Amador County – Amador County received three appeals on the Planning Commission approval of a permit for the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant two weeks ago, and the Board of Supervisors has set an appeal hearing for January 4th.

Amador County Planning Department planner Cara Augostin said the department received three appeals by the close of the appeal period, which ended 5 p.m. Monday. The letters included one from four appellants, Donna Ogelvie, Frank Costa, William May and Jerry Cassesi.

In their letter, dated December 9th, the four said they submitted the appeal fee check for $361, and noted that they “wish to appeal the permitting process, the approval of the Subsequent (Environmental Impact Report), the adoption of overriding considerations and the approval of the project.”

Another appeal was filed December 3rd via Federal Express by Kevin P. Bundy, senior attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity.

Bundy in the letter said the “SEIR fails to meet the minimum requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act,” and alleged the “Commission’s certification of the SEIR and its approval of the project are not supported by substantial evidence, represent a failure to proceed according to law, and constitute a prejudicial abuse of discretion.”

His appeal was “based on the Center’s comment letters regarding the project,” which included seven submissions made between February 8th and November 30th.

One submission, study from Mary S. Booth for the Center for Biological Diversity, was critical of the biomass power industry’s generators and emissions. An attorney for Buena Vista Biomass Power answered the letter in a submittal to the planning commission, and criticized the study, pointing out that on her “Linked In” web page, Booth describes herself as an opponent of biomass energy plants. The site, in part, said: “Currently, my work focuses on opposing the large-scale biomass energy plants that are being proposed all over the country.”

The Center responded with a letter that said the attorney’s comments were out of line, and asked the Planning Commission to ignore the comments.

The third appeal, filed December 9th by Thomas Strout of Ione, also alleged a failure to comply with CEQA, and asked supervisors to “decline to certify” the Final Subsequent EIR.

Strout wrote that his “appeal is also based on the failure to adequately respond to comments” he made, which alleged deficiencies in the description of the project, inappropriate use of a Subsequent EIR, and inadequate analysis of emissions.

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Amador County – Outgoing City Manager Dixon Flynn received kudos from the Plymouth City Council last week.

On Thursday, Flynn gave his final city manager’s report, and said Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge projects were a first and that “we don’t do this in Plymouth.” Hawk’s View subdivision was nowhere near the scale of Reeder’s project, which plans for nearly 500 units, to be annexed into the city. He said the city council must “do the right thing by the developer and do the right thing by Plymouth.”

He said “government cannot create jobs, but it can create opportunity for the private sector.” Plymouth has come close to doing that in lifting a building moratorium, with its new potable water pipeline, built with the Amador Water Agency. And it also is nearing completion of a renovation of its wastewater system.

Earlier in the week, Flynn said Reeder Sutherland is seeking an agreement for its two developments, and might seek concessions or reductions based on the bad economy, but the city council should steer away from that. He said if the council gives a concession based on the bad economy, it must make the same deal for developers that followed.

Flynn said the economy has changed Plymouth from having eight developers looking at projects in the town, to now just one active project of Reeder Sutherland.

On Thursday, Flynn thanked the council members, including outgoing Mayor Pat Fordyce and Councilman Mike O’Meara, both retiring from the council.

Fordyce said she missed the hiring of Flynn, but she has seen more done in Plymouth in the last few years than she has seen in “many, many years.”

Flynn even wrote a poem as part of a resolution last week honoring Councilwoman Pat Shackleton’s 55th wedding anniversary with her husband, Denny. Shackleton said she was there when they hired Flynn, and has “certainly never been sorry.” She said Flynn has “probably done six years of work in three years” for the city.

Mayor Greg Baldwin said “this man took home volumes and volumes” and probably did his job around the clock.

Vice Mayor Jon Colburn said Flynn has done a tremendous job with the city, and has “done double the hours he was contracted for, and cut his hours in half” so the city could continue to operate.

Colburn asked that the city “prepare a proclamation of great gratitude from the city,” and he asked Flynn to return January 13th for a city resolution in his honor. Flynn said he would attend.

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Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council last week took over as lead agency in an alignment project for the Prospect Drive intersection on Sutter Hill, and authorized staff to seek funding from the state for the estimated $1.7 million project.

