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Amador County – The Ione City Council last week appointed City Manager Kim Kerr and City Planner Christopher Jordan to represent the city on a 15-member regional traffic planning “roundtable.” The Amador County Transportation Commission’s “stakeholders” roundtable that will take area input in making its Regional Transportation Plan update. The council voted to approve Mayor Skip Schaufel’s selection of the city manager and planner to represent the city as member and alternate member of the roundtable. Kerr in a January 29th memo said participation by the city appointees would be paid through the city General Fund and Special Funds. Kerr said “there is no additional cost to participate other than staff time to attend the meetings.” ACTC Executive Director Charles Field explained the 2010 RTP Update Stakeholder Roundtable in a January 27th letter to Schaufel and the council. Field said “as the Regional Transportation Planning Agency for Amador County and its five incorporated cities,” it is ACTC’s “core responsibility to develop and maintain a Regional Transportation Plan in order to plan, prioritize, and fund multi-modal transportation improvements of regional significance.” California law requires ACTC to update its RTP every 5 years. Field said “in order to enhance stakeholder involvement,” the commission, which included Ione Councilman David Plank, “intends to establish an advisory committee comprised of various stakeholder representatives to actively participate in recommending policies and priorities” as the update is developed. The purpose of the Stakeholder Roundtable, Field said, is to “ensure that the concerns of a broad cross-section of local and regional interests are represented throughout the planning process.” In the letter, Field said “ACTC is requesting that the Ione City Council appoint a primary and alternate representative with delegated authority to speak on the city’s behalf in regards to regional transportation policies and priorities.” In order to ensure the group’s success, Field said “it is the ACTC’s desire to work with individuals who are able to make a commitment to collaborating with other participants by respecting differing opinions, providing informed input, ensuring regular attendance, and balancing local/special interests with a regional perspective.” After member appointments – due by February 17th – ACTC “will contact each representative in order to explain the planning process and proposed ground rules.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Monday, 08 February 2010 17:00

Supes Grant Permission to Census for Training Facility

Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors granted permission last week for the U.S. Census Bureau to use county facilities in order to train prospective census takers. Bureau official Susan Kitt said her department is currently conducting a major recruitment as part of this year’s census, a decennial process mandated by the U.S. Constitution. She said they need 40 to 50 more census takers in the Amador County area. Census work in our area began early last year when hundreds of recruits were hired on a temporary or part-time basis to gather statistical information and verify addresses by traveling door-to-door. Up until now, the majority of training has taken place in the Stockton and Folsom areas. Some local testing is already occurring in the County Administration Center, which is also the location of the Supervisor’s chamber. Other sessions have occurred in Pine Grove, Plymouth and Ione. Kitt said the agency wants to be careful to gather qualified staff to count residents in the geographically diverse upcountry region. She said a number of former employees of the Jackson Rancheria have been applying. Applicants will be scheduled for an exam test to be held in El Dorado Hills which will determine whether they satisfy the basic job qualifications. Census Bureau Regional Director Ralph Lee wrote in a letter to the board that the “Census agrees to promptly consider and adjudicate all claims which may arise out of use of subject licensor’s or donor’s premises resulting from the actions of the Census or....its representatives.” The Supervisors unanimously approved a motion granting permission. To apply or inquire about working with the census, call (866) 861-2010 or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov. Exam testing will continue through February. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Monday, 08 February 2010 17:00

UCC Member Accepted as One of ACTC ''Roundtable'' for RTP Update

Amador County – The Upcountry Community Council last month announced it will represent the Upcountry area on the “stakeholders roundtable” of the Amador County Transportation Commission. The roundtable panel will be used to update the ACTC’s Regional Transportation Plan. UCC co-chair Lynn Morgan said Monday that Upcountry Community Council the UCC took its first step toward a formal group when it was “recognized” by the Amador County Board of Supervisors. Attendance typically has been 20-30 people, and about 30 people last fall attended and voted to have Gary Reineohl to represent the UCC on the ACTC “stakeholders roundtable,” for its 2010 Regional Transportation Plan update. Reinoehl was to report on his selection by ACTC at Monday’s UCC meeting. Morgan said when ACTC tried to set up the stakeholder group, it originally asked for groups or people to nominate themselves. Reinoehl volunteered to represent the UCC at the meeting last fall, and those in attendance selected him to do so. Reinoehl, in announcing his appointment in an e-mail, said the position for “Upcountry Representatives” includes “the UCC as the primary representative and the Pine Grove Council as the alternative representative for the Stakeholders Roundtable.” Morgan said UCC’s “intent from every meeting is to attract new people.” She said the “structure is what I call a working group of 6 or 7 people” who “analyze what future agendas will be,” and decide what they do and how they will do it. If people “live in the Upcountry or are concerned, they can attend.” But Morgan acknowledged that if people do not attend the Upcountry Community Council meeting, they really are not represented, because they are not a formally elected body. Morgan said: “If you live Upcountry and if you don’t come, or don’t send someone to the meeting to represent you, in my opinion, you are not being represented.” She said the UCC was formed to give a voice to residents of the unincorporated areas, but without incorporation in some aspect, it only really can represent attendees of the meetings. “Frankly, we recognize that dilemma,” Morgan said. So Morgan, Co-Chair Bob Currall, Vice Chair Sherry Curtis, and the council created a public relations committee, which tries to get word out to people. She said the group is entertaining the concept of forming a special district, which would require going through the Local Agency Formation Commission and law. Morgan said it “gives the option to collect dues,” a “very sensitive” undertaking. They want to educate themselves and see if that step is on the horizon for UCC. Morgan said: “It’s not just a group of special friends getting together and griping about the government.” She said District 3 Supervisor Ted Novelli has been very supportive, has attended all meetings, and updates the council on Supervisors’ actions. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Monday, 08 February 2010 17:00

