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Hello Readers,
Just letting you know I will not be sending a newsletter next week. Be back on September 18th.
Thank you and have a safe holiday weekend.
The following statement can be attributed to El Dorado County’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams:
“Before COVID-19, many of us would spend the Labor Day weekend getting together with friends and extended families to enjoy a little down time from work, as is the American tradition. This year, things have changed, but we can still enjoy our holiday weekend safely.
“Whether it’s the last getaway of the summer to a cabin in the woods, a tent in the forest, a place near a lake, or a backyard barbeque before cooler weather sets in, this year’s activities must be done a little differently in light of the COVID pandemic. Many Labor Day traditions can be continued safely while others should be postponed or modified until positive case rates have been significantly reduced or have subsided. You just have to choose carefully. A substitute safer activity may even become part of your new tradition. This year, try making it a smaller celebration with just your immediate family, those you live with. Remember that some people infected with coronavirus develop no symptoms but can still spread the illness. You don’t want to accidentally share COVID-19 with your extended family or friends.
“In addition to keeping people from getting sick, there are other benefits of helping to keep COVID-19 rates low. Last week the State issued a new framework for reopening businesses and resuming activities and El Dorado County was placed in the second of a four-tier system, the Red tier. We can enjoy a few more activities under this new framework than we could under the former COVID-monitoring system, such as the addition of a limited amount of in-person dining. If we do well in keeping rates low, we’ll be able to go to even more businesses and enjoy more activities.
“The next two weeks and especially this holiday weekend will be critical in determining our future and, honestly, it’s up to you. It truly depends on the choices we all make now. Risks you take today that may expose you or others to COVID-19 may result in El Dorado County’s rates rising just when we are hoping to be reclassified into a less restrictive tier.
“So, this weekend, please avoid gatherings with people you don’t live with. Wear a mask when you’re out in public. Stay six feet or more away from people you don’t live with. Choose to be outside rather than inside if it’s not too hot. Wash your hands and sanitize high-touch areas.
We can already do many activities in El Dorado County. We’ll be able to do even more in a few weeks if we all do our parts now to avoid spreading COVID-19.”
Update on COVID-19 in El Dorado County as of Friday, September 4, 2020.
-- 205 tests (25,058)
-- 13 cases; (1,001)
1 in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz; 5 in EDH; 1 in Greater Placerville; 3 in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue;
3 in Lake Tahoe region
0 aged 0-17, 9 aged 18-49, 3 aged 50-64, 1 aged 65+
-- 192 negative tests (24,057)
-- 16 assumed recoveries (895)
-- no change in hospitalizations and ICU (0/0)
-- 1.8% positivity rate
-- no new deaths
http://ow.ly/3qSN50zhCuK
South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) has approved a program to issue a 50% account credit to one quarterly sewer bill for customers whose primary residence or business are within the District's service area and are facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Go to https://stpud.us/covid-19-response/ for more information and to see if you are eligible. Applications must be submitted by October 30, 2020.
The following statement can be attributed to El Dorado County Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams:
“We received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health that if El Dorado County data remains below a four new cases per day average along with test positivity below five percent over the most recent two consecutive seven-day periods we will move from our current Red/Substantial tier to Orange/Moderate in the week of September 21st.
“The State used data from the weeks of August 5-11 and August 12-18 to determine which tier each County would be assigned. El Dorado County was assigned to the Red tier because its data from the week of August 5-11 fell into the Red category. The State requires that a County remain in the assigned tier for three weeks before moving to a less restrictive tier and as long as the number of cases and test positivity percentage meet that less restrictive tier’s requirement during the most recent two weeks.
“The State further clarified that if only one of the two criteria is met to move to a less restrictive tier, a County must remain in the more restrictive tier until it meets both criteria.
“For information about El Dorado County’s tier status, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/, start typing ‘El Dorado’ in the County box and select it from the drop-down list. Then, either click on ‘GET LATEST STATUS’ to see restrictions on the full list of activities, or enter a specific type of business or activity of interest in the ‘Activity’ box. Finally, either scroll down for the entire list or click on the ‘Get Latest Status’ button. Learn more about the tiers HERE.
“El Dorado County’s numbers in the two criteria the State is currently using to determine reopening have been trending relatively lower over the last two weeks. The best and easiest way to help ensure we move to the Orange tier in the week of September 21st is for residents and visitors to continue to follow the State’s mandates for face coverings, avoid gatherings with and remain at least six feet from others outside your household and wash your hands.”
Full Closure of U.S. Highway 50 at Echo Summit Begins September 18
 The U.S. Highway 50 FULL CLOSURE for the Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct Replacement Project is scheduled to begin Friday, September 18.
There will be one-way traffic control 24/7 scheduled to begin Sunday, September 13 until Friday, September 18 to demolish the existing bridge before installing the girders.
If you're planning to travel to South Lake Tahoe there will be a detour route available using State Routes 89, 88, 49 and 16, through Amador, El Doarado and Alpine County. More details here.
Please remember, if visiting any local business when travelling the alternate route, to travel responsibly, wear a face mask and practice safe social distancing.
If you are a regular commuter and use Echo Summit in your daily commute, the Johnson Pass Road 'Pass' is available. https://www.way2tahoe.com/jpr
The Echo Summit Project will replace the existing bridge, which was built in 1939, with a structure that meets current seismic standards. Once completed, the bridge will offer improved safety for decades to come.
