Corbett Community Forum
March 29, 2024, 06:13:57 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News:
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 10
 11 
 on: April 11, 2023, 05:02:02 AM 
Started by www.corbettoregon.com - Last post by www.corbettoregon.com
**

Thank you Victoria Purvine for spending your time putting this information together for the community!

**


Safety Meeting April 5, 2023


Oregon Parks and Recreation Department: 
We have been busy opening parks with all facilities open at this time.
We are working to get the car out of Women's Forum which is over the edge.
We in the process of repairing/replacing the fire system at Vista House to prevent false call-outs.
The Historic rock wall at Vista House will be done by the end of June and we will be removing the barriers preventing access to the circle around the building at that time.

ODOT:
Gorge Construction
Paving and resurfacing 6 miles of I-84 from Interstate 205 to 169th Avenue and from just east of 201st Avenue to Marine Drive (exit 17) is scheduled to begin mid-April, starting on the eastern half of the project first. Expect mostly nighttime work with some weekend closures near I-205.
Resurfacing inside the Toothrock Tunnel continues on eastbound I-84 by the Bonneville Dam (exit 40). Bridge work begins in mid-April. Around-the-clock single lane closures on I-84 from Sundays at 5 p.m. to Thursdays at 4 p.m. until Memorial Day. Periodic nighttime lane closures Sunday through Thursday nights between Multnomah Falls and Cascade Locks.
Historic Highway State Trail construction has an around-the-clock single lane closure on I-84 east until Memorial Day near Exit 56. 
Construction of two new culverts under I-84 and the Historic Highway continues to drain storm water off the steep slope one mile west of Multnomah Falls, the site of nearly 30 debris flows in 2021. Periodic single lane closures on I-84.
More details and sign up for updates: www.i84GorgeConstruction.org
 
Comment now on ODOT projects planned for 2024-2027
ODOT wants your comments on projects planned for 2024-2027 in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, also known as the STIP, that lays out where we will invest federal and state money in the transportation system - everything from roads and bridges to public transportation to bike paths and sidewalks.
Join us to learn more and share comments before April 28 at ODOT’s website, online open house, or an in-person open house:
Oregon City: April 3, 2023, 4:30 - 6:00pm. Clackamas County's Development Services Building – Auditorium, 150 Beavercreek Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045
Beaverton: April 8, 2023, 11:00am - 1:00pm. Beaverton Library - Meeting Room A, 12375 SW 5th Street, Beaverton, OR 97005
Hood River: April 25, 2023, 4:30 - 6:00pm. Hood River Ty Taylor Fire Station, 1785 Meyer Pkwy, Hood River, OR 97031




Museum:
A fundraiser will be happening from May 5-May 7 with donations being accepted on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. 
The Sunday Tea fundraiser will be on June 11, 2023 starting at 1:30 p.m. at Glenn Otto Park.  The cost per ticket is $40, you can purchase an entire table for $320 and bring all your friends!  Donation cards are also available.  If you would like tickets or an entire packet please contact Sandy Cartisser:  503-695-5153.
The heating has been installed in the building but is not yet energized. 
Yard debris cleaning has begun.
There is an anonymous donor who is offering matching funds up to $50,000. This will be continuing throughout the 2023 year, so if you'd like to donate, please consider doing it now and "double" your donation.

Fire Department:
The department has gone out on 106 calls this year to date. Some of those have been ambulance only, a fair number of them to Thousand Acres.
Good News!  The department has received a grant for approximately $350,000 from the State Fire Marshall.  These funds were made available for Type 3 fire apparatus, Water tenders or Type 6 brush rigs.  Corbett Fire sent in an application for a 2,000 gallon water tender and we will see it in about a year.  It will be white with the Corbett Fire logo and will be stationed in the new structure in Springdale. This money was in the bond and now will not need to be spent.
Bond Update: Surveys on the properties have been completed and sites for the cisterns are being acquired.  The removal of the oil tank behind the Corbett station has been completed.  The soil was found to be contaminated and had to be dug down to 14 feet to get a clear test.  Extra cost was associated with the extra work.
Tree work along the back will begin soon.  Those trees that are decaying are going to have to come down.
The permitting process has started, Springdale should be fairly smooth, Corbett will probably take longer due to the NSA.
The Scholarship breakfast will be June 10th, so come to the breakfast on Saturday and then head over to the Tea on Sunday!  Applications for the Scholarship are due on
May 1, 2023 so if you know of a local student who wants to apply, let them know.  The Association is looking to award around $10,000 this year.
Firewise is going strong, thanks to all the hard work Corbett is now a Firewise USA Community.
AMR and all medical services have been stretched lately and in June you will see some BLS (Basic Life Support) vehicles responding to calls in Multnomah County.  In the past there have been two paramedics responding to call with AMR, now you may have EMTs responding.  The fire department can request ALS (Advanced Life Support) services if needed.  This is being done in an effort to eliminate not having any ambulances available to respond to calls, or in the case of our area, having ambulances coming from across town to respond. 
AMR is looking for 50 paramedics at this time, staffing levels, like in so many other agencies, is down.
Question:  Insurance was dropped to a resident on Deverall.  What has changed with Corbett Fire to cause this? 
The ISO rating for a community is based 40% on the fire department response, 40% on the ability of the community to provide appropriate water, and 20% on the dispatch.  Corbett has not changed on their ratings, but the new State Fire hazard map has offered insurance companies an opportunity to drop people or increase rates.  Please let the Fire Department know if this has happened to you, they would like to track this information.

