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Thursday, 10 June 2010 06:30

Sutter Creek's Remaining Ballots to Be Counted Monday

Amador County – The remaining ballots for the Tuesday (June 8th) Sutter Creek election – including the Measure N question – will be counted Monday, according to the measure’s chief opponent. Sutter Creek firefighter Bart Weatherly said Wednesday that he has been told by the election department that the counting of the remaining provisional and absentee ballots was scheduled to start 9 a.m. Monday (June 14th) in the Amador County Elections Office, and will be open to the public. Weatherly said he is “very optimistic about our chances of prevailing,” even though “we know that an 8-vote margin is very slim.” But he thinks his group, “Protect Historic Sutter Creek” has the votes to win. Supporters of Yes On Measure N reportedly also like their chances and think they have the votes to win. Tuesday’s vote was a city-wide measure that would affirm or revoke Sutter Creek City Council actions that approved the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort project. Gold Rush project manager Bill Bunce did not immediately return a request for comment. Supporter, Mayor Gary Wooten also did not return a call asking for comment. Weatherly said “we all know there’s going to be a recount,” due to the margin of less than 1 percent between the vote totals. Weatherly said he had visions of a high 80% voter turnout, but it was only 68.4 percent, when counting stopped Tuesday night. There still remain some ballots to be counted, in absentee and provisional ballots. He said: “Maybe I just live too close to this.” He said “Sutter Creek Partners outspent us 33 to 1,” according to finance records filed at city hall. No On N “spent $5,000 as of Thursday” (June 3rd). His wife Pam, the group’s treasurer filled out the form, which must list donations and expenditures. He said Sutter Creek Partners spent $126,000, with another estimated $16,000 in the final week to 10 days, and “had no donations.” Protect Historic Sutter Creek collected about $5,000, most in donations in the 20- to 100-dollar range. Weatherly said the Elections office let them know about the recount, and they plan to have someone from their team attending. The office did not say how many ballots were left to count, but he thinks “it’s going to be roughly 100.” He said the real issue was that “people in Sutter Creek got a chance to vote on something that will impact heir lives.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Thursday, 10 June 2010 06:28

Protect Sutter Creek Will Not Sue Over Measure N Loss

Amador County – Protect Historic Sutter Creek hinted at legal questions in voter registries this week, but said the Measure N vote outcome, if lost by the group, would not face a legal challenge. Bart Weatherly, head of Protect Historic Sutter Creek, said his group never wanted to stop Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. They just wanted a smaller project than its 1,300-plus single-family homes. Weatherly said: “Even the Yes On N people in their heart of hearts wanted a smaller project. I talk to them all the time. They are my friends and neighbors.” He said they were not given another option and felt that “it was all or nothing.” They wanted the project’s benefits, so they gave the project support. Weatherly said if his No On Measure N side eventually loses, “Protect Historic Sutter Creek has no intention of filing a lawsuit,” but “that doesn’t speak for other groups out there.” He said they “are just thankful that the people of Sutter Creek got a chance to vote on this issue.” The weeks leading up to the election included allegations by a Jackson business owner that someone from the Protect Historic Sutter Creek group was harassing her voting eligibility in the June 8th election. A list reportedly named registrants with questionable eligibility. Weatherly said: “We do not have that list. At one time we turned it in to (Registrar Sheldon) Johnson.” Weatherly said “we’re not going to pursue any of that” at the moment. He said he would not tell the names that were on the list, and he criticized a newspaper article on the subject, saying it started as “story about possible illegal voter registration and it went to a story of alleged harassment on our end.” Weatherly said: “We never harassed anyone.” The group has 70-80 people who are loosely in group, who would help put stamps on fliers. Then there is the core group of roughly 25, who came up with the information for the fliers. They expected a larger margin, and had tried to estimate people’s votes leading up to the election day, to help direct flier campaigns. They rated people on a 1-5 scale. The 1-2 rated people supported Gold Rush, those rated a 3 were undecided, and those rated 4-5 were supporters of the No vote. Weatherly said they “had a rough idea of the 4s and 5s out there, just like we had a rough idea of the 1s and 2s.” He said he thought more people supported it than had admitted. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Thursday, 10 June 2010 06:27

