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Thursday, 01 July 2010 06:16

Terri Daly - CAO Job Transition 7-1-10

Published in Local

Thursday, 01 July 2010 06:12

Grand Jury Report Pores Over Sutter Creek Practices

Amador County – Sutter Creek underwent detailed scrutiny by this year’s Amador County Grand Jury, whose report was delivered Tuesday (June 29th) to the Board of Supervisors. Sutter Creek underwent several studies by the grand jury, whose foreman Michael Phalen reported the findings June 21st. Jurists looked at five areas of Sutter Creek business. They were finance, administration and policy; the sanitary sewer management plan; the wastewater treatment plant; the Sutter Creek Police Department; and animal issues within city limits. Findings included that City Manager Rob Duke “was out of compliance” with state code pertaining to emergency actions by the city council, formal bidding procedures, and public contracts. The jury also found that “city ordinances and municipal codes are out-of-date by 4 to 5 years,” and “hard copies of minutes are months out-of-date.” The finance department was found to have “inconsistencies and the changing of figures” in financial status reports. The jury also found it unclear whether a police officer who was being paid while on medical leave suffered from a work-related injury. The jury also found that in “December 2007, the city council authorized the cash purchase of a Toyota hybrid,” which was used to obtain a loan in April 2008, “without the approval of city council,” and then in “December 2008, the vehicle was sold without advertising.” The report also noted that “Grand Jurors attending city council meetings observed some members of the city council managing by intimidation and being unresponsive to citizens’ concerns.” The report made 23 recommendations to the city and one to citizens, the latter urging people to “become actively involved with the city council to ensure positive change, without being intimidated by any individual member. This commitment will help city government avoid defaulting to continued mismanagement.” The jury also recommended following proper code by the city manager, and circulating and updating city personnel policies and handbooks. Jurists recommended discontinuing the practice of “paying for or accepting meals or gifts from consultants,” and suggested city staff “submit all contract agreements to the city council for review and approval.” The report urged that the city should “not allow one person to hold multiple positions if those positions have inherent conflicts.” A finding of fact listed that Duke was city manager, chief of police, director of the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority, and manager of the city sewer plant. The report said Duke was not qualified to be the plant manager for a number of reasons. The city council must respond to the grand jury report in 90 days. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Thursday, 01 July 2010 06:11

Two Suspects Arrested for Copper Wire Theft

Amador County - The Amador County Sheriff’ Department announced Tuesday the arrest of two male suspects for the theft of copper wire, among other charges. Jeffrey Scott Perry, 43, of Pioneer and John Wirth IV, 27, of Pleasanton, were arrested after an investigation stemming from a initial report of a suspicious vehicle parked on Highway 88, near property containing several abandoned residences. The Sheriff’s Office got the call on June 22 at 8:30 p.m. and arrived on scene to discover Perry on the property. “Upon further investigation, deputies located a bag concealed near the suspect’s vehicle which contained several rolls of copper wire and several electrical panel boxes,” said Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner in a release. He said a search of the property by the deputies on scene revealed several buildings had been stripped of copper wire. A backpack “containing additional burglary tools and drug paraphernalia was located within one of the abandoned residences.” He said, “A search of the suspect’s vehicle revealed miscellaneous burglary tools, evidence of other wire thefts, suspected stolen property including cell phones and jewelry, and a box of unexpended 9mm ammunition.” Wegner said, “The suspect ultimately revealed that he had not been alone and that a subject named John had been present with him but had fled into the woods upon our arrival and that he too was involved in the burglaries.” When deputies returned the next day, they discovered the second suspect, Wirth, hiding in a bathroom on the property where the wire thefts had taken place. Wirth was detained and during subsequent interviews admitted to advising Perry of the location of the abandoned buildings and the wire within. He denied involvement in actually stealing the wire. Jeffrey Scott Perry was arrested on scene and charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools, and being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition. John Wirth was also arrested on scene and charged with burglary and possession of burglary tools. He was also booked on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. Wegner said, “Amador County Sheriff’s Detectives are conducting supplemental investigations to determine if these subjects can be connected to any other area burglaries or thefts.” A TSPN TV Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Law Enforcement

