Tom
Monday, 14 June 2010 06:08
Sutter Creek Appoints New City Attorney
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council appointed a new city attorney Monday, and also approved advertising for a new financial auditor. City Attorney Dennis Crabb was applauded for 7 years with the city, and helped lead the search for his replacement. He said seven proposals were narrowed to 4 candidates and the city council conducted the interviews last Friday (June 4th) in closed session. He recommended a standard legal services contract, for the new attorney, Derek P. Cole, a partner of Cota Cole & Associates, a Roseville law firm. Crabb, who is retiring, said “it has been an honor serving Sutter Creek, coming up on 8 years.” He said he and his wife “will be visitors here, and I’m looking forward to the fun part.” Mayor Gary Wooten said Cole “seemed that he had done the most legwork to see what we needed here.” Vice Mayor Tim Murphy added that all considered, “he still applied.” Crabb said he was “very pleased with the way the process went” and they had “excellent interviews and candidates.” Cole said: “We’re very honored to have been selected” and they will try to work hard for the city. He said they had “enormous shoes to fill.” His law partner Scott Huber will be assistant city attorney, and Cole said Huber is “a member of a very large school board,” and will bring that experience to the council. Councilwoman Linda Rianda said she was impressed at their “promise to work tirelessly” for the city. Wooten said another good thing is that Cole is not charging mileage to go back and forth from Roseville. Cole was appointed on a 5-0 vote, and Crabb said his official first day was Tuesday, June 8th. Also Monday, the council agreed to publish a request for proposals for city services as a financial auditor. City Manager Sean Rabe said Auditor Ralph Marcello recommended that the city bring in a new auditor, which is normal after 3-4 years. The city has had Marcello in the position for 5 years, and Rabe also recommended the change. Councilman Pat Crosby asked if the city was required to hire an auditor. Crabb said “you have to have at least a biannual audit.” He said an auditor’s contract typically was “a 3 year term, terminable at the end of any year, and really terminable at any time.” Crabb said in the rest of the cities he works for, all of them change their auditor after 3 years, with the main reason being to maintain “fresh eyes.” The council directed staff to go out for requests for proposals for the position. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 14 June 2010 06:10
Sutter Creek Election Count to Resume Today
Amador County – The Amador County Election Department was expected to resume the counting of votes in the Sutter Creek election today (June 14th) in a tightly contested Measure N race that had an 8-vote difference in its outcome. Provisional and absentee ballots were scheduled to be counted today, with Measure N deciding whether to uphold or repeal city council action approving the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. The election last Tuesday (June 8th) closed its polls at 8 p.m., and shortly after that, the election department tallied a count of the early ballots it had received – nearly 7,000 ballots county-wide. Of those, 777 ballots were from Sutter Creek. With the first tally, made at 8:05 p.m. on election day, the “yes” votes on Measure N led the count with 57 percent of the vote, or 443 votes. The “no” side had 334 votes, or 42.99 percent. The votes came in from precincts around the county, including 2 different voting places in Sutter Creek, at City Hall and at the Sutter Creek Fire Station Number 1 on Old Highway 49 heading toward Amador City. The boxes were brought from precincts all over Amador County, arriving around 8:30 p.m. at the county administration building, and were brought into the voting counting area in the elections office. The county was staffed by county volunteers, including District 1 Supervisor John Plasse, County Counsel Martha Shaver and others. County staff unpacked the paper ballots, which were run through electronic vote counting machines by the volunteer group. District 3 Supervisor Ted Novelli and board Chairman, Supervisor Brian Oneto of District 5 (with Social Services Director Matthew Zanze) brought the ballot boxes into the voting area on carts. Novelli and Oneto both were reelected to their positions in uncontested races in the vote last week. By 9:12 p.m., the first ballot box from Sutter Creek had been counted. With 146 more ballots, the Measure N “No” side gained 99 votes and nearly 4 percentage points, to trail the vote 47 percent to 53 percent. The “yes” side gained 47 votes. The next ballot box from Sutter Creek was counted with the results released at 9:44 p.m. Of the 257 ballots that were counted, the No’s outnumbered the Yes votes, 161 to
96, and the No’s took an 8-vote lead, with 50.34 percent of the vote, to 49.66 percent. The election department has 28 days from election day to certify results of the primary election. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 14 June 2010 06:23
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 6-14-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Monday, 14 June 2010 06:17
Board of Supervisors Pre-Agenda Report with Richard Forster 6-14-10
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Amador County Board of Supervisors Reports
Monday, 14 June 2010 06:11
ACCNET Drug Bust Eradicates 17,271 Marijuana Plants
