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C ottage G rove
Est. 1889
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Residents can
expect utilities
to ‘take a hike’
Good Ambassador
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
On Monday, June 25, the
city council approved a res-
olution amending the city’s
comprehensive fee sched-
ule that included adjust-
ments to the current utility
system rate. The resolution,
passed unanimously, will
raise utility rates across the
board with monthly water
rates, including the base,
consumption and improve-
ment rates, by 1.80 percent.
Monthly wastewater rates
will increase by 3 percent
and storm drainage rates
will see a 7.9 percent in-
crease.
The increases are part of
the city’s five-year financial
plan.
Cottage Grove’s water bill
consists of water, waste-
water and sewer services,
something City Manager
Richard Meyers says his of-
fice routinely tries to clarify
for the community.
“They’ll call somewhere
else and ask what the water
bill is and then come back
and say that our water bill is
higher,” he said. “That’s be-
cause we’re not just water.
They’ll call Eugene and ask
and Eugene is just water.”
The base rate for water
service, meaning the water
service is turned on and
able to come out of the tap
and go down the drain but
no water is actually used by
the resident, is $84. The av-
erage residential household
in Cottage Grove will use
5,000 gallons a month and,
according to the city, see an
average bill of $113 under
the new increase. Previous-
ly, the average bill was $110.
“It’s an increase, on resi-
dential meters, of $3.21, to-
tal,” Meyers said.
The increase is split with
some of the funds needed
A report by the National Low
Income Housing Coalition shows
most Oregonians can't afford a
one-bedroom apartment.
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
The Great Recession, triggered in December of
2007 by the housing crisis, officially ended almost
two years later in June of 2009. And while a revised
estimate from the U.S. Commerce Department
released June 28 showed the country’s gross do-
mestic product (an estimated value of goods and
services produced within the country) falling from
an initial report of 2.2 percent growth to 2 percent
in the first quarter of the year, an increase in GDP
was recorded.
However, headlines around the country detail a
different story of residents being unable to afford
the cost of living in cities and communities nation-
wide.
“My family and I struggle a lot even though I
have a job with the state,” said Kristin Vreeland,
who moved to Cottage Grove eight years ago. And
while she and her husband were approved for a
home loan, she said it was difficult to find a house.
“We could not find a house that would pass in-
spection in our price range,” she said. “The
See LIVE A10
CG City Council
adopts budget
for 2018-19
WED
73º/48º
CAITLYN MAY/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
On Monday, June 25, Don Strahan was given the Travel Lane County Tourism Ambassador
Award during the regularly-scheduled city council meeting for his volunteer work through-
out the city. City Manager Richard Meyers detailed Strahan’s work on the Row River Trail
and the Graffiti Rapid Removal Team. Natalie Inouye of Travel Lane County made a special
trip to Cottage Grove to present the award, citing her admiration for Strahan by noting that
he was “the equivalent of an entire volunteer workforce.” Strahan was described as leading
by example and always being the first to volunteer.
See UTILITIES A10
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
See BUDGET A11
Coming soon: pool renovations
By Zach Silva
zsilva@cgsentinel.com
The end is now in sight for the cur-
rent iteration of the Warren H. Daugh-
erty Aquatic Center.
A staple in the community since
1955, the pool, that is owned by the
South Lane School District (SLSD),
will be closed for renovations starting
on August 17. At that time SLSD will
then bring on a contractor to begin
construction.
“The construction process is sup-
posed to start end of September, early
COMMUNITY
EVENTS
Kickin' It with the Cops
BMD Melodrama
Community turns out for
a day of fun with local law
enforcement
Bohemia Mining Days
brings back live theater
PAGE A5
www.homesteadcg.com
PAGE A7
Chair
Side
Tables
On
Sale!
INDEX
Cottage Grove will spend just over $38 million
to run the city for the 2018-2019 budget cycle and
including a proposal to reorganize the Communi-
ty Service Department by separating the library
and community center.
Expenditures for all funds total $38,313,175
which represents an increase of more than $5 mil-
lion when compared to last year’s budget.
“If you pull those loans out, this year’s budget is
less than last year’s. We’re borrowing $6 mil-lion
dollars,” City Manager Richard Meyers said, citing
the city’s upgrades to existing water infrastructure.
The updates to the city’s water and sewer in-
frastructure was highlighted during the June 25
meeting where the budget was approved with
councilor Mike Fleck noting that there have been
October and we’re shooting 11 months
for construction,” said SLSD Commu-
nications Coordinator Garrett Brid-
gens.
The upgrades for the pool will in-
clude a new tank that will, unlike the
current iteration, be regulation sized
which will allow CGHS to host swim
See POOL A11
The current Warren H. Daugherty
Aquatic Center (right) will close
in August for renovations. The
pool may be closed for at least 11
months.
Calendar ...................................... B12
Channel Guide ............................... B5
Classifieds ...................................... B7
Obituaries ...................................... A2
Opinion ......................................... A4
Sports ............................................ B1
ZACH SILVA/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
cgnews@cgsentinel.com
(541) 942-3325 ph • (541) 942-3328 fax
P.O. Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Corner of Sixth and Whiteaker, Cottage Grove
_______________
VOLUME 130 • NUMBER 38
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