Tom
Monday, 07 June 2010 06:00
AWA Sets Special Budget Meeting Tuesday
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency will consider a draft budget for the coming fiscal year in a special meeting Tuesday (June 8th) at the agency office. The draft budget projects $11.1 million in revenue and $11.06 million in spending in fiscal year 2010-2011. It also shows capital expenses would increase by 81 percent over this year, from $4.6 million to $8.4 million. The budget foresees total sales of $8.8 million, a 9.9 percent increase over this year, led by expectations of nearly $4 million in residential sales; $1.4 million in resale; and $1.3 million in wastewater service charges. The draft spending budgets were led by $4.3 million in operating expenses (in the form of salaries and benefits). It also includes $2.6 million in total system operations and maintenance. The AWA board has been meeting 3 or more times a month to work on finances, and recently took a loan from the county to correct a cash problem. The board also has gone back on several internal loans to increase interest rates in order to restore potential income losses for lending systems. The meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday will include discussion and review of the agency budget, by each individual system. The board could also review its 2010-2011 “Capital Improvement Projects,” as well as fixed assets and cash reserves. In reference to long-term water supply, Director Terence Moore said staff gave five different strategies for planning. General Manager Gene Mancebo said last month that the board might want to look at and discuss its strategic planning goals at a regular meeting, and then schedule a workshop at a later meeting. Board President Bill Condrashoff said each of the board members should write down their list of goals and “we can see if we have any in common, then we can make the list together,” and set a date for the workshop. He said they will “have to come to a consensus on what our goals will be.” Vice President Debbie Dunn said they should focus on overarching goals, and they would be doing general manager a disservice if they did not give him a contract. In public comment, Bob Farrington said people like to be able to follow along, and Condrashoff said they could use a computer slideshow on the conference room wall screen. Director Gary Thomas said “one of my goals is to have lunch that day,” referring to long sessions in the past eating into the lunch hour. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 07 June 2010 06:02
Sutter Creek Could Appoint New Attorney Today
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council today may consider hiring a new city attorney and could also seek proposals for a new financial auditor. The council meets a 7 p.m. today and could wrap up the hiring of a new attorney, after Dennis Crabb recently announced his retirement. Crabb has assisted the city council on finding a replacement firm. The council recently interviewed candidates. The council will hold a 6 p.m. closed session meeting today to appoint a new city attorney; and also to negotiate with the Police Officers Association and the city employees’ Service Employees International Union. The consent calendar includes approval of a contract with WTR Science Group for evaluation of the city sewer plant and preparation of a manual. The consent calendar also includes letters to state representatives, stating the city council’s opposition to a state “raid” of the cities’ Transient Occupancy Tax. The letters from Mayor Gary Wooten are to Senator Dave Cox and Assemblywoman Alyson Huber. The letters request the politicians’ “strong opposition to any legislation that would undermine the ability of our city to fully collect local transient occupancy tax from online sales.” The letter, copied to the governor’s office and Dan Carrigg of the League of California Cities, says that online travel companies are trying to “gut and amend” Senate Bill 625, so that it “would undercut TOT collection.” The council will also discuss and possibly act on requesting proposals for a financial auditor for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The board recently received the 2008-2009 audit report from long-time City Auditor Ralph Murcello, who recommended changing auditors because cities want to avoid over-familiarity by auditors. Also on the agenda today is an update on city budget and financial control issues. The finance audit committee came up with a list of “tasks related to financial control issues,” to address 25 issues raised by Murcello in the audit. All tasks will be completed this year, including some that took effect June 1st. Several address “sick leave” policy, including creating a “Sick Leave Audit Committee,” made up of Interim City Manager Sean Rabe and Councilwoman Linda Rianda. It will meet twice a month, and report monthly to the Personnel and Budget Committee. Rabe also has been identified as the city grants coordinator, “responsible for tracking all city grants.” He will also ensure that “city policy mandates are reviewed by city council” for “grant proposals prior to formal city approval.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 07 June 2010 06:03
Ione ’08-’09 Audit Shows Revenue Low, Spending Higher
Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday received an audit report, saying it had dropped $2.7 million behind in cash in fiscal year 2008-2009. Auditor Larry Bain said the city’s “total cash and investments decreased $2.7 million (or 43 percent) to $3.5 million,” and just over $2 million was “restricted for specific activities.” Revenue in June 2009 was $4.5 million, while expenses for the year were $7.2 million, according to the report. City Manager Kim Kerr said “yes, we were spending more than we were taking in,” but 3 big projects from last year are completed. Those are the new fire station, the “wastewater master plan,” and the General Plan update. She said the city does not have as much cash flow, but it also does not have to worry about a major bond. The report noted that the city did not budget a $279,000 loan from the “fire impact fee fund” to pay for the completion of the new firehouse. Kerr in a response in the report said that loan was part of the current budget. The audit also found a $143,000 overstatement of sewer billing revenue when the same payment amount was logged 3 times “into the general ledger accounts receivable account” and city staff did not review and find the error. Kerr agreed, and said “staff will spend more time reviewing” all accounts and “reconciling monthly to resolve this issue.” She said the sewer billing problems may be due to the city’s old “DOS” based software, which required having to move data manually into the “general ledger,” and “any time that is done, there is a potential for error.” Kerr said the audit had 15 findings, with “13 deemed to be significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.” Councilman Lee Ard said the council “made a conscious decision that cost every man, woman and child about $1.35 a month” to build the new firehouse, and now all the cities around Amador County are “trying to duplicate that.” Vice Mayor David Plank said there were a lot of “unknowns” for next fiscal year. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said “every year, our number of findings goes down,” and she thanked staff and said it was a good example of transparency. Councilman Jim Ulm said the budget was “soft soaked” by limited discussion. He said “some really long-term debt” could be in the city’s future and should be discussed, such as the new sewer plant, estimated at $15 million. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 07 June 2010 06:05
Jackson Breaks Ground on Mission Blvd Extension
Amador County – A project that (weather permitting) should be moving earth today was marked with a ground-breaking ceremony and blessing Friday in Jackson. Mayor Connie Gonsalves and the entire Jackson City Council were among dignitaries attending the ceremony on the cul-de-sac at the end of Mission Boulevard, which for roughly $1 million, will be extended to intersect with Broadway. Gonsalves said “with funds set aside on an annual basis and with the cooperation of the Amador County Transportation Commission and Amador County, we are able to start this project. It’s going to start on Monday.” She said the Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee Program began planning the project before the 2006 widening of the Broadway Bridge. She said partners on the project included land owners (and neighbors), Sutter Amador Hospital and Saint Sava Mission. District 1 Supervisor John Plasse, representing ACTC, said the commission “is proud of this project,” and “it’s great to see something happening.” He said the project started accumulating mitigation fees in 2004, and it was good that the bid came in below the $1.6 million estimate, and actually less than half of that. Plasse said he would like to move the rest of the funds over to another Jackson project: the extension of Sutter Street. City Manager Mike Daly said a construction bid of $584,000 won the Mission Boulevard expansion project, but right-of-way acquisition will push the total cost close to $1 million. Christina Djokovich Austin, Saint Sava Mission Foundation board member and treasurer, read a note from her board offering gratitude and appreciation to all who worked to complete the project, which fulfilled the visions, purposes and goals of the Mission. Father Stephen Tumbas of Saint Sava Mission blessed the project, making a sign of the cross in four directions and shaking holy water from a sprig of foliage. Sutter Amador Hospital CEO Ann Platt said the hospital acquired the land from Saint Sava Mission in the mid-1990s to build the new hospital, with plans to eventually extend the boulevard to Broadway. The existing access road is used by hikers with pets, she said, who may wonder why the expansion will occur. Platt said extending the road was a “tremendous opportunity to serve the community.” Gonsalves also gave thanks to Senator Dave Cox and Assemblywoman Alyson Huber for their work in helping the project get Proposition 1-B funding. George Reed Incorporated is expected to start the project today. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 07 June 2010 06:09
Board of Supervisors Pre-Agenda Report with Richard Forster 6-7-10
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News Interview Videos
Monday, 07 June 2010 06:15
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 6-7-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Monday, 07 June 2010 06:09
