NO LIMIT
Let’s dance
Cougars seniors lead team to win 10 of 15 games played in just six weeks.
Cameron Park ballet studio offers highcaliber classes.
PRIME STOREFRONT Goldorado Center
AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY!
News, etc., B1
Sports, A6
Cameron Park/Shingle Springs
TOM CONWELL
(916) 628-6500
Lic# 01394155
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 62 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
County’s sales tax revenue could take a major hit Mountain Democrat staff El Dorado County could lose millions in sales tax revenue if a major online retailer gets its way, county Auditor-Controller Joe Harn warned the Board of Supervisors this week. One of the world’s largest online retailers (Harn is prohibited from naming the retailer or reporting more precise revenue estimates per California Revenue and Taxation Code 7056) “has changed the way it reports sales tax transactions to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.” “If this sales tax reporting change is accepted and validated by CDTFA, El Dorado County will lose millions of dollars in general fund revenues
Courtesy photos
El Dorado Hills swimmer Patrick Sammon has his sights set on this summer’s Olympics. He will compete with other top swimmers for a coveted spot on Team USA in early June.
n
Olympic dreams
See tax Revenue, page A3
Auburn shuttle Sammon to U.S. team trials aims to ease congestion
Jana Rossi Staff writer
Oak Ridge High School senior Patrick Sammon jumped into the pool around age 3 after his parents enrolled him in water safety classes. When he was 6 he joined the Tasmanian Devils Swim Team, but it wasn’t until he turned 12 that he said he realized his passion for the water could be more than just a hobby. He began swimming year-round for AquaSol in Cameron Park. In early May his years of pre-dawn practices, day-long swim meets and breathless minutes standing on blocks waiting for the start of the race signal —
Patrick Sammon trained and competed with AquaSol, a club team based in Cameron Park. Spring Cup in Irvine, he qualified for the Olympic Trials in three swim events; the 50-meter, 100-meter
everything Sammon worked so hard for was suddenly recognized. While competing in the TYR 18 and under
and 200-meter freestyle races. Sammon will dive into this difficult competition in Omaha, Neb., in early June when the top two swimmers in each event will have the opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo summer Olympics this July and to make the Junior National Swim team. In addition, he hopes to represent the United States in the Junior World Championship to be held in Kazan, Russia in late August. At 17 years old Sammon has an impressive record, ranking third in the n
See Sammon, page A7
Mountain Democrat staff In an effort to provide traffic congestion relief for those visiting the Confluence, Auburn Transit will shuttle visitors in and out of the area. Auburn Transit will offer round-trip shuttles to five key stops around Auburn as well as the Confluence of the North and Middle forks of the American River — a plan approved by the Auburn City Council. With stops around Auburn, one of the goals is to encourage shopping within the city. Shuttles will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will depart on the hour from Springhill Suites and arrive at the Confluence in 40 minutes. Shuttles will wait 10 minutes before making the return trip. The shuttles accommodate up to 16 people and have racks for up to six bicycles. Carry-ons of all kinds must fit in the space between the passenger and the seat in front of them. Masks are required to ride the shuttles. The cost of a ticket is $3.50 per passenger round trip. For additional information call (530) 906-3700.
Rising mobile home park rents mulled at town hall Thomas Frey Staff writer
A Community Elevation town hall May 10 sought solutions for El Dorado County’s mobile home park residents struggling to afford rent increases. A slew of expert panelists with backgrounds in mobile home housing took the Union Mine High School stage as the audience packed the rows of seats. “What happens over time is obvious — people can’t afford the rent anymore,” said John Bertaut, a board member of the Golden State
$1,000
Manufactured Home League, which advocates for mobile homeowners. The county has 56 mobile home communities that have at least six units. Residents own their mobile home but the owner of the mobile home community owns the land and controls the rent. It’s an affordable housing option for many, including seniors who are retired and living on a fixed income. “It is a business model that sees rapidly rising rents,” said Tamara Janies, chair of the El Dorado Mobilehome Owners Coalition. Janies said when new
CASH BACK!
One call can save you thousands Financing with 1.49%APR and
ZERO Out Of Pocket!
(530) 344-3237 • 4420 Commodity Way, Suite A, Shingle Springs • info@SolarSavingsDirect.com • solarsavingsdirect.com
park owners come in, they can raise the rent — in one instance a jump from $675 to $900 per month. “We need to send a clear message that’s an unacceptable business practice,” Janies said. “We’re not looking for anybody to give us a handout; we’re looking for reasonable rent security.” She said for every $100 the rent goes up each month, a mobile home’s price drops $10,000. The audience — consisting mostly of mobile homeowners — hollered in agreement. Janies said if rent rises
1 DENTIST!
#
Three Years Straight!
“We’re not looking for anybody to give us a handout; we’re looking for reasonable rent security.” — Tamara Janies, chair of the El Dorado Mobilehome Owners Coalition to $900, a lot of potential buyers can’t qualify for the space rent because they would need to make three times the rent ($2,700 a month). Frank Porter, vice-chair of Housing El Dorado, talked about introducing a rent stabilization ordinance to prevent rents rising at a high
rate. “The goal is to create some climate in our county where the bad actors are discouraged from ever coming here,” Porter said. “An ordinance provides you with the backbone. It’s a little like having speed limits on the n
15 YEAR 2.250 3.250 2.53 3.61 HOME LOAN Fixed Rate
20 14 -2
01 6
New Patients Always Welcome!
Jeff Little, DDS General & Cosmetic Dentistry
“Look For My Column On Page 3 Today!”
See Rising rents, page A7
Purchase • Re�nance
Annual Percentage Rate
Monthly Paymentsofof$6.55 $7.03 per 180180 Monthly Payments per $1,000 $1,000Borrowed Borrowed
PLACERVILLE • 4040 El Dorado Road • 622-1492 PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) 247 Main • 622-0833 W. PLACERVILLE • Placerville Dr. & Ray Lawyer • 626-3400 DIAMOND SPRINGS • 694 Pleasant Valley Road • 626-5701 CAMERON PARK • 4060 Cameron Park Drive • 677-1601 POLLOCK PINES • 6462 Pony Express Trail • 644-2363 EL DORADO HILLS • 3963 Park Drive • 933-3002 Servingour ourlocal localcommunities communitiesfor forover over5461years years GEORGETOWN • 6310 Hwy. 193 • 333-1101 Member Serving
Check the El Dorado Advantage:
✓ No application fee ✓ No prepayment penalty ✓ Local processing and servicing
Se Habla Espanol 800-874-9779 Maximum primary oror vacation vacation residence. Maximumloan loan$417,000.00, $500,000, primary residence. 20% minimum cash down payment on purchase. 25% equity required on refinance. Other loans available under different terms.
2 col (3.3”) x 1.5” Mountain Democrat