Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 1, 2015 5A
Polk County News
NEWS IN BRIEF
Dallas street resurfacing projects begin Monday
DALLAS — Road resurfacing projects on four Dallas streets kicked off Monday.
Project areas are: Levens Street from Washington Street to Southwest Academy Street; Uglow Av-
enue from Southeast Ash Street to Monmouth Cutoff; Monmouth Cutoff from Southeast Uglow to
Southeast Holman Avenue; and North Kings Valley Highway from Orchard Drive to Northeast Dallas
Drive.
Start and finish dates on the project may vary, but work on the four areas will occur between Mon-
day and July 8.
For more information, call the Dallas Public Works Department at 503-831-3562.
The Boondocks to hold ‘first Wednesday’ art workshops
2014 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
(January 1 ~ December 31, 2014)
Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative
We’re pleased to provide you with this year’s Annual Water Quality Report. This report complies with state and federal
law, which requires water utilities to provide water quality information to customers every year. We want to keep you
informed about the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water
resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water.
OUR SOURCE: The System is supplied by four ground water wells located in the American Bottom area between
Buena Vista and Independence. Each well casing is sealed to protect from surface water contamination and is located
on Cooperative-owned property. The Cooperative is currently on a list to begin a Wellhead Protection Plan to assist
us in controlling contamination in and around our source of supply. We encourage our customers to help in our
protection of the source by properly disposing of waste products such as unused pesticides, solvents and petroleum-
based products. We also have the option of supplying the western portion of the system with water purchased from
the city of Falls City water system.
FALLS CITY — The Boondocks in Falls City, 318 N. Main St., will hold an acrylic painting workshop
the first Wednesday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday’s (today) workshop will be held out-
doors on the patio — there will be plenty of shade available.
Admission is $30 and includes a 16 x 20 canvas, professional instruction, paint, supplies and a
cocktail. No art experience is necessary.
For more information: 503-787-2700.
TREATING THE WATER: Effective February 2011, the Cooperative now treats the entire system with sodium
hypochlorite (chlorine) and Sodium Hydroxide to maintain the pH and reduce corrosiveness of the water on home-
owner’s piping.
Ash Creek Arts Center receives grant from PC coalition
WATER QUALITY STANDARDS: The federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1972, 1986 and 1996 amendments were
developed to ensure the quality and safety of the nation’s drinking water. The federal government, through the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has the authority to regulate public water systems to protect public health.
The EPA sets national drinking water standards and establishes drinking water testing methods. The Department
of Human Services, Drinking Water Program (DHS-DWP) administers the drinking water regulations for EPA in our
state. Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water as
required. A contaminant is defined as any substance in water; however, not all contaminants are harmful. Some
contaminants are of concern only if they are detected above certain levels. In order to be in compliance with EPA
regulations, Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative drinking water must have contaminant levels at or below
all drinking water quality standards.
MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE — The Ash Creek Arts Center received a grant of $2,500 from the
Polk County Cultural Coalition for its 2015 Art Cart Project.
The nonprofit’s new art cart will help it maintain a variety of art supplies for use both indoor and
outdoor art experiences, as well as a way to store those supplies for easy transport and use.
The grant will allow the center to pay teachers and assistants who present free art classes and
workshops, and will allow more opportunities for community members to create and enjoy art
events, such as those found in the Monmouth and Independence Fourth of July celebrations.
For more information on Ash Creek Arts Center: www.ashcreekarts.org.
United Way awards grants to Polk organizations
SALEM — The United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley awarded Community Impact Grants to
nine Polk County projects and programs:
Fostering Hope Initiative, Family Support Collaboration, Health and Dental Clinic, Pathways to Be-
coming a Health Care Professional, Peers Empowerment to Achieving Real Lasting Security, Summer
Youth Program, Back to School Basics, Emergency Safety Shelter and Emergency Services to Home-
less Families.
For more information: 503-363-1651, ext. 311, or visit www.unitedwaymwv.org.
Dallas police receive grant for vehicle, body cameras
DALLAS — Dallas police department was awarded two grants totaling nearly $32,000 to purchase
new in-car and body cameras for officers.
The grant enabled the department to purchase the best technology available at a cost of $5,020
for each car camera and $937 for body cameras. Each of Dallas’ patrol vehicles are outfitted with the
new equipment and the department has been assigning body cameras to patrol officers.
“The Dallas Police Department was very fortunate in receiving the grant which allowed us to add
this level of service,” said Dallas Lt. Jerry Mott. “We would not have been able to undertake this proj-
ect without the outside funding.”
