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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 2018)
Wallowa County Chieftain From A1 wallowa.com September 12, 2018 PARKS SEWER Continued from Page A1 Continued from Page A1 reconfigure the parking lot to provide more greenspace, bet- ter stormwater management and improved traffic flow.” Don’t expect construction on either project to begin tomor- row. next year or perhaps ever. “These are potential park improvements to be imple- mented over the next 15-20 years,” said Ian Matthews, a planner for the department who has been shepherding the proj- ect. “The plan does not guaran- tee funding or that the proposed facilities will be constructed.” Overall, the plan con- tains $12 million in suggested improvements, including devel- oping additional ADA-qualified fishing and kayaking areas near the marina, as well as a fenced off-leash dog area, a boat fueling station, nature play area near the beach and expanding the con- cession building. Improvements to the parks day use area, administrative area, the campground and the Little Alps development are also in the plan. Eight additional yurts and rehab of the two exist- ing ones to create a yurt village are also suggested. The primary aim of redevel- opment at Minam is to reduce parking conflicts and address overcapacity issues during peak river use season. Proposed improvements include expan- sion of the main parking lot and construction of an overflow parking area. “The gravel parking area north of Minam Station should be removed and the area restored to natural conditions, with equestrian parking relo- cated to the overflow parking lot,” the plan states. Other improvements Many of those come as a result of Joseph’s discharge of treated water into Prairie Creek. That discharge is going to continue to be problematic, according to City Engineer Brad Baird of Anderson Perry and Associates Inc. “(DEQ requirements) are going to do nothing but get worse in the future,” Baird said. “As long as you dis- charge into a body of water, you’re susceptible to future regulations.” Just a few of the new requirements included lower limits for chlorine; new ammonia limits that mean the city would have to add an additional treatment step; and a new step of monitoring dis- solved oxygen in the creek. The city must also meet multiple deadlines for vari- ous plans, compliance tests and reports over the next few years — the first due March 31, 2019. The issue has been on the city’s radar for some time. One option: Building a lagoon large enough to store all the treated wastewater in fall, winter and spring and irrigate in summer — elimi- nating discharge into Prairie Creek. Discharged water is already used as irrigation water in the summer, a prac- tice that suits both agricul- ture and the city and will most likely continue and be expanded. Most of the new DEQ requirements would be built into the new lagoon system. The lagoon conversion project is estimated to cost $3.8 to $4.2 million. It has FOREST Continued from Page A1 served as a cooperating agent, which is a tool the county used to be part of the conversation. “I’m not saying that this worked exactly as it was sup- posed to –– it didn’t,” she said. “But we have been able to sup- ply our opinion and analysis of things.” In fact, she believes the county’s status in the plan wasn’t always taken into con- sideration and listed the lack of coordination by the U.S. For- Contributed graphic The most extensive improvement projects at Wallowa Lake State Park would be made in the marina area. COME AND SEE A public meeting to discuss a Master Plan Update for State Parks in Wallowa County 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Joseph Commu- nity Center, 401 E. 1st St., Joseph. An advisory committee for the plan will meet to review the plan 2 p.m. the same day at Joseph Commu- nity Center. The public is welcome to attend the advisory committee meeting; however, only comments from the committee will be heard at this meeting. Com- ments from the public will be heard during the evening session. The Draft Plan can be viewed at wallowastate- parksplan.com. Comments may be submitted in person at the public meeting, via the website or directly to OPRD at ian.matthews@oregon.gov. could include picnic shel- ters near the river, a viewing area and improvements to the Minam Station building. Those improvements are pegged at more than a half-million dollars. est Service as frustrating and a major concern. The county has worked on its objections to the revi- sion along with its Natural Resources Advisory Commit- tee since the plan was released to the general public several weeks ago. She showed the massive revision plan with var- ious sections marked with