Amador County – The Amador County Integrated Waste Management joint power authority is hoping that a new state commercial and multifamily recycling mandate will help meet a mandate requiring the diversion of 75 percent of waste headed to landfills by 2020.

Amador County Waste Management Director Jim McHargue said both mandates are components of AB341, which takes effect July 1. The second component is a requirement that the state meet a mandatory 75 percent diversion or recycling rate of all waste by Jan. 1, 2020, on a statewide basis.

McHargue said current state law requires 50 percent diversion of material from the waste flow, out of the landfills and into recycling or reuse. McHargue said AB 341 does change things significantly. It requires a statewide goal of 75 percent diversion.

The current 50 percent diversion must be met individually by every city and state, McHargue said, but the 75 percent mandate is not required to be met by individual cities and counties. Rather, it will be required state wide.

He said the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery will be in charge of monitoring the 75 percent diversion. McHargue said now, a “pounds per person per day” analysis looks at the amount of weight in pounds each person disposes of per day and compares that baseline number to see that cities and counties meet the 50 percent requirement.

McHargue said through the local agencies’ joint power authority, the Amador Regional Waste Management Authority, ACES Waste Service, Amador County and the five cities in the county have been involved in AB939, which requires 50 percent statewide diversion of waste. His focus has been monitoring that data. McHargue said in 2011, Amador County was approximately at a 70 percent rate of diverting waste from landfills and into recycling and reuse.

He said “really the hope is that maybe this additional commercial recycling may in fact put us up and over that 75 percent number.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors discussed the Animal Control Department during its budget workshop last week, recognizing its importance but also seeing the potential for cuts.

The county expects a $2.47 million dollar budget shortfall in 2012-2013. Supervisor Vice Chairman Richard Forster said “I was here when the shelter had all the problems” and “I don’t want to go back there.” But “I don’t know if that means reinstating lost positions.”

Supervisor Ted Novelli said if Triple Flip comes back to the county, through a budget rider, he would consider funds for Animal Control, and Supervisor Brian Oneto agreed.

Forster said other departments are severely affected by potential cuts. General Services has to take care of all county buildings, and is not doing any preventive maintenance, only emergencies, taking care of problems as needed.

In public comment, shelter volunteer Lynn Clevinger said the Stockton shelter recently killed 966 dogs in one month and “our animal shelter is a model: “It’s not the dogs’ fault they end up there. It’s people.”

Forster asked Animal Services Director John Vail for statistics on euthanasia. Vail said in the last six years 1,250 cats were euthanized in Amador County: 70 percent of cats leave the shelter alive, and 85 percent of dogs leave alive. Cats are put down because they are feral, and dogs due to attitude, if they can’t be safe in a home, if they kill other animals, and sometimes for medical reasons.

Novelli asked Vail: Depending on the way the budget goes, is there any way to reorganize things in your department to absorb the loss of 2.47. Vail said: “I don’t think so.” He said Animal Control’s budget has been slightly under $1 million. Services and supplies cost about $200,000 and they have tried to cut that down.

He said things we don’t have control over in spending is pretty much personnel costs. If they have animals, they have to have food. And if they have sick dogs they are required to treat them.

Susan Manning of A-PAL said she also was there when Animal Control services hit bottom. She said Supervisors stepped up and built a first class facility. We said: That is not enough. We want a wonderful, caring staff, and you gave us that.

Manning said back then, 20 percent came out alive, and now it is 15 percent being euthanized, and we adopted 500 cats. “Our shelter intake was the same” but euthanasia hasn’t increased, she said. “When we stay the same and don’t go up in an economy like this, it’s a win.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-31-12 - TSPN's Tom slivick talks with Ruthella Turner of the ATCAA Back Pack 2 School Program.  

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-31-12

• Amador Supervisors discuss Animal Control in budget workshop.

• Waste Management authority hopes commercial, multifamily recycling mandate will help meet a statewide diversion mandate of 75% by 2020

• Amador County Unified announced upcoming elections for School Board Districts 4 and 5, held by Walser and Upper.