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant provided the larger grant, nearly $32,000 and
a $1,000 grant was provided through the city’s liability insurance carrier for body cameras. DPD sub-
mitted the grant application last July.
PIPES, PUMPS AND RESERVOIRS: In addition to the four well pumps there are eight booster pumps and fourteen
storage reservoirs in the system providing water to the elevated areas and the far reaches of the system. Within the
165 square mile service area, 1,054 service connections are served through more than 119 miles of main distribution
water line.
WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT LDWC WATER MEETS OR EXCEEDS ALL FEDERAL AND STATE
QUALITY AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR DRINKING.
This report shows the results and what it means for our monitoring period of January 1st to December 31st, 2014. If
you have any questions about this report or your water utility, please contact Matt Lydon, Superintendent, at 503-
838-2075. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please
attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings. They are held on the second Monday of each month beginning at
7:00 p.m. at the Cooperative office, at 8585 Suver Rd., Monmouth, Oregon.
As water travels over the land and underground, it can pick up substances or contaminants such as microbes,
inorganic and organic chemicals, and radioactive substances. All drinking water, including bottled drinking water,
may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminates. It’s important to remember
that the presence of these contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk. To help you better understand
testing terms we’ve provided the following definitions:
Non-Detects (ND) – laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) – one part per million corresponds to one minute in two years,
or a single penny in $10,000 dollars.
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter – one part per billion corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years, or a
single penny in $10,000,000 dollars.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal – The “Goal” (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which
there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Action Level (AL) – the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements
which a water system must follow.
Maximum Contaminant Level – The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed
in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Million Fibers per Liter – (MF/L) The measure for Asbestos sampling.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) – The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There
is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG) – The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there
is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control
microbial contaminants.
MINET asks board to
create bylaws, policies
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE — The
Monmouth Independence Networks
(MINET) board of directors will schedule a
board retreat to consider bylaws, board poli-
cies and a code of conduct.
“No bylaws have ever been created by this
board,” said Marilyn Morton, MINET ad-
ministrator and Independence city coun-
cilor, at Thursday’s MINET board meeting.
“There were a couple mentions (by board
members in recent meetings) of board poli-
cies, and there are not board policies any-
where.”
To help the board comply with the inter-
governmental agreements (IGA) made in
the formation of MINET, Morton said she
and other MINET officials recommend the
board schedule a retreat to undertake look-
ing at proposed bylaws and finishing them.
“Bylaws are mentioned in the IGA,” she
said. “Board policies should be worked on
because they’ve been mentioned (by board
members) so many times in meetings.”
To create proposed bylaws, Morton said
she went through the three different IGAs
involving MINET and incorporated verbiage
from those where appropriate into “boiler-
plate” bylaws.
She also said she reviewed past motions
and consensus items and “pulled out any-
thing that even sounded like a board policy.”
Board member Mike Lodge said he want-
ed to have time to “read them and ruminate
them a little bit.”
Board chairman and Independence City
Manager David Clyne agreed, and asked for
MINET general manager Don Patten to give
the board members two month’s notice be-
fore the retreat should be scheduled.
“You’ve been presented with organiza-
tional documents that need attention,” Pat-
ten said. “We strongly encourage you to take
up a retreat to discuss the issue.”
Clyne said a retreat could be planned at
the July meeting. The MINET board of direc-
tors last had a retreat in May 2014 at Rogue
Farms Hopyard, which Morton pointed out
was illegal, because it was outside the
board’s jurisdiction.
In other business, after an executive ses-
sion to consult with legal counsel, the board
voted unanimously “to have Lodge engage a
consultant to identify issues that have aris-
en in executive session, and to report back
on which consultant he selected,” according
to the minutes. Details discussed in execu-
tive sessions cannot be disclosed in print.
Clyne said he expects Lodge to present a
more specific proposal, including costs, at
the July meeting.
The board also appointed two new peo-
ple to its finance committee: Buzz Brazeau,
Superintendent of Central School District,
of Monmouth, and Kenneth Day, of Inde-
pendence.
OBITUARIES
James C.
Martensen
April 22, 1928 – June 7, 2015
Memorial service for
James C. Martensen, 87, of
Dallas, formerly of Florence,
is Saturday at 1 p.m. at the
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s
Witnesses, 1961 SE Miller
Ave., Dallas.
Jaime Marie
Rehman
Jan. 29, 1984 – June 21, 2015
Jamie Marie Rehman, 31
of Dallas died June 21.
She was born in Bellevue,
Wash., to
Mike and
Tina Bar-
nett.
