6A | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
WATER from page 1A
It was determined the
bills were estimated since
March 2021.
Staffing issues prevented
an in-person meter reader.
When meters were actual-
ly read last March, many
customers’ estimated us-
age was significantly lower
than their actual usage.
This caused an outcry by
locals who weren’t finan-
cially prepared for such
high water bills.
On Tuesday, the MWD
board decided, by vote,
that the following would be
the policy going forward:
A 50% credit will be giv-
en to the month of Febru-
ary billing amount. This
does not include amounts
that were past due prior to
February 2021.
The customer’s 50%
needs to be paid in full by
Sept. 30 and the balance of
the bill will need to be paid
by Oct. 25. Disconnects
Shoppe
LOCAL
and late fees will resume
on Nov. 1.
Sautner added, “Payment
arrangements are possible,
but the arrears balance will
need to be paid by Dec. 20,
with a disconnect date of
Jan. 10, 2022.”
Payment arrangements
can be made by contacting
the office at 541-268-4348.
In addition, those who
already paid their February
bill will be given a credit on
future bills.
Newest MWD board
member Millie Rochon
mentioned that she was
one who was affected by
these large February bills,
and agreed that though
the bills would require
payment arrangements for
many residents. She said
the community, as a whole,
was looking for a resolu-
tion to the situation.
Schrenk agreed and
mentioned that customers
paying these bills was the
only hope for having water
service in Mapleton in the
future.
All board members
agreed that it was time to
move forward.
Next, the board decided
that the district could use
some help in the office.
They talked about letting
the public know that they
were looking to hire some-
one for eight hours a week,
two four hour shifts, and
that interested applicants
should contact the office at
the number listed above.
The board then dis-
cussed the bids that were
received for a new water
treatment plant. Tempo-
rarily, WesTech provides
water treatment for Maple-
ton, but a permanent solu-
tion is needed. In the past,
the board hired an advisor
team of water engineers
and the team had reviewed
the bids for a new treat-
ment plant.
This advisor team rec-
ommended the bid given
by Filtertech Inc. This was
lowest cost bid and also
seemed to be the company
that could best provide for
the water needs of the Ma-
pleton community.
The board took a vote
and the Filtertech bid was
accepted unanimously.
This was done with the
understanding that Filter-
tech was still working to
get approval by the State
of Oregon, this being their
first foray into treating
water in this state. Filter-
tech assured those who re-
viewed the bid that approv-
al was inevitable.
The board thought the
new treatment plant could
be up and running by
Spring 2022. The plant is
paid for by a grant from the
State of Oregon.
Next, Basurto showed
the board the new smart
meters that will be in-
stalled at all residences.
These meters will ensure
accurate measurement of
water usage and, eventu-
ally, will allow usage to be
measured remotely.
After this, Rochon up-
dated the board on her and
her daughter’s progress
JETTY from page 1A
Local anglers and surfers
have been unable to make
their way to the surfing
and fishing areas that are
situated at the end of the
South Jetty Road due to the
construction. Both groups
have pressed the United
States Department of Ag-
riculture (USDA) and the
Forest Service to complete
the project as soon as pos-
sible as the road is the only
way into that part of the
dunes.
Visitors will continue to
be able to use beach access
points 1 to 5 and the South
Jetty and Goose OHV stag-
ing areas for most of the
construction period. How-
ever, the entire road will
be closed for up to a week,
likely in October.
For more information,
visit www.fs.usda.gov/rec-
main/siuslaw/recreation.
The project is addressing
long-term instability on
the road.
“Visitors should be
aware of traffic from heavy
equipment and other con-
struction vehicles outside
of the closure area, as de-
bris continues to be re-
moved and rocks and other
equipment continue to get
delivered,” Holman added.
#MyFlorence
Shop. Eat. Support.
SAVE. SHOP
with painting the town’s
fire hydrants.
Basurto mentioned a
plan to adopt a stretch of
highway in the name of
MWD. He mentioned the
state will provide all the
necessary tools and safe-
ty equipment. After two
cleanings, an official sign
will be installed.
Moore finished the
meeting by mentioning he
attended a wedding in Los
Angeles recently.
“I drank some of the wa-
ter down there. It was bad.
I’m serious. We have good
water here in Mapleton
and that’s what we’ve got
to keep our focus on, espe-
cially in these hard times.
We’re very lucky that a lot
of people put this much ef-
fort out again and again,”
he said.
The MWD Board of Di-
rectors meets on the third
Wednesday of the month
at the Mapleton Lion’s
Club Community Center.
The next meeting will be
Oct. 20.
Residents with questions
or concerns can contact
the MWD office at 541-
268-4348.
Cel
70 ebrat
+ Y ing
ear
s!
Hoberg’s
Complete Auto Repair
www.hobergsautorepair.com
New
Service d
Offere
FREE Taxi Ride via: River Cities Taxies
Florence City Limits Only
From our shop to your home or work
Kevin McMullen
345 Hwy. 101 • P.O. Box 357
Florence, OR 97439-0012
3rd Generation Owner
hobergsautorepair@gmail.com
541-997-2413
Serving Your Auto Needs Since 1945
Last recycling event of the year scheduled
SUPPORT
In the future, EcoGenera-
tion plans to combine the
cap stream with the $20
Donation Brown Paper
Bag collection since, as an
organization, they have
been paying to recycle this
stream since its inception.
