Tri City Water & Sanitary Authority received a $16,500 grant from Oregon Water Resources Department in order to provide a preliminary engineering analysis and recommendation for improvement of its water storage and distribution system. This is a matching grant, which means that for every dollar that Tri City spends up to $16,500, Oregon Water Resources will match it.

 

This will primarily address the addition or enlargement of current water storage at the south end of the district.This area was identified as deficient in storage in both the 2006 Water Master Plan and also the Risk Failure Analysis that was completed in 2010.

 

To qualify for this grant, TCWSA had to show that this project will provide means to improve deficiencies and more efficient water usage. It is believed that conservation and efficiency benefits will ultimately reduce the demand on the South Umpqua River especially during the summer when the river historically runs at its lowest level. Additional water storage would enable TCWSA to pump less water from the South Umpqua during critical periods for water quality and fish habitat.

  

 

 

 

 

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Tri City Water and Sanitary Authority, Douglas County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013, will be held at 215 North Old Pacific Highway, Myrtle Creek, OR 97457.  The meeting will take place on May 16, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.  The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget.  A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 10, 2012 at the Authority Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

 

This is a public meeting where deliberations of the Budget Committee will take place.  Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.

 

 

Special Board Work Session - Monday, April 23, 2012 @ 1:00 PM in the board room at Authority office, 215 N. Old Pacific Hwy. 

Solicitations by mail or otherwise asking TCWSA residents to “insure their water lines” is not being initiated or endorsed by Tri City Water and Sanitary Authority. 

Several customers have been contacted by mail over the past several months recommending that they buy insurance that would cover waterline repairs.  Beware that this is not something that is required and not something that we are making recommendations for or against.

Homeowners are responsible for their own water lines from the meter into their homes. TCWSA is responsible for the water main lines and lines up to and including the water meter

It is our understanding that the information from the companies that are sending out the proposals to insure water lines may be using “scare tactics” to promote this insurance.

Surrounding communities have been receiving similar contact soliciting insurance to cover the water lines. As with any solicitation, be very careful when giving out credit card or personal information.

 

TCWSA received a 50 – 50 safety grant from Special Districts of Oregon for $1,946, or half of the expense to install additional security fencing at the Authority’s water storage tanks.  This project had been completed in September of 2011. Tri City was one of 130 applications for their 2012 matching safety grant program.

 

Starting October 5th, TCWSA will be smoke testing in order to identify areas where defects or deterioration may appear in the wastewater collection system.  TCWSA's system has many sanitary sewer lines that are beginning to deteriorate due to their age. This includes both the public main lines as well as the sewer lines from the source to the connection at the public sewer.

This deterioration contributes to inflow and infiltration (I&I) of storm water and groundwater into the wastewater collection system. Escessive I&I is a serious problem due to the effect it has on the capacity of the wastewater collection system and the wastewater treatment plant.  The collection system is designed to carry only so much water and sewage. When overloaded, the system may surcharge (back up), overflowing through manholes and possibly flooding streets. As flows in the wastewater collection system increase, so do the costs to treat and transport the waste, leading to increased sewer costs.

Smoke testing is a proven method that is endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for identifying defects and improper connec tions that contribute to I&I.  The first section that Tri City will begin testing on October 5, 2011 will be the Carte Lane area north to Fir Street. Then, periodically as weather permits the entire service area will be tested. Notification with more explicit instructions on what to expect will be provided to you a few days before we reach your neighborhood.

If you have questions or concerns, please call the main business office number 541-863-5276.  

The Board of Directors voted to award the bid for the Pump Station #3 rebuild project to Schneider Equipment, Inc. The low bid was $899,800.

A Pre-Construction meeting was held at the Authority office on September 13, 2011 with construction scheduled to begin on Monday, September 19^th.

 

Sealed bids for construction of the Lift Station #3 Upgrade will be accepted until August 4th, 2011 at 2 p.m.  Bids should be address to Tri City Water & Sanitary Authority, Attn: Vicki Howren, 215 N Old Pacific Hwy, Myrtle Creek, Oregon 97457.

The Lift Station #3 project consists of the following:

• Construction of a new sanitary sewer wet well
• Installation of a four-plex submersible pump station
• Modifications to the existing pump station building and the installation of a new genset and ATS
• Abondonment of the old wet well and removal of the old pumping equipment
• Minor site improvements

One copy of the Bidding Documents, including Plans and Specifications, may be obtained at the office of the Engineer upon receipt of a nonrefundable payment of $150 for each set of Bidding Documents. Return of the Bidding Documents is not required. The Engineer is: SHN Consulting Engineers & Geologists, Inc., 275 Market Ave., Coos Bay, OR 97420; 541-266-9890. Bidding Documents can be reviewed at the office of Engineer and at the following plan room services:

 

• Bay Area Plan Exchange, 2744 Woodland Dr., Coos Bay, OR 97420
• Eugene Builders Exchange, 860 McKinley Street, Eugene, OR 97402
• Daily Journal of Commerce, 921 SW Washington Street, Ste 210, Portland, OR 97205
• Medford Plan Exchange, 305 N Bartlett, Medford, OR 97501

 

 

Approximately 500 feet of new 12 inch PVC waterline was installed, replacing 8 inch AC waterline from Wecks Road south along Old Highway 99. Because of the Weaver Road Bridge Extension project, TCWSA old waterline would have been under new paving when the project completes. A moritorium would be in place for several years stipulating that the new paving can not be cut in order to do any waterline repairs. It seemed in Tri City's best interest to replace the old pipe with new larger piping and elliminate the possibility of having leaks that could not be fixed.

