C a l i f o r n i a ’ s O l d e s t N e w s pa p e r – E s t. 18 51
Volume 169 • Issue 33 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Friday, March 20, 2020
Petition denied
Canal project OK, judge says Dawn Hodson Staff writer A stoned-faced audience listened intently Friday as lawyers for and against piping the El Dorado Canal responded to Superior Court Judge Dylan Sullivan’s tentative ruling in which she denied the petition of the Save the Canal group. In rejecting Save the Canal’s petition, Judge Sullivan noted, “There was “... There was sufficient relevant substantial information evidence and reasonable inferences from supporting the information the EID that support finding of no the (El Dorado Irrigation significant District Board impact.” of Directors’) conclusion — Dylan Sullivan, that there was Superior Court judge no significant indirect impact caused by the project where the portions of the ditch that will become unused revert back to the landowners ... In other words, there was substantial evidence supporting the EID finding of no significant impact. The petition is denied.” Behind the dispute are EID’s plans to convert the historic Upper Main Ditch in Pollock Pines from an open canal that conveys water from Forebay Reservoir to the Reservoir One Water Treatment Plant into a piped system. EID maintains the project is necessary to reduce water loss from seepage and evapotranspiration, to protect the quality of drinking water and reduce operating costs from increased treatment and pumping costs. Facing strong opposition from the n
Democrat photo by Thomas Frey
Union Mine Nutritions Service Supervisor Tim White passes out breakfast and lunch at El Dorado High School Wednesday.
Cafeteria staff on the job Schools closed through mid-April Thomas Frey Staff writer
Democrat photo by Kevin Christensen
Adam Doerr, a junior at El Dorado High School, picks up his schoolwork on campus Wednesday. School will be closed at least through April 17.
Union Mine High School Nutritions Service Supervisor Tim White and the cafeteria staff joined with El Dorado High School’s cafeteria staff Wednesday to serve any student age 2-18 breakfast and lunch despite schools shutting down this week to quell the spread of the coronavirus. As burritos and other fare were delivered to a line-up of cars queued in
n
See schools closed, page A6
Wopumnes tribe’s records request sends city reaching for its wallet
See Canal, page A8
Storm knocks out power for thousands
Pat Lakey Staff writer
Dawn Hodson Staff writer Recent storms have resulted in power outages throughout El Dorado County. This is a particular hardship on residents right now as many are confined to their homes due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Wednesday afternoon 8,066 PG&E customers in El Dorado County were affected, according to Brandi Merlo, PG&E’s marketing and communication contact for El Dorado County. By Thursday morning 6,053 customers in the county were still affected. While power outages were reported almost everywhere in the county, as of press time on Thursday, 2,575 customers in Pollock Pines remained with out power, 887 in Placerville, 817 in Camino, 427 in Georgetown, 448 in Kyburz and 226 in Somerset. Merlo said the power outages were due to the recent three-day storm that damaged PG&E equipment with snow bringing down trees and limiting crew access to facilities. Aside from El Dorado County, other areas and customers affected were 1,426 in Nevada County, 1,262 in Placer County, 766 in Sierra County, 458 in Amador County, 2,163 in Calaveras County and 470 in Tuolumne County. While Merlo declined to say when power would be restored, she said 150 crews were working in the six-county area and “were working as quickly and safely as possible.”
A request filed by the Wopumnes tribe that once applied for permission to operate a firehouse museum and other “Their historical preservation amenities in the two structures that comprise Old City Hall (known as the ketchup and mustard buildings) — but lost that bid to Arts and Culture El Dorado — already has cost the city of Placerville $5,000 and promises to send the tab even higher.
That’s the word from City Attorney John Driscoll, who told the City Council recently that the extensive list of search words and type of documents sought by the Wopumnes Nisenan-Mewuk Tribe of El Dorado
be able to accomplish providing all that is sought for months, possibly running into mid-June. The Wopumnes tribe has responded to the criticism by wondering publicly why city staff including Driscoll can’t handle the response was for me to go to heck.” task themselves, pointing — John Driscoll, Placerville city attorney out that the municipality has had 50 years since the passage of the 1968 County has proved not only daunting legislation creating the California for staff to comply with the request Public Records Act to get up to under the Public Records Act, it has speed. required the services of an outside “In the tribe’s opinion,” begins an legal firm. And, said Driscoll, the city won’t n See Records, page A6
County calls on dine-in restaurants, bars to close Dylan Svoboda Staff writer El Dorado County has joined California in urging restaurants and bars to close until further notice amid the coronavirus outbreak. The closure recommendation, coming from the county Environmental Management Department, is the first to come at the local government level. “We’re at a critical point in addressing the spread of COVID-19 in El Dorado County, and as a result, I strongly recommend retail food, beverage and other related services in El Dorado County close to the public for in-person dining
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and adjust their service in other ways,” said county public health director Dr. Nancy Williams. “Taking these actions, while challenging for business and inconvenient for the public, should contribute to the overall positive health impact on all of our residents and visitors.” The county advised food service restaurants to limit themselves to take-out and delivery services only. Breweries, bars, wineries and pubs should to stay open only for the sale of bottled and canned goods and consumed off-premises, county officials stated. Farmer’s markets n
See closings, page A8
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the EDHS parking lot, an announcement came from the El Dorado County Office of Education that closures would extend into mid-April. “In response to the rapidly evolving COVID‐19 circumstances and the potential impact in El Dorado County, school district superintendents and the county superintendent of schools, have decided in concurrence with Dr. Nancy Williams, county public health officer,
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