(The ISO (Insurance Services Office) Fire Score is a rating that determines how well the fire department can protect your community and home. Insurance companies use the score to help set home insurance rates, as a home that is less likely to be severely damaged or destroyed by fire is cheaper to insure.)

Grange:
The Legislative Committee has narrowed down the current bills in the House and Senate to nine that may affect the Corbett Community.  These are regarding fire and water issues. 
A questionnaire has gone out to those eleven people running for the Corbett School Board.  The candidates have until April 15, 2023 to respond.  These will be posted on the website.
Free Seeds- Walmart is donating seeds to the Grange and they are distributing them through the Helping Hands program, the school and to members.  A box is also being left at the Fire Hall.  Please take what you can use.

Corbett School District:
Thank you to NEMCCA and the other community groups for their letters of support for the one million dollar grant the school has applied for to put in a 3/4 mile asphalt walk path.  Since coming to the school the Superintendent is working to make the school a hub of the community, and providing a safe place for residents to exercise would be a great addition.
The middle school mold situation has passed for all the classrooms and hallways except the one room where the issue originated.  That room has been sealed off and will no longer be used.  Students have returned to the building.
All permits have been issued on the Woodard building.  They have started on the septic system and the Superintendent has called the Multnomah County Roads department and left messages twice with no response.  He will be reaching out to them again. 
Discussion:  The fact that the County never installed a school zone sign on Bell so Law Enforcement can not enforce speeding or school zone violations.  This has been an issue for ten years.  When the Superintendent is able to get in touch with the County, would he please include the request for Bell road along with the Woodard road sign.
Three mental health professionals have been hired for the new mental health center, and they will be adding one more.  Starting in May classes will begin on reducing stress and anxiety, this will be open to staff and community.



Springdale Job Corp:
Currently there are 74 students on board with the goal of having up to 87, which is all they can have on campus right now with the damage to the dorms.
Money has been approved for demolition of the eight dorm rooms, two hallways and two risers that were damaged during the water "leak".  The contract will be going out in three phases to repair the building. 
The center has been awarded money for Life/Safety items, around $131,000.  This is work that was pointed out as needing done during a recent survey of the grounds. 
Similar to other agencies, the Springdale Job Corp has 24 vacancies, including Center Director.      https://springdale.jobcorps.gov/employment
Trees have been damaging the fence so the center has been doing a  lot of work on the back fence line, clearing of trees and brush.

Corbett Water District:
Currently going through their budget cycle.  The revenue for the District is around one million and the cost of staff is 60% of that amount.  With the remaining 40% they are limited to the projects they can do, but replacing the sand in the filter ponds needs done.  In the past there hasn't been NSF approved sand, but now there is, with one supplier.  This replacement will take half the working budget each year for the next three years. 
The water district is applying for grants and would appreciate letter of support from other agencies and community groups.  The demographics are difficult to qualify for many grants, we are not poor enough for some grants, but we also have customers who are not above the poverty line or are on a fixed income. Something that has to be taken into account and balanced when doing any changes to costs.
CWD will be enforcing the backflow regulations.  All agriculture connections need to have one, and there is currently discussion on what is considered an irrigation connection rather than an agricultural connection. 
The Fire Department has to have fire hydrants tested twice a year to meet the ISO criteria.  In the past the Fire Department has been doing the testing, but it is normally the responsibility of the water district.  The district will be transitioning the testing over to the water district, but will be working with the fire department as a team since the fire department has the necessary tools.
CWD and the Fire Department will be putting an interagency agreement together regarding the testing to create a good working relationship.
The Grange is putting together tours of the water treatment plant, let Ana know if you're interesting in taking one.
Board meetings will continue to be hybrid video meetings.
Discussion: With the staffing needs taking 60% of the budget and the sand filter taking half of the remaining 20%, what do you see as priorities for the remaining work that needs done?
The Master Plan has identified some priorities: the sand replacement, a new sampling station, two more Pressure Release Valves, maintenance on all of the PRV's, rebuilding of the major PRV's which needs done every 5-7 years (five are in the budget for this year).
 

