M A Y O R ’S
c o r ne r
At the regular Town Council meeting held May 13, Richard
Nored was a guest speaker. Richard is a representative from the HGE
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Architect and Engineering firm in Coos Bay, Oregon. The HGE
Engineers prepared an extensive engineering study in 1993 providing
Butte Falls with information about our water system and watershed. If
we had gone forward then with replacing our water distribution system,
we would have been able to receive a 75 percent grant from the Rural
Development federal agency. (Former Farmers Home Administration
where we received our sewer and past grant and loan dollars). Richard
has provided Butte Falls with information as to how we could obtain a
50 percent grant and loan dollars to replace our entire water system and
build a new reservoir as well. It would require us raising our water rates
to meet state averages. This may be difficult for some folks, so we
need to get together and figure out how to help the persons on fixed
incomes and those who work seasonally. I have a few ideas for that.
We will have a public meeting on June 5 at the Community Hall to
discuss raising the water rates and replacement of the water system. Our
budget committee has been working to meet deadlines for the proposed
1997-98 budget. We have learned that we would need to raise water
sewer rates to just balance the public works section of the budget. This
would be just for one year. The budget needs are for maintenance
problems that need to be dealt with now. Terry Ellis has assisted Gary
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Shipley with the items budgeted and now has reviewed everything to
insure only essentials are included. We must discuss with our residents
at the public meeting that these costs are needed to fix an old system.
We do not know what will come out next year and the year after. Our
water system needs to be replaced, the longer we wait, the more the
costs will rise. Also, the future of potential grant dollars is uncertain.
We have gone from 75% to 50% available grant dollars in four short
years. We may have zero grant dollars available in the future. I have
had some folks ask about getting a grant for our sewer system at the
same time. It is my understanding from talking with Terry Ellis about
this, that our plant has only maintenance needs currently. We can not
ask for grant money to fix something that we should have been taking
care of, and for which we received grant money to build. Our sewer
system lines have some locations that will need to be repaired. The
system lines need to be fixed, not replaced. We may be able to obtain
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technical assistance grant to project actual sewer repair needs and
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costs. The council also
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acquiring°tad°ne^r the Falls, we are working on that too. We are
investigating the concept of town ownership of some and near the Falls
for a park. We have a couple avenues to pursue. I shall keep you posted
on this. Be assured that we are not forgetting your requests.
At the May council meeting a high school community service
project was approved. The students will restore the tennis courts, and
add basketball hoops. The lights will also be fixed so that the court may
be used in the forthcoming summer evenings. Thanks to these students
and to the class who previously obtained approval to plant flowers in the
park.
The council approved my request for dollars to host the Mayor s
breakfast on May 17th . Mayors of Jackson and Josephine counties meet
once monthly, alternating being hosts. At the meeting I spoke with Jim
Lewis,-Mayor of Jacksonville. HGE was the engineering firm who
designed and oversaw the construction of their water system
replacement. Jim Lewis gave a positive recommendation of HGE.
Frank Falsarella, Mayor of Talent, again volunteered to spend some time
helping Butte Falls set up a volunteer reserve police force. Talent,
Jacksonville and several other communities have successful reserve
police forces to supplement their paid police forces.
The Butte Falls Volunteer Fire Department has an antique truck
for sale. See separate article for bid information. Another vehicle has
been donated to the fire department by Walt Wattenburger. Wendy and
Dick Earl have recently purchased some safety equipment for the fire
department. A special thanks to all who support our fire department.
Anyone who is not able to make the June 5th public meeting,
please call city hall and leave a message with Lori for me to call or visit
you. We need your support, and I will be glad to personally provide
you with the information necessary . Thanks in advance.
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