8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017
Local
Capital Plans and Pavement TCWMA
Management Plan approved
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Members of the Public Works Advisory Committee deliberate.
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Tuesday evening the
Public Works Advisory
Committee (PWAC) met in
Council chambers at City
Hall.
On the agenda were ap-
proval of the 2017 Capital
plans and approval of the
2017 pavement manage-
ment plan.
Present for the meeting
were committee members
John Wickert, Jim Bruce,
Keith Magnuson and
Baker City Manager Fred
Warner, Public Works Di-
rector Michelle Owen, City
Councilor James Thomas
and City Engineer Doug
Schwin.
After officially calling
the meeting to order, John
Wickert asked for approval
of the minutes from the
last meeting in October of
2016.
Councilor Thomas
moved to approve those
minutes with a second by
Keith Magnuson.
All committee members
voted to accept the minutes
as presented.
The next item on the
agenda called for the elec-
tion of a new chair and
vice chair, John Wickert,
current vice chair, chose to
table the election as current
Chair Gary Carter was not
present at the meeting.
Tuesday night’s meeting
gave the PWAC an oppor-
tunity to hear and overview
of the Capital Plans and
the Pavement management
plan with the goal of ap-
proving both plans to take
before the City Council for
approval and then pres-
ent to the budget board in
anticipation of all projects
being funded when the
budget is set.
The Committee focused
next on the Capital Plans.
Outlined in the Capital
Plans are projects that the
Public Works Department
is hoping to complete with-
in a three-year window.
Outlined were the three-
year water capital plan
with a cost of $287,898.
That three-year plan
includes a reservoir meter
replacement, which is
required by state or federal
regulatory agencies that
is slated to be completed
in the current fiscal year
which ends June 30,2017.
In the current fiscal
year, various water line
replacements, hydrant
replacements, surveys to
determine areas of cor-
rosion and electrolysis
and consulting by outside
agencies for well sites,
water rights and designs
are slated and funded to be
competed.
In year one, July 1, 2017
– June 30, 2018 of the
Water Capital plan addi-
tional improvements to the
mountain line are needed,
that project is also required
by federal or state regula-
tory agencies.
It was noted that alter-
nate funding would be
required to meet the feder-
ally mandated regulations.
Year one also included
hydrant replacements,
reservoir maintenance,
waterline extensions, a
watershed fuels reduction
project and groundwater
source development for
new wells.
Year one projects
estimate costs to be $1.2
million.
Year two outlines ad-
ditional replacement of
mountain line pipe, federal
or state mandated require-
ments, hydrant replace-
ments, water line exten-
sions, pipe replacement
and continued work on
watershed fuel reduction.
Year two costs are
roughly $1.5 million.
Year three of the plans
include federally or state
mandated mountain line
pipe replacement, chlorine
system upgrade, water-
line extensions, hydrant
replacements, continued
work on watershed fuel
reduction and groundwater
source development. Costs
for year three are projected
to be $1.4 million.
The Committee then
looked at the Wastewater
Capital Plan.
Owen reminded the com-
mittee that an MAO with
DEQ had been entered
into recently and they were
required to abide by the
terms of that MAO.
In this current fiscal
year cured in place pipe
(CIPP) to prevent leakage
and improve structural and
flow character of the city’s
deteriorating sewage lines.
A Facility Plan Update
is required and engineering
support and water qual-
ity testing for a feasibility
study for the City to move
toward with tentative plans
for land application to dis-
pose of effluent water.
Cost this fiscal year are
estimated at $232,947.00.
Costs in year one of the
plan are estimated at
$447,975 and include
installation of additional
CIPP, a complete wastewa-
ter facility plan update, re-
placing mainline pipe and
the engineering and design
of an effluent disposal op-
tion. Year two will see ad-
ditional CIPP work being
done, and upgrade to the H
Street lift station, possible
acquisition of property and
easements for wastewater
effluent disposal and the
beginning of construction
of such.
