January 29, 1975 (8 pages)

. The county moves Getting a bus — system on This is the most recent report of board of supervisor action concerning establishnent of a bus system for western Nevada county and continued county participation nthe Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with arass Valley and Nevada City. _=Terry Lowell, director of public works, Tuesday was instructed to present estimates of costs of buying and operating yne bus (presumably between Grass Valley and Nevada City) until July 1. ‘-He was instructed to bring bids (already received by the county purchasing department) for buses to next week’s board meeting. The Transportation Agency of the JPA had requested that bids be submitted, but no action has been taken on those received. -Indications are that the county will withdraw from the JPA. Supervisors last February initiated formation of the JPA with Grass Valley and Nevada City. The purpose was to explore the feasibilty of a county-wide bus system with the three entries participating in the project. “ The Western Nevada County Transportation Agency is not to be confused with the Nevada County Transportation Commission,: which has a different personnel and performs different functions. The agency is comprised of two supervisors, one member from each of the two cities and another selected at large. The commission, which is responsible for preparation of a county transportation plan “and ‘administering transportation funds, was organized 18 months ago. It has county and city representation and members at large. Paul Webster is the paid executive director. Mike McKee and Eric Rood, supervisors who were seated Jan. 1, parked transportation action Tuesday. McKee, a former Grass Valley city councilman, was on the council when Grass Valley independently bcught a bus and is operating it. The Grass Valley system is not affected by county action, but when the JPA was formed supervisors were told if and when the JPA decided on a western Nevada county system that it would be possible for . Grass Valley to join its bus with the system. McKee, who represented Grass Valley on the transportation agency: and now the board, Tuesday asked for a discusson on the board’s position in getting buses for western Nevada county. Because the county and Nevada City previously have expressed intents to withdraw from the JPA McKee said that the transportation agency’s ‘“‘hands are tied.” Doing away with the agency kills communication between the three entities, according to McKee, He does nat care who operates a bus system but claimed the need of some agency to operate it for the three entities involved. Chairman Tom Turner, who had attended his first meeting representing the board at a transportation agency meeting last week, sensed considerable antagonism between the people who have worked with the transportation commission on a plan toward both the JPA agency and board of supervisors. ‘‘A lot of discussion and very little action,’’ was the concensus, he said. Turner objected to the continued participation in JPA as ‘‘just another layer of government.” He claimed that qualified county personnel could operate a county system between Grass Valley and Nevada City. He did not believe that bus service = the road would benefit the 650 elderly people below the poverty level here because they would be unable to get from their homes to the bus line. He advocated ‘“‘looking at the cab _ situation” before spending more money on buses. He believed that taxi service could grow with the needs and the transportation fund could subsidize cab fare for those who qualify. Then returning to public opinion Turner said that there has been disenchantment with-the total picture of the transportation agency — and there has been criticism for a ‘“‘hell of a lot of talk and no action.” He believed the county department of public works could have “something (some type of bus) on the road in 90 days”, and indicated he had tentatively made such a commitment. . McKee said that in “some ways” Turner had expressed his feelings concerning lack of action; However, he believed it possible that the agency could serve as a communication catalyst. “It’s regrettable that action has not been taken earlier. A business problem has become emotional. It is true inaction shows lack of involvement of the board. I have no hangups concerning the transportation agency — it is a creature of our own making,” said Rood. ~ Rood contended there are two or three ways of operating a system which could include a combination of bus and taxi. He believed it wrong for the board or transportation.agency or commission to get too involved in operation. He advocated more members of the commission being elected Officials. “If there had been a candid discussion 18 months ago we could be coming down . the pike now,”’ he told other supervisors. Rood referred to “lack of motivation by the board of-supervisors,’’ believed it healthy to.bring the issue out in the open. “With a firm hand on this board’s part something can come true,” he concluded. “If we go our separate ways could the system be integrated?” McKee asked. Turner answered that the directors of the public works of the county and cities are engineers and ‘‘could get together