Amador County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Amador County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Buena Vista Biomass Plant Permit Concerns
Two residents who live within 4,000 feet of the Buenna Vista biomass plant urged the county to enforce all conditions of the plant's use permit and pressed for a moratorium on any permit extension, arguing biomass is among the dirtiest power generation and that the plant's operators have been inconsistent about what's actually happening on site.
Stinkwort Invasive Weed Spread
Rancher John Kirkpatrick says he's spent thousands fighting stinkwort, which is taking over roadsides along Highway 88 and Reservation Road, and he wants the county to spray county roads. A UC farm advisor confirmed it's the fastest-invading weed in the country and offered research-based control strategies.
Amador Resource Conservation District update
Three grant applications could direct up to $9.2 million in state funds to Central Sierra farms for drip irrigation, solar pumps, hedgerows, and soil health projects — areas historically underserved by state programs.
Clean California Community Designation
Supervisors are considering enrolling the county in the Clean California community program, which could bring landscaping help, trees, and grant-application credibility — but they want to check how much staff time it would take first.
Upcountry storm green waste disposal
A major snowstorm damaged roughly a third of homes in some upcountry areas, dropped trees on power lines, and left most roads one lane wide. The county ratified its disaster proclamation and the state senator's office stands ready to escalate to a state of emergency request.
Childhood cancer cluster concerns near Ione
Five childhood cancer diagnoses in Amador County in two years, three in Ione within eight months and within a mile of each other, prompted a call for environmental testing around Mule Creek State Prison and other sites. Public Health said the state investigated and found no corroborating information.