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