By Jay Shenai
Water treatment upgrades capped a list of highlights for City of Stayton projects in 2009, in an update presented to city officials and residents at a town hall meeting on the evening of Jan. 14.
However, other projects may have to wait for outside funding sources, according to the mayor and public works director.
In the meeting, conducted at the Santiam Memorial Hospital Auditorium, Public Works Director Dave Kinney reviewed improvements on the water treatment facility.
Because of leaks and flaws in function, the decision had been made to take Filter Bed #3 offline for a complete rebuild. This work is now complete and water testing will continue for the next 90 days.
Additional work included improvements to the control panels and backup generators, as well as a series of fence and security upgrades financed through a $72,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
At the facility, work on a sludge pump was completed last September, costing $84,000. However, some electrical and mechanical issues remain, although mostly repaired.
In addition, public works crews utilizing Global Information Systems technology worked to map existing water lines underground, lines often up to a century old and currently unmapped. This work is ongoing.
Other city water projects included sewer main rehabilitation and pipe lining projects throughout the Stayton area. One upcoming project will be the upgrade and reinstallation of the 12-inch water main at East Pine Street, to provide increased water flow for construction on a four-story building planned for Santiam Memorial Hospital, to ensure redundant water supply for the hospital as well as adequate fire suppression water. The project is priced at $20 million.
Kinney reported that federal stimulus dollars helped fund street repair in the Stayton downtown area, particularly the repaving along Locust Street.
Long-needed sidewalk repair also continued last year, especially along West Ida Street near the public library.
Kinney and city councilors along with Mayor Gerry Aboud also discussed plans for 2010. There will be an $11.3 million expansion of the wastewater treatment facility. Bids will go out around February. Construction is slated through 2011. Currently city council is pursuing $4 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Services program.
Plans are also under way for a bridge at Riverfront Park. The city’s goal is to have the bridge completed before October. The city is reviewing project bids and designs.
However, other projects will require identifying sources of funding. The city is applying for grants to fund a larger picnic shelter at Santiam Park. Land acquisition plans for Mill Creek Community Park are on hold.
In an open question-and-answer session, audience members pressed the city council on efforts to preserve and increase jobs in the Stayton area. Owner of the Gardner House Bed and Breakfast, City Councilman James Loftus expressed his own exasperation at regulatory limits facing business owners.
At its next session, city council will discuss forming a citizen committee to focus on attracting businesses to Stayton. City Council President Don Walters expressed his desire to see more residents getting involved in city affairs.
“We need help running this city, folks,” he said.
Roughly 30 attended the meeting.
