Recent Posts

[Safety Meeting Notes]

Safety Meeting Notes
September 6, 2023

Thank you to Jack Garrison who took notes for NEMCCA this month.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070147935101



Historical Society  - Outside deck is almost complete and electrical wiring of the inside of the building is in progress.
Oregon Highway Patrol - Staffing remains at 65% but two new hires are coming on board in October.

County Emergency Management - Provided a comprehensive overview of the Camp Creek Fire which is now 16% contained and its current size remains at a little over 1900 acres.   Currently there are over 500 management staff and firefighters on scene.

There was a discussion of the Emergency Notifications Areas / Zones and the Three Notification Level.  The first and lowest level is only provided to folks who have signed up for notifications via their phones or computers.  One of the issues is the overlap of notifications across several zones.  So some folks may get more than one notification level.
There was a positive comment of the recent Camp Creek Fire public meeting at the Grange which was attended by around 150 folks and that the Great Basin Incident Team was doing pop up updates at the Country Store.

A map was passed around showing the various water districts, in addition to Portland, that rely on Bull Run Reservoir and the various Portland water wells as a source of water.   The average daily water consumption across these water districts is 85-90 million gallons per day but summer peak use can be in the range of 100 to 110 million gallons per day.   As daily use goes down because of cooler weather a majority of the water will be produced by wells vice Bull Run.

Please Note - The Corbett Water District is not part of this Bull Run systems thus not impacted by the fire.

Corbett School - School is back in sessions and thanks to Citizen's Patrol for providing both morning and afternoon traffic control.  Over the summer the school has changed the parking lot traffic pattern and that has improved the traffic flow.

Woodard campus work is in progress.  The metal building is up and the interior is being finished.   Driveways and parking lots will be repaved this week.  Construction competition is anticipated by the end of November with a projected start of school on January 8,  2024.  Woodard school zone is still an unresolved issue but in progress; however, the school zone sign on Bell Road has been installed.

There was a lengthy discussion of the MCSO tactical training that was conducted over the summer in the Corbett School facility and the benefits to the community plus as a result of the training event the campus was surveyed and some area were identified that could be changed.  During the week that training was conducted there were many questions across the community as to what was going on and a lesson learned was the need for better community notification before the fact.

Corbett Water District - The Board has recently suspended charging customers for their private fire lines (unless they have a full-sized meter on their line). They are looking at the policy to determine the best course of action moving forward.

The CWD staff has stayed in touch with the Portland Emergency Coordination Center's daily briefing on the bull run fire and is confident that we will not be seeing this fire spread to our watershed. 
Working with the Fire Department on flow testing this summer we have determined that our PRV stations are potentially limiting hydrant flow. The board has called a zoom meeting on September 7th solely for the purpose of reviewing this topic. Please see our web site for a zoom link, or contact the office for more information

MCSO - Deputy discussed ways to notify him of suspicious activity in the community and best to email him vice telephone.   There was a lengthy overview of the school shooter training that was conducted over a week period at the Corbett Schools and MCSO also conducted training at another school over the summer.

The recent incident on Corbett Hill Road was briefly described.  Person was a local and was provided medical assistance and taken to the hospital.

There was a discussion by MCSO and Emergency Management on the mass notification of the incident in East Portland a few weeks ago.  Because of a software change which was incorrect several thousand folks including most of east county was notified to shelter in place when 911 pushed the notification.   Issue has been corrected and Emergency Management apologized for the problem.  They explained how a zone around an incident is established and how those personnel living in the area are notified.

Citizens Patrol - Discussed the change in the school traffic pattern.   Announced that East County Pioneer Association was having an event this Sunday at the Fire Hall but no further data was provided.   Citizens Patrol was thanked for supporting the NEMCCA litter patrol on Corbett Hill Road.

County Roads - There will be an internal meeting next week on rural road issues and looking to come up with a multi year plan to address the many issues.   Hiring of 10 additional workers is in progress.   There was a brief discussion of the Howard Road quarry and the impact of operations on the road and responsibility.  Ongoing determination of facts.

Grange is joining the Adopt a Road litter patrol effort and there was going to be a follow up discussion on the paperwork following the meeting.  There was a discussion about the past school effort on Evans and the need to reinstate that effort.   School Super was supportive.