Thursday, 01 July 2010 06:09

Jackson Foresees Significant Costs Associated With Wastewater Fund

Amador County – The Jackson City Council’s review and subsequent approval of the annual budget Monday revealed how tough economic times have affected key services, in particular the wastewater enterprise fund. “The General Fund continues to be the focus and driver behind most City services, although some other key budgetary issues are looming in the wastewater enterprise fund this fiscal year,” said City Manager Mike Daly in a report to the council. The Wastewater Fund is dependent on revenue derived from residential and commercial customers. During fiscal year 2009-10, sewer rates were increased in February and July for a cumulative total of 23 percent, yet revenues only increased 7.4 percent. Daly said “this is reflective of a higher vacancy rate for both residential and commercial customers, and lower water consumption by commercial customers whose sewer bills factor in water use.” Other factors could add significant costs for the City in the coming year, including regulatory compliance issues related to stricter water quality standards, and the implementation of a state regulated wastewater effluent discharge permit. A regulation in the City’s permit also requires an eventual reduction in the effluent discharge into Jackson Creek so that the percentage it contributes to effluent in Lake Amador is less than 5 percent. In addition, he said the City’s 25-year-old treatment plant is having trouble keeping up with demand. Daly said: “An intensive public education process will be required to explain the need for rate increases given the level of citizen interest in previous rate increases and the requirements associated with Proposition 218.” The newly-approved budget has yet to include costs associated with any of these issues or the water rights petition that will need to be circulated should the City move forward with removing effluent from Jackson Creek. In July, the City Council will consider an alternative analysis of the Wastewater Fund that includes financing options and detailed cost estimates. Jackson’s General Fund is expected to finish with a positive balance this year, and revenues are expected to exceed expenditures by $88,955. When considering the projected mid-year budget deficit of $264,000 and implemented reductions, the final deficit for fiscal year 2009-10 was reduced to $40,574. Daly said severe cuts over the last year mean the City is “in the black” for now. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Thursday, 01 July 2010 06:05

AWA Board Meeting Heats Up Over Budget Discussions

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors asked for more study on potential budget cuts Tuesday before deferring action until July. The board could resume discussion today. After several hours of discussion and 3 different motions yesterday, Director Terence Moore stormed out, saying the board should take action and was afraid to do its job. Moore said if they did not do a combination of recommendations by staff, they could lose 2 months of summer income that could be increased by a recommended 4 percent increase of rates in the Amador Water System. Moore said “I can’t believe you are still listening to these local gadflies who are always against the agency and never say anything positive.” Audience member David Evitt and Moore had a heated exchange, and Evitt and Ken Berry spoke against the rate increase and agency pursuit of the Gravity Supply Line. Vice President Debbie Dunn insisted staff look at a pipeline bond payment to see if it could change. President Bill Condrashoff sided with Dunn, and wanted to continue talking about options. Moore said the AWS system could have its rates raised because it was approved to do so in 2008 by the board, which only raised rates by 8 percent. The board could raise it another 4 percent. Moore said they were in error by not raising rates the entire amount. Dunn said she didn’t “feel like we made a mistake,” and pledged to protect ratepayers. General Manager Gene Mancebo said to correct the budget they would also need to make 4 to 6 layoffs. Employee negotiator Karen Gish said that without the 4 percent rate increase, the agency would need 6 to 8 layoffs to balance the budget. Finance Manager Mike Lee said the agency’s cash was at $500,000, and Mancebo said bluntly that cash problems mean “we are in trouble.” He said the budget took shape in the last week or so, as staff realized the rate increase in the Central Amador Water Project may fail. During public comment, Ken Berry said the AWA should expect 1,600 Proposition 218 protests at the CAWP rate hearing today (July 1st), though all of those might not be valid. Mancebo, Gish and Board Clerk Chris Thompson said the board should act now, and that department heads came together Monday, looked at numbers and found that 4 “full time equivalent” layoffs and the 4 percent rate increase would come $140,000 short. Mancebo said employee union negotiators had to know whether the rate hike was activated, and they “need to talk to bargaining units about putting a freeze on salaries and raises, which would almost equal the final $140,000 in cuts. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Water

