By Anne Scheck
The excavation for thousands of feet of pipeline to help expand Independence’s wastewater capacity has begun. It will spray effluent – recycled water – on agricultural land north of the Independence State Airport to relieve strain on city lagoons, which frequently reach their limit.
The cost of the pipeline is about $726,000 – about a half-million dollars below the original engineering estimate. The project is part of an improvement plan for the sewer-and-sanitation system, which periodically has been found out of compliance in past years by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
A request for more funding is expected at tonight's city council meeting – for a different part of the system. "We are asking for contingency funds for Riverview lift station project," said Kie Cottam, the city's public works director. The lift-station bid was awarded for just under $1.16 million, and an additional sum of about $174,000 will be added if the council approves the request on the agenda tonight.
Last week, representatives of the engineering firm, Westech, met with residents whose houses lie adjacent to the field where construction of the pipeline is starting – including trench-digging. “I am not expecting a lot of impact,” said Steve Ward PE of Westech Engineering, the city’s engineer of record.
Tonight, the city council is expected to increase a loan for sanitation-system upgrades from the DEQ to $9.4 million, from its current $6 million agreement with the DEQ (Note: The September issue of The Independent will cover the proposed changes to the city water-and-sewer system, which are being undertaken to meet a growing municipal need).
The excavation for thousands of feet of pipeline to help expand Independence’s wastewater capacity has begun. It will spray effluent – recycled water – on agricultural land north of the Independence State Airport to relieve strain on city lagoons, which frequently reach their limit.
The cost of the pipeline is about $726,000 – about a half-million dollars below the original engineering estimate. The project is part of an improvement plan for the sewer-and-sanitation system, which periodically has been found out of compliance in past years by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
A request for more funding is expected at tonight's city council meeting – for a different part of the system. "We are asking for contingency funds for Riverview lift station project," said Kie Cottam, the city's public works director. The lift-station bid was awarded for just under $1.16 million, and an additional sum of about $174,000 will be added if the council approves the request on the agenda tonight.
Last week, representatives of the engineering firm, Westech, met with residents whose houses lie adjacent to the field where construction of the pipeline is starting – including trench-digging. “I am not expecting a lot of impact,” said Steve Ward PE of Westech Engineering, the city’s engineer of record.
Tonight, the city council is expected to increase a loan for sanitation-system upgrades from the DEQ to $9.4 million, from its current $6 million agreement with the DEQ (Note: The September issue of The Independent will cover the proposed changes to the city water-and-sewer system, which are being undertaken to meet a growing municipal need).
UPDATE
A franchise fee report to the city that includes all telecom companies operating in Independence shows MINET eclipsing the others with a return of about $130,000. Franchise fees are paid to the city for use of public space, also called public right-of-way.
The report comes after Congressman Kurt Schrader, in an address to the Rotary Club in Independence, said he wants “to work with MINET” as he pushes for more broadband access in rural areas. Mr. Schrader is on the US Energy and Commerce Committee.
In answering a question by Rotary President Laurel Sharmer, a Monmouth city councilor, about what his efforts could mean for local and municipally-founded MINET, US Rep. Schrader said: “I want to work with you guys.”
The comment was “seen supportive” but not meaningful beyond that, according to Craig Pope, chair of the Polk County Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners (BOC) hopes to clinch federal funding if a need for more internet access in rural parts of the county is established on a current survey by the BOC.
Don Patten, general manager of MINET, was nominated earlier this year for a seat on the federal Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee by Rep. Schrader and US senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden. (See this month’s issue of The Independent for an editorial by Don Patten, which has received positive attention by readers).
A franchise fee report to the city that includes all telecom companies operating in Independence shows MINET eclipsing the others with a return of about $130,000. Franchise fees are paid to the city for use of public space, also called public right-of-way.
The report comes after Congressman Kurt Schrader, in an address to the Rotary Club in Independence, said he wants “to work with MINET” as he pushes for more broadband access in rural areas. Mr. Schrader is on the US Energy and Commerce Committee.
In answering a question by Rotary President Laurel Sharmer, a Monmouth city councilor, about what his efforts could mean for local and municipally-founded MINET, US Rep. Schrader said: “I want to work with you guys.”
The comment was “seen supportive” but not meaningful beyond that, according to Craig Pope, chair of the Polk County Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners (BOC) hopes to clinch federal funding if a need for more internet access in rural parts of the county is established on a current survey by the BOC.
Don Patten, general manager of MINET, was nominated earlier this year for a seat on the federal Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee by Rep. Schrader and US senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden. (See this month’s issue of The Independent for an editorial by Don Patten, which has received positive attention by readers).
IN BRIEF
In the wake of the conclusion of a dramatic Oregon legislative session, state Rep. Paul Evans has announced a “targeted investment” of $300,000 for a trolley system between Monmouth and Independence. The news comes on the heels of Cherriots’ decision to offer new stops and pick-up spots in Independence, as well.
In the wake of the conclusion of a dramatic Oregon legislative session, state Rep. Paul Evans has announced a “targeted investment” of $300,000 for a trolley system between Monmouth and Independence. The news comes on the heels of Cherriots’ decision to offer new stops and pick-up spots in Independence, as well.
COMING UP
A seat belt “blitz” will begin August 19 – that’s when the Independence Police Department (IPD) will begin a two-week period of checking for appropriate seat-belt use. IPD officers also will dedicate extra time to find impaired motorists this month, including Labor Day weekend.
A seat belt “blitz” will begin August 19 – that’s when the Independence Police Department (IPD) will begin a two-week period of checking for appropriate seat-belt use. IPD officers also will dedicate extra time to find impaired motorists this month, including Labor Day weekend.
FINAL NOTE
The Polk County Veterans Service Office in Dallas now is logging 35-70 walk-ins monthly with nearly 300 calls made or received per month, according to Eric Enderle, the service officer who now has been on the job for more than a year. The September issue of The Independent will include a profile of Mr. Enderle and the work he has done there.
The Polk County Veterans Service Office in Dallas now is logging 35-70 walk-ins monthly with nearly 300 calls made or received per month, according to Eric Enderle, the service officer who now has been on the job for more than a year. The September issue of The Independent will include a profile of Mr. Enderle and the work he has done there.
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