Multnomah County Roads:
Here to introduce two new members to the Safety Meeting and to answer any questions.
Discussion: New signs requested for the Woodard school zone and also for Bell road.  How do you get requests processed?  A new sign request is put in the system (use seeclickfix), it will then go to an engineer who will determine if it is warranted.  If it is, it will go into the system as needing made, the sign department will make it, and then it will be installed.  There are currently 10,000 signs in the system, if you had an older request many were dropped when the County switched to the new computer system, try requesting again.  There is no timeline for when the signs will be done, no one currently contacts a person who makes a request to let them know if the sign has been determined to be warranted or not.  Information goes in to the County, but does not come back out. 
Seeclickfix for reporting of road hazards and needed repairs is not the solution that the County appears to believe.  Information from the system may say that the work has been dispatched to a crew, leading people to believe the work is being done, when it reality nothing will be happening in a timely manner.  Work may be done by a crew and then six months later (with regards to potholes) a dump will come from the County updating work orders for work that had been done months prior, and in some cases needs done again. Seeclickfix is viewed as something that doesn't work, or something that is okay for items that can be postponed for several months, but not for work that requires immediate attention.  The system closes any reports that say vehicles are being abandoned, even though its not a case of them being abandoned by someone dumping them, but due to road conditions created by snow and ice.  Extremely hazardous conditions along lower Larch during the snow storm in early Winter were not addressed by the County and the reports to seeclickfix were immediately closed out. 
Recent attempts to get snow plowed after 4:30 on Thursday resulted in locals plowing the road themselves to be able to get in and out.  The community members were told Roads works Monday through Thursday until 4:30, if you contact MCSO regarding a hazard they can contact the person from the Roads department who has the dispatch phone, but they cannot order Roads to come out to do work, they can only recommend or close the road if its deemed too unsafe. 
Roads stated that their Union does not require them to work mandatory overtime, they work M-Th until 4:30 and all work after those hours is voluntary.  If the County Chair declares a County Emergency then they have to respond, but otherwise any person out working (snowplowing/vegetation cutting) is doing it voluntarily and if they have other plans they just say no.  The County also requires two people to respond to any call out for safety. When asked, Roads said having a local community member come and be there for a safety net is not an acceptable option.  MCSO said they can be available to assist with safety and have a Deputy respond to an incident if they are not busy in another area. It was asked if Roads has contacted the Fire Department to have someone come out and partner for safety, Roads has not done this and did not comment on it being an option. It was also pointed out that the fire department is voluntary and are always happy to help. Corbett Water said they have a plow on their truck so they can get to the treatment plant, would it be helpful to have them help with the plowing?  Fire department has also purchased a plow since they need to be able to get firefighters in to respond on calls.
There are 14 people who work the roads, four of them do some additional hours.  No one is on-call.  Discussion regarding other agencies and businesses who have rotating on-call requirements or 24 hour crews was responded to with "those are private companies". 
Roads was asked if the contact the School District regarding snow and ice on the roads to find out the local conditions since CSD has a Supervisor who drives the roads to check for bus safety since Roads is not aware of local conditions. They do not.
MCSO and Corbett Fire District #14 are here to support the Roads Department whenever they can.
The "stump dump" by Pounder and Littlepage has been looked at by the new engineer and one of the Supervisors.  The Road right of way is 40 feet and some of the stream is not in the right of way, and there is also discussion by those who monitor the streams that the stumps could be good for fish and wildlife habitat.  More work is being done and updates will come over the next few months.
The County is hiring a third Supervisor for Roads which should allow for some Supervisor time to travel the roads and monitor areas that need work. A couple of pages of notes had already been taken prior to the meeting.

