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In This Issue:
Jackson City Council Objects to AWA Rate Study Rate Increase Sparks Controversy at La Mel Heights Camanche Meeting September 13 AWA Argues Grand Jury Facts, Findings and Recommendations AWA Attorney Says Releasing Financial Info Would Have a “Chilling Effect” Board Approves “Fill-In” Projects for “Overworked” AWA Staff AWA Director Rich Farrington: “Unduly burdensome” to Listen to Public’s Comments About RPA Ratepayer Protection Alliance (RPA) was formed to support the rights of the people of Amador County against unfair rate increases, which are usually used to subsidize special interests. Recently, RPA has assisted citizens who successfully protested several water rate increases. RPA is committed to ensuring that water, wastewater and garbage rates in Amador County are justified, and do not unfairly burden local residents. Donations RPA works hard to minimize costs of informing the public of unfair rate increases. RPA operates on the donated time of volunteers and no one is paid for their efforts. Donations for postage costs can be sent to: Ratepayer Protection Alliance P.O. Box 51 Pine Grove CA 95665 |
Jackson City Council Objects to AWA Rate Study
On August 27, the Jackson City Council voted 5-0 to send a letter to AWA objecting to AWA’s proposed consolidated rate increase. If the council doesn’t
receive what they feel is a satisfactory response, then they will consider hiring an independent auditor.
The City’s main objection is that AWA is charging Jackson $19,196 annually for the cost of the Plymouth Pipeline. The City’s water does not travel through the Plymouth Pipe and AWA told the City years ago that they would not be expected to pay for the pipeline.
 
Rate Increase Sparks Controversy at La Mel HeightsOn August 30, the AWA Directors held a meeting with La Mel Heights ratepayers at Lockwood Fire Station to discuss their proposed consolidation of all systems. La Mel is the smallest of the AWA water systems. La Mel residents expressed resentment at AWA’s broken promises from the past. More than 10% of La Mel ratepayers are paying for a new pipeline that does not serve them (they are still using the old pipeline that AWA mostly replaced, but are paying for the new one). AWA General Manager Mancebo claimed that operating costs exceed the revenue paid by users, and therefore there is no money to complete improvements.
Camanche Meeting Set for Sept. 13 Lake Camanche Village Owner's Association (LCVOA) will hold a meeting to discuss AWA water rate increases and potential action to stop the increases. The meeting will be held on September 13 at 7:00 PM at the Camanche Hunt Club (2951 Curran Rd). All Camanche AWA ratepayers are encouraged to attend.
AWA Argues Grand Jury Facts, Findings and Recommendations 
The AWA Board reviewed their draft response to the scathing
Amador County Grand Jury report on AWA operations.
Board members requested revisions
that would better justify their support of the $14 million GSL project. The public pointed out misstatements in the AWA
response, and asked that it be rewritten transparently and accurately, not as a PR piece.
Board Approves “Fill-In” Projects for “Overworked” AWA Staff 
The AWA Board added some unbudgeted “fill-in” projects to keep AWA employees busy, despite General Manager Gene Mancebo requesting additional employees just weeks earlier because his staff is overloaded. RPA member Bill Condrashoff asked, “Do you see a contradiction here?” Board member Bob Manassero quickly replied “No.”
The agenda item came to the board because Condrashoff pointed out that the supposedly “overloaded” AWA staff reported working on unbudgeted projects to “fill-in” employee time. The “fill-in” work occurred just weeks after the Board passed the 2012-2013 budget, which is supposed to establish how AWA will expend public funds.
AWA Director Rich Farrington: “Unduly burdensome” to Listen to Public’s Comments Upcountry AWA Director Rich Farrington told local resident Bill Condrashoff that it would be “unduly burdensome” to listen to recorded comments that Condrashoff made at a meeting just five days earlier. Farrington was present at the meeting but did not take notes when Condrashoff spoke to the Board. The director remained silent when he could have asked Condrashoff to clarify his remarks. Farrington said nothing when Board President Gary Thomas hurried Condrashoff through his comments to meet a 5 minute time limit.
AWA Attorney Says Releasing Financial Info Would Have a “Chilling Effect” AWA’s attorney, Steve Kronick, made a presentation concerning a public request for communications between AWA and their auditor. Kronick told the board that they could refuse to provide the communications because it would have a “chilling effect” on future staff deliberations. Why would disclosing facts about public financing have a “chilling effect”? In this case, the reason is clear -- staff has mismanaged public funds and apparently cannot straighten out the books. Ratepayers have been overcharged as a result. |
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Visit us on the web: www.amadorwatchdog.org Our mailing address is: Ratepayer Protection Alliance, P.O. Box 51, Pine Grove CA 95665 Our telephone: 209-223-0993 Unsubscribe from these updates. Copyright (C) 2012 Ratepayer Protection Alliance. All rights reserved. |
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