|
|
|
Gastank/radio personalitiesThis article was originally published in the the Amador Ledger Dispatch, and is reproduced here with its permission. By Diane Smith JACKSON—The saga continues on the gas tank removal episode, with the latest event an extended exposure to the listening public. A San Francisco radio station, KGO (810 AM) has again featured 'gastankgate', which was almost a two hour topic of Dr. Bill Wattenburg's night time talk show. This Saturday, Dec. 12, marked a third weekend, radio host Wattenburg has discussed the alleged illegal removal of a service station gastank to make way for a parking area at a local dentist's professional building. This past Saturday, Marilyn Lewis, Vice Mayor of the City of Jackson, George Kane and John Asmus, both of Sutter Creek and Robert Womack, Jackson, all became radio personalities in a lengthy discussion on the merits of a case against county residents Robert Womack, Dave Mason III and Mark Sherrill. The three were among those who were working under a City of Jackson permit for demolition of a service station. The County of Amador has successfully pressed for a grand jury indictment over what it terms "illegal removal" and "conspiracy". Principals in the May removal of a gas tank by Robert Womack and contractors he hired, have received notice of a Dec. 21, 4 p.m. court date. At that time, a letter specifies, they will have an Amador Superior Court Judge inform them of charges against them. Wattenburg, whose program reaches states west of the Rockies, Hawaii, Alaska and Mexico as well as California, talked directly to local Amador citizens on the air about the Womack case. He challenged special prosecutor David Irey and county supervisors to call him and defend their position. He promised that there would be a few strangers listening in at the Dec. 21 court date, and that the case would not go unnoticed by the public. He also alluded to University of California reports he said, held that there was more hydrocarbon danger in the use of asphalt in road construction and its occupation in landfills than the amount allowed in state environmental standards. No leaks and no fuel were found in a recovered tank presented by Womack for inspection by a Lodi firm, before it was sent to Oakland for disposal. Following other Amador residents who called in, Wattenburg also spoke near the last 40 minutes of the program, from about 10 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. with Robert Womack, a principal in the investigation and whose home here at New York Ranch Road and Ridge Road was searched and contents seized by investigators with a search warrant. Womack told his story from the beginning, which he said he believed was a vendetta by a county land use agency head. He also told the radio personality that, yes, he did have an initial contact with a lawyer, giving him $2500. "What did he do for that? Did he get them to return your stuff?," Womack was asked. He reported it was not a fruitful association and that he asked that the retainer be returned. To date, it has not been returned, Womack reports. Dr. Bill chastised county supervisors for allowing the event to proceed since early on, according to records, several of them discussed with building/environmental heads in a meeting, whether to press forward with charges. He also questioned Jackson council woman Marilyn Lewis about whether the city permit was legally issued. She confirmed there was a demolition permit issued with the idea that the project would proceed to (a pre-Mother's Day) completion. Robert Womack asked the Jackson City Council Monday for a letter or other confirmation of its liability in issuing a permit for the station demolition and underground tank removal. An earlier request to place the matter on the agenda was not allowed. Womack received no help from his request. There was no discussion since it was not an item which had been placed on the regular agenda, although vice mayor Marilyn Lewis had requested its inclusion. Public bodies are not required to discuss what is not on the agenda. They may hear speakers in a public comment session but unless the matter is part of the agenda, they have the option of discussing or not discussing it. Copyright © 1999 Amador Ledger Dispatch |
|
| Masthead |
E-mail, Postal, Phone and Fax Contact Information |
|
the
Bureaucracy