T h e
f a m i l y
moved to
Dallas in
2 0 0 0 ,
where she
graduated from Dallas High
School in 2002.
Jaime loved dolphins, the
stars and the ocean.
Survivors include her hus-
band, Christian; daughter,
Aurora; parents, Mike and
Tina Barnett; sister, Amber;
brothers, Aaron and Andy;
and a large extended family.
Celebration of her life is
July 11 from 2 to 6 p.m. at
the Dallas City Park.
Kenneth Frederick
Monnier
March 16, 1938 – June 27, 2015
Kenneth Frederick Mon-
nier, 77, of Dallas died Satur-
day in Dallas.
He was born in Woodburn
to Fredrick
James and
Mar y O’-
Connor
Monnier.
Kenneth
was raised
in Wood-
burn and
joined the
Navy. For
28 years,
he served
his country
and was
discharged as a chief
boatswain mate.
He married Michaelena
Rose Wernsing in Terre-
bonne on Sept. 22, 1990.
They lived in Central Oregon
until moving to Dallas in
1993.
He was a member of the
Oakdale Ward of The Church
Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints in Dallas. He enjoyed
farming and had volun-
teered with the Oregon State
Fair since 1948.
He was a very patriotic
man and a great defender of
women’s virtues.
He was “a man’s man,”
“who always gave more that
he got.”
Survivors include his wife,
Michaelena; daughters,
Karen Monnier, Kathy Ben-
nett and Stephenie Paris;
stepson, Stephen Lawrow;
and seven grandchildren.
Memorial service is Satur-
day at 8 a.m. at The Church
Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints in Dallas.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center handled arrange-
ments.
To send an online condo-
lence: www.dallastribute.
com.
Morton Feder
March 6, 1929 – June 26, 2015
Graveside service for Mor-
ton Feder, 86, of Dallas was
Tuesday at Restlawn Memo-
ry Gardens in Salem. Rest-
lawn Funeral Home handled
arrangements.
For more Obits, see Page 6A
In 2014 there were 36 samples taken – with 3 samples taken each month. We did not have a positive coliform sample
for all of 2014.
Microbiological Contaminants:
(1) Total Coliform. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator
that other; potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present.
Inorganic Contaminants:
(2) Nitrate: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age.
Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for
an infant you should ask advice from your health care provider. Infants below the age of six months who drink water
containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include
shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome. LDWC collected two Nitrate samples in 2014 and the highest Nitrate
sample obtained was 6.2. Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative is on yearly testing for Nitrates.
Disinfection By-product Monitoring
(3) Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids: Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids are by-products of treating the
water with Chlorine.
Copper - Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action
level over a relatively short amount of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water
containing copper in excess of the action level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with
Wilson’s disease should consult their personal doctor.
Lead - If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young
children. Lead in drinking water is primarily for materials and components associated with service line and home
plumbing. Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but
cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several
hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using
water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.
Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available
from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
The 90th percentile is the highest result found in 90% of the samples when they are listed in order from the lowest to
the highest results. EPA requires testing for lead and copper at customers’ taps most likely to contain these substances
based on when the house was built. The EPA determined that if the sample results exceeded the Action Level (AL),
the Cooperative must take action in reducing the risk of leaching of lead and/or copper. As you can see by the table
above, your water was well below the action level for lead and copper on our last round of testing in 2014. Our next
testing is scheduled for 2015.
As you can see by the information provided, we had no violations in our system. In addition, our engineer developed
a Corrosion Control Program which we began implementing in February 2011 when we switched over to chlorination
of the entire system.
We’re proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. We have learned through
our monitoring and testing that some contaminants have been detected. The EPA has determined that your water IS
SAFE at these levels.
All sources of drinking water are subject to potential contamination by substances that are naturally occurring or man-
made. These substances can be microbes, inorganic or organic chemicals and radioactive substances. All drinking
water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.
The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information
about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s
Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
MCL’s are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated
contaminants, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-
in-a-million chance of having the described health effect.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-
compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ
transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly
at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbio-
logical contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). Please call our office if you
have questions.
Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative would also like to notify you that of the 3,416 water systems in the State of
Oregon, we are the recipient of Outstanding Performance from Oregon Health Authority. This designation is given
to systems that have had no Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) violations in the last 5 years, no monitoring or
reporting violations in the last 3 years and no significant deficiencies in the last water system survey. This is the first
time Luckiamute has received this award and are very proud to have met this goal.
We at Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative are dedicated to providing top quality water to every tap. We ask
that all our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and
our children’s future.
(July 1, 2015)