Public Property Update October 26, 2006
The City Council approved the annexation agreement with Settler’s Ridge Subdivision, now 33 acres for 55 lots South East of Route 64 and Daysville Road will be added to the City. The City will be acquiring four additional commercial sales tax paying locations and the Black hawk Lumber Home Showroom. Adjoining commercial properties have also shown an interest in annexing as soon as possible. These additional taxing properties justify the $333,000 water and sewer line extensions constructed this summer. Oregon now has a well-planned commercial, multi-dwelling and individual home sites area for expansion. The City will assume more expense in making sure all infrastructures for the subdivision is adequate for future expansion beyond the planned subdivision.
The City of Oregon has met with CMT, our engineers, and the actual plans will now be developed for the construction of our wastewater plant upgrade. This project should begin next year and be completed in 2008. The all-important problem of wastewater sludge handing will be all but eliminated with this new process, and the additional secondary clarifier with new motors and pumps will provide the City of Oregon excellent service for many years into the future.
Well #2 is now running and has been completely rebuilt with stainless steel shafts, couplings, and now has a bronze bowl with stainless steel impellers. Before rebuild well #2 was producing 384 gpm at 60 psi and now it is producing 530 gpm at 60 psi. The well pump has also been set at a lower depth and will provide the City of Oregon with good service for many years to come. Well #2 provided all of the water to our two reservoirs for six weeks during the during the drought of the summer of 2005.
All wells have now had major service and are in excellent condition. The City will test all wells for performance annually and starting in 2008, maintenance will be performed on one well each year.
I have had several conversations with Jim Fox representing Commonwealth Edison and our electrical rate increase will not be nearly as high as first considered. We are looking at an increase of possibly 20% in electricity costs from $50,000 to $60,000. The Oregon Wastewater operation is very economical when compared to surrounding communities and the new wastewater upgrade should reduce our electrical usage by up to 20% in 2008. If rates should become excessive, I now have a listing of 19 electricity providers that I can contact for more desirable rate.
There has been a Coliseum Board meeting and one of the decisions is to ask the City Council for help to install a Handicapped ramp and entrance into the main floor of the Coliseum. Initial estimate is $25,000 for a concrete ramp on the Southside, with railings and special entryway. The board expects to have specifications drawn and will submit the plan to the City for approval before bid.
The City met with Reggie Taylor and Don Falls our government agencies and preliminary plans are being made for the City of Oregon to apply for a State grant for the Etnyre forced sewer main. Our Economic Development Officer Charlene Ruthie, has acquired CMT our engineering firm, to provide the Grant writing help at no charge. An additional meeting will be held with everyone involved November 1st.
Marty Bush from Ehmen Industries completed the connection of two manholes on 2nd Street and Washington Street and now to the best of my knowledge, there are no longer any sanitary outfalls into Rock River. We have one outlet but it is regulated at the Waste Water plant and the only allowable discharges require permits. Marty completed the job in a single day at a cost of $2,100.00 and has saved considerable expense to the City of Oregon.
