170
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
th
Volume 170 • Issue 49 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, April 26, 2021
BOS hears Fixer Upper DOT, airport budget needs Dawn Hodson Staff writer It was show and tell day at a special Monday meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors as two departments presented their tentative budgets for next year. First up was Department of Transportation Director Rafael Martinez whose budget request for 2021-22 is $87,569,855, down from this 2020-21’s budget of $112 million. Focusing most of his presentation on the Road Fund, which is used for capital improvement projects, maintenance, development and encroachment permits, Martinez noted that DOT is also responsible for maintaining other infrastructure such as guard rails, sidewalks and bridges. Martinez noted that typically the budget for the Road Fund is between $40 and $80 million with sources of funding being Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians tribal funds, developers, property taxes, the General Fund, Senate Bill 1, traffic impact fees, utility fees, the federal government, grants and the original gas tax. This year DOT spent about $20 million on road maintenance, according to Martinez. In the last seven years revenues used to maintain roads have decreased 8% while the cost to maintain them has gone up 35%. As a result, Martinez said DOT’s fund balance has gone from $14 million in 2012-13 to $1.6 million in 2019-20. Martinez said 20 to 30 years ago the county was getting considerable revenue from the federal logging fees, gas taxes and property taxes but revenue has not kept up with the rise in expenses and in the case of federal logging fees, that source of revenue has almost completely disappeared in the last few years. Reducing the number staff in the department and using more contract maintenance and new technology have cut DOT’s costs but despite that Martinez said he anticipates a $2.8 million deficit in the Road Fund in the coming fiscal year with a yearly $3 million dollar shortfall continuing into the future. Improving the infrastructure would require an additional $6 million a year in revenue, year over year according to Martinez. Looking ahead to the next fiscal year, Martinez noted that previously the board approved using $1.5 million in tribal funds to help fill the Road Fund gap, along with another $1.3 million in transient occupancy tax revenue the board n
See Budget, page 10
Mountain Democrat photos by Dawn Hodson
Roofer Debbie Haas climbs down from the top of the Fairplay-Aukum Community Hall in Fairplay where she was putting in new shingles April 15 as part of an effort to fix up the building so it can be used to benefit the community once again. Haas volunteered her skills and roofing materials were donated.
Fairplay hall gets
new lease on life
Dawn Hodson Staff writer
through the donations of materials and time by generous people he Fairplayand businesses in the Aukum community, including Community Hall local wineries. is getting some needed One example of that rehabilitation with the generosity was from GAF, help of members of the North America’s largest Pioneer Volunteer Fire roofing manufacturer, Association and Pioneer which donated all the Fire Protection District. shingles and other Originally the Three materials used to re-roof Forks Grange the the building. When asked building, which is located to donate the materials, in Fairplay, later became the company only asked the Fairplay-Aukum that the person hired to Community Hall. Last do the work be either The hall will serve as a site for fundraisers or rented out for events. August the PVFA was a minority or woman. asked by the FairplayGAF then called Debbie was in need of some tender loving Aukum Community Hall Haas, owner of Debbie’s Roofing in care, especially if they wanted to Association to take it over. The Sacramento, who volunteered to do boards of the two groups, which had rent it out or use it for fundraising it although she said PVFA offered events. The group wanted to get overlapping members, then merged her some money to compensate her the repairs done as inexpensively as and now run the hall. for her time. possible as every penny saved goes Not put to much use last year Taking a week and half to do the to help support the Pioneer Fire due to the COVID-19 pandemic, job along with her brother, she Department. once the organization took the hall That effort has been helped along over they recognized the building n See Fairplay hall, page 2
T
Ski resort officials reflect on operating amid pandemic Tahoe Daily Tribune The impacts of the coronavirus have had innumerable effects on businesses and Lake Tahoe’s ski industry wasn’t spared. Resorts adapted to the changing environment and put in place several protocols to keep lifts turning. Unlike other industries, resorts were allowed to operate in all tiers of the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, albeit with several restrictions. Virus restrictions and capacity limits significantly reduced visitation for many of the resorts, but despite all the hurdles, the resorts had a successful season. “COVID has had little impact on the part that matters most this season: actually skiing and riding downhill. That fact alone provided an element of normalcy and freedom that I think we all needed more than ever,” said public relations director for Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Liesl Hepburn in an email. “There were big differences in the lift lines and all the
non-ski experiences, but keeping the most essential component relatively unchanged felt really good.” While the snowpack is well below average this year, resorts reported the season had several ideal powder days. Hepburn says there are currently great spring skiing opportunities at Squaw Alpine and they are celebrating retromonth at the resort. Squaw Valley reported a total of 285 inches of snow this season at its upper mountain. The resort averages 400 inches of snow per year, including 91 inches of snow in March. This past month the resort reported 62 inches of snow. Squaw Valley had 74% of average snowfall. “I think this winter we all needed that mountain escape more than ever, and personally it gave me even a greater sense of appreciation for being able to recreate in the Sierra in our expansive outdoor environments,” said Joanna Mcwilliams, communications manager for Vail Resorts Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, in an email. “It’s been incredible to see our community of
Photo courtesy of Kirkwood Mountain Resort
The pandemic didn’t stop those who love hitting the slopes this winter season. skiers and riders come together to make this winter a success by following our safety protocols.” Vail Resorts also operated this season with new safety protocols and restrictions. “Interest in skiing and riding remains strong across all three of our resorts, and the skiing and riding have
been excellent,” said McWilliams. “Cumulatively, we’ve received over 17-feet of snow this season.” Northstar and Kirkwood had 58% of average snowfall. Snowfall at Heavenly came in at about 52% of average for the season and Diamond Peak Ski Resort n
See Ski resorts, page 10
ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE • WELLNESS SERVICES
NOW OPEN!
(530) 313-0364
Where quality of life is our goal and seniors our passion
Call Now to r u Schedule a To
4210 PRODUCT DRIVE, CAMERON PARK www.blissfulgardenscare.com
Call (530) 344-5000 for convenient home delivery and free online access to www.mtdemocrat.com