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Thursday, 16 September 2010 18:00
Vote for Paul Molinelli - AWA District 1
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Monday, 20 September 2010 06:24
Kirkwood announces record profits for 2009-10 fiscal year
Amador County - Despite being in the middle of one of the worst economic recessions in our nation’s history, Kirkwood Mountain Resort recently announced record profits for the 2009-10 fiscal year. The resort, located within the eastern border of Amador County, reported last week that net profits were 25 percent higher than any previous year in its history. This marks the second year in row that the resort saw a 50 percent gain in profitability. Julie Koster, Kirkwood Director of Sales and Marketing, said in a release that “operating results were buoyed by a strong winter performance along with a noticeable increase in summer revenues.” Also last fiscal year, Kirkwood’s real estate sales exceeded the three prior years combined nearing over $30 million in finished products. “We are extremely pleased with the results from last year,” commented David Likins, CEO of Mountainspings Kirkwood LLC and Kirkwood Mountain Resort. “This level of performance clearly demonstrates what we have understood all along – namely that skiing provides such a great family value that it will not only survive but even thrive in the face of the very challenging macroeconomic climate gripping California today.” A recent report from Ski Lake Tahoe, a marketing cooperative consisting of the seven major ski resorts in the region, indicated a 17 percent increase in skier visitation last season. The National Ski Area Association announced that the 2009-10 winter season was the second busiest on record. “Kirkwood managed to stay out in front of the economic downturn in late 2008 through its innovative mid-season vacation packages and discounted pass programs, both of which yielded strong results,” said Likins. “The resort plans to continue to find ways to offer added value for its guests along with ushering in a number of off-season improvements both on and off the mountain.” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 20 September 2010 06:26
AWA Finance, PR committees to take different angles on GSL task
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency set an October 7th workshop to go through a list of conditions it will have to meet to get a federal loan and grant for its Gravity Supply Line project, proposed for upcountry in the Central Amador Water Project service area. The AWA board of directors on September 7th tabled a discussion of conditions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the AWA’s grant for $5 million and an $8 million loan. Top on the USDA list was “reserves,” which was among 10 items listed as to be completed if approval is issued. Vice President Debbie Dunn asked about the make up of the reserves, and how soon the agency would have reserves sufficient to do the project. She also asked about permits, which listed a zero for cost, so she assumed it would cost them “zero dollars.” Engineering Manager Erik Christeson said some fees were already paid, while others, like county permitting, would be a percentage based on the winning bid amount. Dunn complained about staff not giving enough information, and said it was “the third time we requested a road map to get through these conditions.” General Manager Gene Mancebo said it would help to be clear about what they wanted to have more detail about. President Bill Condrashoff cut off the discussion, and said he would rather not go through the list because it did not show enough detail. Director Don Cooper of District 3 said last week that the overall time frame is 12 months to meet all conditions of the USDA. He said two board committees would be handling separate areas of the GSL. It will include a new financial plan, worked on by the finance committee, of which Cooper is a member. And last week Dunn’s public relations committee started work on the “public education and communications plan” for the GSL. The finance committee starts on the financial plan October 6th. Cooper said the communications plan is about “being able to educate customers in such a way that we’re not really marketing or selling them on one alternative or the other.” It will look at building new pump stations or building the GSL, presented “so that neither one has a sales pitch on it.” He said it will “eventually have to include financial aspects,” but the “communication plan at this juncture is kind of separate from the financial plan.” He said the financial plan likely would not come out before the end of year. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 21 September 2010 07:03
State says Ione must study pond's hydrology affects
Amador County – Staff this week will update the Ione City Council on changes recommended to plans for the city’s proposed wastewater plant, including urging the city to move closer to the designing stage. California Regional Water Quality Control Board sent letters in June and August regarding a cease and desist order and related “Report of Waste Discharge” the state found to be incomplete. Concerns included the need for “an engineering or geotechnical analysis, and a groundwater model demonstrating that percolation from the proposed ponds will not impact surface water quality.” The city proposes closing storage ponds 1-3, partially filling ponds 5 and 6, and building a new Pond 8. The letter in June said the “proposed Pond 8 will potentially cause flooding” because its design “would raise groundwater levels further at the city wastewater treatment plant site and in surrounding areas,” potentially raising the groundwater level by as much as two feet. The letter said “Pond 8 would increase risks of spillage or surfacing on-site due to percolation of treated effluent.” It said the site was not ideal for the pond as designed. The letter said seepage has been shown to enter Sutter Creek from ponds 5 and 6. Senior Water Resource Control Engineer Ann Olson in an August letter said as of August 16th, the “maximum liability for the failure to submit a (Report