The INDEPENDENT, February 17, 2005
Page 13
anks Lumber tells of plans to mitigate traffic, noise problems
The centerpiece of the
Banks City Council meeting
February 8 was a presentation
by Doug Pritz, mill manager for
Banks
Lumber
Company
(BLC). Council also agreed to
open negotiations with Wash
ington County Sheriff’s depart
ment.
Pritz was invited by Mayor
Mike Lyda to explain BLC plans
for regarding noise, loading
and parking on Sunset, and
dust issues.
The mill has no control over
when lumber or log trucks ar
rive, Pritz explained, and be
cause they can load only one
truck at a time, trucks often
back up onto Sunset Avenue.
Equipment breakdowns can
also cause a back up. In order
to ease the situation, Pritz said,
the mill has purchased property
south of the railroad for a truck
turn-around and truck parking.
They also plan on fencing and
paving the area, which should
help control dust. The mill
paved some areas last year
and plans to pave more this
summer to further reduce dust.
Pritz said that drivers are
told repeatedly not to park, load
or strap loads on Sunset Av
enue. The mill agreed to make
and post signs requesting that
truck drivers comply with city
ordinances. Council members
noted that issuing tickets for vi
olations would also do a great
deal to alleviate problems.
All effluents have been test
ed and meet standards ap
proved by Clean Water Ser
vices, according to Pritz, and
noise levels have been found to
be in compliance. Records are
on file in the BLC office, and
Pritz agreed to share them with
concerned citizens.
Responding to a question
from Councilor Pete Edison,
Pritz said the mill loads trucks
from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. He
said the mill would rather load
railroad cars than trucks, but
“the railroad is in serious disar
ray” and has not been able to
provide cars. Fred Benefiel,
who originally brought com
plaints about the mill to coun
cil’s attention in November,
asked how trucks were loaded
before 6:00 a.m., but Pritz said,
unequivocally, that loading did
not occur before that time.
Benefiel responded that he
“must be imagining it.”
When Councilor Kirk An
drews raised the subject of a
second road, Pritz said the mill
is attempting to get more of the
adjacent property and would
very much like to have access
to Banks Road, which would re
quire the cooperation of the
city, county, Clean Water Ser
vices and mill owners. While
there is general agreement that
another access road would re
solve many problems, finding a
solution will be difficult.
Contract with WCSO is
under consideration
Mayor Lyda began discus
sion about contracting with
Washington County Sheriff’s
Office for police services by
Ye Olde
Dingheiser
summarizing the presentation
made by Sheriff Rob Gordon at
the January 27 workshop. He
told council that he had re
viewed the budget and deter
mined that funds were avail
able to contract for two three-
quarter time (or 1.5 full time
equivalent) deputies for the re
mainder of the fiscal year.
After discussion about the
availability of funds, Councilor
Ryan Birr said, “We would be
doing the community a disserv
ice by leaving [the police situa
tion] where it’s at.” We know
that the funds are available for
the remainder of this year,
Councilor Teri Branstitre point
ed out, and should make a de
cision now, instead of waiting
another two weeks, and that
discussion on a continuing con
tract with Washington County
could be included in the budget
process. It is expected that 1.5
FTE coverage will cost the city
about $183,000 per year, in ad
dition to other police related
costs including 9-1-1 service.
The total for law enforcement
needs, with two officers each
working 30 hours per week,
would be about $240,000 per
year. The current budget will
cover needs for the remainder
of the fiscal year, but funding at
that level will eventually require
either a levy or an increase in
the tax rate.
Special meeting set
The council will meet again
on Thursday, February 17, to
discuss a contract with Wash
ington County, and to conduct
other business as needed.
Greenville Park
Council approved comple
tion of improvements in Green
ville Park for lighting in the
gazebo. Damage by vandals to
the gazebo railing will be re
paired at the same time. Arbor
Village Homeowners Associa
tion, which pays for mainte
nance of the park, has budget
ed $2,238 for repairs to the
sprinkler system. However, af
ter inspection, the landscape
contractor recommended in
stalling seven additional sprin
klers and an automatic control
system. The control unit is ex
pected to pay for itself in water
savings. Because it would be
economical to make improve
ments at the same time repairs
are underway, council ap
proved an additional $1,563 for
sprinkler system improve
ments.
BANKS
cq FFEE
Scout Cabin
Candy Deeth brought a brief
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MS 200
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outline of a proposal for the city
to lease the Scout Cabin to the
Banks Historical Society. The
historical society wants to use
the cabin to display historical
documents and general infor
mation. After discussing gener
al terms and conditions, council
directed city attorney Jim Lucas
to draft an agreement for con
sideration at next month’s
meeting.
*— '
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