Amador County – The Ione City Council today will consider choosing firms to participate in its Requests For Proposals for the city wastewater expansion project, and could also award a city engineering contract. City Engineer Kim Kerr in a report to the council recommended 3 firms to be used in Requests For Proposals for the wastewater project, and will ask for council direction. Kerr in a memo to the council said the “Wastewater Committee has met and reviewed the three proposals received for the city of Ione’s Wastewater Project. Based on the committee’s discussions, Bob Godwin sent a letter to the firms that submitted proposals for clarification on their submittals.” Kerr said the commission was concerned with “ensuring that each proposal submitted incorporates the city’s current adopted Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report, and financing issues for the city’s protection.” She said proposals from the firms are “confidential at this time.” Three companies responded to the letter, about the wastewater project. Those were Auburn Constructors Incorporated of Sacramento; PERC Water Corporation of Costa Mesa; and Teichert Construction of Stockton. Kerr said Auburn Constructors said it was “prepared to submit a project proposal that complies with the EIR” and offered assistance in “preparation of a financing package by their team.” PERC Water accepted the “project conditions described in the letter including the city’s desire for 30 year project financing,” Kerr said. And “they wish to meet with the city to discuss the sizing of the facilities dependent upon participation of Mule Creek State Prison.” Kerr said Teichert stands by its design submittal, a “treatment pond system,” saying “they feel this meets the intent of the Master Plan.” Kerr said “their project as currently planned will not entirely comply with the project EIR as currently proposed.” Teichert invited the Wastewater Committee to visit a pond treatment system they built in Hilmar, but would “be prepared to propose a project that meets with EIR if that is the decision of the City.” Kerr said the city council needs to determine which firms to certify to compete in Requests for Proposal on the wastewater project. The council will also consider Kerr’s recommendation to finalize a city engineering services contract with Coastland engineering, selected from 3 firms that were interviewed by the city’s selection panel. The council will also consider submitting grant applications to the California Department of Transportation, and Mayor Skip Schaufel could consider city council appointments to committees and commissions for the year 2010. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel announced this week that it will celebrate its 25th anniversary all year long with numerous special events and promotions. What is now a cornerstone of the Amador County business community first opened in 1985 as a Bingo Hall consisting of a metal building and a dirt parking lot. With substantial local support, Jackson Rancheria has since grown considerably and “is now the largest employer in Amador County and has spent and donated tens of millions of dollars into the local economy,” according to a release. The casino complex has expanded and now includes “multiple restaurants, a Hotel, RV Park, General Store & Gas Station, plus new homes for its residents, a medical and dental clinic, water and sewage treatment plants, an auto mechanic shop, child care center for employees’ children, and an off-reservation apartment complex.” All this was the vision of the late Margaret Dalton, the longtime Tribal Chairperson who passed away last year. It was her vision to provide entertainment for locals as well and financial security for her Tribe’s people. “Margaret was a tough and tenacious woman,” recalls Jackson Rancheria CEO Rich Hoffman, adding: “Those of us who had the honor of getting to know her over the years can’t believe that anyone could have doubted her. She tended to accomplish what she set her mind to.” After her passing, tribal leadership was passed to her brother Irvin “Bo” Marks. The Tribal Council also includes her brother Gary Marks and her sons Adam, Robert, and Dennis Dalton. In honor of Margaret’s vision, determination, and accomplishments, the Tribe has declared her birthday, February 9, to be Founder’s Day and the beginning of year-long celebrations. Celebrations in February include a Cash & Keys promotion throughout the month of February with over $150,000 in prizes, including a Silver Cadillac CTS, $5000 in hotseat drawings on February 9 and much more. Jackson Rancheria Casino&Hotel is located at12222 New York Ranch Road, Jackson, CA95642. For more information, call800-822-WINN or visit JacksonCasino.com. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – An area of Highway 88 in the Carson Spur area near Kirkwood Mountain Resort was blocked by falling snow on Monday morning, temporarily trapped as many as four cars and shutting down areas of road for up to 2 hours. The California Highway Patrol said that although there was a minor avalanche, earlier reports of an avalanche burying vehicles were exaggerations. CalTrans crews worked diligently to clear the snow from the roadway and eliminate banks that may cause future road disruptions. The CHP said these types of snow buildups are common during winter storms. Heavy rain and snow is forecast for our area into next weekend. The National Weather Service is warning residents in snow areas to lookout for avalanches, especially in areas above the tree line, and to avoid driving upcountry while severe weather conditions persist. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council today will consider finalizing its approval of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort, and will also consider signing a pact with its developers to collaborate with them in defending the project against legal challenges. The Council will consider approving a “Gold Rush Project Joint Defense Agreement,” which was signed last year by one of the development’s partners, John Telishak, managing member of Sutter Creek Partners LLC. City Attorney Dennis Crabb in a memo to the city council dated January 6th recommended approving the agreement and authorizing Mayor Gary Wooten to sign it on behalf of the city. Crabb said the “Gold Rush project approvals will be complete with the second reading of the zoning and development agreement ordinances,” which could occur at today’s meeting of the city council, starting at 7 p.m. at the municipal building on Church Street. Crabb said the “approvals require the developer to hold harmless, indemnify, and defend the city from any litigation challenging any aspect of the approvals.” He said in anticipating lawsuits against the city’s approval of Gold Rush, “a joint defense and confidentiality agreement needs to be executed.” Crabb in the memo told the city council and mayor that the agreement “allows the city attorney to provide and exchange information, strategy suggestions, and opinions with the developer’s counsel without any potential waiver of the attorney-client privilege as to either party to the agreement.” He said entering into the agreement has “no cost to the city” and “such agreements are now standard practice to ensure a vigorous defense of any litigation filed.” The joint defense and confidentiality agreement was signed by Telischak on November 5th, 2009, but still must be signed by the Mayor, on council approval. The agreement has “recitals,” including that “the parties and their counsel have determined that their interests in the ongoing litigation are sufficiently intertwined that they represent a common defense.” The agreement in part projects “Joint Interest Materials” from outside party requests, through attorney-client privilege or through “attorney work production protection.” It says “each party will take all steps necessary to permit assertion of all applicable rights and privileges with respect to such Joint Interest Materials and shall cooperate fully with the other party in any judicial proceedings relating to the disclosure” of the material. In the agreement, developers will defend the city “from any claim, action, or proceeding” seeking to “attack, set aside, void or annul the certification” of the Gold Rush project or its Environmental Impact Report. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council today will consider finalizing its approval of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort, and will also consider signing a pact with its developers to collaborate with them in defending the project against legal challenges. The Council will consider approving a “Gold Rush Project Joint Defense Agreement,” which was signed last year by one of the development’s partners, John Telishak, managing member of Sutter Creek Partners LLC. City Attorney Dennis Crabb in a memo to the city council dated January 6th recommended approving the agreement and authorizing Mayor Gary Wooten to sign it on behalf of the city. Crabb said the “Gold Rush project approvals will be complete with the second reading of the zoning and development agreement ordinances,” which could occur at today’s meeting of the city council, starting at 7 p.m. at the municipal building on Church Street. Crabb said the “approvals require the developer to hold harmless, indemnify, and defend the city from any litigation challenging any aspect of the approvals.” He said in anticipating lawsuits against the city’s approval of Gold Rush, “a joint defense and confidentiality agreement needs to be executed.” Crabb in the memo told the city council and mayor that the agreement “allows the city attorney to provide and exchange information, strategy suggestions, and opinions with the developer’s counsel without any potential waiver of the attorney-client privilege as to either party to the agreement.” He said entering into the agreement has “no cost to the city” and “such agreements are now standard practice to ensure a vigorous defense of any litigation filed.” The joint defense and confidentiality agreement was signed by Telischak on November 5th, 2009, but still must be signed by the Mayor, on council approval. The agreement has “recitals,” including that “the parties and their counsel have determined that their interests in the ongoing litigation are sufficiently intertwined that they represent a common defense.” The agreement in part projects “Joint Interest Materials” from outside party requests, through attorney-client privilege or through “attorney work production protection.” It says “each party will take all steps necessary to permit assertion of all applicable rights and privileges with respect to such Joint Interest Materials and shall cooperate fully with the other party in any judicial proceedings relating to the disclosure” of the material. In the agreement, developers will defend the city “from any claim, action, or proceeding” seeking to “attack, set aside, void or annul the certification” of the Gold Rush project or its Environmental Impact Report. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – An area of Highway 88 in the Carson Spur area near Kirkwood Mountain Resort was blocked by falling snow on Monday morning, temporarily trapped as many as four cars and shutting down areas of road for up to 2 hours. The California Highway Patrol said that although there was a minor avalanche, earlier reports of an avalanche burying vehicles were exaggerations. CalTrans crews worked diligently to clear the snow from the roadway and eliminate banks that may cause future road disruptions. The CHP said these types of snow buildups are common during winter storms. Heavy rain and snow is forecast for our area into next weekend. The National Weather Service is warning residents in snow areas to lookout for avalanches, especially in areas above the tree line, and to avoid driving upcountry while severe weather conditions persist. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel announced this week that it will celebrate its 25th anniversary all year long with numerous special events and promotions. What is now a cornerstone of the Amador County business community first opened in 1985 as a Bingo Hall consisting of a metal building and a dirt parking lot. With substantial local support, Jackson Rancheria has since grown considerably and “is now the largest employer in Amador County and has spent and donated tens of millions of dollars into the local economy,” according to a release. The casino complex has expanded and now includes “multiple restaurants, a Hotel, RV Park, General Store & Gas Station, plus new homes for its residents, a medical and dental clinic, water and sewage treatment plants, an auto mechanic shop, child care center for employees’ children, and an off-reservation apartment complex.” All this was the vision of the late Margaret Dalton, the longtime Tribal Chairperson who passed away last year. It was her vision to provide entertainment for locals as well and financial security for her Tribe’s people. “Margaret was a tough and tenacious woman,” recalls Jackson Rancheria CEO Rich Hoffman, adding: “Those of us who had the honor of getting to know her over the years can’t believe that anyone could have doubted her. She tended to accomplish what she set her mind to.” After her passing, tribal leadership was passed to her brother Irvin “Bo” Marks. The Tribal Council also includes her brother Gary Marks and her sons Adam, Robert, and Dennis Dalton. In honor of Margaret’s vision, determination, and accomplishments, the Tribe has declared her birthday, February 9, to be Founder’s Day and the beginning of year-long celebrations. Celebrations in February include a Cash & Keys promotion throughout the month of February with over $150,000 in prizes, including a Silver Cadillac CTS, $5000 in hotseat drawings on February 9 and much more. Jackson Rancheria Casino&Hotel is located at12222 New York Ranch Road, Jackson, CA95642. For more information, call800-822-WINN or visit JacksonCasino.com. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Ione City Council today will consider choosing firms to participate in its Requests For Proposals for the city wastewater expansion project, and could also award a city engineering contract. City Engineer Kim Kerr in a report to the council recommended 3 firms to be used in Requests For Proposals for the wastewater project, and will ask for council direction. Kerr in a memo to the council said the “Wastewater Committee has met and reviewed the three proposals received for the city of Ione’s Wastewater Project. Based on the committee’s discussions, Bob Godwin sent a letter to the firms that submitted proposals for clarification on their submittals.” Kerr said the commission was concerned with “ensuring that each proposal submitted incorporates the city’s current adopted Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report, and financing issues for the city’s protection.” She said proposals from the firms are “confidential at this time.” Three companies responded to the letter, about the wastewater project. Those were Auburn Constructors Incorporated of Sacramento; PERC Water Corporation of Costa Mesa; and Teichert Construction of Stockton. Kerr said Auburn Constructors said it was “prepared to submit a project proposal that complies with the EIR” and offered assistance in “preparation of a financing package by their team.” PERC Water accepted the “project conditions described in the letter including the city’s desire for 30 year project financing,” Kerr said. And “they wish to meet with the city to discuss the sizing of the facilities dependent upon participation of Mule Creek State Prison.” Kerr said Teichert stands by its design submittal, a “treatment pond system,” saying “they feel this meets the intent of the Master Plan.” Kerr said “their project as currently planned will not entirely comply with the project EIR as currently proposed.” Teichert invited the Wastewater Committee to visit a pond treatment system they built in Hilmar, but would “be prepared to propose a project that meets with EIR if that is the decision of the City.” Kerr said the city council needs to determine which firms to certify to compete in Requests for Proposal on the wastewater project. The council will also consider Kerr’s recommendation to finalize a city engineering services contract with Coastland engineering, selected from 3 firms that were interviewed by the city’s selection panel. The council will also consider submitting grant applications to the California Department of Transportation, and Mayor Skip Schaufel could consider city council appointments to committees and commissions for the year 2010. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week awarded 2 contracts for wastewater system improvement projects on city facilities, but the work is contingent on the availability of federal funding through the state. The city last year qualified for $2.25 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and now is waiting for those funds to come through. Gloria Stoddard said Friday that the council awarded 2 “construction and professional services contracts” for wastewater improvements. The council approved resolutions authorizing City Manager Dixon Flynn to execute the project documents. They awarded a wastewater treatment plant “Phase 1” improvement project to Ford Construction. They also awarded a wastewater collection system repair project to Twain Harte Construction. Start of the projects is contingent on the state making the funding available. The California Revolving Loan Fund program will disperse the funds, and Prima said in September that the state found that Plymouth is eligible for a “principal forgiveness” loan – a grant – due to low household income. The council authorized the advertisement for bids in October, after Engineering Consultant Richard Prima told the city council he was confident the city could maintain and complete an aggressive but stringent schedule of work to meet the deadline for a grant award January 29th. Prima said the bid package had to be succinct because the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act grant allows changes, and “any change orders will be done on our own nickel.” Plymouth qualified for a grant for its sewer system improvement, in the amount of $2.25 million. Prima said qualifying paperwork included a “report of waste discharge,” and a “sludge plan.” The city must remove sludge from some ponds at its sewer plant at its own expense, because the work is considered routine maintenance for the operation of the system. The grant will nearly cover the update of the city’s ailing sewer system. Prima said the city will have to pay for nearly $200,000 of the work considered ongoing and necessary maintenance. Prima said the projects should lift a wastewater “cease and desist” order on the system that dates back to 2005. The plant, located about two miles west of the city, treats, stores and disposes of up to 170,000 gallons a day of wastewater. After failing to submit certain technical reports in June 2005, the city paid a $20,000 fine by August of that year. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.