of Waste Discharge)” by the city – at $5,000 per day since the 2003 infraction – was $4.4 million. Olson said staff will not recommend issuance of a civil liability complaint if the agency receives a Report of Waste Discharge by October 1st, including all information requested in June. City Manager Kim Kerr in a report for the city council’s meeting today (September 21st) said the city council approved a contract with Condor Earth Technologies for $17,500 to make the “groundwater modeling study to address issues raised by the Regional Board regarding the proposed Pond 8 site and rainfall accumulation.” Kerr said the “Regional Board visited the wastewater treatment plant on September 8th and focused on the possible seepage along Sutter Creek.” Kerr said wastewater engineer Bob Godwin, city engineer John Wanger and regional board staff “inspected the Sutter Creek bank for seepage and none was observed.” They also visited the Pond 8 proposed site. A “Request for Proposals” continues with the city trying to find a company to design, build, finance and operate the proposed new tertiary-level wastewater treatment plant, as a solution to the cease and desist order. Kerr noted that the RFP’s are due September 28th. She also noted that two companies had withdrawn interest in submitting proposals. They are Auburn Construction and Tiechert Construction of Sacramento. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 21 September 2010 07:10
Ione police arrest 2 on meth, heroin charges
Amador County – The Ione Police Department turned a traffic stop last week into felony arrests for possession and transportation of methamphetamine and heroin by two local men. Chief Michael Johnson said a “proactive enforcement stop” by the Ione police “spoiled the weekend for two local felons in possession of methamphetamine and heroin.” Johnson said that an IPD officer’s “keen observations and subsequent traffic enforcement stop” led to the arrest of two men at about 5:30 p.m. Friday, September 17th. A parolee Timothy Mitchell, 50, and Sean Tatum, 26, were booked into the Amador County Jail on charges related to transportation and possession of narcotics. Johnson said: “Upon conducting the traffic stop the IPD officer immediately recognized both occupants of the vehicle from prior law enforcement contacts.” Mitchell, a passenger in the vehicle had an outstanding misdemeanor drug-related warrant for his arrest. Mitchell was placed into custody immediately and was found to have drug paraphernalia on his person. An Amador County Sheriff”s Office K-9 deputy arrived at the scene to back up the IPD officer, and the K-9 officer and his partner conducted a search of the vehicle. Johnson said the “K-9 alerted on locations within the interior of the car.” He said syringes loaded with suspected methamphetamine and a baggy containing suspected heroin were recovered in the search. Tatum, who was driving the vehicle, was placed in custody. The vehicle was towed from the scene and both men were booked into jail on the drug related charges. Johnson said the investigation showed another example of the “cooperation between law enforcement agencies” in the “continued effort to protect and serve the interest of the Amador County community.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 20 September 2010 06:30
Amador Regional Planning Committee loses Ione, Supes; seeks new members
Amador County – The Amador County Regional Planning Committee lost two members in the last two months, but its chairman has made an outreach to other groups and entities around the county. On August 5, Ione Mayor Chester “Skip” Schaufel broke the news to Regional Planning Committee Chairman Keith Sweet that the Ione City Council “voted unanimously to discontinue participation in the Amador Regional Planning Committee.” Schaufel said in the August 3rd vote, the council determined that it felt “that the mayor/chair forum and other forums are a better place to address the issues facing the county and cities in Amador County.” Schaufel asked Sweet to accept the letter as Ione’s “90-day notice to discontinue participation in the Amador Regional Planing Committee pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding.” Sweet returned a letter asking the council to reconsider, but Ione City Council at its September 7th meeting “affirmed their unanimous vote to discontinue their participation.” Sweet at the end of July also received a letter from Amador County Board of Supervisors Chairman Brian Oneto, who also gave a 90-day notice of quitting the MOU and the regional planning committee. Oneto said “Supervisors met and voted unanimously to discontinue their participation in the Amador Regional Planning Committee.” Oneto said the “board feels that planning-related issues are represented in other forums and that participation in this committee seems somewhat redundant.” Ione’s withdrawal becomes effective October 27th, and the Board of Supervisors’ withdrawal is effective November 24th. Regional Planning Committee Chair Keith Sweet in late August sent a letter to Andy Byrne, moderator of tthe Pine Grove Civic Improvement Club. The letter asked if the Pine Grove group would be interested in participating on the county Regional Planning Committee. Sweet sent similar letters to Amador City and other organizations in Pine Grove and Pioneer. In the letter to Byrne, Sweet told that Supervisors and the Ione City Council had both withdrawn. He said he hoped they would be rescinded, but withdrawals “created a discussion resulting in an interest in and an overdue need to expand participation to other groups interested in regional cooperation.” Remaining member entities are the city councils of Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Plymouth, as well as two at-large citizen members. Committee members are Sweet, Tim Murphy, Pat Fordyce and Renee Chapman. Alternates are Connie Gonsalves, Sandra Andreson, Greg Baldwin and Brian Jobson. The Amador Regional Planning Committee next meets 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 22nd at the Jackson Civic Center. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 21 September 2010 06:33
