Residents walk over the footbridge that was dedicated to the memory of Anne Conrardy. Photo by: Stephanie Minasian

No law was violated, but Sutter Creek officials proceeded with undue haste in dedicating a footbridge to the memory of a deceased citizen.

That's what Mayor Gary Wooten acknowledged Dec. 16 after noting that a complaint was lodged. Resident Ed Arata's protest concerned the fact that no suggestions from the public were solicited and considered in the naming of a crossing of the town's namesake stream.

"It was rushed," Wooten told a sizable audience at the city council meeting. "We never dedicated anything before. We don't have a procedure set up."

The pedestrian bridge is located near the Eureka Street Inn on Eureka Street in Sutter Creek. It is dedicated to the memory of Anne Conrardy, a well-known resident who died in February of breast cancer after a spirited struggle that is regarded as inspirational by many Sutter Creek residents.About 500 people attended Conrardy's funeral.

Dennis Crabb, city attorney, said after the meeting that no law requires soliciting of residents' suggestions in the naming of public property. However, that is what Sutter Creek will do in any future dedications, council members agreed. A committee is now appointed to craft an official city procedure for such actions, one that will include considering residents' suggestions.

"They'll probably get suggestions from the California League of Cities and bring it back to the city council," Crabb said.

It became evident during the meeting that some sentiment exists in Sutter Creek that the late Aldo Pinotti deserved recognition through some action, such as erecting a plaque or dedicating a bridge. Pinotti served as foreman on the Amador County Grand Jury that launched the famous Jackson vice probe, a lengthy and much-publicized investigation of Jackson city officials in the mid-1950s who were accused of taking money from brothels and gambling halls.

Resident Jean Pinotti explained that her father, Aldo, himself was set against getting any piece of Sutter Creek property named after him.

"The lack of a (dedication) process has had negative and unintended consequences," she said. "My father would have been annoyed with the city naming something after him, but everybody assumed there was a process."

Wooten offered an apology to any resident whose feelings were hurt by the city's action.