SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021 | 5A
FLOGRO from page 1A
Public Works Direc-
tor Mike Miller has been
a strong advocate of the
FloGro program and has
taken a particular interest
in seeing the effort con-
tinue and to grow.
“I saw the composting
program as an environ-
mentally friendly way
to reduce the amount of
money spent on hauling
biosolids, originally to the
Short Mountain landfill
[located just outside Eu-
gene] and now to Heard
Farms outside of Rose-
burg,” Miller said.
Since the program has
been in place, Miller said
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the city has lowered its
spending on hauling and
disposal costs of biosolids
from $80,000 per year to
$50,000.
“As we utilize more of
the biosolids in the com-
posting program, we ex-
pect to continue to reduce
that cost on an annual ba-
sis,” Miller said. “Through
the composting process,
we are able to produce
Class A composted bio-
solids and meet the ‘ex-
ceptional quality’ criteria
under the U.S. EPA and
Oregon DEQ regulations
on biosolids.”
In addition, FloGro is
good for gardens.
According to Miller,
“Using composted biosol-
ids improves soil health
and allows the soil to hold
more water while letting
it drain and breathe bet-
ter. Again, this program
allows us to take care of
two waste products —
yard debris and biosolids
— and produce a sustain-
able soil amendment for
our community.”
Philben has suggested
in recent EMAC meet-
ings that there should be
a concerted effort to ex-
pand the FloGro Program
and offer composting op-
tions to all interested res-
idents.
She added that mon-
ey could be saved when
less material needs to be
hauled and dumped.
“Currently, only a frac-
tion of the biosolids pro-
duced can be used to com-
post FloGro because of
the constraints of space,
equipment and person-
nel,” Philben said. “That
means that most of the
dewatered sludge needs
BUDGET from page 1A
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The overall cost to tax-
payers to run the city
during this time is expect-
ed to be approximately
$71.9 million, increasing
from $65.2 million, which
was budgeted during the
preceding biennium. This
means a 19 percent increase
in the proposed budget.
Reynolds also reviewed
the efforts of city staff over
the last year as related to
COVID-19 protocols and
other situations related to
the pandemic. In partic-
ular, she mentioned the
challenges faced by the
Florence Events Center due
MARK BRENNAN/SIUSLAW NEWS
FloGro, a Class A biosolids product, is produced through a composting process
that combines chipped yard debris with biosolids. The end result is a sustainable
compost supply, which the city cultivates at the Wastewater Treatment Plant at
650 Rhododendron Drive.
to be hauled away and
disposed of. The expense
involved in doing this will
only increase with time
and, if the sludge or bio-
solids can be composted
here in Florence into a
useful product, it will save
the city money in the long
run.”
Miller said his commit-
ment to the community
extends beyond providing
the essential services re-
quired of his department
— clean water, electri-
cal services and properly
maintained roads — but
also includes significantly
improving the quality of
life for residents.
This ethos has taken
hold in the department,
as evidenced by Mur-
phy’s thoughtful respons-
es during the tour on
Wednesday.
“It was nice to share
some of our operations
at the Florence Wastewa-
ter Treatment Plant with
the EMAC committee
members. When I look
at our wastewater treat-
ment operation and the
professionals that I work
with, I feel the need to
point out that, for us, it
is more than a job and so
much more than a profes-
sion,” Murphy said. “The
health of our community
and being good stewards
to the environment are
the driving force behind
all the decisions we make.
Every day we look for in-
novations and opportuni-
ties to improve processes,
save energy and lessen
the impacts of wastewater
on our little neck of the
wood.”
He added that the com-
posting program provides
measurable results.
“We get to take different
forms of unwanted waste,
yard debris and biosol-
ids and safely turn them
around with our own ef-
forts to create a beneficial
product that can be used
right back in the commu-
nity from which it came,”
he said. “All of us at Pub-
lic Works look forward to
learning more and grow-
ing the City of Florence
Composting
Program
into something much
larger.”
Distribution of FloGro
soil will be distributed
this year at a time and
place yet to be deter-
mined.
For more information,
visit
www.ci.florence.
or.us/publicworks/flogro-
it-makes-flowers-grow.
to the facility’s inability to
operate fully during 2020
and into this year.
“Although COVID-19
has significantly impacted
local business, the overall
impact to the city so far
has not been catastrophic,”
Reynolds reported. “Most
city revenues impacted by
COVID-19 are currently
projected to return to nor-
mal levels by fall 2021.”
The city manager also
stated Florence’s primary
source of revenue — prop-
erty taxes — has remained
stable over the past year,
seeing modest growth.
Additionally, due to
COVID concerns, one-
third of city staff have
been working from home
while two-thirds have
been at their workplace or
performing duties in and
around the city.
Reynolds then shared
her expectations that the
City of Florence will receive
funding from the recently
passed American Rescue
Act, which is expected to
approach $2 million.
During the rest of the
committee meeting, Reyn-
olds provided a breakdown
of expenditures by category
and type provided. Those
figures show that Florence
is expected to spend $15
million in personnel costs,
$17.9 million for materials
and services and $21 mil-
lion for capital outlay.
After this, City Recorder
Kelli Weese reviewed some
of the rules and procedures
in place for the mandated
public viewing of city meet-
ings and the process for
those members of the pub-
lic who wish to comment at
those public meetings. She
also reviewed COVID-19
protocols and reminded
the members that there was
a public hearing scheduled
for the committee on May
10 at 5:30 p.m.
There were no addition-
al questions or comments,
which prompted the meet-
ing’s adjournment.
Members of the City of
Florence Budget Commit-
tee are Mayor Joe Henry,
city councilors Woody
Woodbury, Sally Wantz,
Maggie Wisniewski and
Bill Meyer, Chairperson
Brittany Hornung, Vice
Chair Leonard Larson, Jeff
Archambeau, Ron Hildeb-
rand and Joel Marks.
For more information,
visit ci.florence.or.us.
Port
to consider budget May 19
On Wednesday, May 19, p.m. at the port conference Strategic Business Plan and
the Port of Siuslaw Board of room, located at 100 Har- the regular meeting will in-
Commissioners will hold a bor St. in Florence, Ore.
clude a resolution to adopt
work session at 5 p.m. and
The work session will in- the FY21-22 budget.
their regular meeting at 7 clude LCOG regarding the
Work sessions and regu-
lar meetings are open to the
public. Due to COVID-19,
meetings are being held us-
ing Zoom. The agenda and
a zoom link will be posted
48 hours before the meet-
ing. For more information,
call 541-997-3426 or visit
portofsiuslaw.com.
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