Beckley Excavation & Utility, Inc from Roseburg was low bidder at $64,716, which included moving and installing a fire hydrant and several service lines.

Other work in the area to facilitate the new bridge and Weaver Road Extension was done by TCWSA's crew and Gosselin Brothers Construction as necessary to avoid utility conflicts for the changes that will be brought about by new storm drainage, paving and realignment of the Wecks Road intersection. 

Tri City Water & Sanitary Authority is seeking applicants for the fiscal year 2011-12 Budget Committee.   Applicants must be a resident of the Tri City area and a user of the water and sanitary collection systems.  An application may be picked up at the Business Office, 215 N Old Pacific Hwy or call 541-863-5276 to have one mailed to you.  Applications are due by March 4, 2011 with appointment at the March 9^th Board meeting. 

At the October 2010 Board of Directors meeting, Lillian Elder was appointed to fill the board vacancy created when David Scott resigned from Position #4.  The normal term for this position would end in June of 2013, but in order to follow Oregon Statutes, the appointment will only be until the next regular election which will be in June of 2011.  That will make four of TCWSA's board of director positions up for election in May of 2011.  However, the term for Position #4 will only run until June 2013 election. 

The Authority is set up with 5 board members with terms running for 4 years.  Three of the positions are currently running from July 1, 2007 until June 30, 2011.  And two run from 2009 through June of 2013. 

Workshop - TCWSA & City of Myrtle Creek intergovernmental agreement for maintenance and operations of mutually owned Wastewater Treatment Plant. 6:30 PM @ Authority office.  

Please note that TCWSA has a new after hours emergency number.  (541)863-5545.  This is for emergency only!  All other after hours information may be left on (541)863-5276 voice mail and caller will be contacted as soon as possible on the next business day.  ;=) 

Due to a computer software financial application conversion to a new system, the business office will need to close for lunch on July 19, 20, and 21 between the hours of 12 o'clock and 1 o'clock PM.  We sincerely regret any inconvenience this might cause. 

 

We would like to encourage everyone to complete their 2010 Census with accurate information.  Many times since the Census in 2000, we have been denied any federal or state grant or low interest loan money for projects because our medium income was considered too high based on Census figures.  On paper it didn’t look like Tri City Water and Sanitary Authority needed any financial help because our residents appeared to be affluent enough to afford their own improvements. 

The Census is a tool that local governments (such as we are) can use as a tool for showing need.  We will be depending on the numbers from the 2010 Census for the next ten years in order to provide the necessary infrastructure to meet the demands for future need.

 

ODFW has informed Tri City that the Fish Screen Project was approved to receive cost share funds.  The permit from the Department of Army Corps of Engineers has not been finalized, but it is expected that work may begin during the summer of 2010.  The project also includes work on the South Umpqua River water intake as well as installation of the fish screen.  This project is part of the requirements to certify water rights.  Total cost of the project is estimated at $170,000 with up to $75,000 being covered with the ODFW grant.  It is anticipated that Tri City will be able to pay the difference between the grant and total project costs from reserves set aside for this project.

 

As Tri City property owners may have noticed, their property tax statements that came out in November show a drop in the portion that is levied for Tri City Water and Sanitary Authority.  The amount that shows as EXCLUDED FROM LIMITATION is the amount that covers repayment for the bond that was passed in 1999 for improvements to the water system. 

 

The debt pays off in May 2010 and since Tri City had been setting some aside each year as a reserve, only a small portion of the amount due in May will need to come from property taxes this year.  The final payment will be made up with the amount from the reserve plus the small amount each taxpayer will contribute under EXCLUDED FROM LIMITATION.  This will not be included at all November 2010, as each property tax statement will only show the amount under GENERAL GOVERNMENT.   

 

Meeting Date for the November monthly Board Meeting will be November 4, 2009.  Since the normal second Wednesday date falls on Veterans' Day this year, the meeting has been changed to the first Wednesday of the month for November only.  Meeting time will be 6:30 p.m. at the Business Office, 215 North Old Pacific Highway.

 

 

 

   Tri City was one of only 17 to receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) money as part of the Oregon Drinking Water Program.
   Stimulus money in the amount of $93,300 will be made available for baffling in the clearwell at the Water Treatment Plant and also to increase the size of the manifold in order to increase water production. The baffling will allow an increase in contact time for disinfection to become more effective.

   These monies plus matching funds from Tri City will go toward upgrading water meters, completing a Failure Risk Analysis to identify weaknesses in the system, and purchasing financial application software to integrate with the utility billing program and infrastructure asset management.

 

 

 

Installation of a Miox on-site generation has been completed. The use of the mixed-oxident solution is more effective, safer and econimical than chlorine. As a result, it is hoped that the taste and smell of your water will be improved.