Sheriff's Office, Waste Managment participate in “Nationwide Take Back Initiative”
Amador County - On Saturday September 25, 2010 the Amador County Sheriff’s Office, with support from Amador County Waste Management, will be participating in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s “Nationwide Take Back Initiative”. This program is a one day collaborative effort between state and local law enforcement agencies providing citizens the opportunity to surrender and dispose of unwanted, expired and unused pharmaceutical controlled substances for destruction. This service is free of charge and participants are insured anonymity. Law enforcement, through this program, hopes to bring national attention to the issue of pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. This program addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many citizens are not aware that pharmaceuticals that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office recognizes the importance of community involvement and urges the citizens of Amador County to take a stand against illegal pharmaceutical use and abuse by using this opportunity to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Staff from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office will staff two drop off locations between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm on September 25th. The locations will be the Amador County General Services Administration parking lot, located 12200 B Airport Road, in Martell; and the Volcano Telephone parking lot, located at 20022 Highway 88, in Pine Grove. Anyone with questions may contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500 or refer to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s website at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 21 September 2010 07:06
JVFD rummage sale raises much-needed funds
Amador County – The Jackson Volunteer Fire Department held a rummage sale over the weekend as a way to generate additional funds to pay for firefighting supplies and equipment. The effort was coordinated by various wives and girlfriends of the firefighters as a way to supplement the meager funding the department receives. Genny Tremaine, an event volunteer who spoke with TSPN on Friday, said the amount of donations received was “better than expected.” All throughout Friday and Saturday, fire department supporters and walk-in customers made a steady stream of purchases. During our conversation, Tremaine was politely interrupted several times with price inquiries from potential customers. In a follow-up Monday, she said the total profit was $1,345 after subtracting the $140 spent on advertising. Considering the success of the event, Tremaine said they may organize another sale next June. “Please remember to save things you think we could sell during the event next year,” she said. The money from this latest sale was deposited in the Jackson Firefighters Association account. What the funds will be used for has yet to be determined. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 21 September 2010 07:08
Sutter Creek MOU cuts SEIU 10% over 2 years
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council in its first meeting this month approved an agreement with its employees’ union that includes a 10 percent cut in hours over two years. The council on September 7th approved the agreement on a 4-0 vote, with Tim Murphy absent. Acting City Manager Sean Rabe said in a staff report that the miscellaneous employees, represented by the Services Employees International Union, agreed to a 10 percent furlough, equal to 26 work days per year, along with other reductions that will save the city’s General Fund almost $38,000 over two years. The first year of the contract will save about $15,000 and the second year will save $22,624, Rabe said. As part of the agreement, the city will no longer pay “the employee’s side of Social Security” and Medicare, effective in the second year of the agreement, beginning July 1st, 2011. Vacation buy-back continues to be suspended for fiscal year 2010, Rabe said. The city will discontinue paying the employees’ side of retirement, he said, with that savings “rolled into salary on a cost-neutral basis for the city.” The agreement includes a “reopener clause for mid-year adjustment,” which will be activated if “projected General Fund balances change by 10 percent or more.” Rabe said the city and the SEIU have been negotiating the agreement since April. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tuesday, 21 September 2010 07:12
ACCC candidate forum Oct. 5, Ione forum Sept. 29
Amador County - The Amador County Child Care Council announced this week it will host a candidates forum on October 5th. All candidates running for federal, state, city council and school board offices have been invited. This includes District 3 Congressional candidates, State Senate and Assembly candidates, water agency candidates, and all candidates for seats in local city council races. Each attending candidate will be given the opportunity to make an opening statement and rebuttal/comment opportunities on questions developed by the Resource Conservation District.
ACCC Manager Joyce Stone said in a release that this forum will be a good time to ask “questions about the issues that affect you and your family.” The forum will be moderated by Jack Mitchell, Publisher of the Ledger-Dispatch. The forum will take place at the County Administrative Building at 810 Court Street in Jackson in the Supervisors' Chambers. It is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm and end at 8:30 pm. The public is encouraged to attend. Stone will discuss the forum in more detail during an interview scheduled for TSPN’s noon news on October 1st. For more information call Joyce Stone at 209-257-5303. In related news, the City of Ione is holding a Candidate’s Forum on Wednesday, September 29th, at 7:00 pm in Evalynn Bishop Hall. Three of the six Ione candidates who are running for office will be attending—Lee Ard, Dan Epperson and Ron Smylie. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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