Amador County – The Amador Water Agency discussed its budget last week at the fiscal mid-year, hearing that cash was nearly double over last year.

Board President Don Cooper said water sales were 6.7 percent under budget, which he saw as a “red flag.” Director Gary Thomas said they should try to “identify which areas are hurting us the most.” Finance Manager Mike Lee said water usage in the budget is “completely seasonal,” with May and June being the biggest usage months. He said the usage trend has been flat, and they can attribute it to vacancies, foreclosures and people trying to use less water.

Director Paul Molinelli said he preferred “January to December actuals” to compare year over year details and variances. Director Robert Manassero said that pre-recession years were irrelevant.

Molinelli asked how actuals stand against the agency auditor’s “cautions,” and whether the agency will recover “fast enough.” General Manager Gene Mancebo said the agency is moving toward reduced capital and expenses, and increased revenue, but “I don’t think we’re there yet.”

Lee said: “We kept hearing that the Titanic was in front of us. Well, we’ve avoided the Titanic.” Cooper said: “Let’s talk about cash, because cash is king.”

Lee said total cash flow for January 2011 “will be $700,000 more than we were last year.” He said “we’re well above last year, and we’re going to be trending in the right direction.”

Thomas said with “$100 million in assets in the ground,” a cash reserve of 1 percent would be $1 million. Lee said that amount has been the rule of thumb, and that has dropped.” He said “the agency has gotten by with half a million” in reserve.

Cooper said net revenue at mid-year looks good at $267,000, but operation and maintenance was under budget. He asked: “Are we deferring operation and maintenance and accepting an overrun in benefits and salaries to meet the budget; and if so, why?”

Mancebo said the agency is “lean,” and staff is forced to make the budget work with available revenue. He said: “You don’t see a lot of operation and maintenance there because staff is doing what it was told,” which was to curb spending. He said there will come a time when “operators have to go out and operate.”

Four layoffs now show in the finances, Thomas said, and another $50,000 drop will come from board salary and benefit cuts. Molinelli asked when does concessions come up for review, and Mancebo said they expire June 30. Mancebo said they need a few months to sit with employee groups and discuss concessions, so by April, they need to be in that process.

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Amador County – Supervisor Chairman John Plasse briefly addressed a contract agreement with the Amador County Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann, after a member of the public spoke on the issue last week.

Jackson Radiologist Dr. Lincoln Russin read a copy of a letter to the board during “matters not on the agenda” at the Feb. 8 Supervisors’ meeting, stating support for Hartmann. The letter was signed by Dr. Raymond H. Pierson III, chief of medical staff at Sutter Amador Hospital.

According to Pierson’s letter, it was submitted to Supervisors “on behalf of the Sutter Amador Hospital medical staff on Jan. 26.” Pierson in the letter said: “We understand that the Board of Supervisors has offered Dr. Hartmann a six-month renewal contract, rather than continue his contract through 2013.”

Pierson said: “We are concerned that the administration of the Public Health Department is being questioned. We want to indicate our strong support for both the staff of the Public Health Department and in particular, for Dr. Hartmann as Public Health Officer.”

The letter said: “We see no reason to change a well-functioning public service, or to replace an exceptional public servant.” The said they believed “Hartmann should be publicly recognized for the contributions he has made in this field,” and urged Supervisors to sign a long-term contract with Hartmann.

Retired Amador County Mental Health Director Pat Houghton also wrote in support of Hartmann, saying: “Supervisors shortened his contract, and they're still paying him less than the only other doctor employed by the county even though state and federal funds are available to cover his contract.”

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said that the Board of Supervisors had to consider a request by Robert Hartmann for a 37 percent pay increase. He said at the same time, they also had to consider “which people in the room deserve a 10 percent decrease.” Plasse said supervisors by a majority vote agreed to a compromise, giving Hartmann a raise and a one-year contract extension.

