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hardwiring into the information superhighway that will serve the city for years to come. This signifies a major Placerville leaders celebrated the step in Placerville’s efforts to bridge the start of construction for the first phase digital divide, providing fast, reliable of the city’s open internet to over access, fiber-optic 2,100 currently “We’re about ready to embark on broadband project. unserved residents a new gold rush.” The $20.2 million and businesses. project is fully In 2022 — Placerville Mayor John Clerici funded through Placerville a grant from the established the California Public Utilities Commission Municipal Fiber Utility as an essential under the Last Mile Federal Funding city utility to provide affordable, highAccount. speed broadband to better meet the After years of conversation, planning needs of city staff, residents, public safety and behind the scenes work, the city ■ See FIBER, page A8 has taken this significant step toward Features editor
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Mountain Democrat photo by Andrew Vonderschmitt
Placerville Economic Advisory Committee members, left to right, Kathi Lishman, Mickey Kaiserman, Vice Chair Adam Anderson, Patty Borelli and Chair Debra Miller celebrate what is considered a boon to the economic outlook of the city.
candidates SERVING THE PUBLIC Two emerge for vacant PPD phone app makes it easy
Shelly Thorene
What inspired you to run for the EDHCSD Board of Directors? The build-up began almost two years ago when I was foreperson of the Grand Jury and was intimately involved in the investigation into Kevin Loewen and other LLAD-related issues. There were several GARY KINGHORN issues exposed that remain unaddressed and continue to alienate and disenfranchise the community. I was also involved in recalling a
Staff writer
D
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id you know if you live in Placerville, you can get a vacation check-up on your residence by a patrol officer or a SHIELD volunteer while you are away? Did you also know you can sign up to receive alerts for any sort of natural disaster in the area? Are you aware that you can provide an anonymous tip with a photo that goes to dispatch immediately? These are just some of the many services available to Placerville residents which are listed on the Placerville Police Department website and their smart phone app. The Vacation Watch registry lets the on-duty patrol officer know the dates you will be away, if there is an alarm, which cars will be in the driveway,
EDHCSD seat
■ See KINGHORN, page A9
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
Shirley Patti, police analyst with the Placerville Police Department, shows the PPD’s app, which is full of helpful information and lists services available to the public. whether inside out outside lights are left on and if anyone, such as a pet sitter, should be in the house. A SHIELD volunteer or an officer will check on the residence and walk
Signing up for the RAVE Alert, a countywide notification system alerting residents to natural disaster, is easy and
around the property. A list of vacationing homeowners is listed in a binder at the police department and officers or volunteers check a binder before their shift.
What inspired you to run for the EDHCSD Board of Directors? As the El Dorado Hills Community Services District general manager for 20 years and having served on the EDHCSD board from 2010-18, I not only bring a 55-year parks career to the table WAYNE LOWERY but offer an intimate association with the El Dorado Hills community. I consider my time with the district an investment and recent chaos and
■ See APP, page A5
■ See LOWERY, page A8
And action! Filming fees coming to a set near you Jo Carrerow
Mountain Democrat correspondent
B
y September, fees will be determined for filming in El Dorado County’s vast wealth of diverse and natural locations. A new chapter regulating filming activities, fees and permits was added to the county code during the Aug. 12 El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting. Ordinance 5236, which adds Chapter 58 of Title 5, replaces the current film resolution that was adopted in 1990,
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Published bi-monthly in the Mountain Democrat and Village Life
according to El Dorado County Planning and Building Director Karen Garner. “Since that time, the state has developed a very robust film office and has developed a model ordinance that local jurisdiction can use and modify for their own needs. So we went ahead and used that as our basis for our ordinance as well,” Garner explained. The ordinance features a one-year contract, so Garner will report back to the board annually. At a board meeting in June, Garner proposed and was approved to modify the structure of the film permit process.
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In addition, Planning and Building staff were directed by the board to draft a memorandum of understanding between the county and El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce. Garner said the MOU will help by “outlining all the different parties’ roles and responsibilities and to create a fee schedule to begin capturing revenue for film-related activities that utilize county facilities, buildings or roads.” The cities of Placerville and South Lake Tahoe are already collecting film ■ See FEES, page A9
5.000%3.61 5.30% YEAR3.250 1515YEAR 3.250 3.61
HOME LOAN HOME LOAN
Fixed RateFixed Rate
Annual Percentage Annual Percentage Rate Rate
• ReÀ• nance Purchase ReÀnance PLACERVILLE Purchase PLACERVILLE 4040 ElRoad Dorado• 622-1492 Road • 622-1492 • 4040 El •Dorado
180180 Monthly per $1,000Borrowed Borrowed MonthlyPayments Payments of $7.91 $7.03 $1,000 180 Monthly Payments of $7.03 ofper $1,000per Borrowed
Check the El Dorado Advantage: Check the El Dorado Advantage:
PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) Main • 622-0833 PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) 247 Main247 • 622-0833
✓ No application ✓ No application fee fee W. PLACERVILLE l e Dr.Lawyer & Ray• Lawyer W. PLACERVILLE • Placervi•l ePlDr.acervi & Ray 626-3400• 626-3400 ✓ No prepayment ✓ No prepayment penalty penalty • 694 Val Plelasant Road • 626-5701 DIAMONDDIAMOND SPRINGSSPRINGS • 694 Pleasant ey RoadVall•ey626-5701 Local processing and servicing CAMERONCAMERON ✓ Local✓processing and servicing PARKCameron • 4060 Cameron Drive • 677-1601 PARK • 4060 Park DrivePark• 677-1601
PINESPony• 6462 PonyTrai Express Trail • 644-2363 POLLOCKPOLLOCK PINES • 6462 Express l • 644-2363 EL DORADO HILLSPark• 3963 Drive • 933-3002 EL DORADO HILLS • 3963 DrivePark• 933-3002 GEORGETOWN 193 • 333-1101 • 6310 Hwy.• 6310 193 Hwy. • 333-1101 Serving local over 54 years GEORGETOWN Member Member Serving our local our communities forEspanol over 54foryears Se communities Habla
Habla Espanol 800-874-9779 Espanol 800-874-9779 Maximum loan$417,000.00, $650,000, primary vacationresidence. residence. Se HablaSe loan vacation Maximum Maximum loan $417,000.00, primary orprimary vacationororresidence. “Look For My Column On Page 3 Today!”20% 20%cash minimum downonpayment on purchase. equityonrequired on refiOther nance.loansOther loans under available underterms. different terms. minimum downcash payment purchase. 25% equity25% required refinance. available different
NMLSR ID 479256