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– E S T. 18 51
– Weekend Edition – mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025
VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 100 | $1.00
PICTURE PERFECT PARADE
Photo courtesy of EID
El Dorado Irrigation District’s Flume 30 was among the water conveyance infrastructure destroyed by the 2021 Caldor Fire.
EID closes Caldor insurance claim ■ $23 million recovered by the district Chris Woodard Staff writer
General Counsel Brian Poulsen updated the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors on Dec. 8 on the district’s insurance recovery from the Caldor Fire, detailing the final updates from the claim. The insurance claim is now closed after the claim was initially filed right after the damage occurred in 2021. Poulsen said the fire damaged EID infrastructure across 29 separate sites, including significant failures on several flumes and canal facilities. Staff cataloged the physical losses, totaling nearly ■ See CLAIM , page A5
City Council pauses vacant property registry discussion Andrew Vonderschmitt Features Editor
At the Dec. 9 Placerville City Council meeting a proposal to create a registry for vacant properties was pushed
to early next year after councilmembers raised broad concerns about reporting requirements, impacts on property owners and the workload it would place on staff. The draft ordinance spells out a multi-step program: Owners would have to register a property with the Code Enforcement Department within 10 days of it becoming vacant, using a cityprovided form and submit a quarterly selfcertification — with no fee — confirming that the building continues to meet minimum standards. Those selfcertifications would be due quarterly for as long as the structure remains empty. Property owners would also be required to maintain several baseline conditions, including securing all structures; clearing vegetation and maintaining landscaping visible from the street; removing trash, debris and graffiti; installing fencing when needed for safety; posting No Trespassing signs; and providing the Placerville Police Department with a No Trespassing letter upon request. If owners ■ See VACANT , page A5
The Shingle Springs Southside Top Notch 4-H float theme featured Main Street Christmas of 1852 … A Cowboy Christmas, above, complete with a replica of the Bell Tower in the Hangtown Christmas Parade on Sunday. Top left, dancers from On Stage Productions Dance Studio of all ages fill the streets as they dance to Christmas tunes on Main Street. Bottom left, Shingle Springs Southside Top Notch 4-H member Lainey Lewis, 10, left holds her Holland Lop/ Lionshead mix bunny "Snowy" and 4-Her Chelsea Slaughter, 12, holds "Moose,” a Holland Lop, on their float. Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
■ Find the
winners of the Hangtown Christmas Parade on page B1.