to resolve the problem.” He suggested putting Lowell (county director of public works) in charge of the project. Many people have put a lot of input into a transportation plan and they would like to have their information a part of.the plan, McKee said. McKee referred to the transportation commission and _ its citizens’ advisory committee and others who have participated in gathering information showing that some type of a bus “system for western Nevada county is a top priority. Turner acknowledged the aid of the many people and suggested all of the information gathered should be submitted to the department of public works ‘‘to stop all hard feelings.” ; Rood referred to supervisorial action of Nov. 8 directing the chairman of the transportation agency to do certain things. He was ‘“‘amazed’’ none of the things had been done. ‘‘It got lost somewhere in the shuffle,” Turner said. Rood asked to be ‘ ~‘4refreshed’’ on how the agency was put together. : McKee, who claimed Grass Valley ‘‘got tired of waiting and went ahead on its own,’’ suggested ‘‘Let’s go today.’’ Rood made the successful motion which he seconded. , Oe est Wed., Jan. 29,1975 The Nevada County Nugget 3 A GIANT SNOWMAN (with one eye missing) sits along Highway 20 east of Nevada City in Bear Valley to greet motorists heading east or west. Less fhan two feet of snow remains in Bear Valley, unusually low for this time of the year. =p State tax refunds _The office of ‘the state controller is mailing refunds to over five million Californians . who overpaid their state income tax during 1974. Controller Ken Cory said “that total also includes payments to those who qualify for the tax credit for renters even though they do not have an income tax liability,’”’ Cory said. The controller said his office is prepared to issue the first refunds as soon as refund. information on early-bird taxpayers is received from the Franchise Tax Board which processes income tax returns. About 5.5 million refunds were issued last year at an average of $116. per refund. ‘There was a special one-time tax credit last year which. increased the number of refunds, but population growth, inflation and other factors probably will keep the total near math same level this year,” Gey About 4.5 million refunds will be made to persons whose income tax was over-withheld from wages. Other refunds will go to non-withholding taxpayers who over-paid on tax estimates. BUSINESS . BILLBOARD THE GIPSON'S 273-2561. LITTLE OLD: BAKE SHOP = ' 429 E. Ridge Rd., Grass Valley’ Lon Gilbert FARMERS INSURANCE GROUP HEFFREN INSURANCE AGENCY 111 W. Main P.O Box 1034 Gras#Valley,Ca. , 265-6166

. The county moves Getting a bus — system on This is the most recent report of board of supervisor action concerning establishnent of a bus system for western Nevada county and continued county participation nthe Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with arass Valley and Nevada City. _=Terry Lowell, director of public works, Tuesday was instructed to present estimates of costs of buying and operating yne bus (presumably between Grass Valley and Nevada City) until July 1. ‘-He was instructed to bring bids (already received by the county purchasing department) for buses to next week’s board meeting. The Transportation Agency of the JPA had requested that bids be submitted, but no action has been taken on those received. -Indications are that the county will withdraw from the JPA. Supervisors last February initiated formation of the JPA with Grass Valley and Nevada City. The purpose was to explore the feasibilty of a county-wide bus system with the three entries participating in the project. “ The Western Nevada County Transportation Agency is not to be confused with the Nevada County Transportation Commission,: which has a different personnel and performs different functions. The agency is comprised of two supervisors, one member from each of the two cities and another selected at large. The commission, which is responsible for preparation of a county transportation plan “and ‘administering transportation funds, was organized 18 months ago. It has county and city representation and members at large. Paul Webster is the paid executive director. Mike McKee and Eric Rood, supervisors who were seated Jan. 1, parked transportation action Tuesday. McKee, a former Grass Valley city councilman, was on the council when Grass Valley independently bcught a bus and is operating it. The Grass Valley system is not affected by county action, but when the JPA was formed supervisors were told if and when the JPA decided on a western Nevada county system that it would be possible for . Grass Valley to join its bus with the system. McKee, who represented Grass Valley on the transportation agency: and now the board, Tuesday asked for a discusson on the board’s position in getting buses for western Nevada county. Because the county and Nevada City previously have expressed intents to withdraw from the JPA McKee said that the transportation agency’s ‘“‘hands are tied.” Doing away with the agency kills communication between the three entities, according to McKee, He does nat care who operates a bus system but claimed the need of some agency to operate it for the three entities