Jackson Tables Redevelopment Area Project

Amador County - The Jackson City Council on Monday reviewed a report on the feasibility of adopting a redevelopment area, but opted against the project until the local investment climate improves to the point where there is strong demand for future development. According to a memo from representatives of Fraser & Associates and Urban Futures, Inc., the two companies hired by the city to create the analysis, the feasibility of creating such a project was based on whether there is sufficient blight within the study area of the City according to the basic definitions of blighting conditions laid out in California Community Redevelopment Law. “A study area was identified following a block-by-block field survey of older commercial, industrial and residential areas in the City,” said the memo. In their report, the two redevelopment and planning companies determined redevelopment project feasibility based upon a “five-part test.” This determination takes into account whether an area is urbanized, whether it has “prevalent physical and economic blight,” whether that blight causes “ a lack of proper utilization of the area,” whether that improper utilization burdens the community, and whether the burden cannot be reversed by private enterprises or the City acting alone without the help of a redevelopment agency. A financial analysis was then “undertaken to determine whether the area could generate enough tax increment to fund in whole or part a successful redevelopment program.” The companies determined that a “redevelopment project area would have only limited resources and growth potential at the present time.” Project consultants from both companies were in attendance and recommended delaying formation of the project until the local investment climate improves. The council unanimously chose to follow the recommendation of both the consultants and City Manager Mike Daly to defer approval. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Thursday, 10 June 2010 06:24

State Assembly Passes Governmental Reform Measures

Amador County – The California State Assembly last week, on an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, passed two far reaching governmental reform measures authored by Assemblymember Alyson Huber. The legislation if implemented will push government to identify waste, duplication and inefficiencies in state departments and agencies. AB 1659 and AB 2130 create a process to conduct, comprehensive and regular review of the state’s many boards, commissions, agencies and departments. “For many years the legislature and the Governor have created governmental entities that were designed to solve particular problems,” Huber said. “I think the time has come for us to review each of these bureaucracies, keep the ones that work and eliminate those that have outlived their usefulness. This will ensure taxpayers that their money is being spent wisely.” AB 1659 would take existing legislative resources and re-direct them to the Joint Sunset Review Committee which would conduct a comprehensive analysis of state government agencies to determine if the agency is still necessary, should be reorganized or is cost effective. In order to compel action on recommendations, it is the intent that automatic sunset dates would be established for entities scheduled for review. Prior to the committee’s recommendation each agency scheduled for sunset would be required to submit a report to the committee. Then, the committee would take public testimony and evaluate the agency prior to the agency’s scheduled sunset. AB 2130 serves as starting point to define which government entities will be subject to the Committee established by AB 1659 and sets the sunset timetable for the first years of reviews. Democratic Senator Mark DeSaulnier and Republican Assemblymember Roger Niello are co-authors of both bills. As far back as 1989, the Little Hoover Commission issued a report, entitled Boards and Commissions: California's Hidden Government, which found that, “California's multi-level, complex governmental structure today includes more than 400 boards, commissions, authorities, associations, councils and committees. These plural bodies operate to a large degree autonomously and outside of the normal checks and balances of representative government.” The Commission concluded that “the state's boards, commissions and similar bodies are proliferating without adequate evaluation of need, effectiveness and efficiency.” Huber said that she is very encouraged by the bipartisan support that her measures have received stating, “It is our duty to spend the public’s money wisely and I hope my legislation is the start to implementing an improved system of common sense governmental oversight.” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in State

Thursday, 10 June 2010 06:23

Historical Society to Celebrate County Founding Date

Amador County - Amador County Historical Society members and the general public are invited to celebrate the founding date of Amador County (June 14, 1854) with a gala picnic on the grounds of the Amador County Museum, 225 Church St., Jackson, 11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 19. Festivities will include comments from county supervisors and other local dignitaries. Historical Society President Larry Cenotto, who was involved in the organization of the county’s Sesquicentennial events, will give a brief talk about the division of Calaveras County and the formation of Amador County. He will also offer an overview of the Society’s progress on various preservation fronts. A box lunch at $7 each, catered by Motherlode Market, is included. RSVP with choices and checks payable to the Historical Society by June 10. Send checks to Georgia Fox, P.O. Box 846, Sutter Creek, CA 95685. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 06:24

AWA Looks at a $5 Million USDA Grant.

