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Friday, 23 July 2010 06:08

Senator Dave Cox Memorial Announced

Sacramento - The memorial service for Senator Dave Cox will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2010 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The Cathedral is located at 1017 11th Street in Sacramento. The service will begin promptly at 10 a.m. On Tuesday, July 13, Cox passed away after a 13-year battle with prostate cancer. Respected for his public service, Cox was a fierce fighter for a more transparent and responsive government. A complete biography and photo are available on his website. A devoted family man, Cox is survived by his wife Maggie of 44 years; daughters Cathleen, Margo and Sarah; six grandchildren and his beloved dog Rudy. In lieu of flowers, the Cox family asks that donations be made to the Dave and Maggie Cox Scholarship Fund with the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, located at 740 University Avenue, Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95825. Members of the public are welcome to attend the memorial service. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 23 July 2010 06:10

AWA Budget Talks Include Internal, External Comments

Amador County – Facing a shortage of cash and a nearly $2 million budget hole, the Amador Water Agency board of directors on Thursday discussed some solutions and heard some comments from staff. The agency head from an attorney for its field employees’ union, Mark Johnson, who said they see the AWA as a family. He said they are concerned and are “willing to come to the table to discuss what needs to happen” and “to discuss all of the issues.” He said they “probably should have started” the talks “a while ago.” The AWA Employee Association President, who identified himself as Damon, said he had been in concession bargaining discussions with General Manager Gene Mancebo and employee representative Karen Gish. Damon said he took offense to a remark someone said earlier that they “haven’t seen any blood from employees.” He said this year and last year, the field maintenance employees are down by 11 employees. He said they must maintain the same infrastructure with fewer people. He said the agency is down 20 people total, including temps, “so we’ve picked up the burden of all that extra work.” Now they must talk about salary and benefit cuts. President Bill Condrashoff said hundreds of “conditional will-serves” worth $10,000 apiece have been put out to developers around the county at no charge, and claiming those fees could bring in millions of dollars. Information Technology Manager Mitch Netto said computer system upgrades are just like other neglected agency operations and maintenance, and could run higher in years to come, without small-piece replacements, it could lead to a need for a “full refresh.” Netto suggested they consolidate under a new company, dissolve the Amador Water System, and open a new company, the Amador Water Service. He said all customers across the agency would have “one combined service, and pay one rate.” Once closed, they could “reinstitute” all “conditional will-serve,” and make the will-serve holders meet new requirements and conditions, including the new up-front fee payments. Netto said it “stabilizes everybody down the line.” He said AWS is $2 million in the hole, and “most companies would close their doors at that point.” President Bill Condrashoff said it was an interesting idea which they should run by their attorney. Martell Resident Ken Berry said: “I’m going to fight that tooth and nail,” because the Gravity Supply Line “is your problem.” The board went into closed session at 1 p.m. Thursday to discuss a lawsuit by Berry against the agency. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 23 July 2010 06:13

AWA Budget Talk Includes Public Ire, Employee Presence

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors discussed Thursday its budget for the coming fiscal year, which included angry public input and a heavy presence of its field employees. Agency General Manager Gene Mancebo recommended a 4 percent rate increase in the Amador Water System, along with about $200,000 in cuts to employees, and that the agency meet its AWS “debt service coverage through an updated financial plan.” He also recommended looking at “all other system financial plans to achieve financial solvency.” Mancebo said new rate increases in smaller systems would help, and the budget depended on a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Gravity Supply Line project in the Upcountry. President Bill Condrashoff said the rate increase in AWS would not generate the $169,000 necessary, as believed by staff. He said as past rate hikes occurred the usage of water dropped, and he expected that. He also said the budget makes too many assumptions, including the USDA grant. Vice President Debbie Dunn agreed, saying that if the grant is not awarded, the agency would be stuck with repaying a $900,000 loan from the county Water Development Fund. Director Terence Moore said that budget assumptions are typical, including the GSL grant. Moore said if there is no GSL, there is going to have to be an immediate rate increase in the Central Amador Water Project, and they would also have to go back and discuss the development loan. A successful Proposition 218 protest was announced Wednesday as having stopped a rate increase in the Central Amador Water system. Martell resident Ken Berry, who helped lead the protest, delivered a profanity-laced criticism to the board, wondering how the Prop 218 protest did not also kill the Gravity Supply Line project. Berry asked the board: “Can any of you explain why the GSL isn’t dead and buried right now?” Condrashoff asked Mancebo if he thought the rate increase would fix the budget. Mancebo said “we need a rate increase. I understand how unpopular that is.” He said if the GSL grant is delayed, they would have to go to the county and renegotiate the development loan. He said he has been meeting with employee representatives and management, and “all staff is willing to shoulder some cuts, if the board is willing to support rate increases,” and “educating the people about what we are up against,” in trying to bring the agency back into financial well being. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 23 July 2010 06:15

