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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Amador County Grand Jury • 2016-2017

Creating Competition or Choosing Sides?

56 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Findings and Recommendations 16 findings

F1 Page 32
Tree mortality will continue because bark beetles are here to stay.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Page 72
Create a bid justification process and form to justify a decision to use a competitive contract process. (Findings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
F2 Page 32
Amador County was awarded a $5 million grant to remove trees that could potentially damage important county infrastructure and utilities.
No recommendations for this finding
F3 Page 32
In November 2016, the Amador Resource Conservation District (ARCD) was awarded two grants valued at $400,000 from the CAL FIRE Tree Mortality Program.
No recommendations for this finding
F4 Page 32
Grants to provide financial assistance to seniors and low income households are available to down trees killed by drought and bark beetles.
No recommendations for this finding
F5 Page 32
Other outlets for the abatement of dead trees are being investigated by organizations, such as Ampine Corporation, Buena Vista Biomass Power, and lumber mills.
No recommendations for this finding
F6 Page 32
Amador County Board of Supervisors is consulting with other counties to see what they are doing to solve the issue.
No recommendations for this finding
F7 Page 32
PG&E is working with contractors to down trees.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Page 72
Revise Protest Procedure to include discoveries after release of a Request for Proposal, and after bid awards. (Finding 7)
F8 Page 32
A list of registered foresters, tree service companies, and timber operators is available through the Amador County Tree Mortality Task Force.
No recommendations for this finding
F9 Page 32
Licensed timber operators from out of state are downing the infected trees and hauling them back to their place of business to process.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 43
Continue to meet the budgetary requests of the Election Department as they have historically been reasonable. (Finding 9) 26 Election Process Review
F10 Page 32
Caltrans has a public information line which can be utilized if a tree poses a hazard to a state highway, or personal property that is near a state highway.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3
Page 44
Investigate the possibility of providing additional help to the Election Department during the vote tabulation process following elections. (Finding 10)
R7
Page 72
Require criteria for suitability of proposed facilities in all Health, Behavioral Health, and Social Services Request for Proposals. (Finding 10)
F11 Page 32
There are some grants available for private property owners; grants are funded through fire protection fees collected each year.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Page 72
Revise Purchasing Policy to, as a minimum, notify all chief executives of agencies when going out to bid on a program in which the agency could have a legitimate stake in. Include in policy that this period of time shall be not less than 60 days before release of a Request for Proposal. (Findings 11, 12, 13)
F12 Page 32
In summary, the Amador County Board of Supervisors has been doing a thorough job in keeping the community informed and up to date as to resources and finances available for dead tree abatement. Their establishment of the Amador County Tree Mortality Task Force has been key to assisting the community with the burden of dealing with the crisis, especially on private property.
No recommendations for this finding
F13 Page 72
The HHS Director engaged in purposeful communication with Nexus Principals (while still employed at ATCAA) to keep ATCAA senior manager uninformed.
No recommendations for this finding
F14 Page 72
The HHS Director has publicly shown bias by praising Nexus to other agencies and counties, recommending Nexus for additional grants.
No recommendations for this finding
F15 Page 72
County employees with a personal relationship were allowed to engage in the RFP process and evaluation.
No recommendations for this finding
F16 Page 72
County does not have an adequate method in which to quantify, measure, and establish performance for behavioral health and social services contracts.
No recommendations for this finding

Additional Recommendations 8

These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.