6A | SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
WATER from page 1A
The council has been made
aware of the proposed increase by
many Dunes City residents who
found the letter both unexpected
and alarming.
The example provided by SCWC
in its letter to the utilities commis-
sion used the figure $47.54 as the
average customer bill and suggest-
ed the proposed increase would re-
sult in a bill of $121.02.
Ron Stanley is a customer of
SCWC and he contacted the Siu-
slaw News and his neighbors with
his concerns.
“I don’t want to sound conspira-
torial in these times, but I just think
something smells fishy,” he said.
“This is big increase and for a lot
folks I have talked to, $900 is a lot
of money. We have people living on
fixed incomes and this was a shock,
no question about it. I’d rather give
it to charity than some big compa-
ny buying out a smaller company
and have us pay for it.”
The evening’s discussion of the
increase was facilitated by City Ad-
ministrator Jamie Mills, who briefly
reviewed the transfer of ownership
of the water rights to SCWC from
Dunes City and touched on some
of the infrastructure changes need-
ed to accompany that decision.
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During this, Forsythe stated that
he felt there was a need for repre-
sentatives from SCWC to provide
the council with additional infor-
mation, preferably in person.
He recounted a discussion he
had with Mills regarding the rate
increase and shared a letter Mills
had written to the PUC detailing
Dunes City Council’s disappoint-
ment with the manner customers
were notified of the increase and
the amount of that increase.
“I think it outrageous, this kind
of increase, with little notice,” For-
sythe said. “I would think a com-
pany wanting to do this would
have a public meeting.”
The other councilors agreed
with the mayor. The council gave
direction to Mills to send the let-
ter to the PUC and to coordinate
a conversation and perhaps a pub-
lic meeting with the management
from SCWC.
SCWC is owned and operated
by Puttman Infrastructure Inc. and
the water delivered to Dunes City
residents comes from Woahink
Lake.
Thomas Puttman is the pres-
ident and CEO of Puttman In-
frastructure Incorporated, which
invests, manages, operates and
maintains a number of other pub-
lic utilities across the country.
In a conversation with the Siu-
slaw News on Thursday regarding
the situation, he seemed surprised
by the confusion regarding the
rate increase and wanted to assure
Dunes City customers of his com-
pany’s desire to work with both the
city and its customers to improve
communication.
Consequently, Puttman sent out
a letter to SCWC customers to re-
spond to what he views as an error
in communication.
In it, Puttman recounted the
decision made by city officials
to change the source of drinking
water for residents and his under-
standing of the information pro-
vided to consumers.
“I wanted first to apologize for
the miscommunication surround-
ing the recent rate increase notice.
We were following Oregon PUC
guidelines for the notice. What we
missed was the context — the ‘why’
the increase is being proposed,”
Puttman’s letter stated. “For years,
SCWC sourced its water directly
from Siltcoos Lake. Over the years,
Siltcoos Lake water quality degrad-
ed enough to not be a safe or re-
liable water source as determined
by the State of Oregon. To resolve
this water quality risk, the decision
was made to change the source of
water from Siltcoos Lake to Woa-
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BAHA’I FAITH OF FLORENCE
Ongoing Devotions, Study Circles, Services
To The Community, Informal Gatherings.
For Information, Visit Us On Facebook:
Baha’I Community of Florence, Oregon Or
Phone 541-590-0779
BAY BERRY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Friday Evenings – 7 PM SINGSPIRATION
You are invited to come and sing your favorite
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NEW LOCATION
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THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
2705 Munsel Lake Road, All are welcome!
Sunday Worship Services are at 10 AM & 11:15 AM.
Bishop Larry Farnsworth 541-999-1979
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418
Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45
Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –
Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m.
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Corner of 10th & Maple- 541-997-3533
Sunday Services are 9am and 11am and on
Facebook live and KCST at 11am
Wednesdays at 7pm
https://www.fl orencecrossroadag.org/church-online
Other platforms update after the service.
