C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
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– Weekend Edition – VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 60 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025
MAKING THE PURCHASE
Mountain Democrat file photo
The county is pursuing grant funding to make improvements at Chili Bar Park.
Pinching pennies for county parks ■ Staff explores cost recovery options Jo Carrerow
Mountain Democrat correspondent Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
This land is public land. The El Dorado Hills Community Services District has purchased the second portion of the old golf course along Highway 50.
EDHCSD grabs last slice of executive golf course Noel Stack
In November 2023 EDHCSD directors opted to purchase 55 acres of the former golf course at the intersection of El Dorado Hills Boulevard and he southern portion of the old executive Serrano Parkway for $10 million. That purchase golf course in El Dorado Hills has a new agreement came with an 18-month window to owner. After years of meetings, public input acquire the second portion, for which the district and sometimes heated discussions, the El Dorado will finance approximately $5.3 million with the Hills Community Services remainder of the purchase to be District Board of Directors voted funded by cash on hand. “We owe our community 3-1 to exercise the purchase The 20-year financing option for the remaining 41.66 through Umpqua Bank will cost something beautiful ...” acres. the district about $419,000 — EDHCSD Director Heidi Hannaman Directors Heidi Hannaman, a year, according to Director Michael Martinelli and Noelle of Administration & Finance Mattock supported the purchase from Serrano Office Teri Gotro. Directors expressed optimism Associates LLC during a special July 23 meeting. the CSD could pay off the balance early. Board President Stephen Ferry voted against The property’s appraisal and financing options the motions to acquire the property and secure didn’t sit well with several speakers, including financing. Director Ferry. “We owe our community something beautiful “I spent 35 years in mortgage banking and I when we get off that freeway. We have to work seriously disagree with the appraiser’s assessment to get that back so that’s what I’m going to do,” and I am really concerned with Oppenheimer Hannaman said during an emotional message (loan consultant) refusing to make the loan based that included admonishing some residents in on the property we are buying,” Ferry told the attendance who engaged in personal attacks and Mountain Democrat the day after the meeting. outbursts. “Obviously, all their subject banks did not think Purchasing the property — which comes with a the subject property’s value was even close to $9,951,940 price tag plus an estimated $100,000 $10,000,000. The board is responsible for the in closing costs for title, escrow and financing for people’s money, and I take that responsibility a total of $10,050,000 — is the only way the CSD very seriously.” During open forum, EDH can “make sure we are able to control the visioning ■ See GOLF COURSE, page A5 process for that property,” added Martinelli. Editor
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Supervisors approved exploring new strategies to help fund county parks, some that have up until now been operating solely on county funding. At the July 22 El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting, Chief Administrative Office principal management analyst Jennifer Franich told the board she hoped their presentation would generate “a great discussion about all of the options for parks funding, and that we can get some meaningful feedback from all of you.” Much of the board’s decisions that day were based on a budget that has no room for “Anything we take new expenditures. Parks Manager on, for quite some Zachary Perras said time probably … they would address eight initiatives in anything new we the Parks and Trails create can’t be Master Plan, four of them intended to something that’s be completed in the subsidized.” 2025-26 calendar years and the other — District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin four ongoing. The goal is to establish cost recovery through fees to fund parks and also their renovations so that less is subsidized by the county and the parks become more self-sufficient. Perras has recently been certified in a financial sustainability certification program taught by Jamie Schaubach, a representative of the California Parks and Recreation Society. Schaubach had been contracted by the city of Napa to address its Parks and Recreation budget ■ See PARKS, page A8
NTSB releases new details on fatal Lake Tahoe boat capsizing Petra Molina Sierra Sun
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — Moments before 10-foot waves capsized a 28-foot powerboat during a sudden storm on Lake Tahoe, a passenger grabbed a life jacket and began handing them to the others. She was the only one wearing a life jacket when the boat overturned on June 21, plunging all 10 people into the water and killing eight. The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday released new findings from its investigation, which includes interviews with a survivor, first responders and those involved in recovering the vessel.
Timeline of events as documented by NTSB Over the Moon launched from a boat ramp in Tahoe City at about 10:40 a.m. Four adults were initially on board, two of whom were the boat’s
clouds began to build and the operator decided to return to the marina where he had picked up the passengers. After getting under way, the winds, rain and waves intensified, prompting him to turn back toward Emerald Bay. After about 10 minutes, he made a second attempt to return to the marina. Photo courtesy of the National Transportation Safety Board One survivor told investigators that, once the Post-accident photo shows the recreational vessel Over the Moon. boat was away from Emerald winds and an air temperature Bay, 2- to 3-foot waves registered owners. One of the of 54 degrees, according to the began splashing into the owners was the sole operator. vessel amid pouring rain, The operator drove the vessel NTSB. The National Weather although no water was initially to two nearby marinas, where accumulating on deck. six additional adults boarded at Service had issued no marine warnings or small craft As winds increased, the the second stop. advisories for Lake Tahoe that survivor reported marbleAt 11:58 a.m., the boat day, although the local forecast sized hail collecting inside the traveled to Emerald Bay, a indicated a slight chance of vessel, with waves reaching sheltered area on the west thunderstorms. up to 10 feet high. She recalled shore popular with boaters. that some waves broke over There, the vessel anchored for the bow and sides, and about about one-and-a-half hours. Weather conditions shift an inch of water pooled on At the time, weather suddenly conditions were reported as clear skies, light southerly Shortly before 2 p.m., ■ See NTSB, page A8