tabs. For example, in the county’s view, the socio-economic por- tion of the document seemed overly worried about possi- ble scenarios decades into the future if timber harvests were substantially increased. Rob- erts called the views “errone- ous,” and said, “I have it listed under my complaints about the plan as crap.” “They’re worried that if they take more timber off the three forests than we’re used to having for the last 20 years, we’ll all become crazed wild animals and suffer the conse- quences,” she said. The commissioner explained that the report said the release of significant amounts of timber would put affected communi- ties into a boom-or-bust cycle as harvests would decline after about 20 years. Roberts noted that the for- ests grow at a rate of 700 mil- lion board feet per year, and a harvest rate of 300 million board feet per year should be sustainable. “What it says to me is that, ‘you’re on the bottom rung of the ladder; we’ve shoved you down that far, and we don’t want you to take a step to the second rung.’ It’s insult- ing to the people who live and work in these counties, and it’s insulting to anyone with a modicum of intelligence who reads it.” Roberts said the plan is full We know your business makes our business. of potential economic benefits if all aspects of it are adopted, but the Forest Service added the caveat that it is also depen- dent on budgetary and regula- tory conditions. Darilyn Parry Brown, exec- utive director of the Greater Hells Canyon Council, said her group plans to file objec- tions to the plan as well. “It’s unacceptable that the plans double the volume of logging on our forests while removing all meaningful and enforceable protections for old growth, critical habitats, federally listed threatened spe- A17 another benefit. Oversight by the city will require a Level 1 operator, rather than a Level 2 operator. Level 2 operators are in short supply and difficult to recruit. Bottom line: Sewer rates will have to be raised. Current sewer rates are $27.60 with a $5 monthly surcharge, mak- ing it $32.60 per month. To qualify for loans or grants the city would have to raise their rates to show they could meet debt service for loans. The city has avoided rais- ing rates significantly because of strong resident protest. It has managed to keep sewer costs fairly flat, said Baird. Now they are faced with bumping the rates by $10 or more. Exact amounts are unknown and will depend on the loan and grant packages available to the city. “Keep in mind ... you hav- en’t really done a wastewa- ter project in 22 years,” Baird told the city council. “It’s typ- ical for communities that hav- en’t done anything to be faced with these new requirements. You’ll take a one-time hit and then, hopefully, problem solved for 20 to 30 years.” Baird said if the city chose to repair the existing system — given the age of the system — it’s likely the equipment would need repair again. “I don’t think throwing good money after bad is a good choice,” said councilor member Teresa Sajonia. “It’s not going to be fun raising the rates, but there’s no choice.” Council members autho- rized Baird to finish the wastewater report now that he has the final specs from DEQ and will proceed to apply for a funding package when that is done. cies, roadless areas and ripar- ian zones,” she said. Brown called the plans “bad news’ for the area and said that enforceable standards to protect rare and threatened wildlife, old-growth trees, native species and roadless areas. “The Blue Mountains con- tain important and increas- ingly rare roadless areas that are hot spots for biodiversity and important wildlife con- nectivity corridors,” she said. “Without enforceable protec- tions, it is only a matter of time before they are gone forever.” Improve your quality of life with Therapy… • Reduce arthritis pain with Aquatic Therapy • Improve daily living skills with Occupational Therapy Take us along, too. • Control pain and avoid surgery with Physical Therapy Ask your physician for a referral today! BEO Mobile for Apple & Android We treat you like family 601 Medical Parkway, Enterprise, OR 97828 • 541-426-3111 • www.wchcd.org Member FDIC Wallowa Memorial Hospital is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Thank you to all our sponsors, supporters, and volunteers! “It takes a Community to produce an event.” Nothing could be more true for this event. We want to thank our awesome Mule Days crew, dedicated volunteers, and a BIG thank you to our sponsors for their continuing financial contributions, and to everyone who attended the 38th annual Hells Canyon MuleDays… A Wallowa County Tradition! See you next year, Sept. 6-7-8, 2019 Sondra Lozier and the Event Committee Find us on Facebook!