Plasse said that if either Dr. Hartmann or Supervisors were unhappy with the contract, “there is a termination clause,” with which either party can end the contract at any time. He said the contract is for an annual salary of $84,000, as a part-time position working 20 hours per week, and if Hartmann was unhappy with it, he could terminate the contract.

He said Supervisors knew the commitment and dedication Hartmann brought to the position.

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Amador County – More than 90 children received free dental care from the Jackson Creek Dental Group and other local dentists, with the generosity of the 2011 Smiles For Kids program.

An essential part of the annual program is “making sure they all have access to needed follow-up treatment,” said Jackson Creek Dental Group’s Sandy Garcia. She said “children were sporting big smiles” as those who qualified underwent free exams, x-rays, teeth cleaning, sealant application, fluoride treatments, and emergency treatment.

Children who “would not otherwise be able to receive dental care” were treated by three local dentists, their staff and other licensed staff from neighboring dental offices, along with community members, all giving the care on a volunteer basis. They treated 62 children on Jan. 22 for pro-bono services totaling over $17,000. The remaining 29 children will be seen over the next two weeks.

Dentists participating on Smiles for Kids day were Doctors Ask, Roda and Simpson of Jackson Creek Dental Group, who will also be offering crucial follow-up treatment. Other doctors who will help with the follow-up treatment are Doctors Durkin, Eaton, Kinzer, Montalbo, Ordonez, Schiappa and Valencia.

So far, 38 of the children were referred to local dentists for further treatment as part of the program, and 14 were sent to specialists in Sacramento as part of the Sacramento District Dental Society’s Adopt-a-Child, Orthodontic, and Specialty Referral Care Programs.

“We were very pleased to see so many parents bringing their children in to be seen during Smile for Kids day,” said Dr. Leon Roda.

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Amador County – Jackson City Council today will discuss wastewater permitting and Dandelion Days, and Plymouth will hold a joint session to hear about Bob Reeder’s two residential developments.

Jackson City Council meets tonight and could consider a special event permit for a proposed addition of a beer and wine garden during the Jackson Lions Club Dandelion Days, set for March. The council could also review and determine action on a wastewater permit compliance planning. The council could also review a request from the Jackson Revitalization Committee for Measure E funding for preliminary engineering for the Jackson Creekwalk Project.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, a joint meeting of the Plymouth City Council and Planning Commission will hear a presentation and overview by Reeder/Sutherland Incorporated about Bob Reeder and company’s two residential projects.

The panel will hear about the Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge housing development projects, and the meeting is for information only, with no action to be considered.

Later, the Plymouth Planning Commission could consider a Feb. 3 letter from Department of Housing and Community Development regarding review of Plymouth’s “Revised Housing Element” in the city General Plan. A public hearing will be held on the matter at 7 p.m. on March 2.

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El Dorado County – El Dorado Sheriff’s Department deputies and crisis negotiators helped talk an apparently suicidal man into surrendering last week in an El Dorado Hills neighborhood, after a nearly 2-hour standoff.

El Dorado Sheriff’s spokesman Bryan Golmitz said in a release that deputies responded Wednesday, Feb. 9, to the 7100 block of Hearst Drive in El Dorado Hills after a report of a suicidal subject. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the Serrano Security company, which “had been standing by with two individuals from inside the residence.”

Golmitz said according to information from the individuals, deputies determined that a 25-year-old male was alone inside the Hearst Drive residence and was “possibly suicidal.” Deputies made attempts to establish a line of “communication with the subject on multiple occasions but were unsuccessful.”

“The subject, who had armed himself with kitchen-type knives, exited and re-entered the residence on several occasions,” Golmitz said. “At one point, deputies deployed a less lethal measure” to try to subdue the man, “but it was not successful.”

Based on the circumstances of the unfolding event, the El Dorado Sheriff’s SWAT team and crisis negotiators were requested and arrived on scene. Crisis negotiators established telephone contact with the distraught man, and “after a short time were able to convince the subject to exit the residence and surrender to authorities.”

