Council Discusses Widening Project, Trash Rates and Ballot Measure
Sonora, CA — Last night the Sonora Council approved a contract with a firm to carry out engineering services for the Mono Way and Greenley Road widening project.
The $91,800 agreement is with O’Dell Engineering. It was noted the plan is to finish the design work by the end of the year and bid the project at the beginning of 2017. Work would then start in late winter or early spring of 2017 with completion by early next summer. The contract was approved 5-0. The council also met in closed session to discuss ongoing property negotiations related to purchasing the needed Corner Gas station at that intersection, but no action was announced regarding that matter at last night’s meeting.
In addition, the council approved Waste Management’s request for a 2.67% Consumer Price Index rate increase. A CPI is built into the 10-year contract the company has with the city. However, the city denied a request by the company for new fees to be placed on customers for things like mixing trash into recycling cans ($30) or having cans that are overfilled ($8). The city council requested more information from Waste Management regarding those issues, and expressed concerns that this matter is being proposed during year six of the 10-year agreement.
The council also voted to write a letter in opposition to statewide Proposition 57 that will go before voters this coming November. Tuolumne County District Attorney Laura Krieg gave a presentation detailing concerns she has about the proposition. It is designed to help reduce the prison population, but Krieg said it will result in sentences being reduced for several undesirable crimes. They include things like rape by intoxication, rape of an unconscious person, drive by shooting, assault with a deadly weapon, arson and lewd acts upon a minor. The opposition letter was sent 5-0.
