T he C olumbia P ress
1
50 ¢
C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly
www.thecolumbiapress.com
March 13, 2020
Vol. 4, Issue 11
Warrenton to restrict new water
connections outside city limits
summer months to meet the
needs of water customers in 15 to
20 years.
The Columbia Press
“I get concerned about not act-
Warrenton has stopped approv-
ing
fast enough,” said Mayor Hen-
ing new hookups to the water sys-
ry
Balensifer,
who made the rec-
tem from developments outside
ommendation
to develop the new
the city.
policy
last
month.
The new policy was approved at
At that time, the City Commis-
Tuesday night’s City Commission
sion
approved a $41,500 contract
meeting and is effective immedi-
with
Murraysmith
Inc. of Portland
ately.
to
review
the
city’s
water supply
Limiting connections has been
outside
city
limits
and
come up
on the radar since a 2018 study
with
ways
to
increase
it.
Previous-
showed the city’s water supply
could be inadequate during peak ly, the company has developed a
water master plan for
the city, which includ-
ed an analysis of its
water connections.
About 35 percent
of Warrenton’s water
goes to accounts out-
side city limits.
“Service to custom-
ers outside the city
has been significant,
which may impact
the need to expand
the supply system,”
the company states in
Cows graze in a field just outside Warrenton city its contract proposal.
limits, one of many areas that could eventually
“The cost of construct-
B y C indy y ingst
City of Warrenton
Water System
Source: Murraysmith Inc.
! 31st!
Y
RR arch
d
H a U
en
s
l
ci
e
Sp
M
become residential or commercial.
See ‘Water’ on Page 6
Man dies after
fire at Sunset
Lake RV Park
The Columbia Press
A resident of Sunset Beach RV Park
died Sunday following a fire that de-
stroyed his fifth-wheel trailer.
Michael David Murphy, 64, had
been able to escape the blaze, which
was reported at 6:55 a.m. Sunday at
the park, 33242 Sunset Beach Lane.
He was taken to Seaside Providence
Hospital, where he was treated and
released, but he died later that day.
Murphy, a 1975 Warrenton High
School graduate and former truck
driver, had also worked part time
in the park. He was suffering from
stage 4 lung cancer.
See ‘Fire’ on Page 6
A photo of Mike Murphy posted on Face-
book.
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503.842.7523 • 866.901.3521
85 W. Marine Dr. Astoria
2315 N. Roosevelt Dr. Seaside
A DIVISION OF
CREDIT UNION
For special Warrenton-only new member offers,
visit www.tlcfcu.org/warrenton-offers
Warrenton Branch 1771 SE Ensign Ln.
/ILikeTLC/
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