Tom
Monday, 10 May 2010 06:15
Jackson to Consider $90,000 in Environmental Services For Sutter Street Extension
Amador County – The Jackson City Council will consider passing a motion tonight that would authorize $90,000 for specific environmental services necessary for the Sutter Street Extension project, among other agenda items. Jackson and the Amador County Transportation Commission have been working together to formulate a work authorization agreement with Carleton Engineering, with whom the City previously worked with in 2006 to assist with similar services related to the acquisition of the Oro De Amador property. The project was discussed last year in a series of public meetings on the proposed extension route detailed in a public study report completed in 2003. According to an agenda memo from Jackson City Manager Mike Daly, “the path of travel of this connector route is across property previously used by the Argonaut Mining Company as a tailings storage area and previous studies have identified elevated levels of arsenic, an element commonly associated with mine waste deposits.” Scientific studies have shown that people exposed to significant levels of arsenic may be at increased risk for more serious illnesses, therefore an environmental assessment is necessary. Also under consideration tonight are options for use of Measure E transient occupancy tax revenue in Fiscal Year 2010/2011. The City Council adopted a resolution in 2002 stating that approximately 2 percent of the funding from the City’s transient occupancy tax shall go towards “tourism and business promotion, economic development, and downtown revitalization.” With the downturn in the economy, the transient occupancy tax revenue has dropped from an average of just over $60,000 a year to $56,339 in 2009, down from $61,575 in 2008 and $64,310 in 2007. Over the past three years the council has chosen to set aside approximately half of the funding for use by the City for economic development projects. Daly said the council will decide options for the funding in the coming fiscal year, including whether to consider allowing outside entities the opportunity to apply for funding for purposes consistent with the intent of the original resolution. Also, the City Council will consider passing a motion that will disestablish the Business Improvement District (BID), created in 1995 to provide a funding source for the Historic Jackson Business Association (HJBA) for its share of participation in the Main Street program. Daly said the BID Advisory Board has recommended eliminating the BID to “provide new opportunities for businesses within the historical district and outlying areas to participate in a single, more encompassing and more effective organization.” Daly said the possibility of expanding or disestablishing the BID has been discussed over the last two years “related to expanding the current downtown boundaries of the HJBA to create a citywide business association.” The Jackson City Council meeting takes place tonight at 7 p.m. in Jackson City Hall. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Monday, 10 May 2010 06:16
Ione Approves Fire Plan, Will Discuss Emergency Pot Ordinance, Financial Audit
Amador County – The Ione City Council last week approved the city fire plan, which included hiring fire engineers who could begin work by September 1st. The city already has set a day shift 7 days a week for firefighters, to begin June 1st. Firefighters will be paid $100 a day to be on call 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. City Manager Kim Kerr said the vote last week authorized staff to hire fire engineers (that is, fire engine driver and operators), and the city will get notification out next week of the job descriptions. She said they hope to finish hiring by the September 1st effective date. They will get the fire engineers on board and in station, working 40-hour weeks, Sunday through Saturday, working a maximum 10 hours a day. The council has 2 special meetings this week, with the first 6 p.m. Tuesday, to discuss a potential emergency medical marijuana ordinance. Kerr in a memo for the meeting recommended the council consider adoption of “urgency ordinance” number 433 that would establish “a moratorium on the establishment of a medical cannabis dispensary” within city limits. Kerr recommended that the council waive a first reading and hold a public hearing on the ordinance. In 2004, the city adopted an ordinance, regulating the location and operation of pot dispensaries, but issues remain on “how the law applies,” Kerr said. The city’s business license and zoning regulations are in conflict, a fact discovered when someone approached the city about opening a dispensary. Due to the conflict, staff recommended a moratorium on dispensaries until the zoning and business issues were cleared up. The council will also hold a special meeting 3 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the city’s draft audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2009. Kerr in a report said the council typically will only see a final draft of the audit report, but “staff felt the need to discuss in depth the draft financial audit with the full city council” and with the auditor. The meeting will be “a workshop format for council member to ask in-depth questions about the audit and processes that need to be improved going forward,” Kerr said. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Monday, 10 May 2010 06:19
Board of Supervisors Pre-Agenda Report with Richard Forster 5-10-10
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News Interview Videos
Monday, 10 May 2010 06:25
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 5-10-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Monday, 10 May 2010 06:19
Board of Supervisors Pre-Agenda Report with Richard Forster 5-10-10
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Amador County Board of Supervisors Reports
Monday, 10 May 2010 06:16
Ione Approves Fire Plan, Will Discuss Emergency Pot Ordinance, Financial Audit
Amador County – The Ione City Council last week approved the city fire plan, which included hiring fire engineers who could begin work by September 1st. The city already has set a day shift 7 days a week for firefighters, to begin June 1st. Firefighters will be paid $100 a day to be on call 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. City Manager Kim Kerr said the vote last week authorized staff to hire fire engineers (that is, fire engine driver and operators), and the city will get notification out next week of the job descriptions. She said they hope to finish hiring by the September 1st effective date. They will get the fire engineers on board and in station, working 40-hour weeks, Sunday through Saturday, working a maximum 10 hours a day. The council has 2 special meetings this week, with the first 6 p.m. Tuesday, to discuss a potential emergency medical marijuana ordinance. Kerr in a memo for the meeting recommended the council consider adoption of “urgency ordinance” number 433 that would establish “a moratorium on the establishment of a medical cannabis dispensary” within city limits. Kerr recommended that the council waive a first reading and hold a public hearing on the ordinance. In 2004, the city adopted an ordinance, regulating the location and operation of pot dispensaries, but issues remain on “how the law applies,” Kerr said. The city’s business license and zoning regulations are in conflict, a fact discovered when someone approached the city about opening a dispensary. Due to the conflict, staff recommended a moratorium on dispensaries until the zoning and business issues were cleared up. The council will also hold a special meeting 3 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the city’s draft audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2009. Kerr in a report said the council typically will only see a final draft of the audit report, but “staff felt the need to discuss in depth the draft financial audit with the full city council” and with the auditor. The meeting will be “a workshop format for council member to ask in-depth questions about the audit and processes that need to be improved going forward,” Kerr said. 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, 10 May 2010 06:15
