City Council #53

September 25, 2007

The City of Oregon Water Department has received a commendation from the Illinois Department of Public Health, for achieving the highest standard of compliance in accordance with the Illinois Fluoridation Act.

Karl Merbach the City of Oregon Water and Wastewater Plant Manager has resigned from EMC to pursue other opportunities.   Karl has done an excellent job for the City of Oregon and will be especially missed by me as Commissioner, and I wish him well in his future endeavors.   Karl will be successful in whatever he attempts, and his dedication to his responsibilities are exemplary.   Karl will be leaving November 3rd and the search for a new manager has begun. 

There was a meeting with Reggie Taylor of DCEO with regard to a possible sewer-line extension to E. D. Etnyre and Co, and it has been decided by all concerned to delay this project until sometime in the future, when it is more practical and necessary.

The City Water and Wastewater Department continues to crunch numbers for service fee’s, and it is inevitable that the department is going to require a 25 cent increase in water fee’s and a 75 cent increase in wastewater fee’s.   The problem has developed because fees have been increased only to pay for incurred debt on capitol improvements.  While the City has met all obligations for necessary improvements, it has not increased fee’s to keep up with inflation over the last 15 years.  A broken water main would cost $800 to repair 15 years ago and now it is $1500.  A broken pump would cost $1,000 to repair and now it is $3,000.  Chemical requirements by the EPA were not required 15 years ago, and now it is a major expense.   With an increase of one dollar per 1000 gallons of water, the City of Oregon will continue be below the national average for City water costs and at the National average for wastewater costs.  Water and wastewater cost to Oregon consumer will be .0009 cents per gallon.   I will continue to pursue a study about the City of Oregon water rates, so that the department will know exactly what a gallon of water costs. 

We replaced a defective fire hydrant Thursday and some cribbing slipped causing a water main to open.   It was repaired in two hours but it caused a loss of water in the Wright Subdivision and the City apologizes for the inconvenience.   The water department makes every effort to provide service without interruption, but bad things can happen when you’re digging around City infrastructure. 

The Coliseum Board has had the damp basement of the Coliseum tested for possible contamination and it was found that there are problems that are not serious but need to be addressed.   A company that specializes in our problem will be removing troublesome materials and will sanitize the basement area.  There will be a final test to show that all areas of concern have been corrected.  

The Water and Wastewater Department worked a full day of smoke testing in the downtown area, and we have found many areas that require attention.  Besides the several private properties that have drain issues, the City Street Department has two areas where roadway catch basins flow into our sanitary sewer.   The storm drains were apparently overlooked when the sewer separation project was completed. 

Fire Hydrant Replacement

Smoke Testing