Amador County – The Amador County Planning Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to authorize the permits for the Buena Vista Biomass Power combustion generating plant in Jackson Valley, with approval of its environmental document and a statement overriding any unavoidable impacts.

Commissioners certified the Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report in a 5-0 vote earlier in the evening, then discussed merits of the project before the final vote.

Commissioner Andy Byrne dissented, saying: “There are definitely benefits to the project, but there are no benefits to the valley where it will be located.” Impacts discussed included a “humming buzz” that would affect at least three homes near the plant, including two on land owned by the Buena Vista Band of Me-Wuk Indians, across Coal Mine Road.

Mitigations to those home owners include options such as having the applicant build a berm, or a fence; or to diminish interior noise, re-insulate the home, or install double-pane windows.

Commissioner Dave Wardall said the land is zoned industrial, and the project requires no zone change. He said the three homes likely affected by noise had not contacted the county. He also thought the merits of the project – burning trimmings from forest management – “helps clean forest duff,” and the “benefits outweigh the significant environmental issues.”

Chairman Ray Ryan pointed out benefits of a condition of approval emphasizing hiring locally. It included an action plan to be run by county planning staff to recruit locally, emphasizing, in order, seeking workers from Jackson Valley, Amador County and the tri-county area including Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. Ryan said it also helps toward meeting the state goals for a renewable energy project.

Commissioner Ray Lindstrom said “the benefits of the project are stronger than the problems,” and they “have to go forward.”

Ryan said as Ione faces the potential closure of Preston Youth Prison, he thought the project paperwork should note the potential for increased revenue in Ione, though lunch or other sales workers and truckers from the plant.

Commissioner Denise Tober said people say “it’s only 18 jobs, but 18 jobs is 18 jobs,” and it would help to chip away at job losses, and “get us back where we used to be.” Tober said “jobs are desperately needed” in the county, and its use of renewable energy is another overriding condition.

Michael Muson, applicant for the Buena Vista Biomass Power Plant, said he believes “there is ample folks available with good job experience” here to hire locally. He said he wants “to put Amador County people to work,” and has always planned to hire locally at the plant.

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Amador County – The results on the November 2nd Election were officially certified by the Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday after a presentation and update from the Elections Department.

Sheldon Johnson, Amador County Registrar of Voters, said this election, as compared to previous, “went really smoothly when all things were considered.” He said general elections usually generate a much larger voter turnout than special or primary elections.

County Surveyor George Allen said Amador County ranked third amongst counties in California for voter turnout in this election behind Sierra and Nevada counties. He said our county “usually ranks amongst the highest.”

Johnson said perhaps the most interesting trend is in the growing number of absentee voters. Out of 21,354 total votes in Amador County, 9,701 were absentee voters. He said that equals “about 80 percent” of the 12,154 absentee ballots sent out. 57 percent of the total local voters were absentee voters.

Allen referenced a “History of Elections” sheet he distributed to the supervisors and county staff. He said the total number of voters in Amador County has increased from 17,265 in 1992 to 21,354 in 2010. This indicates an increase in both population and voter turnout.

Johnson also reported that the state will be reimbursing the county for the cost of the special election held in May, to the tune of $74,000. The announcement was met with applause. In addition, he said that his department is always “implementing cost and time saving measures.”

He said there is no indication yet as to whether the state will reimburse the county for the cost of the upcoming special election in January, where voters will decide the next State Senator for District 1. Johnson said seven precincts will be open in that election, and he expects about a 40 to 45 percent voter turnout.

Johnson also took the opportunity to “thank the members of the board and other county staff who were there on election night…and provided help.”

Johnson will appear on TSPN TV News on December 14th to discuss preparations for the upcoming special election in January.

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Amador County – Authorities say a man who put up a sign warning of burglars in Amador County may be impatient with a case close to him, but authorities are doing their best in the case.

Bob VanDePol put up a sign Monday near the corner of Molfino Road and Highway 88 that said: “Warning! Burglars in this area!” after a relative of his was burglarized in April. He said he did it due to what he called a string of burglaries between Molfino Road and Ousby Road.

Sheriff Martin Ryan said he was not sure why VanDePol put up the sign now, but he had spoken with the victims of that crime in April, and they shared information with him on whom they believed was responsible. Ryan said: “The laws don’t allow us to do some of the things that they wanted us to do in this case.” He discussed the limitations in the case with the victims.

Ryan said the Sheriff’s department is “going to pursue it as we do all of our other cases, to the fullest extent,” and they “have to make sure that we’ve got the right people.”

VanDePol said he thought the sheriff’s department had “completely washed their hands of this” case, and he had a good idea who burglarized the house and he wanted the sheriff to search someone’s home.

The Sheriff defended the department’s work, and said: “We’re continuing to work and follow leads in that case. It’s still active, it’s still being worked.”

Sheriff’s personnel searched the premises and surrounding yard, finding footprints, fingerprints, and a broken barbed wire fence.

VanDePol said there had been four or five burglaries in the area since April, with no related arrests. But Sheriff’s department records showed three arrests in six burglary cases in the area since April, including two men arrested in June, and another arrest in November.

In another case, one of the victims reportedly did not know the crime had occurred until notified by authorities. Another case involved theft of money from a tip jar, and was dropped because the suspect was known to the victim. A third case ended when the victim requested that the deputy not dust for fingerprints.

The six cases between Ousby and Molfino Roads compares to 121 burglary cases reported in the sheriff’s jurisdiction since April. Those 121 include not just residential burglaries, but any instance where a person enters a building, vehicle or business with the intent to commit a felony, including attempting to smuggle drugs into jail.

