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Volume 171 • Issue 145 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, December 12, 2022
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Supes make stink over organic waste Noel Stack Managing editor The situation stinks, county leaders agreed, but Tuesday the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors approved plans to increase garbage rates and join the SB 1383 mission of diverting organic waste from landfills. On a reluctant 3-2 vote supervisors supported increasing residential collection rates by $3.07 per month per home in Franchise Area A (unincorporated areas along the
Highway 50 corridor from El Dorado Hills to Pollock Pines that are not part of other solid waste service agreements) as well as increasing the the Material Recovery Facility selfhaul organics rate from $15 to $20.88 per cubic yard and the over-weight charge for organics roll-off debris boxes from $53.19 to $120.84 per ton. “I don’t see that we really have an option,” said District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin, who seconded the motion to approve the rate increases but then, upon determining the motion would
“Throwing food waste in your green waste container and letting it sit there, it’s almost a chemistry experiment.” — ROSS REAKSECKER, El Dorado Disposal site manager pass with a majority, registered a “no” vote “just to send the message … we really don’t want to do this.” Following the signing of Senate Bill 1383 into law, CalRecycle issued the non-optional mandate requiring counties and cities to participate in organic waste recycling programs designed to reduce short-
lived pollutants in landfills; some exceptions exist for remote and very rural areas with low populations (few of which are in El Dorado County). The law requires the state to reduce organic waste in landfills by 75% by 2025, which equates to more than 20 n
See organics, page A8
First flu death in three years Andrew Vonderschmitt Staff writer El Dorado County has seen its first flu-related death in three years as reported cases of respiratory illnesses continue to rise. Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 cases are up statewide and locally. The report of a seasonal influenza-related death came in November, according to a news release from El Dorado County Health and Human Services. El Dorado County Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams notes the last flu-related death of an El Dorado County resident was reported in February 2020. “Precautions taken during the pandemic to prevent transmission of COVID, like masking and staying away from other people when ill, worked well at reducing the incidence of respiratory illnesses, including flu, respiratory syncytial virus and the common cold,” states Williams in the release. “Unfortunately, relaxing our precautions has resulted in those illnesses spreading more freely again. We are hearing reports of many people missing school and work this fall. “This flu-related fatality is a painful reminder that COVID-19 is not the only illness threatening the most vulnerable among us,” continues Williams. “Besides COVID-19, cases of other respiratory illnesses are occurring in much greater numbers this fall than we’ve seen in several years. Continued vigilance to prevent the spread of infectious illnesses in our communities remains important for everyone.”
Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
Concerns about plans for Bass Lake Regional Park in El Dorado Hills include placement of athletic fields to the west of the lake and a nature center off its east shore near a dry pond.
Plans for Bass Lake park continue to be in flux Sel Richard Staff writer
Marshall Hospital feeling the pressure Marshall Hospital emergency room staff has been n
See Flu, page A5
Final designs for the future Bass Lake Regional Park presented at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District November board meeting showed design shifts met with concern from the sports community in particular. Stantec Senior Principal Paul Marcillac began by showing revised plans for the park’s west side, which included combining recreation areas and minimizing cost by eliminating road redundancy. “We really want to consolidate all those play areas
into one,” he said, asserting that the new layout creates a safer environment. “You can supervise your children. They’re close to restrooms and you’re not crossing streets.” The event center was relocated to avoid flood zones and grading adjustments were proposed to lower existing fields. Marcillac suggested removing volleyball courts and placing them at another site. Multi-use fields were rotated to free up more space. “This provided approximately over an acre of n
See Bass Lake, page A7
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Cameron Park fire safe forums planned Andrew Vonderschmitt Staff writer What would happen if a wildfire were to start in the Cameron Park area? Given its unique topography, the region is becoming a focal point for firesafe practices and the Greater Cameron Park Area Fire Safe Council aims to answer this question and help the community bolster its wildfire resiliency. In a series of forums planned by the nonprofit, residents will have an opportunity to learn about wildfire behavior and how to live more fire safe. Participants will even see a 3D projected simulation of a fire in the Cameron Park
region. The first forum of the series, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, will be held at the Cameron Park Community Services District assembly hall and will focus on the unique landscape of Shingle Springs and Cameron Park, according to a news release from the Fire Safe Council. The 3D simulations, provided by the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, factor in topography, winds, temperature and fuel moisture, providing real-time examples of wildfire behavior. Paul Gilchrest, chairperson of the Greater Cameron Park Area Fire Safe Council, said the upcoming forums will cover three areas of interest surrounding
fire safety — problems, solutions and outcomes. Gilchrest explained that the goal is to get residents the information needed to create defensible space and accomplish home hardening. Information will be split up throughout the forums. The Cameron Park region falls within the jurisdiction of five fire agencies — the Cameron Park and El Dorado Hills fire departments, the El Dorado County and Rescue fire protection districts, Cal Fire and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Tribal Fire Department, which the n
See Fire safe, page A8
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