• Amador Supervisors budget workshop sees A-PAL could be affected by budget cuts to Animal Control.

• Amador High Drama Club member Cecily Swason won the Rotary Club District speech contest in Nevada May 19, and a prize of $1,000  

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-31-12

• Amador Supervisors discuss Animal Control in budget workshop.

• Waste Management authority hopes commercial, multifamily recycling mandate will help meet a statewide diversion mandate of 75% by 2020

• Amador County Unified announced upcoming elections for School Board Districts 4 and 5, held by Walser and Upper.

• Amador Supervisors budget workshop sees A-PAL could be affected by budget cuts to Animal Control.

• Amador High Drama Club member Cecily Swason won the Rotary Club District speech contest in Nevada May 19, and a prize of $1,000  

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-31-12 - TSPN's Tom slivick talks with Ruthella Turner of the ATCAA Back Pack 2 School Program.  

Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors discussed the Animal Control Department during its budget workshop last week, recognizing its importance but also seeing the potential for cuts.

The county expects a $2.47 million dollar budget shortfall in 2012-2013. Supervisor Vice Chairman Richard Forster said “I was here when the shelter had all the problems” and “I don’t want to go back there.” But “I don’t know if that means reinstating lost positions.”

Supervisor Ted Novelli said if Triple Flip comes back to the county, through a budget rider, he would consider funds for Animal Control, and Supervisor Brian Oneto agreed.

Forster said other departments are severely affected by potential cuts. General Services has to take care of all county buildings, and is not doing any preventive maintenance, only emergencies, taking care of problems as needed.

In public comment, shelter volunteer Lynn Clevinger said the Stockton shelter recently killed 966 dogs in one month and “our animal shelter is a model: “It’s not the dogs’ fault they end up there. It’s people.”

Forster asked Animal Services Director John Vail for statistics on euthanasia. Vail said in the last six years 1,250 cats were euthanized in Amador County: 70 percent of cats leave the shelter alive, and 85 percent of dogs leave alive. Cats are put down because they are feral, and dogs due to attitude, if they can’t be safe in a home, if they kill other animals, and sometimes for medical reasons.

Novelli asked Vail: Depending on the way the budget goes, is there any way to reorganize things in your department to absorb the loss of 2.47. Vail said: “I don’t think so.” He said Animal Control’s budget has been slightly under $1 million. Services and supplies cost about $200,000 and they have tried to cut that down.

He said things we don’t have control over in spending is pretty much personnel costs. If they have animals, they have to have food. And if they have sick dogs they are required to treat them.

Susan Manning of A-PAL said she also was there when Animal Control services hit bottom. She said Supervisors stepped up and built a first class facility. We said: That is not enough. We want a wonderful, caring staff, and you gave us that.

Manning said back then, 20 percent came out alive, and now it is 15 percent being euthanized, and we adopted 500 cats. “Our shelter intake was the same” but euthanasia hasn’t increased, she said. “When we stay the same and don’t go up in an economy like this, it’s a win.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Integrated Waste Management joint power authority is hoping that a new state commercial and multifamily recycling mandate will help meet a mandate requiring the diversion of 75 percent of waste headed to landfills by 2020.

Amador County Waste Management Director Jim McHargue said both mandates are components of AB341, which takes effect July 1. The second component is a requirement that the state meet a mandatory 75 percent diversion or recycling rate of all waste by Jan. 1, 2020, on a statewide basis.

McHargue said current state law requires 50 percent diversion of material from the waste flow, out of the landfills and into recycling or reuse. McHargue said AB 341 does change things significantly. It requires a statewide goal of 75 percent diversion.

The current 50 percent diversion must be met individually by every city and state, McHargue said, but the 75 percent mandate is not required to be met by individual cities and counties. Rather, it will be required state wide.

He said the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery will be in charge of monitoring the 75 percent diversion. McHargue said now, a “pounds per person per day” analysis looks at the amount of weight in pounds each person disposes of per day and compares that baseline number to see that cities and counties meet the 50 percent requirement.

