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 69 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, June 15, 2020
El Dorado Transit hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic Dylan Svoboda Staff writer The impact of the coronaviruscaused economic shutdown is starting to be felt by El Dorado County’s transportation authority. El Dorado Transit, which provides public transportation for Western Slope residents, “expects significant and possibly long-term deficits in major revenue sources that will require substantial reductions in expenditures across all major operating budget categories,” according to an item brought forth at the June 11
meeting of the El Dorado Transit Authority. The agency is making significant staffing cuts to make ends meet. El Dorado Transit’s proposed operating budget for the next fiscal year assumes a $2.6 million reduction in salaries and benefits, which translates to a 36% reduction in workforce costs. The agency proposed eliminating 18 full-time equivalent positions, going from 64 to 46. The reduction would affect the employment status of at least 20 employees, according to the item brought forth last Thursday. Also,
as many as 11 full-time transit drivers could be reduced to parttime status due to a condensed ride schedule. The positions cut include transit operators, transit dispatchers and a fiscal technician. El Dorado Transit staff is considering offering voluntary unpaid furloughs for certain administrative and management personnel starting in July to further cut costs. The agency will have about 16 vehicles in “peak service,” according to El Dorado Transit Executive Director Matthew
Mauk. That number is down from the 29 vehicles the agency operated pre-COVID-19. “We hope that’s the floor and we move up from there, but that’s where we’re at,” Mauk said. In total, the proposed operating budget has been significantly cut down from the versions presented in March and April. As proposed, the draft budget includes operating expenses of $7,207,928 for the next fiscal year, which is $2,933,239 or 29% less than what was presented in April. n
See ED Transit, page A7
“This is really about right-sizing our agency to the services we are providing as of now.” — Matthew Mauk, El Dorado Transit executive director
National Forest Road repairs campgrounds are opening up Democrat staff Outdoor enthusiasts can celebrate — camping is back. The Eldorado National Forest is opening 20 developed campgrounds and two other designated camping areas for individuals or families of the same household. Group campgrounds will remain closed. Some campsites may not be available in order to allow for proper social distancing between sites and some shared areas may be closed. The following campgrounds are open effective June 12:
Highway 88 corridor
•PiPi Campground •Capps Crossing Campground •Middle Fork Cosumnes Campground •Pardoes Point Campground •Sugar Pine Point Campground •White Azalea Campground •Mokelumne River Campground
Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
Spring Street in Placerville is one of the roadways on the city’s list to get some tender loving care with Measure L funds.
Highway 50 corridor
•Gray Rock Dispersed Camping Area •Sand Flat Campground •China Flat Campground •Silver Fork Campground •Lovers Leap Campground
Crystal Basin Recreation Area
•Icehouse Campground •Fashoda Campground •Gerle Creek Campground •Wench Creek Campground •West Point Campground •Yellowjacket Campground •Wolf Creek Campground •Loon Lake Campground • Loon Lake Equestrian (part of Loon Lake Campground) •Sunset Campground n
See Campgrounds, page A7
Placerville City Council gets update on street paving plans Pat Lakey Staff writer “I know I’ve been promising people for three years that we were going to get Spring Street paved ... It’s not anybody’s fault — but it falls to the City Council to at least be honest with the voters.” — Mark Acuna, Placerville city councilman Remember when Placerville city officials stood near freshly paved
“I know I’ve been promising people for three years that we were going to get Spring Street paved … It’s not anybody’s fault — but it falls to the City Council to at least be honest with the voters.” — Mark Acuna, Placerville city councilman Placerville and Ray Lawyer drives, celebrating the first use of money that came from the voter-approved Measure L? Remember how those
smiling officials promised many more such shining successes to n
See Measure L page A6
Eldorado National Forest welcomes new supervisor Kevin Christensen Staff writer The Eldorado National Forest is bringing back an old friend, naming Jeff Marsolais as its new supervisor. Marsolais, who previously worked for the Eldorado National Forest in multiple roles, has been serving as forest supervisor of the Courtesy photo neighboring Lake Tahoe The Eldorado National Forest Service is Basin Management Unit welcoming back Jeff Marsolais, who will for nearly a decade. begin serving as their new forest supervisor “I’m looking forward on June 22. to new challenges on Rush and continue to have the Eldorado where natural a vital role socially and resources shaped the course economically,” said Marsolais. of history during the Gold “The timber, water,
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can mean positive recreation and “Inspiring the next generation to outcomes on these special uses on sustain our environment is something complex challenges. the Eldorado I really believe in a National I want to do a lot more of.” concept called shared Forest provide – Jeff Marsolais, incoming Eldorado stewardship of these so many National Forest supervisor lands.” benefits to so Marsolais thinks many people. and bringing people together having worked the past The forest is is Marsolais’s No. 1 goal to two decades for both the incredibly diverse and rich increase forest restoration Eldorado National Forest and in multi-cultural heritage.” over the next two decades. the Lake Tahoe unit gives him The post officially begins “The Eldorado National an opportunity to succeed June 22. Forest is a treasure. in his new position. The two Marsolais, who lives Residential growth means organizations have long had a in Pollock Pines, said he more recreational use and relationship and shared goals. believes in collaboration along with climate change, between the community “While I was assigned to it is resulting in increased the Lake Tahoe Basin we and local agencies to wildfire risks,” he said. expanded collaboration with optimize the conservation “I believe good government communities and partners of forest lands as complex and working together issues are adding up in the on behalf of the people n See Marsolais, page A3 region. Working together
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