Wednesday, 30 June 2010 06:09

D.A. Joint Investigation Finds Potential Auto Fraud, Misdemeanor Violations

Amador County – Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe announced Friday the results of a three day joint operation which resulted in the discovery of one potential auto insurance fraud investigation and four misdemeanor violations of the Vehicle Code and/or Business and Professional Code. Investigators inspected 45 licensed and unlicensed businesses in Amador and Calaveras counties. The objectives of the outreach operation were to uncover cases of automobile insurance fraud, insure compliance with workers’ compensation laws and to enhance public awareness as well as the awareness of each particular business in staying in compliance. “Businesses who defraud the system gain an unfair advantage in the marketplace over law-abiding businesses. Operations such as this are designed to hold fraudulent businesses accountable, ultimately saving consumers money and preventing future victims,” said Riebe. The operation, which took place over a three day period from June 22 to 24, was a combined effort by investigators from the Amador County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Insurance, Fraud Division, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Bureau of Automotive Repair. The operation also worked in conjunction with the District Attorney’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit to check for proper Workers’ Compensation insurance. If you are aware or suspect Automobile or Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud, contact the Amador County District Attorney’s Office at 209-223-6444. Via Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 30 June 2010 06:11

Plymouth Wants More Information On ACTC Fast Food Fee Reductions

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council on Tuesday decided to ask for more information before deciding whether to approve a fee amendment for certain fast-food restaurants proposed by the Amador County Transportation Commission. ACTC Executive Director Charles Field said it would have been the first “no” vote he has received from a member entity in the 7-year history of the ACTC, but instead of a rejection, the council deferred action, and directed staff to send letters of inquiry to the cities, commission board, and its chairman. The latter was attending Tuesday’s meeting: Plymouth Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin. Field said an amended Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) – creating lower fast food restaurant fees – had been approved by other cities, the ACTC board and the Amador County Board of Supervisors. But too many questions were not answered, said Mayor Pat Fordyce. And Councilman Jon Colburn said there was too much of a disparity between fees, which for a “stand alone” fast foot restaurant are $48,944 per 1000 square feet, and for an exempt fast food restaurant would be $18,240 per 1000 square feet. The exempt restaurants either share a building or are built in a strip mall, but also do not have a state highway frontage. Colburn said he thought McDonalds in Martell would not have had to pay the higher fee, but Field said it would because it has a parcel adjacent to Highway 49, and can advertise on the roadside and directly affect traffic flow. Baldwin voted “no” in an attempt by Fordyce, Colburn and Councilwoman Pat Shackleton to change the resolution amending the MOU. City attorney Laura Hollender said the council could only vote approval or disapproval of the resolution as worded, but could not change the wording. The council then voted 4-0 to rescind the action. Baldwin said city council members do not what fast-food-type restaurants in Plymouth, and one council member does not want growth at all. He said the city also would probably not get a restaurant of any kind built for at least a year. Baldwin said it was hindering a lot of hard work done by ACTC staff. Colburn said the MOU amendment directly aids Carl’s Junior and Martell, because it was crafted based on that restaurant’s “internal” traffic study, accompanying an appeal of the higher fee. Baldwin said the city council has discussed its Highway 49 “scenic corridor” through town, and agreed to not have a lot of ingress and egress, to have a buffer with side roads for development. He said the city council and planning commission should be able to handle specific issues in the city. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 30 June 2010 06:13

