El Dorado County District 2 Newsletter

Road infrastructure along Latrobe Road failed in the recent storms. The Department of Transportation (DOT) closed Latrobe Road on January 15th to prevent further damage due to erosion. The damage was due to flooding caused by excessive rainfall that undermined culverts along a low laying portion of Latrobe Road. Supervisor Turnboo joined DOT to investigate the damage and determine solutions. The work was identified as an emergency, considering the average traffic flows and despite the harsh weather conditions, DOT began the process of repairing the structural integrity.

Latrobe Road reopened on January 20th thanks to the Department of Transportation, in partnership with Doug Veerkamp General Engineering, Inc, who repaired the infrastructure along Latrobe Road. Supervisor Turnboo joined Doug Veerkamp and Dave Marino of DOT to witness the road repair completion. Roads are our largest asset in El Dorado County and are responsible for keeping our local economy moving. DOT and their partners are always hard at work providing pathways for residents in all conditions.

In response to Supervisor Turnboo’s ongoing request for Caldor Fire victims to receive FEMA Individual Assistance, Senator Alex Padilla passed a bill into law to reform federal wildfire disaster response. The bill was named the FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency (FIRE) Act. The FIRE Act makes several changes to the Stafford Act that governs FEMA to ensure that FEMA fully prepares for and addresses the unique nature of wildfire and impacts on communities. FEMA is now directed to pre-deploy assets during times of highest risk, red flag warnings, improving relocation assistance for public infrastructure affected by fires, ensuring equity of assistance for tribal governments and communities, and examining way to speed up the FEMA assistance process. Furthermore, FEMA will now be directed to prioritize survivors of disasters when selling portable housing units, and study improving housing assistance for low-income residents in multi-family housing. While this action taken by congress does not provide FEMA Individual Assistance to Caldor Fire victims, it is a step in the right direction.

Read Sen. Padilla’s press release about FIRE Act

El Dorado Community Hubs are a network of local resource centers with navigators who connect children, families, and individuals to support and services. In El Dorado County, each library acts as a Community Hub with navigators who can assist all community members. Services provided by El Dorado Community Hubs are free to residents. The Cameron Park Library is Community Hub 2 that services District 2 represented by Supervisor George Turnboo.

El Dorado Community Hub 2 provides services to Cameron Park, Fairplay, Grizzly Flats, Latrobe, Mt. Aukum, Outingdale, Pleasant Valley and Somerset. The current El Dorado Community Hub 2 Navigators are Klaudia Silva, Marni Price and Allison Jilbert. The Hub 2 Navigators provide resources and support for basic health insurance, food, clothing, utility bills and more services. For more information, contact El Dorado Community Hubs by calling or texting 1-833-EDC-HUBS.

Learn more about El Dorado Community Hub 2

Volunteer income tax counselors will be available at various locations throughout El Dorado County through May 15th. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is sponsored by the United Way, California Capital Region, and the Tax-Aide program sponsored by the AARP Foundation. Both programs are operated under the auspices of the IRS tax assistance program. All volunteer tax preparers receive IRS training and must pass and IRS certification test. Tax returns are governed by strict ethics, security, and privacy rules.

Typical tax preparation appointments last for one hour. An interview will be conducted to assess your tax situation, prepare your return, quality review your return with you, and, if approved, an e-file of Federal or State tax returns. Complex tax situations including depreciation, business inventory and cryptocurrencies are beyond the scope of these programs. Volunteers are trained in itemized deductions, Schedule C for small business, and Schedule D for investment income. The VITA program has an additional limitation of a maximum of $66,000 Adjusted Gross Income per return. AARP Tax-Aide has no income limitations.

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) helps income-eligible households pay their past due water and wastewater bills. LIHWAP will pay delinquent water costs for people receiving CalWorks, CalFresh, LIHEAP and others who meet income requirements. Eligible applicants are residents of El Dorado County, have a past due water bill and meet income requirements. Individuals interested in finding out if they qualify for LIHWAP should call the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) at (530) 621-6150. The qualifying process includes a LIHWAP Application, Landlord Agreement Form (if needed) and a Certification of Income and Expenses. The past due water bill, proof of household income, and proof of ID and Citizenship are required documents for participation. Unfortunately, LIHWAP is not available for households who receive water from a well.

LIHWAP applications are accepted on a walk-in basis at the HEAP office:

Placerville Senior Center

937 Spring Street

Placerville, CA 95667

(530) 621-6150

Hours: Mondays or Wednesdays from 10am – 3pm

Learn more about LIHWAP, HEAP and Weatherization

El Dorado County accepts certain household hazardous waste from local residents. The Environmental Management Department provides information regarding what constitutes household hazardous waste, and the proper ways of disposing the waste. On February 11th, El Dorado County will host another household hazardous waste collection event by appointment only. To participate in the upcoming waste collection event, please contact the Environmental Management Department directly by phone at (530) 621-5300 or by email at hhw@edcgov.us to schedule an appointment.

When: February 11th, 2023, from 9am to 12pm

Where:

Fire Station 86

3670 Bass Lake Road

El Dorado Hills, CA 95762

Scheduled Appointment Required.

Learn more about Hazardous Waste Collection