Tom

Sunday, 15 August 2010 18:00

2010 Sutter Creek Fire Department Dinner Dance

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Wednesday, 18 August 2010 06:52

Assemblyman Roger Niello Enters Race for 1st Senate District Seat

Sacramento – Assemblyman Roger Niello, a Republican representing the 5th Assembly District, has announced his candidacy for the 1st Senate District seat formerly held by Senator Dave Cox, who passed away July 14. Niello will compete with at least two other candidates: fellow Republican Ted Gaines of Roseville, and Rancho Cordova Mayor Ken Cooley, a Democrat and principal consultant for the state Senate Committee on Banking, Finance and Insurance. Niello is a longtime friend of the Cox family, and delivered a eulogy at his memorial service earlier this month. Cox passed away after a long battle with prostrate cancer. Niello said this week he pledges to continue with Cox’s commitment to serving his district. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, neighbor and colleague in public service. It is with a heavy heart but resolute mind I enter into this special election to represent the people of the 1st Senate District,” Niello said in a statement. His campaign received its first big boost Tuesday when Maggie Cox, wife of the late Senator, announced her support for Niello’s campaign. “Dave knew that Roger would be the only choice to continue on his legacy of public service - of ensuring that every person that lived in his district would be listened to, cared for, and represented,” said Maggie Cox in a statement released by the Niello campaign. “This feels very personal to me, and Dave and I endorsed Roger before Dave passed away.” Shortly before his death, Senator Cox deposited $7,800 in Niello’s campaign account. Niello’s record of public service stretches back to 1995, when he served as the President of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the Capital Area Political Action Committee. He was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in a special election in February of 1999. In 2004, Roger was elected to the California State Assembly. He has served on the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee; the Assembly Budget, and Transportation Committees; the Assembly Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. As vice-chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, he served as the key negotiator on budget issues for the Assembly Republican Caucus. He currently serves on the Transportation, Insurance, and Business and Professions Committees as well as the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and the Select Committee on Foster Care. Niello has introduced legislation to reform the contracting public infrastructure. He pushed for an overhaul of the state's unclaimed property program, as well as legislation transferring the responsibility for writing initiative ballot titles from the partisan Attorney General's office to the non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office. Roger and his wife Mary reside in Fair Oaks. They have five adult children and four grandchildren. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 18 August 2010 06:54

Joint Undercover Operation Cites 8 Individuals for Contracting Without a License

Amador County - District Attorney Todd D. Riebe announced Tuesday the results of an undercover investigation which resulted in 8 cases of alledgedly contracting without a license. The operation, which took place on July 20, 2010, was a combined effort by investigators from the Contractors State License Board, investigators from the Amador County District Attorney’s Office and the Jackson Police Department. The investigation underscores the fact that illegal contractors continue to operate in this region and pose a threat to consumers. The one-day sting resulted in 8 individuals being cited for contracting without a license. Of the 8, an unlicensed house painter was found in posession of methamphetamine and was transported to the Amador County Jail. The painter was accompanied to bid on the job by two people, one of whom was a parolee in posession of methamphetamine and drug paraphenalia. Each count of contracting without a license is a misdemeanor and punishable by up to 6 months in jail and/or a $5,000 fine for the first offense. Fradulent use of a licensse number may be charged as a felony and is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison and/or a fine up to $10,000. Some defendants may face additional charges, including unlawful advertising and fradulent use of a license number. All contractors who perform work that totals $500 or more including labor and materials, must be licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 18 August 2010 06:48

Ione Eyes Sphere of Influence Adjustments

Amador County – The Ione City Council planned a public meeting Tuesday to ready a “sphere of influence” amendment that the council and staff have been considering. City staff recommended the changes, which would reduce the sphere of influence by 19 acres. City Manager Christopher Jordan in a report to the city council Tuesday said the city’s current “sphere of influence” is 4,437 acres, including the land inside of the city limits. The amendment would add 172 acres to the “sphere of influence” and remove 191 acres. The Ione City Council planned a public hearing on the amendment Tuesday, after which the amendment request, if approved by the council, would be sent to the Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission for consideration. Jordan recommended the council “adopt a resolution making application to (LAFCO) to initiate proceedings for a Sphere of Influence amendment.” He also recommended the council give staff direction “to continue discussions with Amador County with regard to adopting a memorandum of understanding regarding planning and development of lands within the city’s Sphere of Influence prior to annexation.” The council also planned a public hearing later in the meeting Tuesday to discuss annexation of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The council was to consider adopting a resolution making an application to LAFCO for “reorganization of boundaries to detach (the wastewater treatment plant) from the Amador Fire Protection District, Amador Resource Conservation District” and the county service areas numbered 5, 6 and 7; in order to annex the plant to the city of Ione. Jordan in the report said the “sphere of influence” is a line, established by (LAFCO) “which defines the probable future boundaries of the city.” He said the “intent of the (sphere of influence) is to assist LAFCO and other local agencies and service providers in planning for future development.” The Ione “sphere of influence” was last modified in the 1990s. In a recent city General Plan update, the council looked at and identified a number of “future growth areas” around Ione, “including the Q Ranch, Silva, Old Stockton Road, Industrial Park,” and the Highway 124 corridor. Jordan said all of the areas were within the existing city sphere of influence, but the line of the sphere of influence “does not follow parcel lines.” He said the proposed amendment would “adjust the Sphere of Influence to follow parcel lines on the south and northwest.” It would also “remove properties along State Road 124 that are designated as open space in the General Plan.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 18 August 2010 06:56

Planning Dept. Releases Draft EIR for Buena Vista Biomass Plant

Amador County – The Amador County Planning Department announced Tuesday that a draft “Subsequent Environmental Impact Report” has been released for the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant on Coal Mine Road in the Jackson Valley. The planning department announced the availability of the document to the public, and also gave notice that a public hearing for the Draft Subsequent EIR was set for September 28th. The county began the process at the end of May for a use permit amendment sought by developers of the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant, the former Cogen coal mining plant. The notice said the document “is now available to the public and interested agencies” at the planning department, for sale. The Draft Subsequent EIR is also posted on the county website, co.amador.ca.us. The announcement said the Buena Vista plant project seeks a use permit that “includes repowering and conversion of an existing 18.5-megawatt electric generation facility to a renewable wood waste biomass energy facility.” The project is located about 5 miles south of Ione, in the southwestern area of the county, in Supervisor District 2. The plant has contracted with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, which will purchase 100 percent of the facility’s power. The planning department said the facility’s proposed fuel supply is “solely renewable woody biomass, derived form a variety of sources including clean urban wood waste, agricultural byproducts from orchard operations, and forest residuals from forest thinning for wildfire fuel reduction.” The Buena Vista plant “has been certified as a renewable energy facility by the California Energy Commission,” based on its proposed fuel sources. The plant would burn about 110,000 “bone dry tons” of biomass material a year, and would help SMUD in meeting its “Renewable Portfolio Standard goal of 33 percent renewable energy usage by 2020.” The Draft Supplemental EIR discloses the project’s significant environmental effects on areas such as traffic, air quality, noise, biological resources, hydrology, aesthetics, public health and hazards, and cumulative impacts. It also describes “feasible mitigation measures.” State agencies will review and comment on the document, and the public may comment by sending written comments to lead planner on the project, Nathan Lishman, at the Amador County Planning Department. The public comment period opened Tuesday, August 17th, with the release of the document, and ends 5 p.m. Thursday, September 30th. The Amador County Planning Commission will hold a public meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 28th in the Supervisors’ chambers at 810 Court Street in Jackson. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 18 August 2010 06:38