Estimated costs just over
$1 million.
Year three of the plan
continues to see additional
install of CIPP, additional
construction of efflu-
ent disposal system and
replacement of the grinder
at the wastewater treatment
facility.
Costs for year three
estimate $2.6 million.
Owen stated that a pub-
lic meeting is being held
on April 11, 2017 at 5 p.m.
at Baker City Hall to talk
about the City’s intended
use of land application for
effluent water.
The meeting is to inform
residents of how the pro-
cess works and hopefully
bring possible partners to
the City’s attention.
Next in the Capital Plans
was the storm water capital
plan. In the current fiscal
year costs are expected to
be $27,619.
Projects include CIPP
install, a new catch basin
install at 15th street and
an inspection of storm
mainlines—the inspection
is required by State or fed-
eral regulatory agencies.
Year one costs estimate at
$5,973.
Year two estimates costs
to be $37,136 and include
continued mandated storm
mainline inspection,
upsizing existing mainline
pipes in the D Street, Main
Street, and 1st Street areas
to improve flow and elimi-
nate surcharging.
Year 3 of the storm water
plan includes additional in-
stall of CIPP and continued
inspection of storm lines.
Costs for year three are
estimated to be just over
$37,000.
It was stated that many
of the projects simply will
not and cannot happen
with the current rate struc-
ture and that a possible rate
hike is eminent.
Warner noted that Baker
City is the 5th lowest in the
state currently with water
rates.
Owen acknowledged that
as well but stated a loan
could be obtained for most
of the work if necessary
but funds from a rate hike
would be need to repay
any loans.
After the presentation,
the committee voted to
send the capital plan to
City Council for approval.
Next the committee heard
about the pavement man-
agement plan.
Owen began by warning
the committee that there
were some big numbers in
the outline.
She told them, “The
streets are not getting any
better. More are in fair or
poor shape than we’ve ever
had before. Winter was
hard on our roads.”
Also brought up was the
Street fund paid for a lot of
the snow plowing this win-
ter, that was unexpected.
In information given to
the committee there was
a rundown of City streets
in very good to very poor
condition.
Very good streets in-
cluded F Street from Grove
Street to Elm Street and
Jackson Street from 10th
Street to 8th Street.
Currently Baker City
has no streets rated as very
poor, however Church
Street from Main Street
to Resort Street and Plum
Street from Madison Street
to Campbell Street are
rated as poor.
In 2017 a large project is
slated to occur on Auburn
Street that will be a full
depth reclamation with ce-
ment project.
Public works is also
focused on maintenance
of city streets, with a goal
of keeping the majority of
streets in a “good” rating.
Chip seal projects are in
the plan, as are thin over-
lay projects, crack fills and
fog seals.
Cost estimates for pre-
ventative maintenance is
$1.2 million.
Ways to improve funding
were discussed, as com-
ing up with the required
money may be difficult.
High gas taxes were one
topic discussed.
Warner indicated that a
transportation bill cur-
rently in the legislature
may provide some relief
however, he was unsure of
any specifics.
Wickert threw out the
idea of a GoFundMe page,
in jest but all agreed that
was not realistic. Owen
said she was unaware of
grants available but would
certainly do more research
on the matter.
Again, the committee
voted in favor of approving
the plan and forwarding it
to Council.
Owen told the Com-
mittee to expect another
meeting in April regarding
equipment purchases.
The meeting then ad-
journed.
“In my mind, there’s no dispute at all, that we’ve got-
ten a lot of benefit from Tri-County; no question about
that...” Grammon said. But he said that, for a couple of
years now, he’s been concerned with the lack of coordi-
nation, and with his department being kept in the loop
regarding projects and other details. In his opinion, he
said that communication would be greatly improved with
TCWMA staff presence in the County. “In my mind, it
addresses a lot of concerns...Personally, I think it can be
done...” he said, whether part-time, or full-time.
