APR l 8 2001
The INDEPENDENT, A p rrtA 2O&4-
Page 9
Water franchise fee may drown budget deficit for City of Banks
Placing a franchise fee on
water bills to reduce or elimi
nate the city’s budget deficit
was the subject of serious dis
cussion by Banks City Coun
cilors at their meeting this
month. Mayor Bob Orlowski
distributed an analysis based
on actual bills showing the plan
could generate as much as
$155,000 in a single year to
eliminate the city’s debt. Water
customers will be asked to
comment on the plan this
month.
The price tag for relief in a
single year is probably higher
than either the councilors or
the public would accept. The
highest rate discussed was 30
cents for every 100 gallons of
water used. Lower rates of 10
or 20 cents per 100 gallons
would generate approximately
$50,000 and $100,000 respec
tively. At the 20-cent level,
these rates translate into an in
crease in homeowner’s water
bills of approximately $9 to $20
per month. Orlowski said that
this middle course “would meet
the city’s needs better” than the
highest rate.
Councilor Katie Murdoch
opened discussion with a
strong statement that the fee
“was a tax without representa
tion from the people.” Orlowski
said that it was an equitable
way to distribute the cost and
that “water is the only income
generating source in the city.”
Councilor Ryan Birr advocated
creating a reserve fund to pro
vide for future costs, such as
those associated with seeking
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an additional water source or
making infrastructure improve
ments.
Costs to individual home-
owners may be nominal with a
franchise fee, but costs to large
commercial users and the
Banks School District could be
substantial.
However, con
tracts may be developed with
Tualatin Valley Irrigation Dis
trict to reduce some of the wa
ter costs for the school and Ar
bor Village Homeowners Asso
ciation.
Modeled after a similar fee
increase in the city of Cornelius
that will take effect in June, Or
lowski used actual water bills to
project income generated. By
using the relatively wet, low
use months of January and
February projected income
should not be affected by con
servation efforts, increased use
in the summer and mandatory
curtailment efforts during a
drought.
The cost of maintaining the
police department at its current
level is another element driving
consideration of the water fran
chise fee. The city must gener
ate at least $64,000 next year
in order to continue current op
erations, according to Coun
cilor Teri Brandstitre. This is
double the city’s current contri
bution to the police budget.
The 1998 voter-approved po
lice levy has been absorbed by
inflation, the increased size of
the force and projected loss of
arant funds. Councilor Judv
Clifford said that this was a
very difficult decision but that
council must ensure that the
city does not return to being
without a local police force.
Murdoch, Birr and Branstitre
will draft a questionnaire to be
inserted in this month’s water
bills. Since the council must
enact the fee within the next
two months in order to include
the income generated in next
year’s budget, there is limited
time for public comment.
Water supply, 2001/02 budget dominate discussion at Banks council
Money and water issues
were the primary focus of the
Banks City Council at their April
10 meeting. (See related article
on a potential water franchise
fee.) Monetary issues included
employee salaries and benefits
and payroll procession. The
planning commission report,
audience comments and other
reports rounded out the meet
ing.
Dale Merrell, the city’s con
tract engineer, reported on two
ways for the city to increase its
water supply. It may be possi
ble to meet short term needs
with access to the Quail Valley
Golf Course well. Merrell has
begun negotiations that would
allow the city access to Quail
Valley’s well in emergency situ
ations.
A potential long-term solu
tion may develop from a pro
posal by the Unified Sewerage
Agency to be included as a
stakeholder in the Water Sup
ply Feasibility Report devel
oped by Integrated Water Re
sources Management (IWRM).
The report will study the feasi
bility of securing additional wa
ter supplies for the Tualatin
River watershed by raising the
level of Hagg Lake. Council ap
proved participation in such an
agreement if it will secure ac
cess to this potential water
source. However, Mayor Bob
Orlowski and Merrell warned
that the study project currently
being considered would cost
the city approximately $2,250
in fiscal 2001.
Merrell also said that he had
contacted state Rep. Bruce
Starr about three transportation
projects that would benefit the
city of Banks - improved east
ern access to Highway 6,
resurfacing of Highway 47 in
the city and improvements to
the Banks Road/Highway 47
intersection. Merrell said Starr
indicated he would attempt to
obtain funding for a feasibility
study for improved eastern ac
cess.
Council approved wage in
creases for city employees
Karen Heesacker and Bob
Prickett and improvements in
the benefit package for all full
time city employees beginning
July first. The city will pay 15.8
percent PERS, increase sick
leave to five days per year, and
institute a three day bereave
ment leave in addition to vaca
tion and holiday benefits al
ready in place for employees
wno work more than 20 hours
per week.
Brian Biehl reported that the
Planning Commission received
a request from Sunset Park to
bury 75-100 tires. The request
was tabled pending proof of
permission from DEQ and a
map of the location. Biehl said
that the signal at Oak Way and
Highway 47 remains on sched
ule to begin operation in Au
gust. The planning commission
also approved two variances to
the fencing ordinance and has
begun to review the fencing or
dinance standards.
In other business, the council:
• Approved contracting for
payroll services with Automat
ed Data Processing;
• Will schedule a public
hearing on “No Parking" signs
in May;
• Received a copy of a 1912
map showing small land par
cels platted for the town of
Wilkesboro on land now occu
pied by Quail Valley Golf
Course.
Annual auction supports students, many projects
The 28th annual Banks
Community Auction will be Sat
urday, April 28, at Banks High
School.
Activities during the day
long event include a huge
garage sale beginning at 9:00
a.m., a silent auction at 5:00
p.m. and an oral auction at
7:00 p.m. An All-You-Can-Eat
Spaghetti Dinner will be served
from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Among the items included in
the auction this year are a
three day/two night trip to Las
Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, Mes
quite, Lake Tahoe or Mississip
pi, Nevada; a glider ride, a day
spa visit and much more! For
more items, visit the web site
www.Banks.K12.or.us/auction
The Banks Community Auc
tion was first organized by par
ents in 1973 to raise funds for
a student foreign exchange
program. Since then, the auc
tion has grown in both popular
ity and productivity and is now
the biggest, most entertaining
fundraiser in Banks. Parents,
students and community mem
bers work together to coordi
nate this huge event.
The proceeds help out not
only the school, but many com
munity projects as well. The
school uses proceeds for
scholarships to graduating sen
iors, to help fund high school
sports programs and to aid oth
er activities. All BHS sports are
pay-to-play and, without the ef
forts of the community and the
money raised through the auc
tion, there would be no sports
program in Banks schools. The
public library, the park and the
fire and rescue department,
along with others, also benefit
from the auction.
Grand Re-opening of
Banks Scout Cabin
Dedication ceremonies for
the Scout Cabin in Banks are
scheduled for Wednesday,
Please see page 10
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