People’s donations will
help to support this pro-
gram in the future.
The EcoGeneration Re-
cycling Take Back Events
provide an opportunity
for Florence residents and
businesses to bring a va-
riety of plastic recyclables
for collection. All items
must be clean, dry, label
free and sorted by number
and type.
The EcoGeneration web-
site, www.ecogeneration.
org, has all of the specific
information regarding how
to prepare your recyclables
and what products are ac-
cepted. There will be a lim-
ited number of special Fast
Passes for quicker process-
ing at the event which can
be purchased for $35. You
will need to sign up for a
designated time by going
to the website and reserv-
ing a drop off time.
If you have any addition-
al questions or would like
to volunteer, please contact
Master Recycler Nancy
Rhodes at florence@eco
Submit your community, arts,
entertainment and other events to
Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com
ESTATE JEWELRY AND
ANTIQUE FURNITURE!!!
We buy, sell and consign quality
estate/heirloom jewelry & furniture.
Gold, silver, platinum jewelry with
precious & semi precious stones.
Auto, Home, Life, Business
Flood, Antique Auto, RV’s
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Supplements
Health Insurance
Phone (541) 997-9497
1234 Rhododendron Dr / Florence
Call 541-997-8104,
Florence Antiques
&
Coast Jewelers
Us TOO Florence
Prostate Cancer Education
Support on the Oregon Coast
www.ustooflorence.org
BOTH MEETINGS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD.
WATCH SIUSLAW NEWS FOR RESUMPTION
• Tuesday Evening Group (2nd Tuesday)
5-7 p.m. - Ichiban Chinese/Japanese Restaurant
• Urologist Dr. Bryan Mehlhaff attends.
• Tuesday Lunch Group (3rd Tuesday)
12 noon – 1:00 p.m. – Ichiban Chinese/Japanese
Restaurant
• Urologist Dr. Roger McKimmy attends.
Contact Bob for more information:
(H) 541-997-6626 • (C) 541-999-4239
maribob@oregonfast.net
Broker
Call, Text or Email
Cell: 541-505-1180
Alva@CBCoast.com
541-997-7777
100 Hwy. 101,
Florence, OR
We are doing everything
we can to safely
serve our community.
We are open:
Noon to 8pm every day
2020
VOTED
F
BEST O
F LO E N C
R
1285 Bay Street, Old Town Florence
(541) 902-8338
www.1285Restobar.com
We are open and
ready to assist you!
Johnston Motor Company
Since 1939
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
Getting rid of
for over 20 years
Now offering
ff
hearing aid leasing
541.991.4475
Receive a free accessory with a new lease.
Florence’s only Expires
Doctors
of audiology
3/16/21.
ASSOCIATES
LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTERS
Tires • Brakes • Shocks
Alignments
4325 Highway 101
Florence, OR 97439
541-997-7178
COAST REAL ESTATE
We are open for dine-in, take-out,
sidewalk & patio seating
HEARING
Alva Bracey
Your goals are my
top priority.
Let’s get together!
generation.org.
Volunteers are needed
for the event so please sign
up at www.ecogeneration.
org by clicking on the Flor-
ence Recycling Take Back
Events Tab and Sign Up
Genius link. Since this is
a volunteer driven event,
your patience and support
are always appreciated.
Thank you for your cash
donations and /or collect-
ed plastic number 1 drink
bottles.
Keeping the event safe is
important for the commu-
nity, so masks and social
distancing are required for
all attendees and volun-
teers.
EcoGeneration,
a
non-profit organization,
was founded two years
ago by David Gardiepy,
a Master Recycler from
Cottage Grove. The mis-
sion of the organization is
to safeguard and improve
the ecosystems that hu-
mans coexist with. Their
focus is on protecting bio-
diversity in and around the
Pacific Northwest. More
information can be found
at www.ecogeneration.org.
Funding for these 2021
events is provided in part
by Western Lane Commu-
nity Foundation and other
community members.
E
The final EcoGenera-
tion Recycling Take Back
event for 2021 is sched-
uled for Sunday, Oct. 3, at
the Siuslaw Middle School
pavilion. All masking and
COVID protocols will be
adhered too.
The event starts at 11
a.m., with the first hour
being designated for the el-
derly and disabled. Please
note, there typically is a
waiting line at the begin-
ning of the event.
The general public is
encouraged to bring their
recyclables between noon
and 2 p.m.
Over the past year, Flor-
ence residents have recy-
cled almost 5,000 pounds
of plastics at these events.
EcoGeneration will con-
tinue to provide this ser-
vice for the Florence com-
munity in 2022, so stay
tuned for more details to
be announced soon.
Also, this will be the very
last Recycling Take Back
Event where EcoGenera-
tion will accept your caps
and lids for free. These are
lids without a resin code
and are 6 inches in diam-
eter or smaller. They will
continue to accept all caps
and lids that have resin
codes in their correspond-
ing plastic resin streams.
of Florence
Florence
1901 Hwy 101, Ste A
Scott C. Anderson, Au.D. • Steven G. Anderson, Au.D.
HearingAssociatesofFlorence.com