Amador County - On Friday, June 11, 2010, the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team (ACCNET) along with members of the Amador County SWAT Team and the California Department of Justice, Air Support Wing, eradicated a Mexican National Drug Trafficking Organization (MDTO) outdoor marijuana grow. The site was located in heavy brush on private property in North West Amador County. A fully stocked field kitchen and camp site with evidence of three persons being at the site was discovered. A total of 17,271 marijuana plants ranging from 6 inches to three feet were eradicated. Evidence seized from the site is being processed for investigative leads. This is the largest marijuana cultivation seizure in Amador County at such an early date in the marijuana grow season, considered to be April through October. By this date last year, ACCNET had seized 523 marijuana plants with a total of 57,518 plants seized for all of 2009. ACCNET is one of the 48 regional narcotic task forces that is operated by the Attorney General’s, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. The Amador County Combined Narcotic Enforcement Team is a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Amador County Sheriff’s Office, Amador County District Attorney’s Office, Amador County Probation Department, Amador County Child Protective Services, Jackson Police Department, Sutter Creek Police Department, Ione Police Department, Mule Creek State Prison, and the Amador Area Office of the California Highway Patrol. A TSPN TV Report, Press Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Law Enforcement
Monday, 14 June 2010 06:10
Sutter Creek Election Count to Resume Today
Amador County – The Amador County Election Department was expected to resume the counting of votes in the Sutter Creek election today (June 14th) in a tightly contested Measure N race that had an 8-vote difference in its outcome. Provisional and absentee ballots were scheduled to be counted today, with Measure N deciding whether to uphold or repeal city council action approving the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. The election last Tuesday (June 8th) closed its polls at 8 p.m., and shortly after that, the election department tallied a count of the early ballots it had received – nearly 7,000 ballots county-wide. Of those, 777 ballots were from Sutter Creek. With the first tally, made at 8:05 p.m. on election day, the “yes” votes on Measure N led the count with 57 percent of the vote, or 443 votes. The “no” side had 334 votes, or 42.99 percent. The votes came in from precincts around the county, including 2 different voting places in Sutter Creek, at City Hall and at the Sutter Creek Fire Station Number 1 on Old Highway 49 heading toward Amador City. The boxes were brought from precincts all over Amador County, arriving around 8:30 p.m. at the county administration building, and were brought into the voting counting area in the elections office. The county was staffed by county volunteers, including District 1 Supervisor John Plasse, County Counsel Martha Shaver and others. County staff unpacked the paper ballots, which were run through electronic vote counting machines by the volunteer group. District 3 Supervisor Ted Novelli and board Chairman, Supervisor Brian Oneto of District 5 (with Social Services Director Matthew Zanze) brought the ballot boxes into the voting area on carts. Novelli and Oneto both were reelected to their positions in uncontested races in the vote last week. By 9:12 p.m., the first ballot box from Sutter Creek had been counted. With 146 more ballots, the Measure N “No” side gained 99 votes and nearly 4 percentage points, to trail the vote 47 percent to 53 percent. The “yes” side gained 47 votes. The next ballot box from Sutter Creek was counted with the results released at 9:44 p.m. Of the 257 ballots that were counted, the No’s outnumbered the Yes votes, 161 to
96, and the No’s took an 8-vote lead, with 50.34 percent of the vote, to 49.66 percent. The election department has 28 days from election day to certify results of the primary election. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Monday, 14 June 2010 06:08
Sutter Creek Appoints New City Attorney
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council appointed a new city attorney Monday, and also approved advertising for a new financial auditor. City Attorney Dennis Crabb was applauded for 7 years with the city, and helped lead the search for his replacement. He said seven proposals were narrowed to 4 candidates and the city council conducted the interviews last Friday (June 4th) in closed session. He recommended a standard legal services contract, for the new attorney, Derek P. Cole, a partner of Cota Cole & Associates, a Roseville law firm. Crabb, who is retiring, said “it has been an honor serving Sutter Creek, coming up on 8 years.” He said he and his wife “will be visitors here, and I’m looking forward to the fun part.” Mayor Gary Wooten said Cole “seemed that he had done the most legwork to see what we needed here.” Vice Mayor Tim Murphy added that all considered, “he still applied.” Crabb said he was “very pleased with the way the process went” and they had “excellent interviews and candidates.” Cole said: “We’re very honored to have been selected” and they will try to work hard for the city. He said they had “enormous shoes to fill.” His law partner Scott Huber will be assistant city attorney, and Cole said Huber is “a member of a very large school board,” and will bring that experience to the council. Councilwoman Linda Rianda said she was impressed at their “promise to work tirelessly” for the city. Wooten said another good thing is that Cole is not charging mileage to go back and forth from Roseville. Cole was appointed on a 5-0 vote, and Crabb said his official first day was Tuesday, June 8th. Also Monday, the council agreed to publish a request for proposals for city services as a financial auditor. City Manager Sean Rabe said Auditor Ralph Marcello recommended that the city bring in a new auditor, which is normal after 3-4 years. The city has had Marcello in the position for 5 years, and Rabe also recommended the change. Councilman Pat Crosby asked if the city was required to hire an auditor. Crabb said “you have to have at least a biannual audit.” He said an auditor’s contract typically was “a 3 year term, terminable at the end of any year, and really terminable at any time.” Crabb said in the rest of the cities he works for, all of them change their auditor after 3 years, with the main reason being to maintain “fresh eyes.” The council directed staff to go out for requests for proposals for the position. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Monday, 14 June 2010 06:07