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors held a 2010-2011 budget workshop Tuesday, discussing rates, its financial plan and whether or not the agency will get a grant for its biggest project in the coming fiscal year. Finance Manager Michael Lee included the “Gravity Supply Line” in the draft budget in both spending and revenue, even though the agency has yet to hear from the U.S. Department of Agriculture about whether it will get a $5 million grant. Engineering Manger Erik Christesen said the grant paperwork was delayed by a month, meaning the agency may have to wait until at least July to get a list of grant qualification conditions from USDA. President Bill Condrashoff said there was a movement in the Central Amador Water Project area toward a Proposition 218 protest on a rate increase there, and he asked what the agency would do with the GSL project if that happened. Director Don Cooper said people should know about the importance of the rate increase. Lee said if they adhere to the agency financial plan, and raise rates accordingly, they will be able to run the agency financial systems. He said CAWP has not had a rate increase since 2006, and if they don’t get it because of Prop. 218, “the other side of the house will fall in, because you can’t run a system on 4-year-old rates.” Director Terence Moore said if the rate increase fails, “we’ll have to do another rate increase in 6 months.” Vice President Debbie Dunn criticized that, and said the board should give the people what they want. She said the agency should not be “building anything for more people to come to this county.” Dunn said: “There’s no reason for people to come to this county,” and “supervisors aren’t doing anything to attract businesses” here. She said building the GSL would be like “running pipes to a house you can’t sell.” She said: “What are the people that run this agency going to do from their back pocket?” Condrashoff said rates are being used to pay for capital improvements outside of their own systems. Dunn said she didn’t want the GSL holding the AWA board “hostage.” Cooper said he thought Dunn was trying to say that they should ask Lee to bring back a budget that did not have the $5 million USDA grant, to see what they would be left with, and to see if there was a loan attached to the grant that was required to be paid by ratepayers. Cooper supported looking at the budget, and said if it was true, they may have to look at the grant and loan again. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 06:28

Major Races and Controversial Propositions Decided

Amador County –Tuesday’s primary election results highlighted the importance of money, specifically in the race for GOP nomination for Governor, now considered the costliest primary fight in California history. Two former CEO’s, Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina, won the Republican nominations for governor and U.S. Senator, respectively. Whitman won the Republican ticket for governor with 64.2 percent of the vote, defeating Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner who received 26.9 percent of the vote, according to the Secretary of State. Whitman, 53, poured $71 million of her own money into her campaign, compared to the $25 million spent by Poizner. Whitman’s campaign focused on her business background to show she can manage a state now burdened with a $20 billion budget deficit. “Career politicians in Washington and Sacramento be warned, because you now face your worst nightmare: two businesswomen from the real world who know how to create jobs, balance budgets and get things done," said Whitman during her victory speech at the Hilton ballroom at Universal Studios. She will now face off against Democratic nominee Jerry Brown, the former California Governor and current Attorney General. Her comment also referred to Fiorina, who will challenge Democrat and long-time U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in November. Meanwhile, popular San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom got closer to a state job by winning the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor. Amador County Assessor Jim Rooney, the only locally elected official to face a challenger in this election, took 78.72 percent of the vote over just 20.99 percent for challenger Jay Elias. “I enjoyed the election process and it turned out a little bit better than I expected,” said Rooney on Wednesday morning. “I’m back at work today and working hard to get the job done, so there’s not much time for resting or celebrating,” he added. He thanked his wife and children for their support, as well as all the people who “got out there and voted.” Also on Tuesday, voters decided on five propositions. Proposition 13, which provides that construction to seismically retrofit buildings will not trigger reassessment of property tax values, received a “yes” vote from 84.5 percent of voters, according to the state’s unofficial results. Proposition 14, designed to change the primary election process for congressional, statewide and legislative races, passed with 54 percent voter support. Proposition 15 and 16, which have would repealed the ban on public funding of political campaigns and imposed a new two thirds voter approval for local public electricity providers, were both defeated by narrow margins. The highly controversial ballot measure Proposition 17, aimed at allowing auto insurance carriers to base prices in part on a driver’s history of insurance coverage, was narrowly defeated, receiving 52 percent of the “yes” vote over 47.9 percent against. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 06:26

