Recreation, river access, views – all lost on Ponderosa Way

It’s as stirring a view over a classic Sierra Nevada river canyon as is likely to be encountered.

What’s equally notable about the view, however, is how few people encounter it.

Ponderosa Way, a decades old public right-of way cut as a federal fire-break “truck trail” in the nation’s run-up to World War II, crosses the North Fork of the Mokelumne River from Amador into Calaveras county. But people no longer cross, at least not from the Amador side.

In Calaveras County, Ponderosa Way never passed out of public hands. A simple fate, no quirks.

Just the opposite in Amador.

Ponderosa apparently was privatized in Amador by 1975 or even earlier, according to county records of an offer of right-of-way by subdivider Helen Mangiantini. However, no sign saying, “Private road” stands on Ponderosa Way where it departs Tabeaud Road near Pine Grove, eventually to descend to the North Fork.

What does stand at Tabeaud is a 4-foot-square, black-on-white sign reading, “Road closed 1 mile ahead – no turnaround.” Dozens of interviews could fix no origin for the sign.

“It (Ponderosa down to the river) has been shut quite a while – I seem to recall some controversy over the bridge being not safe,” said Brian Saleen, Amador County planning inspector. “But I couldn’t tell you on the sign.”

Irregularities abound. The only “private road” sign that is evident stands more than half a mile above Tabeaud Road, at the ridgetop, past the Mangiantini subdivision, apparently installed by a pair of landowners downhill toward the river. However, each of those parcels extends only to the road’s center line, and county records show they don’t lie right across from one another.

From the ridgetop, one technically doesn’t re-encounter private right-of-way until one hits a gate installed around 1990. There, a private 400-acre parcel crosses the right-of-way. Guess what? The gate does not display a “no trespassing” sign.

Jim Eicher, an associate field manager for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management – Ponderosa Way’s original owner – around five years drove Ponderosa to the North Fork from the Calaveras side, crossed a decades-old, federally installed bridge into Amador County and continued uphill toward the top of Tabeaud Ridge. He said he was surprised to be stopped by the gate.

“It’s kind of perplexing,” Eicher said. “I was shocked that it was not a continuous road.”

Why dissimilar fates befell the two stretches of Ponderosa Way lying on either side of the Mokelumne is not known.

Taking an educated guess, Fire Capt. Chris Waters of CAL FIRE noted that the North Fork separates two administrative “regions” within the state fire agency.

“The Mokelumne separates the Northern and Southern regions,” Waters said. “There is administrative latitude between the regions.”

Why the gating-off of the route to members of the public?

The answer lies in decades of serious criminal behavior on and near the route – by members of the public, at least most of them likely to have been Amador County residents.

The anti-social actions included the following:

- torching of the decades-old, federally installed bridge spanning the North Fork

- continued and extensive poaching of cattle on the Amador side

- garbage dumping on the Amador side

- destruction by gunfire of a publicly installed portable toilet and parking sign on the Calaveras side

- massive littering with beer bottles and shotguns shells on the Calaveras side

- ruining of roadway surface by four-wheel-drive tires in winter on both Amador and Calaveras sides.

According to landowner Carole Cuneo Marz, her mother, Margaret Cuneo, requested a gate to be installed by the state fire agency at the top of the 400-acre private parcel that crosses the road. Marz and her cousin Jim Cuneo recall it as being sometime around 1990.

Marz said, “They shot them (with guns) and killed them with bows and arrows. It was pretty distressing to go down there and see entrails strung along the ground.”

Amador County sheriff’s deputies took reports and, Marz said, did what they could, but could not track down the poachers.

But even Marz can’t account for the four-by-four sign at Tabeaud Road

“I have no clue about the sign at Tabeaud,” she said.

Here is a link to this month’s residential sales statistics  provided by  the Amador County MLS.  The list  includes all homes sold in the entire county since August 1. 28% of the homes sold were foreclosures. The average sales price was $190,000 and the median price $185,000. Though the percentage of homes that were foreclosures decreased I don’t expect that to remain the case. The percentage of foreclosure sales has continued to increase since the beginning of the year and REOs continue to come on the market. Since January 1 until today 249 homes have sold and fully one half  were either foreclosures or short sales. The average price of those sales is $215,000 and the median price $200,000.