SPI to Reopen Sonora Sawmill, Good for 130 Jobs

Tuolumne County – Sierra Pacific Industries on Tuesday announced that it would be reopening a revamped sawmill in Sonora, where 130 jobs could be restored to the region. SPI and Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority issued a joint statement saying that they worked cooperatively to “retool the mill and restore jobs to the community.” Larry Cope, director of economic development for TCEDA, said it is “a major project that will not only bring jobs and investment to Tuolumne County, it will bring back a way of life.” Cope said the “facility will be tops in its class” and feature state-of-the-art technologies. The statement said “SPI is making a major investment in Tuolumne County by retooling its sawmill in Sonora, updating an older mill that closed there in 2009.” The facility will produce lumber from a wider array of log sizes than was possible under the older configuration. SPI area manager Ryan Land said SPI is “investing in the future of this community.” Land said: “Lumber markets have improved modestly and by increasing the range of acceptable log sizes we will be able to bring family-wage jobs back to this area.” He said SPI “continues to invest in its forests and mills to grow more trees and enhance productivity while protecting the environment and creating jobs.” Retooling of the mill will be managed by SPI, which anticipates hiring local workers to help with the project. Remodeling of the old plant is expected to begin by mid-July, and the updated facility is projected to reopen for production in May of 2011. Reopening the mill “does not impact the SPI cedar fencing mill in Chinese Camp, which currently employs about 80 people,” Land said. The Sonora mill closed in July 2009 due to weakness in the lumber market, reduced timber harvests on nearby national forest lands and increasing state regulatory burdens, Land said. The mill at the time was configured to only accept larger-diameter logs. “When combined, these factors left us no choice but to close the plant,” Land said. About 130 employees were affected by the closure, and about that same number of employees will be hired when the retooled plant reopens. SPI spokesman Mark Pawlicki said “retooling this mill will help California meet its own demand for wood products, rather than importing lumber from faraway places with lower environmental standards.” He said the “time has come when more of the lumber needed in this state can be produced in California’s mills.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 30 June 2010 06:14

Jackson City Council Adopts 2010-11 Budget

Amador County – The Jackson City Council unanimously adopted the City’s annual budget on Monday, with the good news being that no further cuts will be necessary in the near future. “The bottom line is that the severe cuts made last year mean the General Fund is ‘in the black’ and no further cuts are necessary, however, none of the cuts made last year have been restored yet either,” said City Manager Mike Daly. During last year’s budget review, the council decided to freeze some positions, implement a two-day-per-month employee furlough, reduce some retiree benefits and eliminate all capitol improvement project expenditures. At a fiscal mid-year budget review in December, the council went one step further by freezing one police officer position and reducing the City’s workforce by three employees. In a staff report Monday, Daly said all this “was required to balance expenditures with the worsening revenues.” Of the City’s key revenue sources, only sales tax is on the rebound, with the last 12 months of revenue exceeding the budget projection and coming in at $585,631. Daly said what is more concerning is that property taxes decreased by over 5 percent from $827,050 to $786,056, and a “further decline to $766,000 is projected due to lower assessed values driven by the foreclosure market and the end of the federal homebuyers tax credit program.” Daly said that “after three years of plummeting General Fund revenues, it does appear that some ‘bottoming out’ is occurring, but there is still plenty of fluctuation in the general taxes and fees that constitute the regular portion of this fund.” Jackson’s General Fund is expected to finish with a positive balance this year, and revenues are expected to exceed expenditures by $88,955. When considering the projected mid-year budget deficit of $264,000 and implemented reductions, the final deficit for fiscal year 2009-10 was reduced to $40,574. Another positive note is that the city is receiving much-needed assistance through a number of federal and state grant programs that will fund one officer’s salary for three years and various road improvement projects. Measure N, a ½ cent sales tax approved by County voters last November for fire services, will allow the City to hire four full-time firefighters. The City Council will also continue suspension of its monthly salary of $75 per month ($100 for the Mayor), saving approximately $5,600 in salary and payroll taxes next year. Daly said the “wild card” is the State of California, which is now facing a $19 billion budget deficit and missed its statutory budget deadline of June 15. The newly approved 2010-11 budget does not include restoration of reductions in positions, furloughs, or benefits. “Though it is good that revenues have stabilized enough to avoid further cuts, the previous reductions in staff required by General Fund revenue declines will continue to hamper the City’s ability to provide services to the community,” said Daly. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.