The subject was transported to Marshall Hospital for medical treatment. During the nearly two-hour stand-off, neighboring residents were requested to remain in the shelter of their homes.

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Amador County – Better late than never, the Amador Water Agency board of directors heard Thursday that its second quarter cash amount was helped by a half-million-dollar grant for the Amador Transmission Pipeline.

Finance Manager Mike Lee said it helped AWA’s cash total $1.47 million as of Jan. 1, and finances are “tracking better than expected.”

Lee said “we did receive a $500,000 grant from the Department of Water Resources,” which was “placed in the Amador Water System reserves.” It was specific to the AWS and came as a “water use efficiency grant,” for the pipeline. He said “it came late but it will still help.”

AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said Assemblywoman Alyson Huber was instrumental in getting that Department of Water Resources grant pushed through, and that “check processed” by the state.

Director Art Toy asked about the sustainability study in Camanche, and Engineering Manager Erik Christesen said it had a $27,000 agency in-kind match, and about $200,000 left on the grant.

Christesen said staff had begun to negotiate easements for the Gravity Supply Line, which he said is going better than he expected, with an excellent job being done by Ken Hunt.

Christesen reported that the application had been finished and submitted for a Proposition 50 grant for the small diameter pipeline in the Amador Canal. The AWA board authorized up to $10,000 in staff time to finish the application, and it was completed at a cost of $1,500. The application seeks a $2 million Prop 50 grant to build the pipeline to serve about 100 customers on the old Amador Canal.

Christesen said staff work was 1 or 2 months behind on GSL work, with the work on Prop 84 and Prop 50 grants coming up. Mancebo said a financial plan needs to be in place by July 22 toward getting the USDA grant for the GSL pipeline. The plans include rate increases, if needed. He said they would “like to have the bids before they go forward.”

Amador County – A traffic stop early Tuesday in Ione led to the arrest of a Burson man on multiple felony charges, including possession of methamphetamine for sale, and the possession of a dangerous weapon. ¶ Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson said a traffic stop of vehicle containing a parolee and a man on probation resulted in “dope and possession of dangerous weapon arrests.”

Johnson said Ione Police Department spotted a traffic infraction on a black Chevy Blazer at it passed by at about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8 in Ione. “The vehicle, occupied by three male adults, yielded without incident as the officer approached to investigate.”

After obtaining identification information from the three men, the officer “was quickly alerted by dispatch that one of the occupants was a felony probationer” and another was on active parole with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

An Amador County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a Jackson Police Department officer responded to assist, Johnson said. “All occupants were removed from the vehicle and a search ensued.”

“Bags of methamphetamine, digital scales, packaging material” and other indications “of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances were located inside the vehicle,” Johnson said. “An illegal and dangerous weapon was also removed from the vehicle.”

Joseph Fisher, age 32, of Burson was placed in custody on multiple felonies of transportation of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances for sales, possession of controlled substances, and possession of an illegal dangerous weapon.

26-year-old Jimmy Rayburn of Valley Springs was placed in custody on a violation of parole. Both subjects were booked into the Amador County Jail, Johnson said, and the vehicle was released to the custody of the third male adult.

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Amador County – A water main in Busi Field at Busi Ranch in Jackson was ruptured by a heavy equipment operator Thursday, leading to a spray of water, and emergency repairs.

Larry White of the city of Jackson Public Works said that workers were digging to install a sewer line when they encountered the old city water line, which is a 10-inch diameter pipe. He said the water line was not labeled in the city’s infrastructure system, and it was not detected before the digging equipment hit the line and caused the rupture.

White said the leaking line was isolated and turned off, and one customer was left without service pending repairs, but that customer was out of town.

Amador County – Supervisors on Tuesday discussed the recent Mother Lode Tea Party meeting held last weekend, including addressing interpretation of existing rules.

Leroy Carlin, a former county planning commissioner, initiated the discussion during matters not on the agenda, saying he had seen a couple of supervisors there. He said he learned that “they now declare milk as a hazardous waste.” Supervisor Brian Oneto said: “Tell that to my dog.”

