge half the cost each year.

Air District Officer Mike Boitano said the inspector still would have the same work to do. He said other companies, “other pits,” might deserve to get the same treatment if they are also seasonally in operation.

Louis Boitano said he supported inspection every other year. He said these are tough times, giving the example that at home, he was considering whether they really needed 300 TV channels, or if they could get by with the basic package, and also whether they needed a “land line,” when everyone in the family has cell phones.

Supervisor Ted Novelli said he would like to see the sliding scale make fees more “user friendly,” and he suggested they direct staff to look to see that the road department agreement with Matulich was in place, and to check its wording.

On a 7-0 vote, the board directed staff to look into the Dry Creek Mine road agreement, and also to do research on seasonal use permits, to be brought back to a later meeting. They also directed staff to look into Matulich’s request for a recalculation of the fees he paid over the last four years, for a possible refund.

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