AWA Looks at Reasons for CAWP Upgrades

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors at a workshop last week heard from staff some reasons that made the Gravity Supply Line the agency’s primary approach. Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo said 2 primary approaches have been the Gravity Supply Line and fixing the pump system, which takes water from Tiger Creek to the Buckhorn treatment plant. The existing 12-inch line in the CAWP system has an unknown condition, said Acting Engineering Manager Erik Christeson, but it likely would need replacement by 2023. It could not be taken off-line during construction, he said, so a “parallel line” would have to be built. About 75 percent of the replacement line must be built within roads. He said the pumps are 30 years old and operate near capacity, so the pump system would require upgrades, even without a Gravity Supply Line. The pump stations were estimated to need replacing by 2014, assuming “1,500 days of successful operation,” Christeson said. The system experienced 18 hours of communications and electrical failures last Friday, causing 7 hours of overtime Saturday. Upgrade costs includes $1.3 million at the Silver Lake Pines pump station, and $1.8 million for the Tiger Creek pump. With generators, total upgrades would cost $3.7 million, for construction only. Mancebo said the Gravity Supply Line would improve water quality, noting that poor water quality was one of the reasons AWA upgraded its Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant. He said water quality often was so bad that the plant could not effectively treat it. Another issue was how to meet demands that increase with “growth or infill.” Christeson said a Gravity Supply Line would have a life expectancy of 50 to 75 years, depending on the quality of the pipeline. It would increase annual flow from 1,120 acre feet to 2,200 acre feet, and serve 2,800 additional parcels over the life of the project. Christeson said the pump system would be a reliable backup to the GSL, and less frequent use would prolong the lives of the pumps. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Water

Monday, 08 February 2010 17:00

BLM Permits Available to Clear Vegetation From Lands Adjacent to Private Property

Amador County - Property owners who share boundaries with Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-administered public lands may now apply for permits to clear up to 100 feet of flammable vegetation from public lands adjacent to their private property. The BLM Mother Lode Field Office will issue free "hazardous fuels reduction variance permits" valid for public lands in their service area which includes Calaveras and Amador Counties. Permit applications will be considered individually and permits will be specifically written for each site. Each will contain stipulations about the amount of area that can be cleared and the methods that can be used. Because the work will be completed on public land, BLM will inspect each area prior to issuing permits. The BLM will complete any needed surveys for threatened and endangered plants and animals, cultural resources or other natural resources that require special attention or protection. It is important for anyone interested to contact the BLM as soon as possible to get the permit process started. Permit applications received during fire season may take longer to process because agency personnel may be assigned to fires and not immediately available for site inspections and clearances. For more information and an application, visit the BLM online. A TSPN TV Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Monday, 08 February 2010 00:19

AWA Board Directs Staff on BMPs for Conservation Plan

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors directed staff late in January to look at varying levels of implementing state “Best Management Practices,” for conservation, and also executed an agreement on a planning grant for a regional water reclamation program. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said the board directed staff to look at greater and lesser implementations of a Water Conservation Plan, due to budgeting issues. The board directed staff to work on 2 alternatives to implement state “Best Management Practices.” Mancebo said 1 alternative will look at ways in which rate structures can be used to reduce impacts on AWA ratepayers. Another alternative will plan for the event that the agency received grant money to fund the use of Best Management Practices. The board said the latter alternative would include what the agency would like to do with management practices, if it had the funding. The agency faces the implementation of 14 Best Management Practices that were mandated by Assembly Bill 1420 last year. The BMPs include programs such as surveys to monitor for leaks; looking at ways to work with property owners to reduce water usage; and rebates for the use of high-efficiency toilets or appliances. The board also directed consultant Leslie Dumas of RMC Water and Environment “to see what we could do about reducing the costs.” Mancebo said: “We haven’t seen much in the way of grants so far, but we have heard there may be grant money coming.” He said if there is no grant money, they still want to carry on, but to not impact ratepayers. In its last January meeting, the AWA Board also executed an agreement with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, with a slight amendment, because of a delay in the arrival of the funding, which changed deadlines in the original grant award notification. Mancebo said “with the California budget crisis, a lot of programs were put on hold, and this was no exception.” The board discussed a future “kick-off” for the planning project, which will plan a regional water reclamation program, to be used as a blueprint for other regions in the state. Mancebo said “stakeholders” that are “interested in regional wastewater and reclamation” would be invited to participate. He said that could include anybody from the cities, the counties, agricultural users, planners, and even environmental groups. The program will “look at how we might improve reclamation in Amador County.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive