C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
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– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 43 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
County corrects fee CONGRATS, GRADUATES calculation error Jo Carrerow
Mountain Democrat correspondent A plus sign inadvertently hit instead of a minus when calculating projected El Dorado County growth through the year 2045 resulted in Traffic Impact Fees miscalculations during El Dorado County Department of Transportation’s recent major update of the fee and the capital improvement program At the May 20 county Board of Supervisors meeting Senior Civil Engineer Zach Oates and other DOT staff presented the facts and a fix. The error occurred in an analysis done in August and September 2023. “So it was a while ago and that involved updating the county’s assumed growth rates and perhaps more importantly where we projected that that growth is going to occur,” Oates said. Oates, who discovered the error, explained that in updating the department’s numbers from 2018 to 2023, “We take a look at the prior baseline number, how many available units we have to develop where we can charge a fee, we subtract out the number of units that were constructed using building permit data and then we add back in the number of projects or units or parcels that have been approved via new parcel maps, zoning changes, General Plan amendments, those sorts of things. “The error occurred where instead of adding ■ See ERROR, page A5
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
El Dorado High School Class of 2025 graduates joyfully toss their caps in the air after the ceremony on May 22 in Placerville. Union Mine, Oak Ridge and Ponderosa also celebrated graduation last week. See more photos on page A9.
Ceremony honors those who gave all Special to the Mountain Democrat
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The May 26 Memorial Day ceremony at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument was one of the most emotional yet, highlighted by the reading of stories of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who died in combat or captivity. Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War and those who have served in the Global War on Terrorism (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria) stood as the story of a lost comrade from their war was read. Many tears were shed at the standing room only event in Placerville.
Photos by John Poimiroo
Above, veterans salute during the wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial Day commemoration event held at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument on May 26. Right, Veterans who served in wars and conflicts from World War II to today were individually recognized at the ceremony. Seen standing is Chief Petty Officer Bill Schultz, U.S. Navy (ret.), a Korean and Vietnam war veteran, alongside disabled WWII veteran Sal Gigante, U.S. Army (ret.).
“In every hour of peril and every moment of crisis, American warriors have left behind the blessings of home and family to answer their nation’s call. They’ve offered all that they had within them and given their last breaths to each and every one of us — that we might live safe and breathe free.”
— President Donald J. Trump
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