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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 1956)
rOUBTEEW MEDrORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE Sunday, October 21. 1958 ewer Programs Would Ease- Flood Threoft Separate Proposals To Improve. Expand Systems on Ballot (Editor's not: Thii it the last in ri of mrticUi des cribing th four parti of a capital Improvement program on which Madford rotart will dacid at tha Not. 6 general elec tion. Today's article discusses the storm and sanitary sewer programs. Previous articles described the arterial street and off-street parking proposals.) Medford residents Nov. 6 will vote on a $330,000 storm sewer program and a SI 14.000 sanitary sewer program. The two sewer projects are parts of a four element capital improvement program approved by the city council and sub- min to the voters. Expansion and improvement of the storm sewer system was proposed because several pieces of private and public property are damaged by local flooding during storms. A number of catch basins are presently draining into the sanitary sewer system.. When some lines in the sanitary system become overloaded in heavy .minis, portions oi me sewage are diverted into Bear creek. The condition would be corrected under the sewer programs, as would areas which are consistantlv flooded durinff storms urograms extended OTer Six Years The proposed storm sewer pro gram would extend over a pe riod of six years with a $95,000 general obligation bond issue and an annual tax levy of S47, 500. The proposed sanitary sew er program, which also would be on a six-year basis, would be financed by an annual levy of $19,000. Tentative plans for the sani tary sewer work include two in terceptor, or "subtrunk," lines. Interceptor lines are, in effect, small trunk lines to which later als are connected. The intercep tor line connects with a larger trunk sewage line. One project would be an interceptor line north from West Main st. between Orange and Peach St., following a line generally along alleys, Wood stock ave., Narregan st., to Mc Andrews rd and then north easterly to connect with the Bear creek interceptor sewer line. The other interceptor would be in the Laurelhurst district. The line would go north in an alley between Pearl and Bessie sts. from Jackson st. to Saling st. then west to Crater Lake ave., and north to connect onto a line along McAndrews rd. Load Relieved This would relieve the present Jackson st. sewer line of much of its present load, allowing the line to serve a portion of the Laurelhurst addition annexed last summer. The area north of East Main st. and east of Crater Lake ave., also would be re lieved. The northwest Medford sani tary interceptor sewer line would prevent sewage from back ing up into basements and out of manholes into the streets, ac cording to Public Works Direc tor Vern Thorpe and City Man ager Robert Duff. The ballot title for the sani- RE-ELECT ED MANN wr iiwiii ii ii.il i lueej Ed Mann is a proven repre sentative of the people . of Jackson County. At the pre sent time, only eight mem bers of the Oregon House of Representatives have served as long as Ed Mann and no representative has done more to truly represent the people of the communities he serves! To know how Ed Mann stands on any issue, just call him up and ask him! He's elected to terve you! RE-ELECT ED MANN Stats Representative Pd. Ad Jarkvm Co. Hep. Central Comm. Ul'L. tary sewer program reads: "Purpose: Amend Medford city charter to authorize the city to levy an annual tax of S19.000.00 for six years not subject to the limitations of Article XI, Section 11, consti tution of Oregon, to provide funds to replace or supple ment inadequate sewers and construct trunk sewers outside city serving areas within city." The proposed storm sewer pro gram also would relieve sanitary sewer loads, since several drain age catch basins now are con nected with the sanitary sewer system. The storm sewer program is a revision of a 1953 proposal. Major changes in the division are in construction and material costs. Some projects within the city limits in the Jefferson school and the Barnett rd. areas have been added, Thorpe said. The $95,000 general obliga tion bond issue for storm sewers would be used for projects which are deemed necessary almost im mediately. They include a pro posed Eighth st. line from near Columbus ave. to Bear creek. This would give immediate re lief to the greatest number of property owners. Duff said. He pointed out that a large area in the southeast Medford area which was annexed recent ly, is not included because the area is not yet developed. Be cause little of the property is subdivided, city officials believed that it would be difficult to de termine where a storm sewer system should be located to con-. form with future streets. The drainage condition on Stewart ave. is not included in the program, because it was in cluded as part of the improve ment in the arterial street pro gram, another segment of the capital improvement plan. The ballot title for the pro posed storm sewer program reads: "Purpose: Amend Medford City charier to authorise city to construct and maintain storm sewers and provide out lets therefor; and for said pur poses, to issue not exceeding $95,000.00 general obligation bonds and levy an annual tax of $47,500.00 for six years not subject to limitations of Arti cle XI, section 11, constitu tion of Oregon." The bonds would mature in not more than 20 years at an ! interest rate of not more than 4 per cent. The proposed projects, and the suggested priority, are (numbers correspond with numbers of 'projects on the accompanying map): I. Tenth street, alternate . Eighth st. The project origin lally was proposed to follow 10th St., but since the arterial street program may provide a one-way couplet using Eighth St., city of ficials believe it would be feas ible to construct the storm sew er along Eighth St. This project would be the largest and would cost an esti mated $123,840, or about one third the total program. The sewer would intercept all water in the present storm sew er running north and south from Dakota ave. northeasterly through the city and discharging into Bear creek near McAndrews rd. A considerable amount of flooding and property damage results north of West Main st. during heavy storms because the sewer is overloaded, Thorpe pointed out. Several short sections would extend out from the proposed sewer to pick up drainage and tap several catch basins now con nected with the sanitary sewer system. 2. Laurelhurst district The project, divided into two sec tions, would complete a project constructed by city crews early this year. From Pearl st. to Effie st. the project would connect the section completed to Pearl st. which is the terminus of the ' l STEWART m.' i : ' r' L 'S, '. i , S$ ' ' i PROPOSED STORM SEWERS The major project in 'the proposed storm sewer program will be the line along Eighth st. and Tenth st. through downtown Medford to Bear creek. The line would eliminate local flooding during storms in sev eral locations, and connect a number of catch basins to the tnt, r'v ,""," :..'., g. ;' p'j'"riiiu 'uni.iiTu i . ...... , FLOODED STREETS The present 'storm sewer system in some locations in Medford are inadequate to carry runoff from heavy storms, resulting in local flooding and damage to both private and public property. A pro- drainage system for Hedrick Jun ior High school and a system constructed on East Jackson st. at Oregon ave. The Keene Way dr. and Ore gon ave. section would provide a natural drainage ditch in the area to the upper end of the pres ent storm system at Keene Way dr. and Stratford ave. Estimated cost of the project is S14.250. 3 Southeast Medford channel improvement Costing an esti mated $15,000, this project would be to clean and improve present channels, one south of Barnett rd, extending westward across Ellendale dr., and the oth er north of Barnett rd, also ex tending westward. Thorpe pointed out that both channels are almost entirely fill ed with brush and cause flooding during storms. 4. Welch it. to Court st The short section would pick up drainage in the area and connect to the present storm sewer at the intersection of Cedar st. and Clark st. which now flows under the railroad tracks and along Central ave. to Spruce st. The project is . estimated to cost $2,500. S. Alley. Central and Front Existing catch basins in the alley are connected to the sanitary sewer system, and during heavy rains the small sewer does not handle all the water from roof drains. Excessive water creates a hazard both to a hotel and a liquor store in the area. The project, estimated to cost $1,420. would connect to the ex isting storm sewer on East Eighth st. S. Lewis St., Main at 10th sts. The present open ditch along the west side of Lewis st. fre quently overflows causing con siderable damage to property and inconvenience between Lew is and Jeannctte sts. The project, at an estimated $15,600, would replace the open ditch. 7. Jefferson school area The project calls for a storm sewer along Holmes ave. and Holly st. as far as Stewart ave. to prevent recurring high water in the area in heavy storms. , An additional proposal is to intercept a large amount of wa ter from Kings highway at Gar field ave. and divert it along the south side of Garfield ave. to an open channel to Crooked creek. Cost of the project has been estimated at $22,350. . 8. East Ninth st,,' Vancouver to alley The short section, esti mated to cost $4,810, would pri marily intercept water at the catch basins at Vancouver ave. and Portland ave. that. are now connected with the sanitary sew er system. 9. Hillerest, Groveland, Siski you The proposed .lewet would transport surface water now running in open ditches and inadequate culverts through a sewer to an open ditch at High land dr. and Siskiyou boule vard. It would then . enter a drainage ditch running through city-owned property. The project would eliminate dangerous ditches along Grove land ave. and other sections. Es timated cost of the project is $36,160. 