The INDEPENDENT, November 5, 2009
Page 13
Banks Council hears preliminary results of the water rate study
Shaun Pigott, of Shaun Pig-
ott Associates, LLC, who has
been conducting a water rate
study for Banks, attended the
October 13 Banks Council
Work Session, prior to the reg-
ular meeting, to discuss prelim-
inary results on water rates and
SDCs (System Development
Charges) including the rate
structure and key points affect-
ing rates on capitol projects
and the Operations and Main-
tenance fund. He included a
forecast of revenue require-
ments, and an SDC overview,
with a forecast of water sales
for 2009-2010 at $395,000;
48% of which will result from
the utility base charge ($21.89
per account), with 52% from
the volume charge ($3.05 per
100 cubic feet).
The 2009 water master plan
proposed improvements which
include Well No. 2 as an addi-
tional water source funded in
2011, a transmission pipe-line
replacement partially funded in
2011 with the balance in 2012,
and site upgrades to be funded
in 2011 and 2112. Pigott recom-
mended staggering the proj-
ects.
Current comparative water
rates for single-family resi-
dences assuming 1000 cubic
feet of use in neighboring areas
are Willamina $34.75, Newberg
$35.95, Dundee $39.33, Banks
$40.19,
Yamhill
$41.85,
Lafayette $52.75, Carlton
$52.75, Gaston $75.84 and
North Plains $84.94.
After the Council meeting
started, newly assigned Banks
Ye Olde
Dingheiser
Deputy Sheriff Brian Upton was
sworn in. Upton has seven
years of experience and will be
covering Banks two days a
week, on Deputy Chertude’s
days off. Upton also covers the
city of Gaston. He is excited
about his new assignment in
Banks.
Deputy Chertude reported
that there were 52 calls for
service in September, four ar-
rests, 50 traffic stops and 16
traffic citations issued. Cher-
tude said he gave a lot of warn-
ings, using them as an opportu-
nity to educate people that the
speed limit in school zones is
20 mph. He added that he
stops by the high school daily
to visit with the kids, and finds
them pleasant and friendly.
Councilor Christy Greagor
requested that Chertude drive
by Greenville Park after park
hours, and remind youth that
the park closes at curfew which
is 10:00 p.m.
Jeff Schillereff spoke during
the time provided for interested
citizens, to request permission
to hunt on the watershed.
Council will have to research
this issue and get back to
Schillereff, but told him that his
request was a good one.
Forest Grove Planning Di-
rector Jon Holan appeared to
brief council on the Five-City
Subregional Concept letter.
The Five-City participants (Cor-
nelius, Forest Grove, North
Plains, Hillsboro, and Banks)
each has their own distinct land
needs and views on the merits
of the Urban Reserves recom-
Just the finest in
collision repair
Pub & Restaurant
VISA - MC - ATM Access
BEER • WINE • FOOD
KEGS & ICE TO GO
Lunch, Dinner
and Cocktails
Served Daily
All Lottery Games
11:00 am to closing
Closed mondays
47100 NW Sunset Hwy.
Manning • 324-4848
No Custom Work
CHERRY
PRODUCTS
Auto Body & Paint
1875 E. Baseline
Cornelius
503-359- 5993
mendations in the Strategies
for a Sustainable and Prosper-
ous Region. The cities all agree
that the recommendations do
not provide and distribute
enough industrial Urban Re-
serves to accommodate the 40-
50 year land needs of high
tech, silicon solar manufactur-
ing and incubating bio-pharma
industry clusters. The letter
urges the Reserves Steering
and Core 4 Committees to rec-
ommend adjusting the industri-
al reserves to accommodate
acreage locations for 2060 In-
dustry Cluster Absorption.
Council approved the five-city
subregional concept letter to
Washington County and Metro,
and authorized the mayor to
sign on behalf of the city.
Mayor John Kinsky appoint-
ed Mark Gregg as the City Rep-
resentative to the Metropolitan
Area Communications Com-
mission (MACC) and designat-
ed himself as the alternate.
Ryan Birr resigned from
council, effective immediately,
for personal reasons. Council
President Pete Edison noted
for the record that he will miss
Birr as they have served to-
gether on the council for some
time. Edison said that he invit-
ed Birr to be his guest at the
city’s Christmas Party.
City Manager Jim Hough
presented his report to council:
• The PGE franchise negoti-
ations are ongoing and the city
might not be able to have an
agreeable draft prior to January
1, 2010;
• City staff is working on an
H1N1 Flu Pandemic Operating
Plan;
• Three interns are working
on projects for Banks: Aaron
O’Donnell, a graduate student
at PSU who is working on his
Masters in Public Administra-
tion, is also working on the
city’s H1N1 Pandemic Flu Plan
and on getting a grant for two
AEDs; Jordan Nakayama, an
undergraduate student at Pacif-
ic University majoring in envi-
ronmental studies, is working
on enhancing the city’s sustain-
ability policies; and Stephanie
Woodcock, a student at PCC
Rock Creek, is working on a
number of administrative proj-
ects, including the city’s Recy-
cle At Work project.
The next Banks City Council
Meeting will be held at City Hall
on November 10.
Poker Night helps BHS wrestlers
A Texas Hold’em Poker
Night is scheduled for Novem-
ber 13, in the Banks High
School Wrestling Room. Check
in between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m.
for seat draw and food. Play
starts at 7:00 p.m. Buy in
$50.00 for 5000 in tournament
chips with rebuy available.
First place will pay $600,
second pays $400, third pays
$200 (all VISA gift cards). Oth-
er prizes too. Seats limited to
50 players. To pre-purchase
and guarantee your seat, con-
tact Coach Jon Small at 503-
840-8216 or bhspokernight@
gmail.com.
All players must be 21 or
over and all those on premises
must be at least 18 years of
age. Proceeds benefit the BHS
Wrestling Team.
Need Firewood?
Got Leaves? We Can Help
Chain saws
Starting at $
179
95
Blowers
Starting at $
149 95
MS 250 Chain Saw
This model has an excellent
power-to-weight ratio. Stan-
dard features include a side-
access chain tensioner for
easy chain adjustment.
BG 55 Hand Held Blower
Makes clean-up easier. Primer
bulb and throttle lock ensure fast
starts. Easily converts to a leaf
vac with optional kit.
PRECISION OUTDOOR
POWER EQUIPMENT
Banks Hardware
503-324-5221 • 150 N. Main Street, Banks
• Mon - Fri 8am to 6pm
• Saturday 8am to 5pm
• Sunday 10am to 4pm