United Way Seeks Participants for Toilet Paper Drive
Amador County - When donors research a nonprofit's numbers - tax dollars saved, money raised and lives changed - they rarely look at an organization's toilet paper budget. Yet this necessary staple costs local nonprofits thousands of dollars each year that they could be spending on programs. United Way California Capital Region is asking the community to participate in its second annual Live United Toilet Paper Drive, sponsored by AT&T, on June 18, to help offset this cost. Last year's drive raised 35,000 rolls of toilet paper, and this year's goal is 50,000. “It's amazing the number of expenses nonprofits face that people don't think about," said Steve Heath, president and CEO of United Way California Capital Region. "Nonprofits work magic with their budgets to make a positive difference in countless lives in our region, but there's only so much they can do. Donating toilet paper is a great way to join together and live united, ensuring more money goes toward vital programs that change people's lives.” The drive will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 18 at Cal Expo in Sacramento and The Golden 1 Credit Union Operations Center on 8945 Cal Center Drive in Sacramento. The rolls will be distributed the following week to many of United Way's 142 certified partners in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. Woodland United Way and United Way of Stanislaus will also hold toilet paper drives on June 18. Toilet paper can be dropped off at Woodland United Way at 1017 Main St. in Woodland, between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. For information on the Woodland drive, call (530) 662-3633. United Way of Stanislaus will collect toilet paper between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at 422 McHenry Ave. in Modesto. For information on the Modesto drive, call 523-4562. United Way California Capital Region is the region's leading provider of innovative solutions on the community's most pressing issues, including high school graduation rates, household financial stability and obesity. Working with other nonprofits, businesses, donors and volunteers, United Way provides positive, measurable results on vital health and human services issues. Through new and traditional fund-raising and mobilization programs, community members can give, volunteer and advocate in support of the causes they care most about, benefiting United Way and hundreds of nonprofits in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties.
For more information, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Region
Friday, 11 June 2010 06:11
AWA Moves Toward 5% Up-Front Will-Serve Fees
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors voted 3-2 toward charging a 5 percent of developer fees up-front fee to issue a conditional will-serve, directing staff to revise an ordinance to change the fee policy. The board in late May had voted 3-2 to remove any up-front fees, after an original draft of the proposed ordinance would have charged 10 percent at the time of signing up for the will-serve. Gary Thomas was the only AWA director to vote for both, siding with Don Cooper and Terence Moore on May 27th to direct staff to remove the 10 percent. Then on Thursday (June 10th), Thomas said he would “vote for a compromise,” approving the 5 percent fee, to be prepared by agency attorney Steve Kronick. Thomas voted with President Bill Condrashoff and Vice President Debbie Dunn to make the change, which also would include making the up-front 5 percent non-refundable, and earmarking it to be used for “more global” improvements to benefit all customers in an area, said General Manager Gene Mancebo. Moore said “I have no intention of voting for ‘no growth,’ ” and he would not hesitate to call anyone who voted for it a “no-growth-er.” He said it would only have the effect of making developers move on to another county, or hold their request for a conditional will-serve until the last minute. The draft ordinance also set time periods for fee installment payments for the will-serve, including a 10 percent fee to renew a conditional will-serve. Thomas asked about the letter to the board saying Ione Villages was not being given its will-serve commitments, after 4 months. Kronick said “the agency is within his rules” and he was not worried about it. He said a 60-day time period would end June 15th to give those commitments. Moore asked if the letter was correct in alleging that the fees violated state law. Kronick said the letter referred to an improper code section, while another section “specifically says” that law “does not apply to water and sewer capacity fees.” He said developers seem to think the agency is increasing its participation fees, but it is not, “it only has to do with the timing of payments.” Condrashoff urged bringing back his original 10 percent up-front fees, say it would make up for years of stranded assets, including 600 “free” will-serve commitments in the Central Amador Water Project area, and 1,400 total around the county. He said the uncollected fees of $9,000 to $10,000 each would amount to about $14 million. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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