McHargue said through the local agencies’ joint power authority, the Amador Regional Waste Management Authority, ACES Waste Service, Amador County and the five cities in the county have been involved in AB939, which requires 50 percent statewide diversion of waste. His focus has been monitoring that data. McHargue said in 2011, Amador County was approximately at a 70 percent rate of diverting waste from landfills and into recycling and reuse.

He said “really the hope is that maybe this additional commercial recycling may in fact put us up and over that 75 percent number.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees passed a resolution last week announcing upcoming elections in November in School Board Districts Areas 4 and 5, to be on the November ballot. ¶ Superintendent Dick Glock said the School District Area 4 seat held by Trustee Mary Walser and District Area 5 seat held by President Wally Upper would be coming up for election for the first time since Amador Unified switched from a seven-member board to a five-member board.

The Board voted 5-0 to approve a resolution giving notice of the governing board member election and declaration of candidacy period, notifying the Amador County Elections department that the seats would be on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

The resolution notes that “trustee area boundaries are coterminous with the adopted county supervisorial districts.” Qualifications for candidacy are that the “candidate must be a registered voter and reside within the trustee area.”

Declarations of candidacy may be obtained at the Elections Department, in the County Admin Building at 810 Court Street in Jackson, beginning July 16. Candidacy papers must be filed with County Clerk Sheldon Johnson by no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10. The resolution noted that if an eligible incumbent does not file a declaration of candidacy by that deadline, voters shall have until 5 p.m. on Aug 15 to nominate candidates other than the incumbent for the office.

The resolution said that the “County Superintendent of Schools, by this Notice of Election has called the election,” by order of the School Board. Glock said School Board seats in District Areas 1, 2 and 3 will be up for election in two years. The resolution also detailed appointment procedures, if no one files for the races.

Trustees and staff also discussed the restoration of staff hours and furlough days, restored to previous levels of 2010, when the board approved a voluntary 10 percent reduction of their monthly compensation as a show of support and solidarity for the concession and salary reductions taken by all District and Office of Education employees. Trustees approved restoring the reductions.

Trustee Pat Miller said he had been asked about the difference in furlough days between teachers, who had eight furlough days, and administrators, who had five furlough days in the previous agreement. An employee group representative also asked for an explanation of the difference.

Nancy Gamache, executive director of personnel for the Office of Education said the percentage of furloughs taken by each group is the same. Teachers work more days than administrators, so they had more actual furlough days in the 2010 agreement. Each group agreed to a 10 percent reduction by furlough.

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Amador County – Amador County Supervisors last week discussed potential cuts to the Animal Control budget, while industry professionals urged the importance of Animal Control.

County Administrative Officer Chuck Iley said A-PAL funding is included in Animal Control’s budget, under special services. Supervisor Ted Novelli asked why there was an increase in special service costs. Vail said the line item was restored by other line items.

Susan Manning of A- PAL said she thought it would be “best to cut workload areas where the workload is down.” She said A-PAL spent $57,000 last year, while we asked the county to contribute $15,000.”

Veterinarian Alison Pilsbury said she has seen how the shelter has changed and “now it is a poster for all of the shelters in California,” being well run and utilized with great staff.

She wanted to “go past warm and fuzzy and talk about liability.” She asked Supervisor Brian Oneto when was the last time that he roped and castrated cattle with no help. She said she asked Oneto because he has been in the cattle business a long time.

Pilsbury said you can have severe injury that can be career ending. She has access to drugs to calm down animals, but Animal Control officers may not have that.

She said shelter staff work with backup, but if it is needed and not there, they risk having career ending injury. When you deal with an animal that’s stressed and can turn and bite you, liability is very important.

Pilsbury said when an animal has been hit, employees are on call at night, and a veterinarian will be called to help. There is also potential rabies issues, which also need backup.

Forster said: “I have roped cows out in the middle of nowhere to pull a calf and it’s not very easy and it’s not very fun.” He said “cows don’t bite very hard but they can run over you.”

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