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Friday, October 6, 2023
C ali forn ia’s Olde st Ne w spaper
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Volume 172 • Issue 115 | $1.00
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TOT dominates budget discussion Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
Mountain Democrat photos by Odin Rasco
El Dorado County Fire Protection District Capt. Jamie Preston aids 5-year-old Magnum Minnick in fighting a simulated fire Tuesday as part of Magnum’s Make-A-Wish event. Magnum, an El Dorado Hills resident, was firefighter for a day, marking the 10,000th wish granted by Make-A-Wish Northeastern and Central California and Northern Nevada.
Magnum on duty 10,000th wish granted for EDH 5-year-old
Odin Rasco Staff writer
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large crowd gathered as smoke billowed from a structure located off Pleasant Valley Road at around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. When El Dorado County Fire Protection District Engine 28 drove up to the site, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the county’s newest firefighter, 5-year-old Magnum Minnick, emerged from the truck ready to help. Aided by Capt. Jamie Preston, Magnum used a fire hose to spray down the entrance and exterior of the firefighter training center — the fire was simulated to avoid
Magnum was greeted with signs, balloons and cheers from community members, friends, family and firefighters when he arrived at Fire Station 28 to start his Wish Day. any potential risks — before heading into the dark, smoky interior. “He had no fear entering the structure — he pushed in deep, and that was smoked out as much as it is on any of our normal
training days,” Preston said. “Visibility was at zero and he wasn’t scared at all.” Magnum’s bravery was no anomaly, as he has stayed a courageous kid in the face of many doctors’
E OAKS SENIOR CARE VILLAG
While approving the El Dorado County’s finalized 2023-24 budget, one conversation dominated all others — how to allocate discretionary funds from the Transient Occupancy Tax. With just more than $216,000 to work with, after discussion and lobbying on where the funds should go, the board gave direction during its Sept. 19 meeting to send $25,000 to the Coloma Lotus Business Council, $25,000 to the Shingle Springs-Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce and $29,000 to the Clean Tahoe Program in South Lake Tahoe. The chamber, business council and Clean Tahoe almost did not receive the money. Their requests were initially deferred in favor of replenishing capital designations for projects tied to tourism impacts such as replacing the Shakori Garage that holds county snow plowing equipment, which saw costs for replacing the garage jump from $2 million to $5 million, according to Chief Administrative Officer Tiffany Schmid. About $5.4 million in TOT funds carried over from the previous fiscal year of which more than $4.5 million will go to other appropriations, including fire districts, broadband, parks and Cal Tahoe Ambulance and Barton Health inter-facility transfers. The county also allocated more than $600,000 to hire three code enforcement officers. Another request was made by the El Dorado County Fire Protection District for $143,912 to help fund its swift water program and new helicopter rescue technician program. Some on the board, more keen to support other tourist-related organizations and programs, lobbied for giving money to the Shingle SpringsCameron Park Chamber, which requested the money for its operations. “They generate TOT funds with their hotels and AirBnBs. This is just a small request,” District 2
visits. Diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan anemia, a rare bone marrow disorder, shortly after his first birthday, Magnum required a
n See Budget, page A7
notice
In observance of the Columbus Day holiday the Mountain Democrat will not publish Monday, Oct. 9.
n See magnum, page A8
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