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CONNECT. PROMOTE.
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Connect with the #Way2Tahoe campaign on Facebook and Twitter for more news and updates.
"Like" and "Follow" the #Way2Tahoe campaign with your business' Facebook page and Twitter account, and the campaign will provide an @mention to promote your business and specials in a news-feed update and tweet. .
We remind drivers to slow their speed and Be Work Zone Alert. Workers are operating within inches of live traffic. Traffic is unpredictable and sudden slowing or stopping may occur.
Please do not peer into work zones as this can cause collisions if drivers are not paying attention to their driving.
It's important that pedestrians and cyclists stay out of the work zone for safety.
Steve Nelson
Public Information Officer
Caltrans District 3
530-741-4566; 530-701-9459
As the fastest animal on the planet, the Peregrine falcon can reach top speeds of 200 mph! You can find it flying around the Tahoe Basin if you look quickly. Today's fun fact is a repeat from a few years ago in honor of a recent successful collaborative effort to protect fledgling peregrine falcons in the Tahoe Basin.
 Photo: Martin Meyers
El Dorado County today announced the public release of the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Adopted budget which the Board of Supervisors will consider September 18, 2020. The $712 million overall budget is three percent less than last year’s Adopted Budget while maintaining services and programs, keeping salaries and benefits flat when compared to the Recommended Budget that was approved in June, and setting aside additional funds for contingencies, reserves, and unfunded liabilities.
“I am pleased to present this balanced budget which is able to maintain existing levels of service to our community, particularly in light of the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has presented to our operations and revenue,” said Chief Administrative Officer, Don Ashton.
In his annual Budget Memo to the Board of Supervisors, Ashton noted the Recommended Budget that was approved by the Board in June 2020 was largely a ‘status-quo’ budget with many requests from departments being deferred to allow time to obtain a better understanding of the fiscal impacts caused by the pandemic.
“The recommendations included in the Adopted Budget meet all federal and state requirements as well as all of the Board approved budget policies, including setting aside $5 million for facility capital replacement and improvement costs, replenishing the CalPERS Unfunded Accrued Liability reserves, as well as setting aside $2.3 million for the first payment on the Public Safety Facility which is due July 2, 2021,” Ashton said.
Fiscal Year 2019-20 year-end books have not yet closed so additional adjustments to the budget may need to be made once the final numbers are available, but State law requires a public hearing and approval of the Adopted Budget no later than October 2, 2020.
“Because of the uncertainty the pandemic will have on our revenues, I continue to recommend a cautious approach to revenue projections and approving new or ongoing expenditures. It is primarily due to this cautious approach suggested by staff, reflected by departments, agreed to in labor union negotiations, and carried out by the Board that we find ourselves able to present an Adopted Budget that contains no cuts to services and programs, keeps our employees whole and allows the County to save for future needs,” Ashton pointed out.
The Adopted Budget suggests any additional year end savings identified after the complete close of the FY 2019-2020 books be prioritized for the following use:
- General Liability/Workers Comp: Up to $3 million
- El Dorado Center: Up to $3 million
- Facility Capital
Replacement Reserves: Any remaining amounts.
Should the year end fund balance be lower than anticipated, staff will return to the Board with recommendations on how to close any funding gaps as soon as possible after the year end books have closed, according to Ashton.
“This is a fiscally responsible and solid Adopted Budget in light of current events which maintains the high level of services provided by El Dorado County due to the commitment of County employees to serving their community,” Ashton said.
The FY 2020-21 Budget can be found here. The special Board of Supervisors Budget Hearing is scheduled for Friday, September 18th at 1:00 pm
El Dorado County Animal Services is looking for information from the public about a Cocker Spaniel dog that was abandoned on the side of the road in South Lake Tahoe. The severely neglected dog was found on August 22, 2020, by a Good Samaritan who brought the dog to the El Dorado County Animal Services Shelter in South Lake Tahoe. The female Cocker Spaniel is about 8 years old with tan fur. She wasn't wearing a collar or identification tag. She was found lying on the side of the road on Spruce Avenue by Bijou School in South Lake Tahoe.
Animal Services believes the dog was abandoned due to her medical issues. "She couldn't have gotten very far on her own," says Senior Animal Services Officer Sgt. Joe Avalos. "The dog had extremely matted hair and very long, corkscrewed nails. She also has problems with her eyes, ears, skin and, according to a veterinarian, appears to have been suffering from years of neglect."
The dog was transported to the El Dorado County Animal Services Shelter in Diamond Springs where she received a full evaluation and needed medical care. Since coming to the shelter, the dog that officers are now calling "Charlotte" has also received a good grooming, needed medication and lots of comforting pats of reassurance. "She's resting now and we expect her to be fine, though we believe she will likely need ongoing medical care," said Animal Services Lt. Doug Petri. "So far, we haven't found the owner of the dog and Animal Services hopes anyone with information would come forward to help us identify an owner."
Animal Services says they are continuing to monitor Charlotte's care while they look for her owner. In the meantime, she's charming everyone with her positive spirit. Once Charlotte is fully recovered, should an owner not come forward, she will be placed up for adoption and hopefully find her forever home with a loving family.
Anyone with any information about this case is asked to contact Animal Services in South Lake Tahoe at (530) 573-7925.
 
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