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PLACERVILLE • 85 Placerville Drive (530) 303-8962 - JACKSON • 705 S. State Highway 49 (209) 560-6676
173
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C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 52 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024
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LAST MONDAY EDITION
After today, Monday, May 6, the Mountain Democrat will publish two editions each week; a midweek edition will be published on Wednesdays and a weekend edition will be published on Fridays.
City extends ban on new tobacco retailers Odin Rasco Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
Downed trees charred by the Caldor Fire are cut up with a chainsaw by Team Rubicon volunteer Tyler Dambach April 29 in Grizzly Flat. Clearing fire fuels and hazard trees on properties in the Caldor Fire burn scar was part of Team Rubicon’s mission.
Team Rubicon
helps ‘fill the gap’ in Grizzly Flat Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
T
eam Rubicon, which aids communities during and after disasters, has initiated its hazardous tree removal and defensible space project for those who have property in the burn scar of the 2021 Caldor Fire. The veteran-led humanitarian organization came into the county to assist the Caldor Forest and Community Restoration Team, which is made up of representatives from the El Dorado Resource Conservation District, the Grizzly Flat Fire Safe Council and El Dorado County to conduct the work at no cost to landowners in Grizzly Flat. The volunteers started April 19 and will continue their work until May 20. According to El Dorado Resource Conservation
District spokeswoman Courtney Jackson, the team is currently managing 1,200 acres of land and though the RCD has already conducted thousands of acres of work in and around the community, there is still more to do. “Although the county of El Dorado, in conjunction with the state of California, has conducted hazardous tree debris removal, this effort fills the gap for those who have additional needs beyond what the state and county can provide,” Jackson said. Team Rubicon will cut down dead trees that present a hazard and remove tree limbs and other fire fuels to help property owners move forward with building new homes to replace what was lost in the fire. The organization will also establish a 100-foot defensible space perimeter around ■ See TEAM RUBICON, page A6
Staff writer
The Placerville City Council during its April 23 meeting unanimously approved extending a temporary urgency ordinance that places a moratorium on the opening of any new tobacco retailers within the city. The council first approved the ban on $28.5M TARGETS new smoke shops March ILLEGAL TOBACCO 12, following on the heels California Department of Justice of a similar ban that was News release extended the same day by the El Dorado County OAKLAND — California Board of Supervisors. Attorney General Rob Bonta The bans were first has announced the California proposed when city Department of Justice is and county staff noted now accepting proposals for a 36% increase in the the 2024-25 Tobacco Grant number of tobacco Program. The program aims retailers across the to reduce the illegal sale of county since 2020. tobacco products by providing Presentations made to approximately $28.5 million in the board and council grant funding to eligible local by representatives of the agencies. Local public agencies county’s Department are encouraged to apply and of Public Health also make use of funding to enforce raised concerns about a state and local laws related to nationwide rise in the ■ See BAN, page A6
■ See GRANT, page A6
BERTELSEN PARK rebuild moves forward Noel Stack Managing editor
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
N
early three years after fire destroyed
the pavilion and other amenities at Bertelsen Park, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors has taken a major step to rebuild. Directors unanimously approved a nearly $1.93 million construction contract with KYA Services. Last summer directors chose the park’s new design, which includes a picnic pavilion housing eight tables next to a 1,048-square-foot spray pad with a rinse station. Other features are a two-stall restroom, open-air seating and more picnic tables, two barbecues and an ADA drinking fountain with a jug filler and dog bowl. Bertelsen Park is
named after El Dorado Hills Fire Lt. Peter Bertelsen, who in 1965 lost his life in the line of duty. The nearly 11-acre park on Redwood Lane is one of the EDHCSD’s oldest, established in 1962. Prior to the board’s approval of the construction contract at the April 11 meeting, EDH Fire Board Director Tim White asked EDHCSD General Manager Mark Hornsta to reach out to Fire Chief Maurice Johnson “to make sure that when the park is rebuilt, that the plaques honoring Lt. Bertelsen are preserved or perhaps better protected than they have been in the past.” A large portion of the
Courtesy rendering
Bertelsen Park’s reconstruction design includes a fire department themed splash pad. project will be funded through insurance reimbursement to the district, according to CSD documents. “The exact amount of reimbursement is dependent upon the actual cost to the
district to replace the lost amenities; many items will be reimbursed at 100% and some supplemental items will be reimbursed at lesser percentage,” the information notes.
Construction is expected to start this fall once all permits have been acquired. KYA Services estimates the project will take 70 days to complete, with opening scheduled for February 2025. Lic # 559305
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