TCWMA co-founding member Dave Clemens said,
“The first few years of Tri-County--I’d say, the first five,
six years--most of the benefits came to Baker County...”
as he explained different weed control programs. He said
he wants to see more involvement from the County, and
Harvey said that’s what the County’s been attempting in
recent years. Bennett said that, with over three-quarters
of the funding being spent in Baker County, “...it’s a hard
argument to make, not to position a staff person here...
You would certainly focus your efforts where the funds
are...”
Baker County Natural Resource Advisory Committee
(NRAC) Chair Doni Bruland, who attended the meeting,
asked if the County has the budget to fund a part-time
position, and Harvey said that the County doesn’t, but
that the position should be funded through TCWMA, and
that it would not be a County employee position.
Bennett said that the consensus seems to be that a staff
person would be place in Baker County. Nichols said,
“It all appears to be a communication problem...In this
day and age of technology, why can’t the minutes go out
to everybody, of your Board meetings, and then, we can
find out what is going on, and have the minutes detailed
enough, to describe some of the things that are missing...”
Sharratt said, “We are working on that, and the attempt
is going to be, within a week or two after the meeting,
we’ll get the minutes out...” Nichols said that would help,
and that he’d like to see policy details in the minutes,
which Sharratt said is the plan. Nichols said that the lack
in representation from the County is partly the County’s
fault, but that seems to have been remedied.
Harvey stressed the importance of holding regular pub-
lic meetings to discuss the issues and projects involved,
and improved communication between TCWMA, the
Baker County Weed Department, and the Baker County
Weed Board. Bennett said that the County wishes to see
projects advertised in a designated paper of record (cur-
rently the Baker City Herald), as part of raising the level
of transparency, and informing the public.
Baker County Weed Board meetings are held on the
fourth Tuesday of each month (no meetings are held from
November through January), at the Oregon State Univer-
sity (OSU) Extension Service building, 2600 East Street,
Baker City.
ODFW art
submissions
wanted
Artists are invited to compete in the Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife’s 2018 Habitat Conservation
Stamp, Waterfowl Stamp and Upland Game Bird Stamp
art competitions. Collector’s stamps and other promo-
tional materials are produced from first place artwork and
each winning artist receives $2,000.
Entries are accepted between 8 a.m. August 25 to 5
p.m., September 29, 2017 at ODFW headquarters, 4034
Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302.
A panel judges original artwork on criteria including
artistic composition, anatomical accuracy of the spe-
cies and general appeal. All qualifying submissions are
displayed for public viewing at ODFW’s annual fall art
show, date TBD.
Habitat Conservation Stamp
Art entries must feature a Strategy Species in the Or-
egon Conservation Strategy in its natural habitat. The list
of eligible mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, inverte-
brates, and plants and algae are on the entry form. Pro-
ceeds from the program are used to restore native habitats
and benefit Oregon’s native fish and wildlife.
Upland Game Bird Stamp
Art entries must feature Blue Grouse in its natural habi-
tat setting. The sale of upland game bird stamps funds
game bird research, surveys, habitat improvement and
conservation projects.
Waterfowl Stamp
Art entries must feature one of the following species
in its natural habitat setting: Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy
Duck, Bufflehead, or Harlequin Duck. The sale of water-
fowl stamps funds game bird research, surveys, habitat
improvement and conservation projects.
Visit here for more information: www.dfw.state.or.us/
resources/hunting/waterfowl/contest/docs/Waterfowl_
contest_rules_and_entry_form_2018.pdf
Hiring workshop to be
held in April
Northeast Oregon Economic Development District and
WorkSource Oregon offer a free workshop to help entre-
preneurs and small-business owners understand the legal
considerations of hiring employees. Register by March
31 to reserve a seat. Workshops take place in Baker City
Wednesday, April 5; 6 to 9 p.m. at Hatch Baker, 2019
Main St. and Thursday, April 6; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. To
register, call 541-426-3598 or 800-645-9454.