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– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 7 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2025
Keep the dream alive EDHCSD, Austins settle fee case Noel Stack Editor
Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes, Senior Pastor at El Dorado Federated Church speaks to a gathering at Placerville Town Hall at the “Keep The Dream alive” commemoration for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday night.
■ Dr. King’s message of hope and peace shared Shelly Thorene
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District and the Austin family have reached a $5.25 million settlement after more than nine years of litigation, according to a news release from Dordick Law Corporation. Calling it “a major victory for homeowners,” DLC attorney Mark Leonardo, who represents the Austins, said many El Dorado Hills homeowners will receive refunds for fees levied on building permits issued between 2013 and 2016 by the EDHCSD. A timeframe for those refunds has yet to be determined. Since the settlement was made public earlier this month, EDHCSD directors have discussed the litigation in closed session but have not reported out any information to the public other than direction was given to counsel. EDHCSD General Manager Mark Hornstra told the Mountain Democrat in early January the district did not have a final written settlement agreement. “Until that written settlement agreement is executed by all parties, the district will not be making any comments,” he shared. A hearing on the matter was held Jan. 9 and a judge’s written ruling is expected within 90 days of that court date. In 2015 El Dorado Hills residents Thomas and Helen Austin sued El Dorado County, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District and the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, arguing
Staff writer
■ See SETTLEMENT, page A8
T
he El Dorado Peace and Justice Community sponsored a gathering at Placerville Town Hall Monday night to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The theme was Keep the Dream Alive and featured several speakers, including Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes, senior pastor at El Dorado Federated Church; poets Irene Lipshin and Taylor Graham; Placerville Vice Mayor Nicole Gotberg and Cristina Nunes with Stanford Sierra Youth and Families. Emcee and psychotherapist Susan Simpkin welcomed the
Camping, parking ordinance changes receive first nod Jo Carrerow
Mountain Democrat correspondent
■ See MLK, page A8
MAIL LABEL
Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
Tim Kendall of Placerville holds a sign along with others as he marches down Main Street to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Day. About 75 people participated in the march.
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Changes to both camping and parking ordinances to help law enforcement when dealing with El Dorado County’s homeless population were moved forward at the Board of Supervisors meeting Jan. 7. During her presentation, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Laura Schwartz shared that it had been a collaborative effort for the past several months between the Chief Administrative Office, the Sheriff ’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, the Health and Human Services Agency and county counsel. “We’ve been working to try and really look at “This ordinance what changes we can would allow our make to this ordinance that essentially gives people to go out some additional tools and keep these to law enforcement to people moving ensure county facilities are used for their intended along.” purposes,” she said. El Dorado County Sheriff The proposed ordinance Jeff Leikauf changes include both public and private properties. They are mostly clarifications and clean-up of the wording in past ordinances for camping and storage of personal property and regulating parking of vehicles within the county. They cover more facilities and clarify the meaning of camping and the difference between public and private property. They define storage of personal possessions as well as what hazardous
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