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offi ce@fl orencecrossroadag.org
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2nd & Ivy - 541-997-2961 - Non-Denominational
Service is on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Service also streaming live at 10:00 am
at fl orencechurch.com
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per bills did not receive the notice.
We did not know of the mistake
until we heard from a few custom-
ers that they had not received the
notice. When checking our cus-
tomer account system, we realized
notices were not sent to customers
with online bill pay,” He said.
This issue has been addressed
with SCWC staff and all future
communications will be included
in digital notifications.
Puttman also expressed his will-
ingness to respond directly to the
Dunes City Council and will work
with city staff to answer any and all
questions related to the requested
increase, and encouraged anyone
with questions to contact SCWC
at customerservice@puttman.com
For the remainder of the July 28
meeting, Mills gave her monthly
report. This included a pending
grant application and information
on road repairs.
Mills also announced a “Cere-
mony of Life” on Saturday, Aug.
21, from noon to 3 p.m. to recog-
nize the efforts of the many volun-
teers who have worked to advance
the city. There will be a barbecue
and socializing will be encouraged,
COVID restrictions permitting.
The July 28 Dunes City Council
meeting is available at for viewing
at dunescityhall.com.
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hink Lake. Woahink Lake is an ex-
cellence source of drinking water.”
He further explained the rate
increase is primarily related to the
capital improvements required to
make the change to Woahink Lake.
These improvements include a new
treatment plant, decommissioning
the old treatment plant and a new
supply main and pump station to
convey water from Woahink Lake
to the new treatment plant.
“As the new owner of the system,
it was our understanding that the
customer base understood these
improvements had been made and
the rate increase was forthcoming.
These improvements were made
prior to our ownership of the sys-
tem and the proposed rate increase
is necessary to pay for these im-
provements,” Puttman stated.
The second point Puttman
wanted to make was related to the
lack of notification to all customers
served by SCWC, which was not
intentional but more of a technical
issue.
“My second apology is to cus-
tomers that did not receive the no-
tice. For customers with online bill
pay, paper invoices are not sent.
When we mailed the notice for the
potential rate increase, it only went
to customers who request paper
bills. Those that do not receive pa-
FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road
RUAUU? All are welcome to explore the answer.
Until it is safe to meet in person, Sunday Worship Services
are available 24/7 on our website: www.florenceuuf.org
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
Link to Sunday services at
www.fl orenceunitedmethodist.org
or fi nd us on Facebook.
FOURSQUARE CHURCH
1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family.
Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m.
Wednesday Bible Study returns this Fall.
Website: fl orence4square.com
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN E.L.C.A.
21st & Spruce Streets—997-8113
Interim Pastor David Brauer-Rieke, All are welcome.
Sunday in-person worship service@ 10:30.
Also available to you on website
www.fl orencenewlifelutheran.org.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW
3996 N Hwy 101 541-997-7136
Internet and in person Sunday services at 10AM,
Call the church for details.
Reverend Greg Wood
All Welcome. Come as you are.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL
We meet Sunday’s at 11am in our homes.
Call 408-482-1141 or 541-997-4237 for locations.
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S.
Worship Services 10am 1st & 2nd Sunday
and 8am 3rd & 4th Sunday
85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038
DVD of Weekly worship service available.
www.puppro.wixite.com/rlcfl orence
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL
Church Welcomes You
FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Worship Sun. 9am Wed 11am 2135 19th St.
Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16)
541-997-6600 standssecretary19@gmail.com Labyrinth &
1833 Tamarack Street
Garden daily 8am-5pm
(2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.)
“Be the change.”
Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m.
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES
CATHOLIC CHURCH
FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
1.5
miles
south
of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312
1318 Rhododendron Dr. • 541-997-2523
COVID-19 Compliant Masses have been scheduled.
Sunday Service 11am ( Children Sunday School)
Please call our offi ce for details.
Mid-Week Activities, all ages.
FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951
Worship on Saturday 11:00 A.M.
Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 10:00 A.M.
Give us a call 541-997-3441
to get us your updates or email to:
mberg@thesiuslawnews.com
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