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Volume 171 • Issue 133 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, November 14, 2022
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Thomas back in third place Krysten Kellum Editor
Mountain Democrat photo by Jana Rossi
Residents and Cameron Park Community Services District leaders talked about the health of Cameron Park Lake, as well as future amenities, during a recent meeting.
Cameron Park Lake’s future debated, looking less murky n Aerators to improve
lake health, lagoon may be replaced with splash pad Jana Rossi Staff writer
The prospective Cameron Park Lake splash pad became a hot topic during the Oct. 19 Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors meeting, with some concerned the project isn’t the best use of CSD funds.
CPCSD staff and directors in 2019 permanently closed the lake’s swimming lagoon and later sent surveys out to Cameron Park residents asking for input regarding water recreation amenities. Many board meetings later it was unanimously decided a splash pad, considered to require less maintenance and be less costly to operate, would be constructed at the lagoon site. Director Monique Scobey, who originally voted in favor of the splash pad, made a presentation during the October meeting outlining her change of heart,
noting she has heard protests from residents and also thinks the concrete splash pad is not in harmony with Cameron Park Lake and natural surroundings. Other concerns she touched upon in her presentation included the California water situation — citing the off chance the pad could become inoperable if a drought occurs — and the parking impact a new structure could bring to the lake. She said she also had concerns about spending 70% of the Park Impact n
See Cameron Park Lake, page A3
Fresh faces coming to board Jana Rossi Staff writer
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The Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors welcomes two new board members and retains one current member up for re-election. Dawn Wolfson and Tim Israel replace CPCSD board President
Felicity Carlson and Director Ellie Wooten (neither opted to run for re-election), while Director Monique Scobey continues to serve on the board. Scobey said not having an election is saving the district approximately $12,000. Three seats were available and only three people ran. Wolfson, who works for a health insurance company as a business systems analyst, said she looks forward to forging a relationship with Cal Fire and delving into the budget as her first orders of business. “I want to ensure the community is getting what it needs,” she shared. Israel said he thinks public service is very important, explaining his top priorities as a new board member are to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability and to make parks more
Dawn Wolfson
Tim Israel
available. He has spent the last 20 years working for Sacramento County Waste Management and currently serves on the Cameron Park CSD’s CC&R Committee. This will be Scobey’s second four-year term serving Cameron Park. She was appointed to a one-year term in 2017 with Director Wooten and then first elected with Carlson and Wooten in 2018 for a four-year term. “I am pleased and privileged to serve another four years as a director for the
Cameron Park CSD,” Scobey said. “In the past four years many tasks have been accomplished. We have balanced the budget, installed a costsaving solar project, added a disc golf course and weathered the COVID crisis. Now, there are many projects ahead of us, including negotiating our fire contract, improving park amenities and continuing responsible management of the district.” The directors will be sworn into their positions at the December CPCSD board meeting.
In the Placerville City Council race a Thursday evening update from the El Dorado County Elections Department showed incumbent Dennis Thomas regaining a lead over newcomer David Yarbrough by nine votes. Ballots continue to be counted and the next update is expected at 5 p.m. Nov. 15. Who will win the third open City Council seat is up in the air. The first batch of voter returns showed Thomas with 40 votes ahead of Yarbrough. Then totals released just after midnight Nov. 9 swapped with Yarbrough edging Thomas by four votes. The top vote-getters are Nicole Gotberg with 1,336, or 18.69% of ballots cast. John Clerici brought in 1,213 votes, 16.97%. Gotberg is a geologist and is currently serving on the Placerville Planning Commission. Clerici is a former City Council member and current member of the Placerville Economic Advisory Committee and El Dorado County Planning Commission. Thomas is a current City Council member and owner of Robinsons Pharmacy. Yarbrough works as a real estate agent. Another close contest will decide a third post on the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors. Incumbent and current board President n
See election, page A3
Business boost on the way Noel Stack Managing editor El Dorado County businesses seeking to grow and thrive in the community now have a new partnership opportunity — with the county itself. The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a technical assistance program that will grant local businesses accepted into area incubator and accelerator programs up to a $50,000 scholarship to cover program expenses provided they meet application requirements and remain in the county for at least three years. “Traditionally the county’s approach to economic development has been reactionary, where we will assist projects and companies when they come in but not necessarily take proactive steps in working and supporting our business community,” explained county Economic and Business Relations Manager Kyle Zimbelman. As competition to attract and retain businesses intensifies, the county has the opportunity to do more through these funds, which come from Transient Occupancy Tax revenue, which has come in higher than anticipated. Chief Administrative Officer Don Ashton noted the board previously approved the funds in the fiscal year 2022-23 budget. “We thought this was a good opportunity for some one-time money to see how this program goes,” Ashton told supervisors. “If it’s successful, and I think it will be, future … dedication of funds will need to be considered by the board.” In this trial year, county officials hope to award five to 10 scholarships. An application timeline has not yet been set. “We have become increasingly cognizant of El Dorado County’s talent in growing n
See Business, page A6