S ERVING THE S ILVERTON A REA S INCE 1880
50 C ENTS
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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
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INSIDE
Births......................................3A
Calendar ...............................2A
Classifieds..............................3B
Engagements ......................3A
Life..........................................4A
Obituaries.............................3A
Police logs.............................3A
Sports......................................1B
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Landslides caused
by precipitation