involved. Chairman Tom Turner, who had attended his first meeting representing the board at a transportation agency meeting last week, sensed considerable antagonism between the people who have worked with the transportation commission on a plan toward both the JPA agency and board of supervisors. ‘‘A lot of discussion and very little action,’’ was the concensus, he said. Turner objected to the continued participation in JPA as ‘‘just another layer of government.” He claimed that qualified county personnel could operate a county system between Grass Valley and Nevada City. He did not believe that bus service = the road would benefit the 650 elderly people below the poverty level here because they would be unable to get from their homes to the bus line. He advocated ‘“‘looking at the cab _ situation” before spending more money on buses. He believed that taxi service could grow with the needs and the transportation fund could subsidize cab fare for those who qualify. Then returning to public opinion Turner said that there has been disenchantment with-the total picture of the transportation agency — and there has been criticism for a ‘“‘hell of a lot of talk and no action.” He believed the county department of public works could have “something (some type of bus) on the road in 90 days”, and indicated he had tentatively made such a commitment. . McKee said that in “some ways” Turner had expressed his feelings concerning lack of action; However, he believed it possible that the agency could serve as a communication catalyst. “It’s regrettable that action has not been taken earlier. A business problem has become emotional. It is true inaction shows lack of involvement of the board. I have no hangups concerning the transportation agency — it is a creature of our own making,” said Rood. ~ Rood contended there are two or three

ways of operating a system which could include a combination of bus and taxi. He believed it wrong for the board or transportation.agency or commission to get too involved in operation. He advocated more members of the commission being elected Officials. “If there had been a candid discussion 18 months ago we could be coming down . the pike now,”’ he told other supervisors. Rood referred to “lack of motivation by the board of-supervisors,’’ believed it healthy to.bring the issue out in the open. “With a firm hand on this board’s part something can come true,” he concluded. “If we go our separate ways could the system be integrated?” McKee asked. Turner answered that the directors of the public works of the county and cities are engineers and ‘‘could get together to resolve the problem.” He suggested putting Lowell (county director of public works) in charge of the project. Many people have put a lot of input into a transportation plan and they would like to have their information a part of.the plan, McKee said. McKee referred to the transportation commission and _ its citizens’ advisory committee and others who have participated in gathering information showing that some type of a bus “system for western Nevada county is a top priority. Turner acknowledged the aid of the many people and suggested all of the information gathered should be submitted to the department of public works ‘‘to stop all hard feelings.” ; Rood referred to supervisorial action of Nov. 8 directing the chairman of the transportation agency to do certain things. He was ‘“‘amazed’’ none of the things had been done. ‘‘It got lost somewhere in the shuffle,” Turner said. Rood asked to be ‘ ~‘4refreshed’’ on how the agency was put together. : McKee, who claimed Grass Valley ‘‘got tired of waiting and went ahead on its own,’’ suggested ‘‘Let’s go today.’’ Rood made the successful motion which he seconded. , Oe est Wed., Jan. 29,1975 The Nevada County Nugget 3 A GIANT SNOWMAN (with one eye missing) sits along Highway 20 east of Nevada City in Bear Valley to greet motorists heading east or west. Less fhan two feet of snow remains in Bear Valley, unusually low for this time of the year. =p State tax refunds _The office of ‘the state controller is mailing refunds to over five million Californians . who overpaid their state income tax during 1974. Controller Ken Cory said “that total also includes payments to those who qualify for the tax credit for renters even though they do not have an income tax liability,’”’ Cory said. The controller said his office is prepared to issue the first refunds as soon as refund. information on early-bird taxpayers is received from the Franchise Tax Board which processes income tax returns. About 5.5 million refunds were issued last year at an average of $116. per refund. ‘There was a special one-time tax credit last year which. increased the number of refunds, but population growth, inflation and other factors probably will keep the total near math same level this year,” Gey About 4.5 million refunds will be made to persons whose income tax was over-withheld from wages. Other refunds will go to non-withholding taxpayers who over-paid on tax estimates. BUSINESS . BILLBOARD THE GIPSON'S 273-2561. LITTLE OLD: BAKE SHOP = ' 429 E. Ridge Rd., Grass Valley’ Lon Gilbert FARMERS INSURANCE GROUP HEFFREN INSURANCE AGENCY 111 W. Main P.O Box 1034 Gras#Valley,Ca. , 265-6166