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Amador County - The Ione City Council approved modifications to its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city and its various bargaining units and unrepresented employees Tuesday evening. Those affected by the changes approved at the meeting include the Police Chief, Ione Police Officers Association (IPOA), the Service Employees International Union Local #1021 (SEIU), and unrepresented employees under the Management and Confidential Unit. The modifications to the MOU are in response to the city’s “structural budget deficit” and are an attempt to encourage cost savings and reductions for the rest of the fiscal year. Flexible Furloughs and Sick Leave Payout were two of the options negotiated and approved that are specific to the Ione Police Officers Association. The employees represented by the IPOA and also the Police Chief will be required to take 57.25 hours of unpaid leave between August 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. The hours will be spread out over the year as a 3 percent salary reduction and will be operated under a “use or lose” plan. For employees hired prior to November 1, 2008, they must decide whether to opt into an unlimited accrual of sick leave in lieu no later than August 20, 2010. The total costs savings negotiated with the IOPA equal $21,247. The Service Employees International Union Local #1021 also agreed to a negotiated furlough program in which the City’s Building Inspector/Public Works Project Manager will be required to take 384 hours of unpaid leave between July 25, 2010 and November 13, 2010. This allows for 16 hours of work per week for the entire 16 week period. Modifications for the Management and Confidential employees include continuation of the voluntary furlough program and a $50 city match cap per pay period for those employees who are eligible for the medical in lieu payment for non-participation in the city’s medical insurance program. As for cost saving measures, which equal approximately $65,445, City Manager Kim Kerr, stated that “these are the initial things we can do right now” but the city will continue to discuss potential options throughout the fiscal year. New contract negotiations with each bargaining unit will be due by the date of contract expiration on June 30, 2011. The city council also approved modifications to the contract between the City of Ione and the City Manager. These included no city match for the deferred compensation plan for non-participation in the city’s medical insurance program as well as the personal responsibility of the City Manager to pay her portion of the Old Age Survivor Disability Insurance contribution, bringing the total amount of cost savings for the City of Ione to approximately $81,889. Story by Judee Schmidt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 06 August 2010 04:55

Reyman Bros. Firm Agrees to Inspect AC Museum Gratis

Amador County - On the morning of Monday, August 9th, at invitation of the Amador County Historical Society and with the concurrence of Lee Anne McIntyre, the General Services Administration director proceeding over the Amador County Museum, two representatives from Reyman Brothers, a Nevada-based general contracting firm, will travel to the gold country to inspect the Amador County Museum, located at 225 Church St., and the purported structural weaknesses associated with the building. Also on the agenda Monday morning will be a tour of the courthouse, and if time permits, an inspection of the Kennedy Wheel 4. The firm is noted for its work in historical preservation, renovation, and preservation projects with past structures including the Kennedy Mine Tailing Wheel in Jackson in June of 2001, the Leland Stanford Mansion in Sacramento. Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City, Nevada as well as The Eureka County Courthouse located in Eureka, Nevada. The firm is known for their attention to detail on projects while drawing from a multitude of sources including old photographs, drawings and drafts, and personal diary entries and consulting with their clients, engineers, historians, and architects to properly replicate the authenticity of its structures. The Reyman Brothers have agreed to provide their consultative services and expertise to the Amador County Historical Society gratis. The Amador County Museum has been closed to the public since 2008 after the county defunded the property for financial and other miscellaneous reasons. Earlier this summer county supervisors and the Amador county historical society came together and signed a five year agreement allowing the society to not only “manage the museum and grounds” but also specifically authorizing the group to proceed with the disability modifications needed to reopen the out-building mining exhibit. Although the historical society is now able to proceed with the ADA modifications, provisions in the agreement stipulate that the county must approve any plans before work begins, and the society must provide for the upgrades or otherwise raise the funds necessary for the modifications. Story by Judee Schmidt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 06 August 2010 04:53

Tuolumne Biz Alliance Gets Local Financial Support

Amador County - The Business Alliance of Tuolumne County, a partnership of small business service providers that include the Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE), Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce, Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority, and the regional office for the Alliance Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been receiving an inflow of financial support from local organizations and businesses. As a small business owner, free services are available through the newly formed umbrella organization comprised of these four well established agencies with the mission of the alliance stated as “Building Tuolumne County, One Business at a Time.” Presently, over $17,100 has been donated to fund free business assistance including counseling and training for small business owners, startup businesses and entrepreneurs. Oak Valley Bank’s Branch Manager Debbie Kempton was the first to make a donation of $500 to this new entity stating, “We believe in the value of small businesses to the health of our community, and support the ongoing efforts of the Business Alliance.” The Economic Development Authority of Tuolumne County Fund provided $12,000 to the Business Alliance to assist the Alliance and its partners. The Alliance SBDC, partially funded by the Small Business Administration, donated $500 toward marketing and promoting the Business Alliance. The Alliance SBDC provides business consultants, free of charge, that are available to assist in the areas of business startups, financing, website development, and human resources. They also provide specialized training and one-on-one counseling throughout the year. In addition, the Economic Development Company of Tuolumne County Fund provided $12,000 to the Business Alliance to assist the Alliance and its partners. Through the Business Alliance, SCORE also provides business consultants who are business experts in many industries, and offers ongoing workshops and trainings. SCORE sponsors contributed a total of $3,600 toward an online marketing campaign on a news website called Mymotherlode.com to reach small to medium sized business owners. Sponsors of this marketing campaign include: Hohne & Hoyt, CPA; Sam Wheeler, CPA; Clarke Broadcasting; HRM Consulting; Success Capital; Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority; Sonora Regional Medical Center; and Sonora Insurance. Story by Judee Schmidt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 06 August 2010 04:50

Sonora V.A. Clinic Seeks Volunteer Drivers

Amador County - Volunteer drivers are needed to operate a seven-passenger van being assigned to the Veterans Affairs (VA) Sonora Medical Clinic on Mono Way in Sonora. The van will bring veterans to the clinic from Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Amador counties. According to Susanne Scott, the Voluntary Services Specialist at the Livermore VA Hospital, “Drivers must be oriented and approved by the VA. We expect the van to be in operation no later than Friday, October 1, 2010.” Those interested in volunteering should contact Scott at (925) 449-6448 or Frank M. Smart at (209) 536-0439 or 559-1908. The qualifications for being a part-time, un-paid driver are to pass a Tuberculosis test which can be administered at the Sonora Medical Clinic, and each volunteer drive must provide a copy of their driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Each volunteer must be fingerprinted by the VA. “The applicant does not need to be a veteran,” says Scott. For more information contact Scott at the above numbers or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Smart at the above numbers or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Via Press Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 06 August 2010 04:48

AC Peace Officer’s Association Seeks Nominations

Amador County - The Amador County Peace Officer’s Association is seeking nominations for Peace Officer and Citizen of the Year for 2010. Any nominations should include a brief statement to support the nomination. Please submit nominations to the ACPOA, care of the Awards Committee at P.O. Box 1632, Sutter Creek, CA 95685, on or before September 8, 2010. The Awards Committee will be selecting this year’s winner at their September 9th meeting. The Awards Dinner will be held at the American Legion Hall in Martell on Saturday, October 23, 2010. No host cocktails are at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $25. For more details, contact Mark Estey, retired Amador County Deputy Sheriff and ACPOA Treasurer at 209-267-1820. Via Press Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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