Pioneer Man Arrested for Assualting Brother with Knife

Amador County – A Pioneer man has been arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly trying to stab his brother with a knife, according to a statement from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. The family dispute occurred between Nickolas Milton Schumann, 48, and his brother at 24084 Gold Circle Drive in Pioneer. On July 18th at approximately 10:05 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call about a family dispute. The subject reported that he and his brother, Nick Schumann, had been in a physical altercation over family issues wherein punches were exchanged. Schumann reportedly left the room and returned with a knife. “The victim told deputies that Nick attempted to stab him in the abdomen with the knife. The victim said he was able to disarm Nick as he was attempting to stab him, however he was cut with the knife during the encounter,” said Undersheriff Jim Wegner. Schumann’s brother showed “a deep incision on a finger on his right hand” as evidence of the attack. The brother was transported to Sutter Amador Hospital via American Legion Ambulance. When contacted by deputies, Schumann also showed evidence of a physical altercation. He appeared to have a swollen lip and a bloody nose. “Additionally, Nick displayed some objective indicators that he was under the influence of alcohol,” said Wegner. He admitted to being involved in a fight with his brother regarding financial issues and family matters. Wegner said, “A search of the scene resulted in the recovery of the 10 ¾” fixed knife allegedly used in the assault, of which Nickolas admitted ownership.” There appeared to be a small amount of blood on the knife. Schumann was subsequently arrested and, after being medically cleared for incarceration, was booked into the Amador County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Friday, 23 July 2010 06:06

Amador RAC Solicits Project Proposals

Amador County - The Amador County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) announced Monday that it is soliciting project proposals for financial support under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, reauthorized in 2008. Currently, as authorized by the legislation, Amador County has approximately $90,000 to fund natural resource related projects within Amador County. Additional funds will be available in January 2011. Projects nominated must be located in Amador County and have broad based support in the following areas: road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration; soil productivity improvements; watershed restoration and maintenance; improvements in forest ecosystem health; wildlife and fish habitat improvements; control of noxious and exotic weeds; reintroduction of native species, and hazardous fuels reduction. RAC members are particularly interested in projects that provide cultural awareness, human health and interface, community to government relationship building, public outreach and education, forest health, local job creation, trail maintenance, funding partnerships and projects that fill the gaps between other forest projects. Projects can be on national forest or private land within Amador County. Projects on private lands must have clear benefit to the Eldorado National Forest. To nominate a project to the Amador County RAC, please visit the Eldorado National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado. Project proponents should contact the Amador District Ranger before finalizing a project proposal. The deadline for submitting project proposals for consideration during this round of funding is August 13, 2010. Applicants who have had their projects reviewed by the Forest Service are welcome to provide an overview of their proposal to Amador County RAC members on August 30 and September 13 when the RAC convenes at 10877 Conductor Blvd in Sutter Creek. The meetings will begin at 6 pm. Please contact Deb Sweeten at (209) 295-5903 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to make a presentation or if you need further information. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Monday, 26 July 2010 06:08

Plymouth Ok's Joint Greenhouse Gas Grant

Amador County – Plymouth City Council Thursday agreed to apply for a grant for a countywide greenhouse gas inventory, but still wants information before finalizing the decision. Community Development Director Barry Siebe said the county would lead an application for Proposition 84 funding to inventory countywide sources of greenhouse gas, as required by new law, Senate Bill 32. Siebe said the law requires the inventory on any project that requires a California Environmental Quality Act study, and doing the inventory would make Plymouth and the county more attractive to development. The estimated cost to apply was $7,000. Siebe said the county was asking each city to join the application at no cost, but each is urged to contribute what it can afford. Ione last week joined and contributed $1,000. Siebe and Amador County Planner Susan Grijalva said there is a movement to repeal SB32 or suspend it due to the economy. Councilman Mike O’Meara said he knew they had to cover their “rear ends,” but “cap and trade is going to kill” his and other businesses, or push them to other states. Councilman Greg Baldwin said the only emissions the state should worry about are from vehicles, and supported taking a “stand” against SB32. Mayor Pat Fordyce was leery of the law being rescinded, wondered if the application was premature, asked if funding would be extended (if the August 31st filing deadline was missed). Siebe was not sure, and Grijalva said staff could ask that question at a workshop on the grants this week in Sacramento. The council approved the application, but will “rescind it,” Baldwin said, “if we don’t like the answer.” The council will get the answer August 4th in joint meeting with its Planning Commission. The council, on O’Meara’s suggestion, also approved sending a “very strong letter” to “explain to Sacramento that this is going to kill us.” Councilwoman Pat Shackleton said she was “sick and tired of voting for things” under pressure of a deadline from the state, adding that: “We’re on the pipeline and I wish to heck we weren’t. I’m not going to vote for it.” She eventually changed her mind and voted for the resolution to prepare the application, on a 5-0 vote. Grijalva said she will take the joint application to the Board of Supervisors August 3rd. She said “we have to do it together or individually, and it will be cheaper to do inventory together than separately and redundantly.” The grant could total $100,000 to $1 million. Siebe said if all cities and the county don’t approve the joint application, then Plymouth is “off the hook.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Monday, 26 July 2010 06:10

