Westfir City council regular meeting 4/3

By JOY KINGSBURY/for The Herald  —  The City of Westfir will participate in the Oakridge Tree Planting Parade and is making plans for that event which takes place on the first weekend in May. The plan is to have their float in the parade.

Those pesky rabbits

Westfir is suffering an infestation of rabbits and has been given instructions on how to set traps in the Hemlock district, where the rabbits are especially troubling. The City has been given has been given instruction on baits to use that the rabbits will take. The traps were paid for by the City.

A private citizen visited with the Council about his water bill. He assumed that it would be much like cable or electric to turn off when not in use and turned on when needed. The water policy in Westfir dictates that a $25.00 per moth charge is levied whether or not water is used.

The Council did agree to pay$125.00 of the $213.00 that was billed to the person. He thanked the Council for that consideration.

Police and EMS services contracts discussed

A joint meeting was held by the Oakridge and Westfir fire and police departments. Oakridge City Administrator James Cleavenger and Oakridge Mayor Bryan Cutchen were in attendance as was Westfir Mayor D’Lynn Williams and Westfir City Recorder Nicole Tritten.

The topic of discussion was the proposed Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) regarding police and fire services. Westfir states that they cannot afford the amount that the agreement calls for next year. They will affect a compromise by the Oakridge police department that will cut extra patrols. Oakridge will reduce the amount being charged to Westfir by 10%, provided the Oakridge City Council will accept that compromise.

Engles Consultant Firm offered options to the contract which the City can afford. Options offered were a “marriage”; break the ties, or go on as is. However, data has been attained on all of these entities from Lane County for an in-depth analysis of costs and services. At this time there will be no changes.

The memorial bench at the portal will be changed from wood construction to concrete. The wood has deteriorated, and the parties who erected the bench wish to use materials that will stand up to time.

Bounced checks will now cost

City Recorder Tritten reported on the water and sewer accounts. The City will now charge a $10.00 fee for failed ACH payments. This should cover the amounts charged by the banks for failed payments.

The City will review and update City codes before the Trans-Cascadia’s project and the mill site project get underway. The review will take place at future council work sessions.

Two bids have been received for painting and upgrades to the Portal building. The City would like to get things spruced up before the tourist season and would entertain a third bid from a contractor for that purpose.

Signage is needed for events which require  any closing of the covered bridge. The City will ask that the signs be provided by the event organizers. Also, Councilor Johnstone is negotiating with the Forest Service for additional parking on Forest Service property for events. It was suggested that the City could offer to provide porta-pottys on the Forest Service property as payment.

Slowing traffic through Westfir urged

A citizen addressed the Council regarding the need for “slow down” signs for neighborhood roads. Councilor Bishop that the county may provide them. No permit is necessary to use the signs. Furthermore, citizens would like to have these signs all over Westfir as a reminder to traffic to drive carefully and to slow down. it was also suggested to have a pedestrian crosswalk at the entrance to the covered bridge. Mayor Williams commented that this would require a study and that crosswalks are very expensive.

Westfir City Council meetings are open to the public and take place at 5:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the Westfir City Hall. A sign-up sheet is available for public comment.