Multnomah County Sheriff's Office:
The community may have noticed more patrolling in the Springdale area, there is also a desire to get the traffic speed trailer out in the community again, look for it.
There is an on-line form you can use to report abandoned vehicles in District 50, or you can call and ask to speak to a deputy.  Go to https://mcso.us/site/, pull down the forms file, go down to Abandoned vehicles.  This sends an email to records and also sends a call out to a deputy.  It also allows the system to keep track of what is called in, what action is taken, and when someone calls for a follow up it is available.  While the on-line option is always available, please know MCSO is also there to talk to you in person if you prefer, it is not being done in place of personal contact.
Discussion: Has 311 made any difference in the call volume?  There were some incorrect numbers being given out for unincorporated Multnomah County.  MCSO went through the contact information and updates were made.
Big Picture - MCSO is down to only one vacancy on the patrol side, although the correction side is still down 50+ staff.  Patrol was able to get some lateral transfers, about half of the new hires, so they able to get out on their own quickly.  New hires are out about a year before they are able to respond to calls on their own.
The department is looking at long range staffing levels, balancing expected retirements and doing some over hiring now to compensate.
Forest Service and State Parks is in the process of getting their summer deputy on board, MCSO is just waiting on the signed contracts.
Enhanced traffic safety patrols will be seen over the next couple of months, including the Corbett area.  A Sergeant is applying for some additional traffic safety grants that will be directed to the Corbett area to assist with the issues at the Vista House and the speed racers. The Sheriff was at a meeting in Corbett in February, heard those in attendance  and is working to address the concerns.
MCSO has been working for the past two years to get a mental health professional to respond to calls involving persons in crisis. In the next one to two months MCSO will be looking to hire a mental health professional who will be a "Hot response Co-responder".  This professional will be available not only for the call, but to do follow-up. The goal is to have the position on line by summer.
Discussion: Talk with the Superintendent regarding the mental health center that how the two agencies can help each other. You need to work with each other to be successful.



Forest Servicer:
Staffing issues are also affecting the Forest Service.  Only one person applied for the seasonal position, usually have three.  That person withdrew their application this week so there will be no designated seasonals. There will be one ranger at Multnomah Falls.
Timed ticket system will be starting back up at the I-84 parking lot.
Wahkeena picnic area is still needing a host if you or anyone you know is interested.

NEMCCA:
Hosted PGE at their March board meeting.  Notes on that meeting are available on their facebook page or you can request an email. 
Sheriff Nicole Morrisey-O'Donnell was at the February Board meeting with Captain Asboe. Thank you for coming out and listening to concerns, noticed some of the items in the Safety report were items brought up.
Deputy Chief Eriksen will be at the May 18th Board meeting for a listening session with the community regarding body cameras.  Meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Fire Hall.



 12 
 on: March 31, 2023, 05:59:32 PM 
Started by www.corbettoregon.com - Last post by www.corbettoregon.com
Multnomah County would like to hear from people living and working in rural parts of the county about what type of transit would be most useful to you. Please take our survey to tell us your thoughts! The survey will close on Friday, April 28.

See attached PDF flier for more.

 13 
 on: March 18, 2023, 09:06:57 AM 
Started by www.corbettoregon.com - Last post by www.corbettoregon.com
Summary of NEMCCA's meeting with PGE representatives on March 16, 2023 regarding the PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoffs).

 Discussion regarding PSPS areas, and POAs (Preventative Outages Areas):

In the original information that came out it was understood by those living in areas East of Knieriem that they would be losing power during a PSPS, and that those West of the road would be left with power on, there had even been a bit of teasing going on depending on which side of the line you fell.  However, as we learned in September, that due to the anticipated high wind PGE made a few adjustments.  People were without power clear to the Troutdale line, and beyond.
The goal was to expand the area regarding shut off due to the forecast model (and we'll get into that later) but there are limits imposed on how fine tuned the shut-offs can be due to the way the power lines are laid out, and the shut-off switches.  During 2022 PGE has  installed 44 new reclosers (act like shut-off switches) to narrow down the PSPS areas in their service territory,  and more are scheduled to go in this year.

 HOWEVER.... please keep in mind, and be prepared to be shut-off and be without power during any of the wind events we will be experiencing!  There are no areas that will be marked "safe" from a shut-off.  Anytime there are notifications going out that one is expected, be prepared and plan accordingly.