Board of Supervisors Pre-Agenda Report with Richard Forster 6-7-10
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Amador County Board of Supervisors Reports
Monday, 07 June 2010 06:05
Jackson Breaks Ground on Mission Blvd Extension
Amador County – A project that (weather permitting) should be moving earth today was marked with a ground-breaking ceremony and blessing Friday in Jackson. Mayor Connie Gonsalves and the entire Jackson City Council were among dignitaries attending the ceremony on the cul-de-sac at the end of Mission Boulevard, which for roughly $1 million, will be extended to intersect with Broadway. Gonsalves said “with funds set aside on an annual basis and with the cooperation of the Amador County Transportation Commission and Amador County, we are able to start this project. It’s going to start on Monday.” She said the Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee Program began planning the project before the 2006 widening of the Broadway Bridge. She said partners on the project included land owners (and neighbors), Sutter Amador Hospital and Saint Sava Mission. District 1 Supervisor John Plasse, representing ACTC, said the commission “is proud of this project,” and “it’s great to see something happening.” He said the project started accumulating mitigation fees in 2004, and it was good that the bid came in below the $1.6 million estimate, and actually less than half of that. Plasse said he would like to move the rest of the funds over to another Jackson project: the extension of Sutter Street. City Manager Mike Daly said a construction bid of $584,000 won the Mission Boulevard expansion project, but right-of-way acquisition will push the total cost close to $1 million. Christina Djokovich Austin, Saint Sava Mission Foundation board member and treasurer, read a note from her board offering gratitude and appreciation to all who worked to complete the project, which fulfilled the visions, purposes and goals of the Mission. Father Stephen Tumbas of Saint Sava Mission blessed the project, making a sign of the cross in four directions and shaking holy water from a sprig of foliage. Sutter Amador Hospital CEO Ann Platt said the hospital acquired the land from Saint Sava Mission in the mid-1990s to build the new hospital, with plans to eventually extend the boulevard to Broadway. The existing access road is used by hikers with pets, she said, who may wonder why the expansion will occur. Platt said extending the road was a “tremendous opportunity to serve the community.” Gonsalves also gave thanks to Senator Dave Cox and Assemblywoman Alyson Huber for their work in helping the project get Proposition 1-B funding. George Reed Incorporated is expected to start the project today. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 07 June 2010 06:03
Ione ’08-’09 Audit Shows Revenue Low, Spending Higher
Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday received an audit report, saying it had dropped $2.7 million behind in cash in fiscal year 2008-2009. Auditor Larry Bain said the city’s “total cash and investments decreased $2.7 million (or 43 percent) to $3.5 million,” and just over $2 million was “restricted for specific activities.” Revenue in June 2009 was $4.5 million, while expenses for the year were $7.2 million, according to the report. City Manager Kim Kerr said “yes, we were spending more than we were taking in,” but 3 big projects from last year are completed. Those are the new fire station, the “wastewater master plan,” and the General Plan update. She said the city does not have as much cash flow, but it also does not have to worry about a major bond. The report noted that the city did not budget a $279,000 loan from the “fire impact fee fund” to pay for the completion of the new firehouse. Kerr in a response in the report said that loan was part of the current budget. The audit also found a $143,000 overstatement of sewer billing revenue when the same payment amount was logged 3 times “into the general ledger accounts receivable account” and city staff did not review and find the error. Kerr agreed, and said “staff will spend more time reviewing” all accounts and “reconciling monthly to resolve this issue.” She said the sewer billing problems may be due to the city’s old “DOS” based software, which required having to move data manually into the “general ledger,” and “any time that is done, there is a potential for error.” Kerr said the audit had 15 findings, with “13 deemed to be significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.” Councilman Lee Ard said the council “made a conscious decision that cost every man, woman and child about $1.35 a month” to build the new firehouse, and now all the cities around Amador County are “trying to duplicate that.” Vice Mayor David Plank said there were a lot of “unknowns” for next fiscal year. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said “every year, our number of findings goes down,” and she thanked staff and said it was a good example of transparency. Councilman Jim Ulm said the budget was “soft soaked” by limited discussion. He said “some really long-term debt” could be in the city’s future and should be discussed, such as the new sewer plant, estimated at $15 million. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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