ASTORIA WATER, SEWER RATES TO RISE

City of Astoria water and sewer rates are going up.  Monday night the City Council voted for a 2% rise in water rates, a 2% rise in sewer rates and a 4% rise in the CSO or Combined Sewer Overflow surcharge.  

City Manager Paul Benoit explained the surcharge increase

“Relative to the CSO surcharge, that adjustment is specifically tied to debt service payments that we have to make on funds borrowed to do this work, as is the example: the work that’s underway right now is a $7million project.  We are not obligated to pay on the funds borrowed for that until the project is completed, so in the next fiscal year we will be proposing another adjustment to pay that debt” 

Paving planned on U.S. 101 Business in Warrenton

Oregon Department of Transportation maintenance crews will be paving on U.S. 101 Business between U.S. 101 and Main Street in Warrenton all day on Wednesday and Thursday, June 19-20. Once the paving starts, it should be completed in a couple of days. The project is weather dependent.
There will be a partial closure from U.S. 101 to Ensign Street, otherwise at least one lane of traffic will remain open at all times with traffic controlled by flaggers. Motorists can expect delays up to 20 minutes.

LINCOLN INTERAGENCY NARCOTICS TEAM ARRESTS TWO AT NEWPORT MOTEL RELATED TO METHAMPHETAMINE INVESTIGATION

Two people were arrested last Thursday by the Lincoln Interagency Narcotics Team (LINT), with the assistance of Newport Police Department and Oregon State Police, during the execution of a narcotics-related search warrant at a Newport-area motel.

LINT began the investigation after learning the suspects were staying at the Inn at Yaquina Bay in Newport and selling methamphetamine from the motel. On June 13, 2013, LINT served a search warrant on multiple rooms at the business and a vehicle associated with the suspects. Officers located methamphetamine, packaging materials, digital scales and other evidence of drug use and sales.

Partners for the PAC Community Forum in Astoria Wed June 26

Partners for the PAC will hold a public meeting Wed. June 26, at 6:30 pm (with refreshments at 6:00) at Columbia Memorial Hospital Community Center in the Coho Room on the second floor of the Duncan Law Building at 2021 Marine Drive. The purpose of the meeting is to hear feedback from Kathi Jaworski who facilitated a public meeting in March to plan for the future of  the Clatsop Community College Performing Arts Center and how to maintain the PAC as a community asset. 

Senators Introduce Tsunami Marine Debris Clean-Up Legislation

 Oregon  Senators Jeff Merkley,  Ron Wyden and California Senator Dianne Feinstein have introduced the Tsunami Debris Cleanup Reimbursement Act.   The act would give the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the authority to reimburse states for cleanup efforts that occurred before NOAA received funding from Japan.

In a statement, Senator Merkley said " This is common sense legislation that will help the coastal communities in Oregon who are dealing with debris from the devastating tsunami in 2011.".   

Last year, Japan announce that it would gift $5 million to the United State for clean up of Japanese tsunami marine debris that washed up along the West Coast.  The money was given to NOAA to administer,  but NOAA does not currently have the legal authority to reimburse states for debris cleanup that occurred before the gifted money was received.

Bonamici Makes the Case for Tsunami Debris Cleanup Bills to Key House Panel

Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici testified today (Thurs) to a key U.S. House panel about two bills she introduced earlier this year to assist coastal communities with tsunami debris cleanup efforts. The hearing before the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs signals that the legislation is likely to move forward this year. In a statement, Bonamici said she has broad bipartisan support for the bills. 

TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS ON IRVING AVENUE IN ASTORIA

In Astoria, crews will continue work on Irving Avenue on Monday (June 17), collecting test borings for approximately three days.  Motorists should expect a one-lane closure during daytime hours where the work is taking place.  The work is related to the Irving Avenue Bridge replacement project.  

Construction of the new bridge is scheduled for summer 2014.