Click Here to View Listings

1. Blues and Brews Festival

The 11th Annual Sutter Creek Blues and Brews Festival will feature two beer gardens with music from the Shane Dwight Band and Delta Wires from 5 to 9:45 p.m. Saturday. It will take place in downtown Sutter Creek and is sponsored by the Sutter Creek Business and Professional Association. Call 267-1344 for information.
2. Murder Mystery Dinner Theater and Raffle

The Upcountry and Camanche Lake Community Center present its second annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater and Raffle Saturday. Entertainment will be provided by The SpeakEazy Jazz Orchestra and Volcano Theatre Company. Come in costume and be entered into a drawing. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Camanche Lake Community Center, 4234 Camanche Parkway N. in Ione. Tickets are $25 per adult or $45 per couple and $15 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at the Upcountry Community Center in Pine Grove, Camanche Lake Community Center, Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency in Jackson and Sue’s Gold Country Coffee in Pine Grove. Call 296-2785 for information.
3. Omelet Feed Dinner

The Upcountry 88 Lions is bringing back the Omelet Feed Dinner Saturday at the American Legion Hall in Martell. Attitude adjustment is at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is at 6:30 p.m. There will be a door prize, 50/50 raffle and raffle prizes. Proceeds help support Upcountry community service projects. For tickets or information, call 223-4848 or contact any Upcountry 88 Lions member.
4. Shrimp feed

The Mother Lode Shrine Club presents the annual Fall Shrimp Feed Saturday at the Native Sons Hall in Sutter Creek. The $25 ticket includes all you can eat shrimp, pasta and salad. No-host cocktails are from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and dinner is at 7 p.m. Dinner and raffle proceeds will benefit the Northern California Shrine Hospital. For information, contact Tom Thompson at 267-1790.
5. Art demonstration by Katherine Venturelli

Experience the fine art of monotype printmaking at Kit Carson Lodge from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Learn printmaking vocabulary and various techniques while utilizing non-toxic water-based printmaking inks and paper. At the end of the workshop, participants will complete a unique print to take home. This event is free and reservations aren’t necessary. For information, contact Kit Carson Lodge at 258-8500 or visit www.kitcarsonlodge.com. The lodge is located at Silver Lake on Highway 88.

Why beat around the bush, why not just say it?

Friday, July 24, 2009

By Jack Mitchell

It’s not the first time my views of elected officials and government employees have been unsettling to Amador County. I certainly have a different viewpoint than many Californians. Maybe it is time I clarify a few points.

Do I see that the AWA directors are spending long hours directing the staff to keep budget costs down? Yes.

But, since many of the new directors ran on a political platform stating they would not raise water rates (a stupid platform, by the way), they failed.

When they ask, or direct staff, to make cuts to balance the budget – which manifests in the form of layoffs and furloughs, as well as rate increases to me – without the willingness to cut their own compensation – it is bad government.

Do I think Terry Moore is a shining example of what an elected official should be? No. I used his willingness to cut his meeting reimbursement payment as an example of at least one director who was willing to take a cut along with cuts the directors are asking the AWA employees to take.

As for the $5 an hour as a measure of the enormous amount of time the directors spend directing the AWA, I think it is offensive to discuss. They wanted to be elected to represent their constituents – it should not be about what they make. No one forced them to run for election.

Let’s not forget they all receive extremely attractive benefits for taking on their elected duties. These benefits, by the way, are no small expenditure.

A good question to ask would be why, out of the hundreds of water agencies, only 30 percent of the boards receive benefits? Why is the AWA of Amador County one that has benefits for its directors?

Why beat around the bush? The hostility, as one writer submitted to me, between the directors and the AWA staff has nothing to do with keeping our water rates low, making sure that constituents water needs are met, or budgets.

It is about whether or not the director that represents you wants future growth or wants to kill it altogether. And, if I am wrong, how come as you read this – those of you that are informed can specifically tell me which directors I am talking about without naming names. How about directors that embrace the agenda of other organizations in our county – going so far as to share AWA information with attorneys for that nonprofit organization.

Let’s try another one it is about getting elected to the Board of Supervisors, to receive higher pay, power and position at the next available election. Any current directors’ names come to mind?

