Deputies' association endorses Trinitas - Calaveras Enterprise

Deputies' association endorses Trinitas

By Colin Rigley

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Posted: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 12:46 PM CDT

The Calaveras County Deputy Sheriff’s Association has thrown its support behind the Ridge at Trinitas golf course project.With $1.2 million of the Sheriff’s Department’s budget on the chopping block, the association endorsed Trinitas in a move to direct more money into the county budget. A union supporting a private enterprise, particularly one that has generated as much debate as Trinitas, is “out of the ordinary,” admitted Sgt. Tracy Busby, association president. However, Busby said, for the county and Sheriff’s Department to survive, “we have to get creative in how we are going to bring revenue into this county.”Preliminary budget hearings begin today, and the Sheriff’s Department is facing a laundry list of potential cuts to its about $13 million budget. Although sheriff’s deputy positions are not proposed for cuts, a number of other positions will likely be let go and deputies will have to step in to fill the gap.

“We have to realize that we need some infrastructure dollars coming to the county to pay for services,” Busby said.According to Trinitas owner Mike Nemee, his project would generate a “significant economic benefit for Calaveras County.” The project would provide 48 fulltime jobs at a $1.5 million payroll, Nemee said. Those employees would oversee the operations of an 18-hole golf course, spa, lodge and other onsite facilities on about 280 acres in Wallace.“Our family is certainly honored and humbled to be recognized by law enforcement, which we hold in high esteem,” Nemee said.