Carlin criticized the county “building luxury things for entertainment” through Proposition 40 recreation funding, saying he would “liken it to the orchestra playing during the sinking of the Titanic.”

Oneto said a “20 percent increase in staff” at the Air Resources Board seemed to indicate the board was preparing to come after businesses over air quality code violations, “while people are trying to survive.”

Supervisor Richard Forster said he went to the Tea Party presentation to hear about changes with the 1602 permit process, and how Fish & Game has been enforcing law in Siskiyou County, on the Oregon border. Forster said Siskiyou is “the poster child” for new “strong arm tactics,” because “Fish & Game needs revenue” and this is their new process.”

Forster said the 1602 water discharge permit is a good law and has been around for a long time. It protects streams from impacts such as bulldozer work. He said “Fish & Game has reinterpreted it” and when a man in Siskiyou County was weed-whacking berry bushes beside a stream, he was “fined $20,000 for impacting the stream.” Forster said the Regional Council of Rural Counties is engaged in analyzing counties that are engaged in this tactic.

Supervisor Louis Boitano said there are other sides to the issue that are relevant, but not always published. But Boitano said “I cannot disagree with you about the Air Resources Board” and its bureaucracy level.

Oneto likened it to when the “king sends forth his legions of minions.” He said large corporations can adjust to the changes, but “when you add up all the impacts on small businesses, they cannot do it.”

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said it is the state getting involved in local-level enforcement. Plasse gave an example, saying that since September 2010, the Central Sierra Regional Water Quality Control Board has made three surprise inspections on a business in Plymouth.

He said they never contacted the owner, including once finishing a surprise inspection before accepting the owner’s contact information. Plasse said the Regional Water Quality Board has “now slapped them with a storm water discharge permit requirement” that would cost $1,000 a year and would probably put them out of business.

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Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors heard that $1.2 million in remodeling work through state recreation grants was finding some blockage to progress, though the elements were not yet among the causes.

Amador County Recreation Agency Director Tracy Towner-Yep said the Proposition 40 grant funds were likely to be extended another year on about $700,000 in project funding, for various building remodels around the county. Some of those will have to be completed by March 31 to keep the funding alive. One of those is the remodeling of the Pine Grove Town Hall, and the other is a remodel at the Volcano Armory.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said he was worried about meeting the March 31 deadline. He said these are “expensive projects that need to be finished on time.”

Towner-Yep said a county building permit was not yet issued for the Pine Grove Town Hall job because the Amador Water Agency “threw us a curve” and needed $650 to review the plans. Once that paperwork is given, the building permit will be issued. She said demolition has begun at the Town Hall. Supervisor Louis Boitano suggested she talk with AWA’s official in District 4, Robert Manassero.

Supervisors also wondered about the jobs being won by non-local contractors. Towner-Yep said: “We did advertise up here,” and “it’s against the law for us to call people and say ‘Bid on this job.’ ” She said most of these guys are hiring local contractors and buy local materials, so some of the money is staying in the county.

She said the Pine Grove Town Hall may need unexpected drywall to reinforce it, as recommended by the contractor. She said Supervisors had loaned ACRA $200,000 that the state owes the agency for the projects, and Plymouth City Council had loaned another $90,000. Work locations include Pioneer Park, Plymouth, River Pines and Volcano.

Supervisor Ted Novelli asked why nobody was working last week to lay brick or block on one project, with good weather in which to work. Towner-Yep said the bricklayer had guaranteed that he would start work on Tuesday. Supervisor Richard Forster said they “need to call the bricklayer and tell him the Super Bowl party is over.” Plasse said rain was forecast for this weekend.

Towner-Yep said boulders in Volcano that crumbled to the touch were an issue, causing a redesign of the Armory remodel. She said it was decided that it would be better to build around them. Novelli said that “change orders need to be brought immediately.”

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