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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View This Issue
S ERVING THE S ILVERTON A REA S INCE 1880 50 C ENTS ● A U NIQUE E DITION OF THE S TATESMAN J OURNAL V OL . 135, N O . 17 W EDNESDAY , A PRIL 13, 2016 SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM Mt. Angel may see water rate increase CULTIVATING CLEAN WATER, SKIES CHRISTENA BROOKS FOR THE APPEAL TRIBUNE MT. ANGEL - A citizen task force that spent five months studying city infrastructure is proposing rate increases and new fees to keep all systems running and to avoid sliding toward a deficit scenario over the next three years. Residential customers who use water at a typical rate – 5,000 gallons per month, ac- cording to the city – will pay about $12 per month more on their utility bills, starting July 1, if the Mt. Angel City Council votes for recommended in- creases. That’s a $7 increase in water and sewer rates and $5 in new fees. “It’s a tough pill to swal- low,” said councilor and task force member Don Fleck. “We are going to have to raise rates, and we tried to come up with the most equitable struc- ture that will benefit the most people.” Mt. Angel last raised its wa- ter and sewer rates in 2009, with the council opting to keep household expenses as low as possible during and immedi- ately following the Great Re- cession. Now, though, much- needed repairs are on hold, and expenses are on a trajec- tory to outpace revenue, said City Manager Eileen Stein. “If the utility rates had been raised continually over the years, such as 1 to 3 per- cent, then the city would not be in the position it is now,” she said. “Human nature is to raise rates based on need, rather than inflation indices, so ev- eryone is behind.” Compared with 19 other mid-Willamette Valley cities, Mt. Angel has the lowest resi- dential utility rates, according to Westech Engineering. Many other cities are consid- ering rate increases this year, too. Molalla, Gervais, Estaca- da, Jefferson, Stayton, Philo- math, Sweet Home, Creswell, Silverton and Salem have ap- proved or are considering in- creases for July 1. “It’s helpful to see what’s going on around Mt. Angel,” said task force chair Al Fied- ler, also plant director for Pep- si Beverages Northwest. “We looked at all the things we need to do and what’s it’s going to take to do it. Then we looked at other cities. That’s a good gut check.” The biggest day-to-day con- cern for Public Works is prob- ably Mt. Angel’s aging con- crete sewer pipe system, said councilor and task force mem- ber Pete Wall. Storm water easily penetrates the pipes, forcing the sewer system to unnecessarily treat many ex- tra gallons of water. Steve Ward of Westech En- gineering told the council April 5 that the infiltration problem is so extensive that Public Works can’t keep up with repairs. He also helped identify 87 capital projects, ranging from new water lines PHOTOS SPECIAL TO THE STAYTON MAIL During Earth Day demonstrations at Oregon Garden in Silverton, visitors learn first hand about the environment. Oregon Garden honors Earth Day ANNETTE UTZ FOR THE STAYTON MAIL To commemorate the 46th annual Earth Day -- an event which began in 1970 as a tribute to all the benefits of caring for the planet -- the Oregon Garden will host the 17th Earth Day Celebration presented by Marion County on Saturday, April 23. This year’s theme is “Clean Water, Clear Skies.” What better spot for this cause and theme? The Oregon Garden is an 80-acre bo- tanical garden, featuring more than 20 in- dividual gardens, water features, garden art, wetlands, a rediscovery forest, a chil- dren’s garden, and a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The mission of The Oregon Garden is to “welcome and inspire all visitors with an appreciation for the extraordinary ecology of the Pacific Northwest, and to provide a meaningful educational experi- ence for gardeners of all skill levels and ages.” Presentations and activities for Earth Day visitors include mushroom growing, energy tips, planting and caring for trees, backyard composting, soil and water con- servation and special face painting. There will be 21 different exhibitors, various food vendors and music. “Earth Day is a very important event here at the garden,” said Brittney Hat- teberg, the Oregon Garden Director of Marketing and Communication. “We want guests to walk away with an under- standing and appreciation for nature, as well as ideas they can implement at home, to make their day-to-day lives more environmentally friendly.” Related events around the Mid-Wil- SPECIAL TO THE STAYTON MAIL During Earth Day demonstrations at Oregon Garden in Silverton, visitors learn first hand about the environment. lamette Valley include the Silver Falls Earth Day Clean-Up. Silver Falls State Park invites the public to help take care of this corner of the planet. Volunteers will assist in keeping the watershed clean and enable native plants to thrive by collecting litter and remov- ing invasive species in the South Falls Day-Use Area and Canyon Trail. Refreshments will be available for volunteers. Activities will include plant control, general clean-up, maintenance and monitoring. The event is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at Silver Falls State Park, 20024 Silver Falls Highway SE, Sublimity. Follow the posted signs to meet in the South Falls Day-Use Area’s main parking lot. Volunteers will receive a free day parking pass when registering. See EARTH DAY, Page 3B See RATE, Page 3B ZACH URNESS STATESMAN JOURNAL A stream of muddy wa- ter has been flowing into Detroit Lake during the past month at least, turn- ing the reservoir murky in places while impacting the way officials treat Sa- lem’s drinking water. Heavy precipitation after a historically dry summer kick-started multiple landslides along Short Creek, a tributary of the Breitenbush River that feeds into Detroit Lake, officials said. “The landslides occur every year, but have been more noticeable this sea- son,” U.S. Forest Service district ranger Grady McMahan said. “There has been more sediment coming from it than usu- al.” The extra sediment has led to worries about the reservoir’s quality of wa- ter and its impact on wild- life, recreation and Sa- lem’s drinking water. Overall, the impact ap- pears fairly small. Lacey Goeres-Priest, water See LANDSLIDES, Page 3B Online at Silverton Appeal.com NEWS UPDATES » Breaking news » Get updates from the Silverton area PHOTOS » Photo galleries INSIDE Births......................................3A Calendar ...............................2A Classifieds..............................3B Engagements ......................3A Life..........................................4A Obituaries.............................3A Police logs.............................3A Sports......................................1B Visit us at 399 S. Water St. or at SilvertonAppeal.com Call us at (503) 873-8385 ©2016 Printed on recycled paper 503-873-8600 119 N Water St Silverton, Or. Let’s Name Some Reasons To List Now AND List With Us! -Shortage of qualifi ed properties on the Market -Buyers are looking and buying! -Interest Rates - still low, but moving up & down -Sales prices - stabilizing… & you may now have equity! Why List With Us? - Market Share -Experience & Time in the Business -Virtual Tours -QR Codes on signs for tech savvy buyers -Posts on over 100 websites -Premiere Signage -Mobile Website “WE KNOW THIS MARKET” www.NWORG.com OR-0000374832 Landslides caused by precipitation
