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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2016)
6A • August 5, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com A way out of town during disasters County looks at back roads near Astoria and Seaside as possible lifelines ies and actively pursue grant funding. As the county considers the alternate and evacuation routes, Summers said, some of the routes could have insur- mountable constraints such as private property, wetlands and historical site concerns. “There is a fair amount of public outreach that has to happen,” he said. By Kyle Spurr EO Media Group Seldom used back roads outside Astoria and Seaside could offer a lifeline in a Cas- cadia earthquake. Clatsop County Public Works is exploring ways to create alternate and evacua- tion routes and have identiied several possibilities, including some that are currently gated off on private timberland. County staff are proposing upgrades to Pipeline Road that connects Astoria to the Svensen area, and the Lewis and Clark Mainline that runs outside Gearhart and Seaside. Pipeline Road is an 11- mile county road, with only 2 miles that are maintained. Lewis and Clark Mainline is an old logging road that cuts along a ridge through the county. The total cost to revamp all of the routes being looked at is more than $40 million and would add 40 miles to the county road system. “It’s a long range type of a plan to go over a series of years, but it would really be an investment and provide some increased emergency and evacuation potential and better logistical support,” Public Works Director Mi- chael Summers said. Summers presented the idea to the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners last week. He knows cities in the county have their own trans- portation plans, but he hopes to work together with the var- ious jurisdictions. The com- missioners expressed their support, calling the proposal a good vision for the county. “This is excellent, proac- tive thinking,” Commissioner No bypass DANNY MILLER/EO MEDIA GROUP A car drives down Pipeline Road, a potential emergency evacuation route, on Wednesday in Astoria. SUBMITTED GRAPHIC Clatsop County is exploring alternate and evacuation routes on the North Coast. Sarah Nebeker said. “It may not meet everybody’s needs, but I think it’s a great start.” Funding plans The county is planning a work session this fall to talk about different funding strat- egies and options. Besides seeking grants, Summers said, the county could get creative and fund the work through a local gas tax or bond measure. Each strategy has positives and negatives, he said. Another option is to focus on one project at a time. As an example, making Pipeline Road a viable route would cost about $15 million. The Public Works Depart- ment recently submitted a grant application to the state to study tsunami evacuation planning, which includes re- searching evacuation routes. If funded, the county would receive $90,000 to complete the work. In the county’s budget, the road division set aside $50,000 to begin a feasibility study for the alternate routes. The funds could pay for a consultant to help with stud- Restoring Pipeline Road and Lewis and Clark Mainline would connect trafic to U.S. Highway 30 and U.S. High- way 101, while offering a way around the congestion on the highways. The county’s proposal also includes restoring the Fletch- er Mainline outside Gearhart and three evacuation routes in Seaside that would connect to the Lewis and Clark Mainline. Bill Johnston, a state trans- portation planner, said the Oregon Department of Trans- portation and city of Astoria agreed two years ago that a bypass could not be done in the foreseeable future. In- stead, the state and the city put support behind upgrad- ing existing rural roads as an alternate route, rather than a bypass. A bypass is not part of the county’s plans. “We are not talking about a bypass,” Summers said. “We are talking about other ways around town.” From the state’s perspec- tive, Highway 202 already provides an alternate route around Astoria. “If the purpose of estab- lishing an alternative route is primarily to provide an escape route in the event of a natu- ral disaster, it may be a more practical option to focus on upgrading OR 202 rather than constructing a new route,” Johnston wrote to the city of Astoria. New alternative routes are not a simple matter, Johnston said, since there can be per- mitting issues and geological hazards that would make work dificult. “It’s a complicated issue,” he said. When considering the ben- eits of new alternate routes, some believe heavy semitruck trafic will be eliminated through downtown Astoria. However, Johnston points out that trucks will continue to travel through downtown to reach the Port of Astoria or the Astoria Bridge. “Rural roads have too many sharp curves and steep grades,” Johnston wrote. Emergency responders do see alternate routes as a major beneit. Knappa Fire Chief Paul Olheiser said his coverage area contains about six bridg- es that have to be crossed to serve the community. If the bridges crumble in a natural disaster, the ire department will rely on alternate routes such as Pipeline Road. “I’m in mind to believe those bridges are going to fail (in an earthquake),” Olheiser said. Between the Knappa and Svensen ire stations, road construction is blocking por- tions of U.S. Highway 30. For construction or heavy trafic, Olheiser said, other options help emergency responders. Often times, emergency crews are