The INDEPENDENT, February 21, 2008
Business Notes
SWCD seeking funds to stabilize
streambanks in local watersheds
Landowners in Columbia
and Clatsop Counties who face
potential damage to their
homes or other structures due
to streambank destabilization
and sediment- and debris-
choked streams resulting from
the December floods still have
an opportunity to apply for
emergency assistance.
Until February 29, the Co-
lumbia County Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD)
will evaluate sites impacted by
recent severe weather to pre-
determine eligibility for funding
requested through the Emer-
gency Watershed Protection
(EWP) Program.
“It is critical that we are
ready to act if the funds are se-
cured,” said Scott Gall of the
Columbia SWCD.
The EWP program is author-
ized by Congress to stabilize
damaged watersheds in order
to protect lives and property in
the aftermath of natural disas-
ters and natural occurrences.
All work is undertaken with a
government sponsor, such as
the Columbia SWCD, and must
be determined to be economi-
cally and environmentally de-
fensible.
The Columbia SWCD has
requested EWP funds of ap-
proximately $900,000 in finan-
cial assistance through the US
Department of Agriculture.
The Columbia SWCD is one
of more than 20 project spon-
sors nationwide with current re-
quests to the federal govern-
ment for EWP funding. A vari-
ety of factors, including the
availability of funds and severi-
ty of damage in various parts of
the country, affect whether
EWP dollars will be directed to
the local area.
“We cannot say for certain
that we will receive the fund-
ing,” said Gall, “but if we do, we
need to be prepared, knowing
where and how to proceed so
that we help as many local peo-
ple as possible.”
Individuals interested in get-
ting their names on the list
should contact the Columbia
SWCD at 503-397-4555 before
February 29.
Flood insurance information provided
From page 4
One greatly appreciated ex-
planation, however, was that
the new map cannot be used to
rate properties until it has been
through the adoption process.
Until that happens (in August,
at the earliest, and more likely
some time next year), the 1988
map applies. That explanation
reduced my annual premium
by more than $1000, making it
an affordable $249.
Another element used in set-
ting the premium rate is the
year your home was built. If
your home, like mine, was built
before the 1988 map was used
to set flood insurance rates
(pre-FIRM), your premium
should reflect that with a low
“grandfathered” rate, even if
you are in the high flood risk
“A” zone.
This doesn’t mean the rate
will never increase. As with any
area of insurance, the premium
rate increases as cost of cover-
age increases.
Flood insurance rates for
homes built after the 1988 map
(post-FIRM) will reflect the haz-
ard level shown on the map. As
Please see page 14
Flood claims deadline extended
From page 1
• Copies of contractors’ esti-
mates to repair the damage;
and/or
• Other documentation de-
tailing rebuilding expenses.
Once the insurance compa-
ny or flood insurance program
receives the additional docu-
mentation, an adjuster will
meet with the homeowner
and/or contractor to identify the
issues and negotiate an appro-
priate settlement.
Homeowners should keep a
copy of the Proof of Loss—and
copies of all supporting docu-
ments—for their records. To
stay covered for the future,
they must renew their policy
each year. Most policyholders
living in areas where the flood
risk has increased can renew
at the same lower rate, based
on their previous flood zone.
Page 5
ODOT program designed for small contractors
The Oregon Department of
Transportation has launched a
statewide program aimed at in-
creasing contracting opportuni-
ties for small businesses in
Oregon. ODOT’s Small Con-
tracting Program for Construc-
tion will make it possible for
small construction companies
across Oregon to do business
with the agency as prime con-
tractors.
ODOT designed its new pro-
gram to help contractors in two
ways. By identifying small proj-
ects, or dividing larger projects
into contracts valued at
$100,000 or less, the agency is
making more work available to
small contractors. And by pre-
qualifying companies, ODOT
can help small businesses
compete more effectively by is-
suing notification to those com-
panies when projects are open
for bid.
“Through the Small Con-
tracting Program, ODOT is
supporting Oregon’s economy
by building sustainability for
small businesses,” said Matt
Garrett, ODOT director. “Addi-
tionally, it creates an opportuni-
ty for ODOT to tap into the ex-
perience and expertise of Ore-
gon’s small companies as we
work to build a stronger trans-
portation system.”
Contractors may pre-qualify
by completing the Request for
Qualifications (RFQ) process.
They will then be included in
the selection pool for future
program contract bid opportuni-
ties.
The RFQ is now available at
the Oregon Procurement Infor-
mation Network Web site at
Unemployment rate
Columbia County’s season-
ally adjusted unemployment
rate was essentially un-
changed at 6.1 percent in De-
cember from the previous
month (5.9%) and from one
year before (5.8%). The rate
was a little above the statewide
rate (5.6%) and higher than the
national rate (5.0%). Total em-
ployment fell by 116 to 23,176
and the number of unemployed
people increased by 27 to
1,457. Total employment this
December was 474 more than
one year before and there
were 72 more people unem-
ployed this year.
http://orpin.oregon.gov and on
the ODOT Procurement Office
– Construction Web site at
www.oregon.gov/ODOT/CS/C
ONSTRUCTION/.
It consists of a short, three-
part form that requests basic in-
formation, such as a construc-
tion company’s location, em-
ployees and experience.
Pre-qualification is not a
guarantee of work, but it does
ensure that a company is eligi-
ble to participate in the pro-
gram, depending on its capabil-
ities, location and the type of
work available. ODOT will
award contracts based on low
bid. Depending on the number
of construction contractors pre-
qualified for a given type of
work, the agency may give
preference to a company that
has never worked as a prime
contractor with the agency be-
fore.
The new program builds on
the Small Contracting Program
for Professional and Technical
Services, which launched
statewide in September 2007
following a one-year pilot pro-
gram in the Portland metropoli-
tan area.
For more information, visit
ODOT’s Office of Civil Rights
Small Business Support Web
site at www.oregon.gov/ODOT
/CS/CIVILRIGHTS/small_busi-
ness.shtml.