There were no Board meetings this month as August is typically the summer respite.  However, progress continues to be made on the Rejuvenation Projects.

This communication covers work underway in the following areas:

• Direction the Board is taking with Multi-Family Homes
• Progress on District Rejuvenation

A. Direction the Board is taking with Multi-Family Homes

On Wednesday August 7th, the Clatsop County Board of Commissioner met to review the public comments on the proposed amendments to the Land Use Code and to give County staff direction on if/ how to proceed.   The Commissioner representing Arch Cape Lianne Thompson, didn’t even attend.  It was an odd meeting.  It only lasted 18 minutes, nothing specific was discussed with the exception of Commissioner Webb stating that she was opposed to short-term rentals in Multi-Family dwellings and yet County staff apparently walked away with sufficient authorization to write the proposed amendments into code.  You be the judge.  (click here for video of the meeting).  

It is now more than likely that multi-family homes will be approved for construction in Arch Cape.  As such, at the September Water District Board meeting, the Board will consider whether or not to require each residential unit in a multi-family house to be charged a separate System Development Charge (SDC) and to have a separate meter that tracks the water usage and waste water processed for that unit.  Upon Board approval, legal counsel will draft the requisite Ordinances/ Resolutions.

B. Progress on District Rejuvenation

In addition to standard operations tasks and addressing unexpected challenges that present themselves, the following progress has been made on the projects listed below.  (The complete set of projects with status can be found by clicking here)

Project 2 – Replace Webb Lift Station:

FEMA has awarded $200,000 of our $250,000 supplemental funding request.  The final $50,000 is project contingency, to which FEMA did not agree because there is no specific cost identified.  The Sanitary District Board appropriated an additional $25,000 match from Capital Fund Contingency.  No loans are expected to be needed. We will keep FEMA apprised of project progress and make an additional request if and when more funding is needed.  Contractor is proceeding as scheduled.

Project 3 – Upgrade & Bring Current the Business/Admin Computer and Data System: 

The new Administrative Computer System – specifically the computer & monitor, Windows OS, local data cloud server with connections to all PCs, automatic local data backup, remote access for tech support –  is installed and operational.  Remaining work includes licensing and implementing MS Office, activating offsite backups, configuring the virtual connection with the Water Plant to send any alarms to District Staff and configuring the security firewall.

Project 4 – Find, Compile, Electronically Store and Provide Access to Required Business Documents

What appears to be all of the Water District Ordinances and Resolutions since 1993 have been recovered.  A subset of Sanitary District Ordinances and Resolutions have been recovered.

Research is still underway to find the remaining Ordinances and Resolutions and all contractual agreements.

Project 6 – Upgrade & Bring Current the Districts’ Web Site:

Content from the old web site has been loaded onto the new Web Site platform.  The structure of the content on the new site is being refined and brought up to date and new information is being added that may be of interest to ratepayers.  Also, District personnel are being trained to be able to modify and update the content on the new site.  The new site should be launched in September.

Project 8:  Address Corrosion in Water Plant:

a) All of the corroded valve actuators (mechanical components) have been serviced and 3 have been replaced. b)  Awaiting quote from electrician to wire the fans into an automated control process, c) The critically corroded fan parts still need to be services/replaced, and d) Electrician has inspected wiring and circuitry for faults and corrosion and has identified two critical issues and a number of others that need to be addressed.  The wiring critical issue has been fixed and awaiting quote on the circuitry critical issue