10. Earhart drain Frank Ear hart, who is planning a subdiv ision in this area according to city officials, has asked that a ditch across the property be re moved and the city, has proposed that the ditch be discharged in to the present storm sewer on East 10 st. near Ashland ave. City officials said that should the area be subdivided, a storm sewer should probably be rout ed to extend through the subdiv ision and pick up possible drain age on the proposed street sys tem. Estimated cost of the project is S10.000. 11. Laurelhurst extension The present Laurelhurst storm sewer extends as far north as Stevens st. The proposed project would extend the system to con- nect with the present culvert un-1 storm sewer system that are now connected with the sanitary sewer system. Other projects, shown in the broken lines on the above map, are numbered to correspond with the number of the project described in an article elsewhere on this page. posed storm sewer program has been de signed to eliminate much of the flooding in Medford areas. The above picture was taken right after a heavy rain looking west on Palm ave. der Crater Lake ave. and into a natural drainage. Cost is estimat ed at $3,000. 12. Earhart relief The pres ent storm sewer on Earhart st. discharging into Bear creek is inadequate for the large area drained, which extends as far west as the Washington school on Peach st. A relief extending from Riverside ave. and Earhart st. would relieve present condi tions. The project is estimated at $5,260. u. Boardman it,. Ohio to K e n n e t sis. The proposed storm sewer would drain a low area on Ohio st. back into a storm sewer along . Kennet st. Present drainage flows into the low spot from north of Kennet j st. The project would cost an es-' timated $2,070. 14. Newtown St., Seventh to Eighth its. This section would intercept drainage collecting on Main st. east of the storm sewer at Hamilton ave. It would pre-1 vent overflow of the Sixth st. ' storm sewer. The project would cost $1,500. 15. Jackson st.. Bear creek to Central ave. Several catch bas- i ins which now drain into the " sanitary sewer would drain into ' the storm sewer. The section ; would eliminate a bad condition i at Third and Apple sts. as well as on Jackson st. between Bart-' lett and Central ave: and inter- i cept the catch basins. Estimated cost of the project is $12,860. 16. Boyd st.. Central to River- ; side aves. The proposed proj- ect, costing as estimated $1,230, would connect catch basins at Central ave. and Boyd st. to the storm sewer along the east side of Riverside ave. 17. South Fir st A bad drainage condition along this short section would be elimin- i ated by connecting a storm sewer ! st. Cost of the project is esti mated at $3,200. 18. Fifth St., Graue to Fir- Catch basins at the intersection of Fifth and Fir sts. are connect ed to the sanitary sewer system, j The proposed project would con- j nect the basins to the storm sew er on South Grape st. for an esti mated cost of $2,320. 19. East Main St., Highland to Woodlawn This section would intercept drainage at Berkeley ave. and drain the low area on East Main and Highland dr. It would connect to the existing short section of storm sewer at Woodlawn dr. and Keene Way dr. The project also would replace an existing wood stave pipe on part of Highlan dr. and East Main st., which has rotted and requires considerable mainten ance. The wood stave pipe also plugs during storms. Estimated cost of the project is $8,660. 20. Fourth st. The section of storm sewer between Grape st, and Fir st. would intercept two catch basins now connected with the sanitary sewer. Cost of the project is estimated at $1,570. 21. Second st. Between Grape st. and Oakdale ave. the section of storm sewer would connect two catch basins now draining into the sanitary sewer system. Estimated cost of the project fs $4,760. 22. Columbus ave. This sec tion of storm sewer would be an extension of an existing sewer terminating at the intersection of Columbus ave. and Dakota ave. The intersection was the city limits at the time the storm sew er was constructed in 1948. Esti mated cost of the project is $10, 130. 23. Edwards st. The section of storm sewer between Central ave. and Bear creek would inter- FARMERS - - - RANCHERS Post Your Property With Weatherproof All Metal Sign. Yellow Background Black Letters NO HUNTING OR TRESPASSING No. 811-6"xl6'i" No. 811 No. 737 wr"eacn Send Check or Money Order No. C.O.D.'s Please. Add postage to cover mailing. Signs weigh approximately 1 pound each wrapped for shipment. Order by number. LIMITED SUPPLY ORDER NOW FROM Superior Rubber Stamp Co. 109 NORTH FIR STREET Various Methods of Financing Suggested By Council Committee Several methods of financing Medford's propsed $2,871,000 capital improvement program were suggested by the city coun cil's finance committee before its report was submitted to the council for consideration. A combination of four types of financing appeared to be more desirable. They are: 1. General obligation bonds. 2. Revenue bonds. 3. Continuing levies. 