By JOY KINGSBURY/for The Herald — The Westfir city council held a public hearing to take citizen comments on the 2024-2025 budget. The budget, as approved by the City Budget Committee, was approved and the city can now accept state revenue sharing funds. There was a quorum of three council members present. Edward Johnstone, online via zoom, Mayor Williams and Kelly Packard in attendance, Katherine Bishop and Duretta Huey both absent. Total adopted budget is in amount $1,568,801.00
Bill Desser, who has taken over maintenance of the Portal, gave the council a briefing on his current projects and progress with that demanding job. Bill is addressing issues that have been neglected for some time and is making good progress in getting the portal area in good shape and getting its systems in good order. Bill said that there is a need for more garbage pickups due to the heavy usage the Portal gets in summer. He has plans for improving the facility. The council gave Bill a big vote of thanks.
The city will contract with Civil West Engineering to generate a digital mapping of the city’s water system. This will set the stage for the city to apply for grants for the purpose of maintaining and managing the city’s water system. The mapping will be performed for a sum of $4,200, which will be billed incrementally to the city monthly depending on the percentage of completion.
Mayor D’Lynn Williams announced that the GaGa Ball pit donation has been withdrawn in favor of another worthy cause.
The Turtle Island Park Boat Ramp project is awaiting the Heritage survey report.
The Safety Committee announces that a new officer is attending the Police Academy and should be ready to patrol in the Fall of this year.
Westfir has taken a seat on the Oakridge Area Fire Safe Council that will meet on the first
Tuesday of each month from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Recreation Committee and the Fire Safety Committees both need representatives from Westfir. Any interested in serving, please step forward and contact city hall.
Ethics training for public officials will take place at Oakridge City Hall on June 14. Time TBA. Nicole Tritten, City Clerk/Recorder told council, “It is a good lead into public meetings training for elected officials.”
There will be another public hearing on the Old Hazeldell Quarry application on June 18th at Lane County Goodson Room (Willamette Building), 3040 North Delta Highway, Eugene, Oregon 97408. 6:00 p.m.
Westfir’s fire engine repairs and pump test cost the city $2,068.00. Two donors who did not request refunds, had donated enough to cover the bill.
G.S.I. Water Solutions Company, Portland, has requested five years of metered usage, which is ready to send. Unmetered usage of city facilities is needed as well. Bobby Archer, Public Works Director is compiling that data and other information G.S.I. is asking for.
Archer gave the Council the water and wastewater monthly report for May. The city delivered 728,800 gallons of water in May. In May of last year, it was 1,404,400 gallons. The city ran 132,042 gallons through the waste water system in May of this year compared to 120,958 the prior year. No problems with the system.
The city is considering camera surveillance for parts of the city and especially for the Portal. There are cameras currently in use at the Portal.
Good news, potholing done! The pavement did not need to be drilled and patched so the cost will be considerably less than the $10,888 original price.
City Council meetings are open to the public and take place on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 PM. Public comment is available. Check the city website for information on special meetings and work sessions.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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