 

Notifications - were there too many, not enough, or just the right amount:

Depends on who you ask.  Were the numerous notifications at the beginning of the event helpful in keeping people aware, or did they create a sense of panic that could be avoided by reducing the number of alerts?  (Or do we as individuals turn off notifications from either PGE or MultCo Emergency Management Services to stop getting double notified?  Do we miss an important alert if we do?  Or do we decide at some point the power is going off and turn off all notifications to reduce the noise?  Questions that we need to answer for ourselves.)

 Were there enough notifications during the actual outages, or could there have been more?  According to the commission rules,  notifications need to be updated once every 24 hours, would we like to see that changed to once every 8 hours, or is 24 adequate?

What about notifications as the event was moved into power restoration?  Did you want more updates, fewer, was it just right?

Feedback has come in praising PGE on their communications, and others have voiced concerns similar to the above.  The fact is, you can't make everyone happy all of the time, and we need to figure out what works for us as individuals.  With time there may be more options for signing up for number of alerts that fit our needs, but right now that is a piece that continues being fine tuned.

 
Forecast Model vs Reality:
 As with all forecasts, there can be a wide difference between what is expected, and what happens.  The meteorologist for PGE used the weather stations that PGE has stationed around their ten HFRZ (High Fire Risk Zones) areas (three weather stations were added last year in the Corbett area, PGE plans for one more going in this during 2023 along the outer Gorge to pick up that data), and they issued a PSPS event in response to that data and the National Weather Service Red Flag Warnings.

 Ultimately the weather was not as severe as expected, but damage was done and 3,955 feet of damage wire cable was repaired, 21 transformers and 11 poles.  Its not possible to know how many lines touched together and didn't spark because there were shut off, or how many branches that hit the lines would have sparked if they had been left on, but with the on-going drought and the long term affects to the trees that need more than one or two rainy season to bounce back. Beetles that eat on the Douglas Fir are now wintering over, trees are dying and this is increasing the possible fuel for fires.  All these factors are being taken into account when looking at a PSPS.

 
What About Reimbursements:
This was outside the representatives area.

There are no known programs for fuel reimbursement, but claims can be filed on PGE's website: https://portlandgeneral.com/help/help-topics/claims-center


What about Wells:
PGE is aware that when power goes down, wells go down.  When wells go down, there isn't a way to fight a fire if it occurs on your property.  One of the PGE representatives has requested information from Corbett Fire regarding well locations to be used as a data point for their risk analysis which informs their wildfire mitigation capital investment decision making.  The more information PGE has on understanding community risks, the more informed decisions can be made on where to spend capital dollars.

Not sure right now what that will look like, since you can't ask for a one, three or 30 million dollar expense without data to show the cost/benefits of the work.

 
What about People with Health Issues:
 PGE has a register of those who need power due to health issues. This is a yearly registration. Additional notifications are sent to those who have medical needs prior to a PSPS, and there are a list of resources available.   

Go to https://portlandgeneral.com/outages-safety/be-prepared/powering-medical equipment  to register.

 A pilot program has been proposed this year to assist those who have medical certifications with battery packs during PSPS. If you're interested, or know someone who might be, please reach out to PGE's Medical Certificate Team at 503-612-3838.

 

How can we get the power on faster:

 Its not as easy to turn the power on as it is to turn it off, because each foot of line has to be inspected for damage.  The possibility of using drones to do inspections is limited by the current regulations that the drones have to be within line of sight and that is not a big help in our area.  The crews who turn the power back on want to do it as fast and efficiently as possible, and are always looking for ways to improve.

 The PSPS maps did not do justice to how many people were turned on as the areas did not flip to powered until the last person in the area was back on.  Effort is being done to show smaller areas as they come on the grid so people can see more accurate data.

 What about putting the power underground:

 Data needs to be provided to the cost is offset by the benefits, depending on the area to underground.  Underground has its benefits, but also has drawbacks.  Looking forward and planning for the Cascadia you would be looking at more damage to wire that is underground.  In some cases it is better to have wire on poles, and they are using more ductile iron poles in areas where that makes more sense.  It needs to be a combination of all options.

 
Personal responsibility, and can PGE do an insert coming into the Summer months:
Some people were caught short on propane since they weren't running heat during the summer and weren't thinking about propane.  Check your tank, make sure you have enough.

Generator safety is dependent on the homeowner.  Take the time to learn about your generator, have them checked by a professional if necessary, go to the website for tips.

https://portlandgeneral.com/outages-safety/be-prepared/backup-generators.