Sheriff’s records showed such crimes are up from 68 such cases reported in the same time frame in 2009.

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Amador County -The Rotary Club of Plymouth-Foothills released the results of their generous drive last week to pack as many meal boxes as possible for those in need on Thanksgiving Day.

This included “everything from buns, butter, cranberries and more to the turkey,” said Rotary member Anne Filer.

The meal boxes were packed at the group’s November 23rd meeting. At least 17 volunteers were on hand to pack each box accordingly. The meal boxes were then loaded in several vehicles and taken to the Amador County Fairgrounds for pickup by 24 families in need.

“It's just one of the many ways that this Rotary club makes a difference right here in the community,” said Filer.

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Amador County - The California Highway Patrol is once again partnering with the Calaveras County Santa’s Express Program for the 12th Annual CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive.

This is a wonderful opportunity for schoolchildren and members of the community to collect and donate new, unwrapped toys for hospitalized and disadvantaged children. The collected toys will then be delivered to the Santa’s Express Program.

Collection barrels are at the California Highway Patrol Office in San Andreas, the CHP/Sheriff Sub-Station in Arnold, Albert Michelson Elementary in Murphys, Mark Twain Elementary in Angels Camp, Copperopolis Elementary in Copperopolis, San Andreas Elementary in San Andreas, and Jenny Lind Elementary and Toyon Middle School in Valley Springs.

Toys will be collected until Monday, December 20, 2010. They will then be delivered on Tuesday, December 21st to the San Andreas Town Hall for distribution.

With public help, they will be able to put smiles on countless young faces this holiday season. The CHP thanks you in advance for supporting the CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive.

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors in November discussed selling raw water from Lake Tabeaud to Jackson and the Jackson Valley Irrigation District, and directed staff to see if the city wants to pay for additional study.

Jackson City Council in October authorized City Manager Mike Daly to request an estimate from AWA for the cost to have its attorney research issues he identified in September as needing evaluation, “in connection with a potential sale of untreated (Amador Water System) water to Jackson Valley Irrigation District,” by releasing water into Jackson Creek.

In a September 15th letter to AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo, agency attorney Stephen Kronick wrote that any proposed contract between AWA and JVID for sale of raw water “would trigger environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act.”

He said state water code allows using a “watercourse to convey water so long as the rights of other diverters are not impaired,” and the “rights of other diverters along Jackson Creek would have to be evaluated.”

“Analysis would have to be undertaken to determine what the potential conveyance loss would be,” he said, and “depending on the extent of the loss, the conveyance may constitute a waste and unreasonable use of water” under the state Constitution and state water law.

Contracts with East Bay Municipal Utility District and PG&E would need to be evaluated to determine if the sale “would impair their expected benefits,” Kronick said. He said the most work would likely be evaluating PG&E’s waters rights. The proposed sale “could be considered a change in place of use of such water,” and “then would be necessary to address whether or not others would be injured by such change.”

If the sale lasts long-term, “it should be evaluated whether or not the conveyance could create habitat along the Jackson Creek which would make it difficult to cease the conveyance at the end of the contract term.”

Kronick said “at present, the law is unsettled as to whether any approval would be needed from the Regional Water Quality Control Board.” He said: “Litigation is pending as to whether or not a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit is necessary for the discharge of water from one watercourse to another.”

Another issue was that if JVID “plans to resell the delivered water for domestic purposes, then it is possible such could trigger evaluation of the source water by the California Department of Public Health.

He estimated further study could cost up to $5,400, and the AWA board directed staff to see if the city wanted to fund more study. (end) pm.

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Amador County – The Ione City Council approved the purchase of a new dual-role canine that will offer both patrol and narcotics detection services for the city.

The council authorized City Manager Kim Kerr to sign a purchase agreement after the city attorney approves the contract language, not to exceed $11,000 for the canine, and for the dog and its handler.

The purchase was paid for by an Ione Police Department fundraiser hosted October 23rd by Arroyo Seco Ranch, which raised more than $20,000. Chief Michael Johnson requested purchase of a German shepherd, asking that it be first trained as a patrol dog.

Kerr in a report to the council said “Johnson and other reliable K-9 trainers” evaluated and tested the dog, whose name is “Pras,” and the chief negotiated a competitive price, including training.

The city hired Johnson in 2007, and also purchased “Hawke,” a “narcotic detection dog,” which the chief was trained to handle. Johnson and Hawke have helped with the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team, and contributed “to numerous narcotics investigations in the county.”

Johnson said in a report to the council that “to help promote career enhancement” and “offer auxiliary duties for police officers,” he intends on retiring Hawke and replacing him with a dual purpose K-9.

He said “dual purpose canines are much more efficient for a small department and rural communities,” as the dog can help with patrol work, protection and apprehension and would also be able to help with narcotics detection, after further training.

Johnson said Hawke was brought to Ione “with the intentions of establishing a comprehensive K-9 program that could eventually be removed from the duties of the chief of police and offered as a specialty position for an interested officer.”

The “foundation, policy, and vehicle are now in place for the position,” he said, and by “transferring the K-9 position to a street level officer the opportunity and use of the canine will be vastly increased,” and the “K-9 team will better be able to handle calls for service that would typically require a two-officer response.”

Kerr said the city would “incur additional costs for having a patrol officer as the K-9 team member due to overtime and maintaining the K-9 after hours.” But she said the “benefit of having a dual purpose K-9 in 18 months will exceed the costs.”

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