Although there is still a deep recession going on, the Depoe Bay City Council is grappling with what they know will come along in the future. More people moving into the area, including Gleneden Beach, and that means more toilets and more people flushing them.
Gleneden Beach historically has sent their wastewater to Depoe Bay for processing and they pay the going rate for doing so. However, engineers say within the near future there will be even more wastewater headed for Depoe Bay, an increase that the current pipes running between the two communities cannot handle. They must be replaced with bigger pipes.
A project that would tear up the streets and sidewalks through Depoe Bay through a long construction season would not set well with the community nor the tourists that funnel through town everyday. Depoe Bay public works chief Terry Owings says there is talk of re-routing those lines around the backside of the town, using William Street. Owings said the city council has yet to be presented with such an option but it may be included in city council discussions next month.
The council is also looking at long term plans to increase the capacity of the town’s drinking water plant. The current water facility can produce around 300 gallons per minute which more than handles the community’s water needs. However, engineers say that an “adequate” level of water is not really adequate in light of consumption increases during major holiday weekends like the 4th of July or if there is a major fire burning in town or within its wildland interface.
Both these major utility issues are expected to be raised at a Depoe Bay City Council meeting in September.
In other Depoe Bay City Council action the council began dealing with a problem that erupted at Depoe Bay City Hall last Friday. A man who pays a fee for a moorage slip inside the harbor stormed into city hall ranting that someone else’s boat was tied to it, and that he wanted his money back. The sole worker on duty during the lunch hour was very frightened by the man’s anger, especially when he refused to leave without his money. She called the Sheriff’s Office for help. The man was removed and was booked into the county jail.
The city council said it likes city hall being open during the lunch hour so the townspeople can get their city hall business done. At the same time they don’t want a lone woman to be forced to “guard the fort” during the noon hour. One suggestion offered was to change the city hall lunch hour. Instead of noon to 1, move it to 12:30 to 1:30. That way there would be full staffing always on duty with everyone off for lunch at 12:30. The council is likely to decide on a solution next month.
The city council also appointed Ronald Gilliam to fill a vacancy on the Depoe Bay Traffic Commission (DBTC). The DBTC is made up of volunteers that help with traffic and safety issues from placement of speed and stop signs to helping run crosswalk violator sting operations that ticket drivers who don’t give pedestrians the right of way. They also help set up radar machines that flash how fast you’re going as well as provide traffic control during special events like the Salmon Bake and the Boat Show.
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