CONSIDERING SOLAR? Act Now To Avoid The Change To Net Energy Metering in April! Call Us For Best Rates, Or A 2nd Opinion On An Existing Bid.
WHY GO SOLAR?
Mountain Demo crat
• Reduce Electric Bill • Increase Your Home Value • Protect Rising Energy Costs
• Tax Incentives • Protect Your Roof • Enjoy Solar Reliability
2200 1202
Your #1 Locally Owned Solar Installer CSLB # 1065773
(530) 344-3237 • 3867 Dividend Drive, Suite A, Shingle Springs • info@SolarSavingsDirect.com • solarsavingsdirect.com
172
nd
C ali forn ia’s Olde st Ne w spaper
– E s t. 18 51
Volume 172 • Issue 2 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Friday, January 6, 2023
Salary hikes OK’d with slight change Noel Stack Managing editor With a third recruitment effort under way, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a salary boost for the position of county chief administrative officer. Supervisors approved a 10% increase — down from the recommended 15% noted on the meeting’s agenda. The CAO’s monthly salary ranges from $19,250 at step 1 to $23,400 at step 5, according to the salary schedule effective Dec. 31, 2022, and posted online at edcgov.us. The increase was supported 4-1 with newly sworn-in District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine voting no as she said she didn’t think she had enough information. “The step level (of the new CAO) will be determined by the board commensurate with the qualifications of the individual,” stressed District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl before the vote. “I didn’t want to make this sound like it’s an automatic jump (to step 5). If we could find somebody that’s Don’s clone, that might be eligible for step 5 but I think that’s going to be difficult.” CAO Don Ashton announced his intention to retire last year. He’s expected to stay on the job until sometime in March. Last summer the county began recruiting for a new leader, even hiring a firm to help in the search. “Ultimately that was a five-or six-month process and we weren’t able to locate a candidate that the board wanted to move forward with,” said Human Resources Director Joseph Carruesco. District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas called the process a real “conundrum” as the county has apparent conflicts — a duty to hire the best and brightest while n
See Salary hikes, page A9
Mountain Democrat photo by Noel Stack
Who’s ready for fishing? Retired El Dorado County Assessor Karl Weiland and his wife Heidi, who recently stepped down from her role on the El Dorado County Board of Education, are ready to hit the road and enjoy retirement.
Karl Weiland ready to cast his line
Noel Stack Managing editor
A
ll his gear is packed; he’s ready to fish.
After more than 30 years in public service and three terms as an elected department head, El Dorado County Assessor Karl Weiland has traded property tax assessments for lures and bait. “I’ve had nine months to work through the fact that I won’t have a job anymore … and I’ve never
regretted (the decision),” Weiland said. “It keeps sinking in.” Sitting in the recently remodeled kitchen of the Somerset home he shares with wife Heidi, who also retired this year from her official duties as an El Dorado County Board of Education trustee, Karl pointed out, “The whole point of working is retiring.” After serving in the U.S. Air Force, 1971n
See weiland, page A7
Drought relief depends on coming months News release
California Department of Water Resources photo by Fred Greaves
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
A team from the Department of Water Resources Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit conducts a snow survey at Phillips Station near Echo Summit Jan. 3.
The Department of Water Resources conducted the first manual snow survey of the season at Phillips Station Jan. 3, recording 55.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 17.5 inches, which is 177% of average for the location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide the snowpack is 174% of average for this date, according to DWR data. Conditions so far this season have
proven to be strikingly similar to last year when California saw some early rainstorms and strong December snow totals only to have the driest January through March on record. “The significant Sierra snowpack is good news but unfortunately these same storms are bringing flooding to parts of California,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “This is a prime example of the threat of extreme flooding during a prolonged drought as California experiences more swings between wet and dry periods brought on by our changing climate.” n
Be Safe, Warm & Toasty PLUMBING
Lic. #559305 • Est. 1979
SPECIAL
TM
See snow survey, page A8
FURNACE TUNE-UP $ 00 Plus JUST $ 00 50 530-303-2727 OFF Multi -Point Safety and Efficiency Test
With Our 1-Year No Break Down Guarantee*
Reg. $189.00
99
*with recommended repairs Please present coupon • Not valid on prior services • Expires 1/31/23
Repair or Service Call
HEATING • AIR • PLUMBING H
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
*
*When work is performed. Not good with any other discount. Not valid on prior services. Limited time only
O
M
E
S
E
R
V
I
C
E
S
©Gilmore Inc. 2023
702
www.gilmoreair.com
Gilmore’s Red Carpet Care for Your Heating & Air Our Technicians Keep Your Home Neat & Tidy
Mt. Democrat
You’ll Love The Positive Way We Do Things Differently!
Folsom Buick GMC Look For our DeCeMber ServiCe SPeCiALS oN PAGe b10 WE ARE PROFESSIONAL GRADE
916-355-1414
Folsom Automall 12640 Automall Cir
Northern California’s Premier GM Dealer
www.folsombuickgmc.com