Power can go down for many reasons, and does.  Individuals need to have a plan, know what they need to do to take care of themselves.  Having power is not a guarantee.

 PGE is leading in the area for PSPS events, but expect to see other companies implementing the same measures.  It is expected that fires in the Valley will increase by 600% in the next ten years, and those fires or PSPS events may effect those no where close to them, so be prepared for an alert.

 PGE has a triangulation system now in the Corbett area that can pick up smoke within 30 feet, and our fire department (like many others) have been given access to this system.  This is a great tool for sending resources out to fight a fire, but doesn't prevent one.  Be ready for a shut-down.

 


 14 
 on: March 15, 2023, 08:23:49 AM 
Started by demblee - Last post by demblee
The Columbian Garden Club is hosting its Plant Sale on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Corbett Fire Station, 36930 E. Historic Columbia River Highway, Corbett.  Please note new open hours. Treasures from members' gardens include: perennials, shrubs, natives, and specialty items.  Proceeds from the Sale benefit Club civic landscape projects, educational programs and a horticulture scholarship. Free parking behind the Fire Station and limited on-street parking.  Please note that we will be following current Covid guidelines.  See also attached flyer.  Thanks for your support!

 15 
 on: March 15, 2023, 08:18:23 AM 
Started by demblee - Last post by demblee
The Columbian Garden Club is hosting its Plant Sale on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Corbett Fire Station, 36930 E. Historic Columbia River Highway, Corbett.  Please note new open hours. Treasures from members' gardens include: perennials, shrubs, natives, and specialty items.  Proceeds from the Sale benefit Club civic landscape projects, educational programs and a horticulture scholarship. Free parking behind the Fire Station and limited on-street parking.  Please note that we will be following current Covid guidelines.  See also attached flyer.  Thanks for your support!

 16 
 on: March 06, 2023, 02:10:20 PM 
Started by Poindexter - Last post by Poindexter
It's all good - the goofball is now back home.

 17 
 on: March 05, 2023, 04:14:16 PM 
Started by Poindexter - Last post by Poindexter
Hi All,

Our Aussie has gone on walkabout.

If you have seen him or know someone who has please contact

Mikal Ortlief  503-593-5734
John Ortlief 503-568-3281

 18 
 on: February 04, 2023, 05:03:34 AM 
Started by www.corbettoregon.com - Last post by www.corbettoregon.com
Safety Meeting Notes
February 1, 2023

Oregon Parks and Recreation:
Staff is doing clean up from the last storm.  They are also doing hazard tree removal, including chipping of debris, and are looking to get some additional crews brought in to help. Staff training is being done.

Crews will be de-winterizing Ainsworth by March 17, 2023 and a few others will be phased in.

Trail 400 is tentatively scheduled for hazard tree removal on February 17, 2023, impact will be from Multnomah Falls to Oneonta, possibly further East.
If you are interested in working for OPRD go to: Oregon.gov/oprd/emp

Forest Service:
Stan Hinatsu has retired, he will be missed.
(https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2023/01/forester-leaves-a-quiet-legacy-on-trails-of-the-columbia-gorge.html)

Crews are doing trail repairs and pile burning on the East side.

Hiring has had some challenges.  Jobs for the Forest Service can be found at: fs.usda.gov/
Campground hosts are being hired now for the summer.  Go to Volunteer.gov and type in Oregon campground host.

ODOT:
Staff is still running down a by a third, which they've been dealing with since last Spring.
There are five vacancies needing to be filled but they are also finding challenges when looking to hire.  If you're interested in working with ODOT go to : www.odotjobs.com

As mentioned in prior meetings, ODOT will be prioritizing work.  Highest priority is I-84, then the Old Scenic Highway from Larch to the fire department to the schools.  Activities will be curtailed in other areas, and we will be seeing this across the State.

Crews are working at Starvation Creek removing rock fall and at Eagle Creek with tree removal.

The 2023 Time Use Permits plan is still being worked on, and the location of the check in points is still being determined.  However, there has been confirmation of a flagger at the Multnomah Falls crosswalk provided in partnership with the Forest Service and Oregon Parks and Recreation.

The next Historical Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee will be on
March 16, 2023 from ten until two at the Hood River Library.  This will be a hybrid meeting so a zoom link will be available.

The permits for the nine proposed gates to assist with road closures are planned to be turned in by the end of this month.

Corbett School District:
The Winter Formal (themed Aurora Borealis) last week was well attended, with over two hundred students. Decorations were amazing and thank you to Community Patrol for their assistance.