Jackson to Consider $90,000 in Environmental Services For Sutter Street Extension
Amador County – The Jackson City Council will consider passing a motion tonight that would authorize $90,000 for specific environmental services necessary for the Sutter Street Extension project, among other agenda items. Jackson and the Amador County Transportation Commission have been working together to formulate a work authorization agreement with Carleton Engineering, with whom the City previously worked with in 2006 to assist with similar services related to the acquisition of the Oro De Amador property. The project was discussed last year in a series of public meetings on the proposed extension route detailed in a public study report completed in 2003. According to an agenda memo from Jackson City Manager Mike Daly, “the path of travel of this connector route is across property previously used by the Argonaut Mining Company as a tailings storage area and previous studies have identified elevated levels of arsenic, an element commonly associated with mine waste deposits.” Scientific studies have shown that people exposed to significant levels of arsenic may be at increased risk for more serious illnesses, therefore an environmental assessment is necessary. Also under consideration tonight are options for use of Measure E transient occupancy tax revenue in Fiscal Year 2010/2011. The City Council adopted a resolution in 2002 stating that approximately 2 percent of the funding from the City’s transient occupancy tax shall go towards “tourism and business promotion, economic development, and downtown revitalization.” With the downturn in the economy, the transient occupancy tax revenue has dropped from an average of just over $60,000 a year to $56,339 in 2009, down from $61,575 in 2008 and $64,310 in 2007. Over the past three years the council has chosen to set aside approximately half of the funding for use by the City for economic development projects. Daly said the council will decide options for the funding in the coming fiscal year, including whether to consider allowing outside entities the opportunity to apply for funding for purposes consistent with the intent of the original resolution. Also, the City Council will consider passing a motion that will disestablish the Business Improvement District (BID), created in 1995 to provide a funding source for the Historic Jackson Business Association (HJBA) for its share of participation in the Main Street program. Daly said the BID Advisory Board has recommended eliminating the BID to “provide new opportunities for businesses within the historical district and outlying areas to participate in a single, more encompassing and more effective organization.” Daly said the possibility of expanding or disestablishing the BID has been discussed over the last two years “related to expanding the current downtown boundaries of the HJBA to create a citywide business association.” The Jackson City Council meeting takes place tonight at 7 p.m. in Jackson City Hall. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Monday, 10 May 2010 06:13
Medicine Maker Recalls Infant, Children Tylenol, Motrin Brands
Pennsylvania – Dozens of medicinal products for children and infants are being voluntarily recalled by a Pennsylvania manufacturer, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced late last month. Parent company McNeil Consumer Healthcare listed 46 different medicine brands it was recalling, all liquid medicines designed for infants or for children age 2 to 11. That included 24 Tylenol items, including concentrated infant drops, and various cold and flue medicines. McNeil also recalled 15 different types of Motrin, 6 brands of Zyrtec, and 1 brand of Benadryl, all of which are products for either children or infants. See a complete list of recalled products, with product code numbers, at McNeilProductRecall.com. McNeil announced April 30th that it is voluntarily recalling all lots that have not yet expired of certain over-the-counter children’s and infants’ liquid products manufactured in the United States and distributed in the U.S., Canada, and 10 other countries. McNeil said it “is initiating this voluntary recall because some of these products may not meet required quality standards.” The company said the “recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events,” but it warns that “as a precautionary measure, parents and caregivers should not administer these products to their children.” Some of the products in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than is specified, the company said, while “others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles.” McNeil said that “while the potential for serious medical events is remote, the company advises consumers who have purchased these recalled products to discontinue use.” The company is “conducting a comprehensive quality assessment” of its manufacturing operations, before new manufacturing resumes at the plant where recalled products were made. FDA Commissioner, Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg said the FDA wants “to be certain that consumers discontinue using these products” and “know what to do if they have concerns about a specific product.” Hamburg said: “While the potential for serious health problems is remote, Americans deserve medications that are safe, effective and of the highest quality” FDA is “investigating the products and facilities associated with this recall and will provide updates” as it learns more. Contact McNeil at 1-888-222-6036, or mcneilproductrecall.com, and report adverse reactions to the FDA. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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National
Monday, 10 May 2010 06:12
Arc of Amador and Calaveras Reception Thanks Supporters
Amador County - The Arc of Amador and Calaveras hosted a reception last Wednesday to thank Amador County employers and other supporters of The Arc, which provides job training and employment services for people with developmental disabilities in the two counties. The reception was hosted by The Arc’s People First self-advocacy organization and The Arc’s Board of Directors. Among the honored guests, the American Legion Ambulance and Mother Lode Real Investors were recipients of Outstanding Employer of the Year awards for their outstanding support of The Arc’s employment efforts, and Joyce Jones of Amador Regional Transit Service accepted the Transit Leadership Award for her proactive assistance to The Arc with local public transportation. The Arc of Amador and Calaveras was founded in 1971 and provides a full range of life skills, supported living and recreational opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities in addition to the Supported Employment Program. The Arc has one of the most successful rural Supported Employment Programs in California. Currently, 37 individuals are working in a wide variety of jobs throughout Amador and Calaveras counties. They are proud of the work they do and enthusiastic about being contributing members of their communities. For more information about The Arc’s Supported Employment Program contact Director of Employment Ileshia Knigge at 209-267-5978, extension 31. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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