Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Amador County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
16 issues with medium priority
Fire district lease at Pine Grove Park
With the Pine Grove Community Services District dissolving, the county took the park, office, and fire station by deed. A cell tower lease and bulk water rates were preserved so the park can largely fund itself.
PG&E power shutoffs in the Pioneer area
A supervisor raised constituent frustration over a three-day PG&E shutoff during last week's wind event, questioning whether the outage criteria were met and whether the county should file a CPUC complaint. The board discussed but did not agendize the matter.
Animal control staffing
Animal Control Director Evan Jacobs said the department is chronically stretched thin, sometimes closing the shelter when someone calls out sick. The board unanimously approved converting a vacant kennel tech position into a fourth animal control officer for about $3,500 more per year.
Broadband for Fiddletown and Drytown
Volcano Vision is seeking state CASF grants to bury fiber to 136 underserved Fiddletown locations and 69 in Drytown, with free home drops during construction — no cost to the county.
Stinkwort Invasive Weed Spread
Rancher John Kirkpatrick says he's spent thousands fighting stinkwort, which is taking over roadsides along Highway 88 and Reservation Road, and he wants the county to spray county roads. A UC farm advisor confirmed it's the fastest-invading weed in the country and offered research-based control strategies.
Electra Road and Tiger Creek Road Maintenance with PG&E
PG&E just rebuilt failing Electra Road and will keep maintaining it, while the county takes over Tiger Creek. Supervisors were glad to shift that burden but flagged that PG&E can close the road during storms or fire danger — a concern for upcountry recreation.
Petersen Ranch Unit 3 reversion to acreage
Fifteen recorded-but-never-built parcels get wiped back to three big parcels because the developer's improvement agreement expired in 2019 with no infrastructure built. County keeps about $600,000 in bonds until they can be cancelled and keeps the Climax Road right-of-way.
Jail expansion financing sublease
The Board approved the legal paperwork locking in the state's $17.2 million share of the $28 million jail expansion via lease revenue bonds. The county keeps ownership but must operate the facility to BSCC standards.
Stalled 50,000-grave-plot project and county process
Ione resident Dave Wardall complained that a massive cemetery project has dragged for four years, now on indefinite hold because the applicant won't respond to a fire-code gate issue. He asked the board to consider a policy change so unresponsive applicants can't stall projects indefinitely.
Abandoned Vehicle Abatement fee on the ballot
The $1-per-vehicle fee failed in 2022, and the county has run out of money to tow junk cars and motor homes. Voters will decide again in November; the board flattened the fee to $1 for all vehicle types to improve its odds.
2026 Property Assessments and Slow Housing Growth
Assessments rose just over 3% countywide and only 55 new homes were built last year. More than half the county's homes aren't anyone's primary residence — inherited and vacant homes are a growing drag on neighborhoods and school enrollment.
Park Use Fees and Waivers
Instead of every fee waiver request coming to the Board, GSA can now approve them using new hardship, community-benefit and in-kind volunteer criteria, with reports back to the Board during year one.
Tourism Marketing District enforcement gaps
Big lodging operators and some online platforms aren't remitting the TMD assessment that funds county tourism promotion. The adopted amendments add penalties, interest, and a formal collection policy so the district's contractor can chase delinquent payers.
SB 1 road funding for 2026-27
The county locked in about $2.7 million in state road money for paving, culverts, striping, and equipment including a new grader — good news for anyone who drives county roads, especially after winter storms.
Parks Capital Improvement Plan Update
The annual update of the parks development-fee spending plan was adopted after a public hearing, with Plymouth Veterans Park parking land acquisition added at Supervisor Oneto's urging and input from Jackson and Ione.
IHSS Care Provider Contract and Grievance
IHSS providers thanked the Board for a new three-year contract raising wages from $18.40 to $19.40 per hour, but one 50-year resident and conservator publicly blasted the county's IHSS administration over a stalled error in his son's care hours, citing millions in potential liability.