There has been a huge issue in getting substitutes to come out to Corbett so the District has raised the daily pay to $269 to make us competitive with neighboring districts.  If you have a Bachelors degree and some available time and would like to be on the substitute list, please pick up a form at the District Office or contact Robin Lindeen-Blakeley. rlindeen@corbett.k12.or.us 

The middle school's recent air quality test showed low levels of VOC from the diesel spill, but is still showing high levels of mold.  There is a possibility that this is coming from one area and they are following air flow to track that down.  If it is they can seal that area off and hopefully get the kids back in the building by the end of the month.  They are looking at other options should that work out.

Work has started at Woodard and the District has put in for clearing and demolition permits so work can continue while waiting for the building permits to come through.

Going forward with the recent grant awarded to the District for mental health, the District is hiring four mental health professionals and staff and planned to sign a lease agreement for space on February 1, 2023.  They are looking to have flexible schedules for those working at the center so they can assist both students and the community.

Grange:
There are a lot of events coming up, please view the Columbia Grange website for the upcoming calendar.  http://www.columbiagrange267.org/

Corbett Water District:
The District has a majority of new hires (most having worked there for two years or less) and there are a lot of new ideas and new energy. 

The District is looking to update their current HVAC system and they have received their third bid so they can go forward now on getting ready for the hotter weather.

You may have noticed a shipping container on site.  It is being used for storage as the Government has its own requirements on storage and disposal of public property.  To meet those requirements there will be a large garage sale this summer, and if anyone is looking for some older office equipment, this could be for you. 

Water rates went up this last billing cycle and some may see an increase in their bill, but some may see a decrease.  This is because the Board voted to make the first three units of use go with the base rate, which may assist those who have low water usage or are on fixed income.

The new Master Plan is being worked on with the District Manager and some community members.  The last plan was done in 2003.  The fire department was able to provide a lot of data from the years of testing they have done and this Master Plan will be able to incorporate a hydraulic model.

There are three spots coming up on the Water Board this May.  You will need to register for the election by March 16, 2023.  Requirements to be on the Board is you live in the Water District?
(Discussion: Be registered to vote within the water district.  If you have a second home and spend part of the year living in another district you'll need to have your voter's registration listed in the Corbett Water District.)
https://multco-web7-psh-files-usw2.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023Calendar.pdf

The District has received a grant for a water shed risk assessment - community members are assisting.

There is a Utility 2 spot available in Corbett. You can go to OHA and find a list of people with the required certification.

Community Patrol:
Right now they have been focusing on the school, keeping the area safe.  There has been a lot of positive feedback from parents and community members on them being down there.  There are four members who focus on the school schedule, about twenty members in all.   http://www.mcsocp.com/

The crew did some training with the water district and they will be available to help the district when they need it.

Corbett Fire District:
EMR class starts on February 1, 2023. This class will help get more trained personnel out in the community to assist with faster response times.

The Bull Run bridge has a 24,000 weight limit imposed, all of the Fire District's rigs are over that except for the brush rig.  Clackamas County is running into the same issue, their rigs are too heavy, so until an exception is allowed for fire rigs (something Clackamas County is attempting) Corbett will be responding to all calls from the Multnomah County line to Bull Run.  Corbett is hopeful that Gresham will be able to back us up as needed, as they have done in mutual aid situations in the past.

The Silver truck that has been left over the hill for the past five months down from the Vista House and that the department is continuing to receive calls on.  What is being done by the State agencies and MCSO to get the truck out?
(Discussion:  It is up to the owner of the truck, or the property owner, to get the truck removed.  The determination is that the truck ended up on Parks and Rec land, but there are additional circumstances where the truck ended up being reported stolen and an investigation is on-going.  Insurance for the truck's owner should cover the recovery, but then there was also talk that they felt it would need removed by a helicopter, although that is not the overall belief of those involved in the discussion. 
ODOT has a person who works on tracking down insurance companies and filing claims, but upfront there is an issue of "do you want abandoned vehicles removed, or potholes filled".  But, this particular vehicle is not on ODOT property and the various agencies who are part of this don't see a quick solution, but are aware and working on it together. 
It was suggested caution tape and a sign go up on the vehicle so people stop calling it in, that was done months ago and didn't stop the calls.)

Springdale Job Corp:
There are currently 76 students attending.