It has never been about water, about usage, about keeping or lowering our rates and it isn’t about taking care of AWA employees – it’s about power, politics, stopping growth and private agendas. That, my friends, is bad government and offensive.

Elected officals at AWA show lack of leadership

Friday, July 10, 2009

By Jack Mitchell

The Amador Water Agency is attempting to meet its budget – and it’s discussing rate hikes, layoffs, salary reductions, furloughs and reductions in travel compensation.

With those items in mind the decisions clearly point to the mindset of elected officials. Rate hikes are approved. Layoffs are approved. Salary reductions for staff are approved. Furloughs for staff are approved. Reductions in expense items for staff are approved. How about salary reductions for elected officials? Not a chance.

For the Amador Water Agency, when the discussion of reduction of directors’ salaries is brought up, the answer comes out like seven-year-olds whining about how unfair the world is. The justification from the Amador Water Agency Director’s varies from director to director – the $4,000 per year savings is only one one-hundredth of the total budget, with the time spent doing what is required of a director “I am only making around $5 an hour for my time,” or “with four new directors, if ever there was a year this agency needed the highest effort and support from its directors, this is it.”

When you are raising rates, asking staff for salary reductions and furloughs, and laying off personnel, you had better lead the way by taking a pay cut yourself . The cut makes a statement. Lead the way by showing that you are willing to take the hit that you are telling the remaining staff to take.

As for the $5 an hour rate for your time, I’d suggest you got it completely wrong. Remember, you decided you wanted to be elected to the position – you wanted the job to represent me. It isn’t $5 an hour for your time, it’s my time, and my representation. It’s the type of statement that leads me to believe that you wanted to get elected for money, benefits and possible future positioning for other government positions, where you can further rip me off, along with the rest of Amador County.

The mentality of the Amador Water Agency Directors, with the exception of President Terrence Moore – who went on the record that he was prepared to reduce his director’s salary – represents the exact problem with California government.

Real leadership would not only ask their staff to make sacrifices, but would lead the way by reducing their own compensation at the same time.

For my part, any elected officials who are unwilling to accept that they are not above the rules, who are unwilling to share in decreased compensation they so easily lay out for the staff, aren’t worth a spit.

Are we really in this together, or do you believe you are above the rest of us and deserve your own set of rules? For my vote, start the cuts at your level and work your way down. Anything less is poor leadership and poor management and we deserve better.

Jackson Rancheria shuts hotel rooms over

safety questions

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By Diana Lambert
dlambert@sacbee.com

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Published: Friday, Jun. 26, 2009 – 12:00 am | Page 2B

The Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwok Indians announced Thursday it has closed 50 of the 83 rooms at its hotel and will cancel all concerts after Robin Trower performs July 9.

Building inspectors hired by the tribe reported fire-safety concerns with the hotel structure, said Rich Hoffman, rancheria CEO.

The Jackson Rancheria casino and hotel are located in the foothills of Amador County 45 miles from Sacramento. The 130,000-square-foot facility includes seven restaurants and an RV park.

“We are erring on the side of caution by not utilizing the building until we can determine the extent of the problems,” Hoffman said Thursday.

The 50 deluxe rooms affected are housed in a wooden building built nine years ago.

The tribe last year closed its standard rooms, housed in a 15-year-old building, for similar reasons, Hoffman said.

Guests will continue to be housed in the tower rooms.

Hoffman said the tribe plans to upgrade and modernize the hotel and casino.

“We have to keep things fresh,” he said.

The renovations also will close a restaurant, ballroom and the hotel’s kitchen and banquet facilities.

“We are painfully transitioning from a time when projects did not receive the appropriate scrutiny, to rebuilding in a way that will provide safety and function for years to come,” Hoffman stated in a press release.