Jackson Approves Major Steps Towards Hiring Full-Time Firefighters

Amador County – The Jackson City Council voted Monday to unanimously approve staff recommendations for fire department job standards and descriptions, a major step towards hiring full-time firefighters as part of a city fire plan. During discussion of the plan at a meeting in April, City Manager Mike Daly said this process began after the “Amador Fire Protection District’s decision to reject a proposal from the Amador County Board of Supervisors to hire a Fire Services Manager to provide leadership for a consolidated fire agency.” Daly told TSPN the city council does not disapprove of the County’s action, but “feels we will be better served by hiring our own people.” According to Daly, the plan as developed by officers in the Jackson Fire Department “is to hire a 40 hour per week Fire Chief, a ‘working’ chief who will also be available to respond to calls; a 24 hour shift Fire Captain; and two 24 hour shift Fire Engineers.” The plan will be completely funded through Measure M, a ½ cent sales tax to support local firefighting services passed by voters last November. Daly projects the City will receive around $360,000 a year and currently has $341,463 “reserved for firefighter costs as stipulated in the ballot measure language.” City staff estimates the total hiring cost will range from $306,629 to $333,249. On Monday, staff returned with further revisions on proposed job descriptions, salary ranges and other personnel rules, as detailed in two resolutions. Resolution No. 2010-20 will adopt an exemption to the Fair Labor Standards Act allowing 24 hour shift employees to work more than 40 hours per week without overtime. Resolution No. 2010-21 formally adopts the salary and job descriptions, among other personnel rules. Also included in Council approval was a motion to authorize staff to amend the City’s Public Employee Retirement System to create a separate retirement formula for fire employees. The adoption of both resolutions marks the beginning of a two week process in which the City will accept applications for the Fire Captain and Fire Engineer positions. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 06:30

Measure N Too Close to Call

Amador County – With an 8-point lead as the initial count ended Tuesday night, No On Measure N took a narrow win in unofficial voting Tuesday. Amador County election officials said it was “too close to call right now.” The “No” votes on Measure N numbered 594 after the ballots from the 2 Sutter Creek voting places were tallied just before 10 p.m. Tuesday. The No votes edged out Yes On N by 8 votes. The No’s totaled 586 votes. There were 9 “under votes,” or ballots that were returned without a decision on the measure question. One had an “over vote,” selecting both options. That was only in ballots that were received either from absentee voters or from the 2 precincts. The election office still must count numerous provisional ballots, from all precincts throughout the county, which may or may not include Sutter Creek ballots. Elections clerk Debra Smith said provisional ballots that were not counted may also include ballots cast by people whose eligibility still needed verification. The Measure N vote would approve or reject Sutter Creek City Council approval and actions on the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort housing and commercial development in Sutter Creek. The vote was open only to Sutter Creek residents. There were 1,725 registered voters who were eligible for to vote Tuesday, and as of the closing of polls, 1,180 total votes had been cast, for a voter turnout of 68.4 percent. Smith said it was better than the county-wide turnout of 52.9 percent. She said with provisional ballots still to count, she hoped it would bring up both percentages. The ballots still left to count could include “vote by mail” ballots that may have been returned to a voting place different than the voter’s own precinct. She said voting day hand-delivered mail votes were becoming more common in the county. Mailed-in votes had to be delivered to a voting place by the close of polls at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Smith said, and post-marked ballots still in the mailing system were not valid. She was not sure how many of the ballots yet to count would be Sutter Creek ballots, and the office was not sure when the official count would be completed. Election officials were still going through the precinct boxes this morning (Wednesday, June 9th), and they did not know how many more Sutter Creek ballots were left to count. Deputy Registrar of Voters George Allen said Tuesday that the election department must hand-count 10 percent of its precincts and likely would hand-count one or both Sutter Creek precinct. He was not sure when that would occur. The elections office has 28 days to certify the election. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.