Estimates have come in to repair the water damage caused in the Ice Event in December when a four inch fire line froze and burst, and they are running between 1.2 and 1.3 million dollars.  The area affected is eight dorm rooms (which normally house four students each), two hallways and the riser rooms.  The Center is self insured so even while waiting for the bids to come in, the checks had to be written to repair all the plumbing issues.  The Fire Marshal signed off regarding the fire system on
January 31, 2023.

The Department of Labor Engineers are currently on site and there will be a Facilities Assessment starting next week, you'll probably see them around.

The Center has received three bids to fence the entire facility, which will also include necessary gates.  Recently a student walked off the campus and is still listed as a missing minor so this is a priority.

Tree roots have grown in to some of the sewer lines and half the bathrooms on the Center have been shut down.  It is a short term goal to get the bathrooms open in the Dining Area.

Multnomah County Sheriff's Office:
Here to answer questions.

(Discussion: the STOP sign is missing at Brower/Larch.  People stopping in the middle of the Old Scenic Highway to get water from the "Magic Fountain".  Ice across the road at said fountain when it freezes. Homeless situation, how is it, where is it going.
Water rights for the water coming out of the pipe at the bottom of Nielsen and the Old Scenic Highway go back to the 1930's.  There are multiple people who still have the rights and the agencies are working together to track all of them down to see if it can be shut down.  This is a safety issue for those traveling the road, and those coming down from Nielsen and wanting to enter the Old Highway.  People come with their children and pets, and don't always pay as close of attention as they should. 
They have tried more than once to close off the pipe, people remove the closure.  Non-Potable water signs have been put up and are immediately removed.  The area is ditched and cleared, people bring in bricks, boards and other materials to make a pathway.  People leaving the site have gone off the road, creating a new pathway for water to leave the ditch and go on to the road.  It is a safety issue on several levels and they are working on it.  Another wrinkle is the pipe has been there for more than 50 years, which adds a layer to the issue.)

Friends of Multnomah Falls:  The restaurant will be closed starting February 15, 2023 for a couple of weeks for maintenance and repairs.

NEMCCA: The new Sheriff - Nicole Morrisey-O'Donnell - will be coming to the February 16, 2023 NEMCCA Board meeting.  We are looking forward to hearing what changes we can expect in our area, discussion regarding budgeting for the SRO and CRO, abandoned vehicles, Vista House patrols, snow gate enforcement, and whatever she would like to share with us.  All are invited, the meeting starts at 6:30 at the fire hall.

PGE has been asked to attend the March 16, 2023 NEMCCA Board meeting to further answer questions regarding what to expect going forward with PSPS procedures, what risk assessment are they using, what level of risk is okay when you realize there is a community running generators instead of using power, loss of water in the home for those on wells, what can citizens do to help PGE to let them stay "energized".  This meeting also starts at 6:30 and all who are interested are encouraged to attend.

A note has been sent to the County Commissioner's Office requesting a more visible presence at the meetings.  One has also been sent to Multnomah County Roads.

Citizen Concern:
What is going to be done about the tree mess at the corner of Littlepage and Pounder?  The trees have been cut/fallen down, root balls created an issue, one has been drug across the road and dumped in the stream alongside the road. This is impacting the neighborhood.  Who do you contact (since Multnomah County roads isn't here) and does anyone know what is going on?
(Discussion:  Start with Multco Roads.  Reach out to State Forestry regarding permits for the large burn piles that are bunched on the property.  Multnomah County Drainage would be a good place to start for the root ball(s) in the stream.  Division of State Lands could be a resource.)









 19 
 on: November 12, 2022, 06:05:47 AM 
Started by www.corbettoregon.com - Last post by www.corbettoregon.com
Here is the chance to learn the history of your community and support the building fund for the new museum by attending a series of history lectures on sunday afternoons, 3:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m.  dates:  november 13, 2022, january 22, 2023, february 26, 2023 and march 19, 2023, at the grange.  Tickets at the door($5/members and $10/non-members).  Bring your family!

https://www.cpchs.org/history-lectures-at-the-grange/

 20 
 on: November 09, 2022, 05:34:53 AM 
Started by www.corbettoregon.com - Last post by www.corbettoregon.com
Apply for a grant from East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District! Sign up and fill out their online application by 4 p.m. Dec. 14, 2022. The minimum grant award is $5,000. The maximum is $70,000 (10% of total funding available).

Find more details here:
https://www.corbettoregon.com/apply-grant-east-multnomah-soil-water-conservation-district/

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 10
Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.14 | SMF © 2006-2011, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!