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Biscuits & Gravy - Chaos in Colfax while Auburn Shines |
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Written by Don Chaddock
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AROUND TOWN – Friday night was a busy one for this newspaper guy. It started with Cruise Nite at 5:30 p.m. on Lincoln Way. Thin on cars and spectators (which usually happens every July), the evening was still a nice one. A break in the weather had some of the regulars coming out. At the KAHI van was Dave Rosenthal (shown in this week’s snapshot) with a Black and White Ball sponsor bunny. I also ran into Rosie Mietzel, chief organizer of this year’s Ball, and Bob and Eileen Ferber, who are in charge of organizing the restaurants who participate. Vance Sauter was checking out of the classic cars while chatting with Auburn Recreation District board member Curt Smith. Pete Aroz and his crew, including son Troy, were busy keeping the crowds well watered. The family owns the Liquor Outlet and Pistol Pete’s Brew & Cue. Soon they’ll be branching out into restaurants by opening Pistol Pete’s Pizza, slated to go in next door to the bar. ... At about 8, I wandered down Lincoln Way to the State Theater Illumination Party happening on the street in front of the theater. Spearheaded by Bill Kirby, the shindig was well attended. The Auburn Chamber of Commerce ran the bar with the Sentinel’s Deborah Mangione slinging drinks beside Chamber CEO Bruce Cosgrove and Kevin Capps of The Capps Group. Glenda Gonzales sang a few tunes and brought in the rest of the performers.
It was a night for everyone to turn out to watch the newly installed sign light up. Placer-Tahoe Film Office chief Beverly Lewis was ready for the costume contest as she shined in a Marilyn Monroe outfit. Other county officials, and one county supervisor hopeful, were also in attendance – District 3 Supervisor Jim Holmes (with his wife Pat), County Counsel Tony LaBouff, County Planning Commission member Rich Johnson (with his wife Peg) and District 5 candidate Jennifer Montgomery (who is squaring off against incumbent Bruce Kranz this November in a run-off election). The City of Auburn was also well represented. City Manager Bob Richardson videotaped some of the action while Mayor Keith Nesbitt (who is running for re-election in November) spoke to the crowd. I also spotted two city Planning Commission members, Lisa Worthington and Mark Smith, and one Economic Development board member, Monti Reynolds (with his wife Diane). Steve Galyardt and Leslie Maita were all smiles (the happy couple is engaged to be wed). Dawntrix Kerry, of Auburn Alchemy and Pachamama’s restaurant, and my friend Becky Martin (head waitress over at Luigi’s Little Italy in Downtown Auburn) were a welcome sight. Others in attendance were Paul and Sherry Gilbert, George Remaley, Shari and Ellis Smith, KAHI AM 950 General Manager Jerry Henry, Hank Gonzales, Paul Ogden, Kristina and D.J. Hodge, the lovely Rebecca Toedter, Debi Lawrence, Linda Robinson, Gary Moffat, Nancey Holland, Kathy Harris and many more.
COLFAX CHAOS – Following the contentious and chaotic Colfax public hearing a few weeks ago, two city council members have stepped down – Mayor Jim Albright and Sharon Gieras. As angry residents, protesting a proposed sewer rate hike, threw insult-laden comments at the city council and staff during the public comment portion of the hearing, a few of the council members tried to maintain order and a sheriff’s deputy even stepped in at one point to get protest leader Jeff Williams to contain his outbursts. Williams kept returning to the podium, speaking out of turn, and asking questions of the residents (most of whom were protesters as well) rather than directing his comments to the council. When he did address the council, he was often sarcastic or openly hostile, at one point even going so far as to accuse councilman Joshua Alpine of backing down on a promise he allegedly made while tossing back tequila shots at a local bar. (Other residents jumped to Joshua’s defense, saying he has always kept his word and returned phone calls.) Alpine, acting in a more professional manner than his detractor, just shook his head at the allegations and tried to move the meeting forward. As I watched the spectacle of the public hearing, it was obvious that the protesters either didn’t truly comprehend what is happening regionally with wastewater treatment requirements or simply didn’t care. Auburn, Grass Valley, Lake of the Pines and unincorporated areas of the county are all facing the same problems, despite Mr. Williams’ desire to insulate Colfax from reality. He is right when he says Colfax is a special place, but not that special. The town is still subject to the same water quality standards as its neighbors. The real issue is the so-called “regional” wastewater treatment facility in Lincoln that, as far as I can tell, is regional in name only. The oversized pipeline, supposedly waiting for foothills towns to tap into it, stops miles down the hill from Auburn. What does this mean? To go regional, rather than constructing or upgrading an existing plant, has astronomical costs attached since a pipeline needs to be constructed from the town (such as Colfax) all the way to the pipeline, crossing over (or under) properties help by private parties and multiple agencies and jurisdictions (the railroad, CalTrans, Auburn and Placer County, just to name a few). Some of the Colfax protesters have asked for the Grand Jury to investigate the way the city has conducted itself regarding the construction of the town’s new sewer plant. The recent Grand Jury report, released a few weeks ago, actually commends Colfax for the way it has handled the sewer plant and rate hikes. “The Grand Jury found the City of Colfax officials, employees and consultants have acted responsibly and as promptly as resources allowed to address problems with the city’s old wastewater treatment plant. The city took reasonable steps to obtain funding to address the vital issue of providing wastewater treatment which meets federal and state requirements.” Auburn raised its sewer rates last year and will probably do so again in the near future, depending on the eventual path the city chooses to take regarding the regional issue. Other communities have raised their rates as well, all to meet the state and federal guidelines for water quality. Williams believes that if the town sheds itself of the burden of being a “city,” the county will step in, absorb the debts incurred to construct the new sewer treatment facility, and their problems (such as rate increases) would go away. Now that’s what I call a pipe dream.
ODDS & ENDS – Sarah and Marcello Nolivo, owners of the Club Car, are visiting family in New York. Have fun you two.
WISHING WELL – For those who have been asking, I visited longtime newspaperman Joe Carroll last week. He’s recovering after a series of strokes and I’m sure he’s giving the Siena staff a hard time. We discussed the Colfax political situation, the upcoming November election and Doug Ose’s defeat against Tom McClintock. Give him some solid recovery time, and I’m sure he’ll be back out walking his dog Rufus. Our thoughts are with you, Joe.
Don Chaddock is the executive editor of the Sentinel. His column, “Biscuits & Gravy,” publishes weekly. He may be reached at
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or by calling 530-823-2463.
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