Corbett Community Forum

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.)