FOAC Files Appeal to EPA Approval of BV Wastewater Permit

Amador County - Friends of Amador County (FOAC), a community group opposed to the proposed Buena Vista Casino near Ione, has filed an appeal to a recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorizing the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians to discharge treated wastewater into an unnamed tributary of Jackson Creek. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is just one of many steps necessary in the tribe’s pursuit of a new $150 million casino. In a letter to the EPA, FOAC Chairman Jerry Cassesi lists in detail four reasons why his group feels the permit should be revoked. Cassesi references the permit document, saying the “permit assumes that the ‘location where discharge enters receiving water’ is understood,” but “this location is…anything but clear.” He goes on to say that further permission would be required from surrounding “landowners” and the exact location of the “receiving waters” are not clarified. In his second point for review, he says “there is no finding, no clarity, and no guidance” in what is referred to in the permit document language as “the discharge point to receiving water” and requests that the area of “several miles” be described specifically. Referencing a section referring to “reclaimed water limitations,” Cassesi says “you do not have to be a hydrologist to understand that some surface water goes into the ground, particularly in deep porous topsoil as in the Jackson Valley where the Buena Vista Rancheria Casino is proposed.” He says this is “a deep-seated concern” to local residents because over the years “there have been several occurrences in the surrounding Ione area of generational sterility and birth defects” and “four instances of canine deaths due to cancer” in close proximity to the proposed wastewater discharge point. Finally, he requests “a review of the annual flooding of roads leading to the proposed casino which will be greatly exacerbated by wastewater discharge of the magnitude allowed by this permit.” Cassesi writes that “all four of FOAC’s requests for review involve failure to make essential findings of fact.” He said “this results in erroneous presumptions that pose a significant threat to the health and safety of the people of the Jackson Valley, now and in the future.” The construction of the casino remains a contentious issue in Amador County. The Amador County Board of Supervisors has consistently opposed any Indian gaming expansion and specifically opposes the establishment of the Buena Vista Casino near Ione. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Monday, 26 July 2010 06:12

Sutter Creek Mayor Apologizes, AWA Asked ABout Water Capacity Limits

Amador County – Sutter Creek Mayor Gary Wooten apologized last week for an outburst he made July 6th in a council meeting, saying he was caught up in the moment. Wooten apologized to those in attendance July 6th, When he said Chris Seyboldt was making a “low-life comment” about an issue being discussed. Wooten said the council was being grilled about the recent Grand Jury report, and when he gets passionate about issues, he gets very intense. He said: “I have trouble intimidating my wife and my 3-year-old grandchild.” Wooten said the Grand Jury finding that the council rules with “intimidation” was not true, that he was not trying to intimidate people at Sutter Creek City Council meetings and he was sorry if he did intimidate them. Wooten said none of the Grand Jury findings are major, and “all of them have been corrected.” Sutter Creek resident Ed Arata disagreed, and urged the city to “investigate further and consider possible legal action” on 20 of the findings. Arata admitted to submitting a 4-page, 8-item complaint to the Grand Jury about Sutter Creek city government, which launched the jury’s probe of Sutter Creek. Arata, in a letter to the city council, said the council should “immediately rotate the mayor position to a council member who is more responsive to the citizens” and “who does not badger and attempt to intimidate the citizens speaking at public meetings.” City Manager Sean Rabe and Mayor Pro Tempore Tim Murphy are working on a draft response, which the council could consider at its August 6th meeting. Ed Swift in public comment asked the council to consider making downtown sidewalks safer, instead of simply addressing liability. He noted that the city was liable for this now that Caltrans had relinquished Old Highway 49 to the city, after completion of the bypass. Swift also said the “city spent highway money for other purposes,” and “I think it’s wrong.” Wooten said “Caltrans did give Sutter Creek $3 million when it relinquished the highway to the city.” He said that money was not specifically designated to be used on anything. He said it was spent as the city needed it, and was not misused. City Finance Director Joe Aguilar agreed, saying “there is no restriction on the use of that money.” Councilwoman Linda Rianda said the council passed a crosswalks ordinance, but still must address sidewalk liability. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.