able to get around such delays, but sometimes they cannot. “If the county can igure out a way to alleviate that, that would be good for every- body,” Olheiser said. DINING on the NORTH COAST Great Restaurants in: GEARHART SEASIDE CANNON BEACH NATIONALLY FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER • FRESH OREGON SEAFOOD Local company paves the way to raise chickens in your backyard By Susan Romersa For Seaside Signal Jennifer Barrett and Chris Rose have engineered a prod- uct that they believe is just the ticket for those wanting to raise chickens in their own back- yard. Their company, Hens’ Lodging Inc., is a wholesale distributor of chicken tractors and movable coops, portable enclosures in which people can raise chickens easily and safely. While the City of Seaside has for many years banned having chickens kept within the city limits, chickens are currently allowed in other ju- risdictions along the coast, including Astoria, Warrenton, Gearhart and Cannon Beach. Barrett, a Seaside resident as is Rose, has petitioned the Seaside City Council asking to amend the city’s chicken ban ordinance - as long as the hens are contained in a chicken tractor or similar structure, but, so far, no changes have been made. The tractors offer three to four hens protection from dogs, cats, raccoons, and aerial pred- ators such as hawks and eagles. Having the chickens contained in this manner eliminates prob- lems such as chickens roosting in neighbor’s yards, damag- ing landscapes, wandering in neighboring streets, and odors from droppings. As the tractor is moved from area to area, the chickens forage and create us- able garden space from what was just weeds. The structures are bottomless so droppings go to the ground and are scratched into the soil. Noise is con- trolled by having only the four hens and no roosters. Chickens have free-range to a degree within the conines of their movable coop and seem to enjoy the chicken tractor that offers both covered pro- tection and an outdoor exercise area. Why raise chickens? It’s a growing trend with many families – allowing them to have fresh eggs, chemical-free bug and weed control, free fertilizer – and friendly pets with their own personalities. The hen tractor which offers an enclosed area for feeding and roosting, also has a secure screened – in area for outside scratching and digging for the hens. The tractors are easily moved around the yard, keep- ing the chickens contained, while preparing the ground for planting and other uses. ROBERT CAIN LD, SUSAN ROMERSA/FOR SEASIDE SIGNAL Co-owners of Hens’ Lodging Inc. Jennifer Barrett and Chris Rose holding their sign below the chicken tractor they are distributing. The unit is simply moved to accomplish larger area prepa- ration. Barrett, who grew up in Kansas in a farming communi- ty, and Rose, who has been a long-time local contractor, felt that this convenient method of raising hens would be popular here on the Oregon coast and elsewhere. A complete list of seven available models and pricing can be viewed and or- dered online at henslodging. com. These easy to assemble units are delivered to your door. If assistance is need- ed (within a 50 mile area), it can be arranged by calling the company at 503 791-3666. The company is located at 1000 S. Holladay across the street from the Seaside Police Department. Barrett, a master framer, points out that even- tually she will develop the building there to include an art museum and gallery. For now, though, ordering the chicken tractors online is the most con- venient way. R E STAU R A N T S CANNON BEACH 503-436-1111 Ocean Front at Tolovana Park www.moschowder.com Discover Patty’s Wicker Cafe on the Beautiful Necanicum River BREAKFAST & LUNCH MONDAY thru FRIDAY 6AM to 2PM Great Atmosphere • Great Food • Great Prices 600 Broadway Suite 7 & 8 • 503.717.1272 Excellence in family dining found from a family that has been serving the North Coast for the past 52 years Great Great Great Homemade pasta, Clam Breakfast, lunch and but that’s dinner steaks & Chowder, not all... menu,too! seafood! Salads! OREGON SENIORS NEED YOUR HELP! Become a Senior Advisory Council member today! NorthWest Senior & Disability Services: 503-304-3451 zaira.flores@nwsds.org Advocate for policies and legislation that affect our seniors Work on issues related to Medicaid, Medicare, long term services and supports, elder abuse, senior nutrition and health, and more Inspire change to programs that serve the aging community Network with other senior leaders and local and state government officials powered by 45 Years of Experience Seaside • 323 Broadway • 738-7234 (Open 7 Days) Cannon Beach • 223 S. Hemlock 436-2851 (7am-3pm Daily) Astoria • 146 W. Bond • 325-3144 WANNA KNOW WHERE THE LOCALS GO? • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner BEST BREAKFAST IN TOWN! • Lighter appetite menu • Junior Something for Everyone menu Fish ‘n Chips • Burgers • Seafood & Steak Friday & Saturday - Prime Rib Lounge Open Daily 9-Midnight All Oregon Lottery products available 1104 S Holladay • 503-738-9701 • Open Daily at 8am TWO LOCATIONS SEASIDE & HILLSBORO 740 Ave H • Ste 2 • Seaside 232 NE Lincoln • Ste B • Hillsboro MAZATLAN FREE CONSULTATION M E X I C A N R E S TA U R A N T • Dentures for all ages, New, Partials and Custom Dentures • Dentures for implants • Relines & Repairs • Denture repairs done same day! • Personal service and attention to detail Open Wednesday and Friday • 9-4:30 • 503-738-7710 Phone 503-738-9678 music fi rst 1445 S. Roosevelt Drive • Seaside