NEWS RELEASE For more information, contact: Terri Daly, County Administrative Officer (209) 223-6470 tdaly@co.amador.ca.us Amador County Changes Hours Open to the Public for Fiscal Year 2009/2010 Effective July 6, 2009 Amador County will be adjusting the hours that it will be open to the public. The new hours will be Monday-Thursday, 8:00 am “ 5:00 pm, closed on Friday. This change will impact all public service counters and public phone numbers, but not Public Safety. Emergency Services will still be available. The schedule modification is the result of a cooperative effort between the Board of Supervisors and several employee bargaining units to absorb the budget reductions caused by a faltering economy while maintaining a full range of services to the community. Staff will be working a 9/36 plan, nine hours a day Monday “ Thursday, which is a four hour reduction in pay (10%) each week. Future cuts will be determined by the direction taken in the upcoming State budget. It is anticipated that the State™s budget solutions may cause layoffs that are tied to specific funding sources and program cuts within affected departments. Departments that have evening and weekend hours such as Library, Animal Control, Public Works/Road Crew and Law Enforcement will be making other schedule modifications. Appointments may be made with individual departments outside of the new hours to accommodate urgent situations. Details for specific departments or buildings are available on the County™s website at: www.co.amador.ca.us

This lithograph of the venerable St. George Hotel in Volcano was drawn in nature and on stone by the noted lithographers, Britton and Rey of San Francisco, for Thompson and West’s 1881 History of Amador County. The hotel is the fifth on the spot since the village’s early days. Its immediate predecessor burned down in yet another Volcano blaze in October, 1862. Proprietor BF George had just rebuilt his hotel after an 1859 fire. George, with some insurance money, built again and workmen created what the lithograph shows and the ads in February, 1864, called “the new St. George, 3-story brick.” It’s probable that the hotel was mostly completed sometime in late 1863 but fully open and ready for all business by that 1864 date. Thus, in Amador, it appears that the National Hotel in Jackson is just a few months older than the St. George. The Louisiana House burned down in August 1862 and was ready the following spring for occupancy.

The curious must wonder about the pictured inn, Kirkwood, still standing beside the trans-Sierra route over 140 years after some of it was constructed. Some of it? You don’t think that anyone would on purpose build an inn partly log or timber and the rest milled lumber? The County Archivist found out long ago that Zacharias Kirkwood built a log cabin circa 1858 when he claimed the land called Kirkwood meadows today for summer pasturage for his cattle. When voters approved a bond issue to construct a toll wagon route across the Sierra in the early 1860s, and contractors pushed creation of the wider wagon road to completion in 1863, Kirkwood, among others, took advantage of it. He probably got milled lumber from some high Sierra Amador mill and built the two-story hotel addition. Of course, it has been rehabilitated many times but its appearance is much the same as when emigrant wagons, and packers and freighters came by long ago.

Before statehood, what is now Amador was part of the San Joaquin District and in the 1849 statewide elections, had at least three precincts ” Drytown, Volcano, and Buena Vista Ranch. When California became a state in 1850, this area became part of Calaveras County ” one of the original twenty-seven counties organized. But citizens north of the Mokelumne River quickly became dissatisfied with being a stepchild province. After several years agitation, the county was divided in 1854 and on that June 14 Amador was born.

In later years it acquired land north of Dry Creek from El Dorado County and gave up easterly Sierra territory when Alpine County was formed in 1864. Jackson, which had been the county seat of Calaveras for a time in 1851-1852, edged out Volcano to become county seat of the new county. Volcano threatened to wrest the honor away in 1857, but the effort was stymied in the Legislature at the eleventh hour.

Amador County is the only county in the state named after a non-Indian native Californian, Jose Maria Amador, a wealthy ranchero before the gold rush, whose ranch covered much of what is now Amador Valley near Danville. He and his employees mined along a creek in this county in 1848 and 1849. That creek became known as Amadore’s Creek and soon after, camps called Amadore Crossing and South Amadore or Amadore City were founded. Miners in the latter camp in 1852 first petitioned that a proposed new county be called “Amador .” In 1854, when legislation dividing Calaveras was debated, a motion to name the new county Amador instead of Washington was adopted.

Sitting directly in the center of the richest part of the Mother Lode, Amador County boomed into the 20th Century with a multitude of rich deep-rock gold mines — including two of the richest in the world at that time — the Argonaut and the Kennedy. The 1910′s were the heyday of Amador mining, and gambling saloons and bawdy houses in the mining towns of Amador County prospered, too.

Small Amador ranked among the state’s leaders in production of gold second to Nevada County. Today it relies on forest products, hydroelectric generation, legalized casino gambling, and tourism for its income. It is a center for Bed and Breakfast Inns and small boutique wineries. Its premium Zinfandel grapes are always in demand. Amador County is the smallest rural county in the state, with a population of thirty-five thousand and growing.