4. Assessments. Of the four methods, only a portion of the general obligation bonds and continuing levies will directly affect Medford taxpay ers. Revenue bonds, with the backing of the city's credit, will be amoritized from actual reve nue. Assessments will affect only the downtown businessmen and professional people. Financing separate items of the capital "improvement pro gram is discussed below: ARTERIAL STREET ' PROGRAM The finance committee found that general obligation bonds ap peared to be justified to acquire immediately certain critical right-of-way and real property for the arterial street program. The committee believed that a delay might result in loss of needed rights-of-way because of construction. The proposed general obliga tion bond issue for arterial streets is $220,000, to be used chiefly for purchase of rights-of-way. The bonds would bear interest of not more than 4 per cent and mature in not more than 20 years. An annual levy of $143,600 for 10 years, the length of the proposed program, would fi nance the majority of construe, tion. On the basis ot the 1955-56 assessed valuation, the total an nual levy for the 10-year arterial street program would be 1.0 mills for bonds and interest pay ments, and 5.6 mills for the con tinuing levy. The total for the program would be 6.6 mills. STORM SEWER PROGRAM Because the need for certain storm sewers is urgent, the com mittee felt general obligation bonds totaling $95,000 would be necessary in the immediate fu ture. .Proposed plans call for con struction of a storm sewer across the city "without further delay." Also a part of the storm sewer program would be a continuing levy of $47,500 annually over a six-year period, the length of the proposed program. On the basis of the 1955-56 assessed valuation, the levy to repay general obligation bonds would be 0.7 mills, and the con tinuing levy would be 1.9 mills, or a total of 2.6 mills for the pro gram over a six year period. SANITARY SEWER PROGRAM ; A continuing levy of $19,000 anually for the duration of the six-year program was recom mended by the finance commit tee. Funds from the levy would improve sanitary sewer systems cept drainage water now flow ing along Central ave. which or iginates at Jackson st. and dis charges into the present sewer at Spruce st. It also would connect several catch basins now dis charging into the sanitary sewer along Edwards st. Estimated cost of the project is $28,430. Private Property No Trespassing No. 737-9"xl8" No. 715 MAIL ORDERS GIVEN PROMPT ATTENTION! in northwest and northeast Med ford. The annual levy would be 0.8 mills, based on the 1955-5S assessed valuation. OFF-STREET PARKING The off-street parking pro gram would be financed through a $300,000 self-liquidating gen eral obligation bond issue, and up to $200,000 in revenue bonds, issued only when necessary for additional facilities. The general obligation bond issue would be repaid over a 10 year period through a combina tion of three revenue sources: 1. Assessments against down town business property for one third the cost of each improve ment, to be paid over a 10-year period in semi-annual install ments. .Assessments would-be made only the district benefited by off-street parking facilities. . 2. Revenue amounting to 25 per cent of the total from on street meters with adjusted rates and time. The increase in meter rates would be from 5 cents per hour to 5 cents per 30 minutes Time of meter operation would be increased from 5 to 6 p.m. 3. Revenue from all off-street parking meters. . There would be no tax levy for the off-street parking pro gram. TOTAL COSTS The overall tax levy for the capital improvement program would be 10 mills annually based on the 1955-56 assessed valua tion. On the same basis, the pro posed improvement programs would increase the total tax levy to 28.9 mills (the present levy is 18.9 mills, smallest in Oregon for any city of Medford size). The finance committee pointed out, however, that the levy for succeeding years should be cor respondingly less as the city'i growth increases the tax base. The committee also stressed that the bonded indebtedness proposed will be well within the city's statutory limitation. Short term bonds were suggested so they would be amoritized during the life of the proposed program. Corliss Named to Advisory Committee Kenneth Corliss, 1564 Myers lane, Medford, who recently was named chairman of the county Veterans for Morse com mittee, also has been name chairman of the county Veterans Advisory committee of the Dem ocratic National committee, il was announced last week by Jo seph K. Carson Jr., Portland, state chairman. In making the announcement, Carson quoted Adlai Steven son's statement regarding veter ans, in which he cited the plat form of the Democratic party, that the Veterans administra tion should be continued as an independent agency; that the hospitals should be maintained; that veterans preference laws . and the VA home loan program should be fairly administered; that service - connected disabled or their survivors should be ade quately compensated, and that pensions for disabled and dis tressed veterans, and their sur viving dependents if in need, should be provided. NO HUNTING ALLOWED No. 715-5'A"x15'j S400 each i MEDFORD, OREGON
