Virtual history
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
Gold Bug Park launches 5-part historical series. News, Etc., B1 friday, August 28, 2020
Volume 169 • Issue 101 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Trial in boy’s death may be avoided as offer mulled Pat Lakey Staff writer
Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
The Placerville Western Interchange brought a new Highway 50 offramp and park-and-ride to Placerville.
Project of the
year
The team behind the Placerville Western Int Courtesy photo erchange Project inc with Dokken Enginee ludes, Liz Diamond ring, Brian James wi th El Dorado Transit, with city of Placerville Melissa McConnell Engineering, Howard Rebecca Neves with Za city of Placerville, Wo bell with Dewberry | Drake Haglan, odro Transportation Comm ission, Matt Veerka w Deloria with El Dorado County Engineering and Elias mp with Doug Veer Travis with REY Engin kamp General eers, from left.
City awarded for interchange project Pat Lakey Staff writer
their passing vehicles for months and years. Public works experts were watching, too, and city officials were pleased to learn last week that Placerville he sprawling park-and-ride facility near the El once again took an award during a COVID-19Dorado Trail off Ray Lawyer Drive, not far from abbreviated ceremony in Sacramento. the road that Because the city has leads to the El Dorado garnered the APWA “This project is really a testament to how County Jail — the recognition every year, entire, newly paved receiving a Project of much can be done when neighboring acreage that includes the Year designation agencies, committed public servants and brand-new traffic signal since 2014, it might lights — all impressed industry experts work together to deliver for seem like old hat, sort a panel of judges for of ho-hum by now, the community they love.” the American Public right? — Rebecca Neves, Placerville city engineer Works Association Wrong. that decided the city of “This project Placerville deserves an award for the project outcome. literally took a small village to deliver,” said a proud City The improvements that also constructed a new Engineer Rebecca Neves, adding that city staff worked eastbound offramp to Ray Lawyer Drive by realigning with several other agencies to bring the interchange Forni Road and created wider, safer pathways for project to life. bicyclists and pedestrians comprised phase 2 of the “The park-and-ride lot is owned by El Dorado Transit city’s Western Placerville Interchange Project. The Authority, which is a partner on the project. This massive moving of dirt has entertained Highway 50 n See Interchange, page A9 travelers who gauged progress from behind the wheel of
T
A trial may not be necessary in the death of a 13-year-old boy who became unresponsive when placed under restraint at a private school in El Dorado Hills two years ago, after a Superior Court judge learned this week there may be a plea arrangement pending. Three defendants showed up Tuesday in Judge Mark Ralphs’ courtroom, represented by Sacramento attorney Linda Parisi who told the court her clients and El Dorado County deputy district attorney Lisette Suder have been in talks regarding a possible settling of the matter. Defendants Cindy Keller, Staranne Meyers and Kimberly Wohlwend face charges of involuntary manslaughter in the Nov. 28, 2018, death of Max Benson, a student who reportedly had been restrained during a violent autistic episode at the K-12th grade Guiding Hands School two days prior to his dying at an area hospital. The now defunct campus located in the El Dorado Hills Business Park served some 100 students who for any number of reasons were not assimilated into public schools nor could be reasonably home-schooled. After the boy’s death, the school would close its doors after its certification was revoked, based on “numerous California Education Code violations, including (those) related to the use of restraints,” a press release stated shortly following the tragedy. Guiding Hands had offered its services for 25 years. Allegations were that Max Benson, said to be severely autistic, was under an established protocol regarding what type restraint methods might be used on him individually and that the proper and known method was not used in this case. Defendant Keller was the school’s executive director at the time, Meyers was principal and Wohlwend was a special education teacher. It is alleged that Wohlwend was directly involved in restraining Max. The school’s parent corporation, Guiding Hands School Inc., also is charged with involuntary manslaughter. In court Tuesday, prosecutor Suder appeared on screen through Zoom n
See Trial, page A7
Traffic Impact Mitigation Not-so-blue skies fees adjusted to home size Dawn Hodson Staff writer Tackling an issue of fairness when it comes to Traffic Impact Mitigation fees, at Tuesday’s meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors changes in how those fees are charged were unanimously approved. The county’s Traffic Impact Mitigation fee program currently has one fee for new, “non-age restricted,” single-family dwelling units regardless of size — a 1,500-square-foot residential unit is charged the same fee rate as a 3,200-square-foot unit. A presentation from consultants with DKS Associates showed analyses in other jurisdictions that justify linking TIM fee rates to the square footage of housing units. Conducting the same kind of analysis for El Dorado County, DKS representatives noted the range in size of homes built in the county. In 2018-19, 57% were between 1,500 and 2,999 square feet. Consultants recommended adopting a new schedule with rates determined by the size of the home. Options were presented to supervisors to consider but based on the recommendation by consultants and county staff, the board approved a fee schedule that assesses rates based on six categories of size for homes going from less than 1,000 square feet to those 4,000 square feet and larger.
Brand New!
Mountain Democrat photo by Kevin Christensen
The sun is barely visible Saturday morning as it rises over smoky skies in Placerville. El Dorado County’s typically blue skies were a hazy grey throughout most of the week after several wildfires were sparked by lightning across Northern California Aug. 16 and 17, impacting air quality. The LNU Lightning Complex has burned more than 360,000 acres in counties to the west, including Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Lake and Yolo. Those fires were 33% contained as of Thursday morning, according to Cal Fire.
Our There’s No Place Like Home
24/7 Assisted living • 15 Private rooms On-site chef GE OAKS SENIOR CARE VILLA
(916) 294-7685
1011 St. Andrews Dr., El Dorado Hills (2.5 miles off Hwy. 50 on El Dorado Hills Blvd.) Call (530) 344-5000 for convenient home delivery and free online access to www.mtdemocrat.com