City Manager Sean Rabe in a report said the city has $1.7 million available, with half each to be paid by local and state funds. The Amador County Transportation Commission in November approved Sutter Creek to be lead agency for construction of the project, under Proposition 1B, a competitive state and local partnership grant, though which the city is slated to get $885,000. Amador County’s Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee funding of $885,000 is also available. Both funding sources are available for construction only.

Rabe said the environmental document was approved in June, design is complete, right-of-way has been acquired from the school district, and an acquisition offer was sent in November to Ed Swift. A Caltrans encroachment permit was in progress.

The project would build an extension of Prospect Drive to align it with Bowers Drive, in an intersection on Highway 104. It would not signalize the intersection, but would build conduit to do so. Rabe said it would be signalized at a later date.

Mayor Gary Wooten asked about through lanes, and said going straight across Highway 104 might be a challenge at times.

Dokken’s Matt Griggs said the intersection’s long center lane will be divided into a left-turn lane onto Prospect, and a left-turn lane onto Bowers.

The proposed budget included contingencies of $110,000, construction contract for $1.5 million and management at $160,000. Councilwoman Linda Rianda said the project would have minimum impact to city staff. Rabe said he would monitor the project, and make sure bills get paid.

He said the project will be ready for bidding in early spring of 2011, upon receipt of Prop 1B funds. He said “bidding of the project may be delayed as the Proposition 1B allocation may be dependent upon the sale and priorities of state bonds.” Rabe said “even with the potential bond delays, staff believes construction will proceed in 2011.”

The council voted 4-0 to approve the city’s lead agency status on the project, and authorized Rabe to request funding and contact Caltrans Local Assistance and the California Transportation Commission. They also approved using the services of Weber Ghio and Associates and Dokken Engineering to manage construction.

Councilman Jim Swift abstained, due to a conflict of interest with a Swift Family Trust owning adjacent property.

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors heard about impacts from the mid-November storm, and thought part of the information may be used as a snapshot to show potential savings of the Gravity Supply Line.

Construction manager Barry Birge said the agency made it successfully through its first furlough day, and then the storm hit. Snow was removed at pump stations, and generators were delivered to run the pumps, which carry raw water to the Buckhorn water treatment plant, whose customers are the Central Amador Water Project service area.

General Manager Gene Mancebo said power was off and on for 24 hours at the pump stations, and about 200 gallons of diesel fuel was burned by the generators during the outage.

Mancebo said 110 overtime hours were worked, including all systems in the agency. About 10 hours of overtime were worked on the pump stations. About 50 customers lost water pressure, and were notified by customer service that they were under a boil water order.

Operations manager Chris McKeage said well over $2,000 was spent at Buckhor just for diesel fuel, burned to run the pump stations during the outage.

Director Gary Thomas said the storm costs could possibly be used to get a “snapshot on hours” and costs. He said that could possibly be used to sell the Gravity Supply Line, which would replace the water line that feeds the Buckhorn plant and runs on electric pumps.

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Amador County – The Jackson Rancheria plans a ribbon cutting for its new “High Limit Room” and a Holiday Turkey Drive, both set for this Friday, December 17th at the casino.

The events were announced last week by Carol Cook, content developer for the Jackson Rancheria Casino marketing department.

Cook said the big day starts at 9:45 am with the Ribbon Cutting at the new High Limit Room, followed by drawings throughout the day with chances to win “Promotional Play,” gift bags, and a custom leather jacket.

The Holiday Turkey Drive runs throughout the afternoon and into the evening on Friday, as donors are asked to drop off a turkey at the Jackson Rancheria General Store on Highway 88 at Dalton Road. The Turkey Drive will be conducted between noon and 8 p.m., and those who drop off a turkey will receive a $10 dining credit for each turkey, with a maximum limit of two turkeys per person.

The turkeys will go to the Interfaith Food Bank in Jackson.

The Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel is located at 12222 New York Ranch Road, in Jackson. For more information, call (800) 822-WINN or visit JacksonCasino.com.

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Amador County – Friday, December 17th is a big day at the Jackson Rancheria.

Starting at 9:45 am, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new High Limit Room, followed by drawings throughout the day with chances to win promo play, gift bags and a custom leather jacket.

The annual holiday Turkey Drive begins at noon and continues until 8 pm at the General Store, located on Highway 88 and Dalton Road. Donors will receive a $10 dining credit for each turkey, with a maximum of two turkeys per person. All turkeys will go to the Interfaith Food Bank.

The Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel is located at 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson. For more information, call 800-822-WINN or visit JacksonCasino.com.

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