Sean C. Morgan
The city is in good shape, by and large, and its sewer system, along with 430 acres of old industrial property that were foreclosed by the county a few weeks ago, are high on the list as city officials prioritize and plan for the new year, Mayor Craig Fentiman says.
“The city’s looking very good,” he said. “Certainly, the opportunities that are presenting themselves with the land foreclosure is something we’re really looking forward to.”
The city will be busy looking at that property, the old Willamette Industries mill property near the 18th and Tamarack area, he said. Officials will begin long-range planning of that area if the city does gain control of the property.
Major wastewater system repairs continue this year, Fentiman said.
This is the last major phase of the project within the sewer lines, but it will last most of the year.
The system will never be complete, Fentiman said, because the city will continue to improve, update and maintain the system so that inflow and infiltration problems don’t become a serious problem again.
Inflow and infiltration is water that leaks into the sewer system through leaky pipes and cross connections to storm drainage. When I&I flows are too high, the wastewater treatment plant cannot handle it. When overloaded, untreated wastewater bypasses the plant and drains to the river.
The city is under an agreement with the Department of Environmental Quality to reduce I&I flows and bypasses. The last bypass was nearly a year ago, in March.
The city will next begin looking at changes at the wastewater treatment plant.
“We’re going to be approaching a point where we’ll have to make a decision whether or not to expand the plant,” Fentiman said. “I think we’ll approach that at some point this year.”
Work at the plant will include updates and efficiency improvements as well, he said.
The city is borrowing money from the state to pay for the sewer projects, but that will end with the last of the major sewer line project this year and any changes at the plant.
“My thought is that once we get the system tight, we can just do maintenance and not have to worry about the bills we do now,” Fentiman said. “We want to make it part of the operating cost to maintain the collection system.”
City finances are in good shape starting the new year, the mayor said. “Right now, we’re healthy, but really the future is uncertain.”
State revenue sharing appears to be the same as last year at this point, he said, but he also doesn’t know what might come up with property values either.
“Pat (Gray, finance director) has always budgeted and prepared us on the conservative side,” Fentiman said. “So we’re actually ahead. If we do get into rough water, we’ll still be OK.”
The council will probably discuss a new city hall some more this year, Fentiman said. The city has money in a building reserve fund, but action will probably come later as the city may focus its interest on opportunities associated with the foreclosure property this year.
In economic development, “we’re going to continue exploring options with the Sweet Home Active Revitalization Effort and working closely with (Economic Development Coordinator) Brian Hoffman,” Fentiman said.