The Adopt a Road policy is being rewritten and there are efforts underway to update the list of organizations that previously signed up, if they are still active and future interested in the program.   The  new policy will specify how many times a year patrols must be conducted.  NEMCCA was thanked for their efforts and the new signs on Corbett Hill Road should be installed next week.
The Owner Maintenance Policy for property owner maintenance of road right of way is also being rewritten and expect some changes down the road.  No time for release for this new policy was given but likely not near term.

Forest Service - Time of use permitting is over for the year and there will be a report on the program in the future.  Summer / Seasonal hires did a great job this year and that effort is also coming to a close soon.  There has been some issues at the Sand River Delta over reports on Twitter of potential human remains in the area.   MCSO and the Forest Service confirmed that is not true.  However, there are several personal memorial sites in the Delta and expect that these will be addressed in the future.  The E-bike use and policy is being relooked and will including designated parking areas.   Forest Service is expecting some new hires and with added manpower there is planned refocus on several issues.

Oregon State Parks - Fountain of Youth, i.e. the Dabney drinking water source is still being worked to mitigate the traffic hazards on the Historic Highway and the plan is to divert the water; however, no final solution or date of competition is available.   There was a discussion on the need to complete this project before winter.

Portland Women's Forum public meeting was recently held at the Grange and there was a great deal of public input so they are back to the drawing board to revise the plan and when updated a copy will be provided to NEMCCA for distribution.

Stare Parks has begun to adjust seasonal closing times and summer hires will be gone by October.  Parks will start closing on November 1st.

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) - There will be a report on permit use coming soon and bid process for the west viaduct reconstruction was released for bid yesterday (Sept 5th).  Construction is anticipated to begin in the Fall of 2024.

ODOT is incurring a 25 position cut due to gas tax funding reductions.  This winter they are anticipating only having one truck vice two in our area during bad weather.   Plus there will likely be more highway closures due to bad weather this winter and the lack of manpower.  New gates have been installed in various locations.

ODOT will be installing new mile post markers on the Historic Highway starting at the Troutdale Bridge in the future; however, underground utilities will likely slow the process of drilling post holes for the new signs.

[Safety Meeting Notes - May 3, 2023]

Safety Meeting Notes - May 3, 2023


 
OSP:
Patrol staffing is back to 53%
They will be filling two Sergeant positions
 
Museum:
Trinkets to Treasures Sale will be May 5 and May 6 from 9-4, and May 7 from 9-1.
There are still tickets available for the Tea fundraiser on June 11, contact Sandy Cartisser if you'd like to purchase.
 
There is a $50,000 matching grant going right now, so for every dollar you donate you can double it with this grant.  They are currently about half-way through the grant. Please consider donating.
(Discussion: Does in-kind donations of labor or materials count?
            Will contact Sandy and find out.)
 
Fire District:
The new water tender from the State is estimated at saving the District and locals $450,000 based on current updates.
 
Last year the district received $35,000 for staffing during wildfire season for patrols, manning of the station and fire protection.  We don't know if we'll be getting the funds this year, but last Friday we were notified the District has received a $30,000 grant for fire reduction. This grant will be administered by the Firewise Board.  More information on how that will be used will be coming.
 
The Breakfast for scholarships is coming up on June 10, 2023 and we'd love to see everyone there.  We are also looking for donations for the silent auction.  If you have something to donate please contact the fire hall.
 
On May 18th the fire department will be getting together with the neighboring agencies to launch the water safety programs at Dabney.
 
Corbett School District:
The Woodard campus is going forward.  The metal building is expected to be delivered in mid-June, the framed walls on building one and building two are almost ready for attaching the metal building.
 
Currently it is expected that the campus will be ready by mid-November which will give everyone a month to get the buildings ready to move in, with classes starting there after Winter break.
 
Contact was made with the Roads department and they are working on signs for Woodard and also for Bell road.  They don't see any problems with getting these done.
 
There was a recent discussion regarding the configuration of the buildings as the High school is overcrowded and having the eighth graders in the mix was too wide of a spread of ages.  The chosen option is to add two sixth grade classrooms to the Grade school and have the Middle school be seventh and eighth.  So, starting in August it will be Grade school K-6, CAPS will remain the same, Middle school 7-8 and High school 9-12.
 
Prom was held last week at Persimmons and a big thank you to Deputy Kaiser and Citizen's Patrol.  The event was well attended and went smoothly.
 
School Board elections are coming up and thank you to the Grange for holding an Open house to meet the candidates.  It was a very nice way to talk with the candidates without having a debate, definitely felt like everyone is working together for the Community instead of competing for a spot.  Get out and Vote!
 
Finalizing the budget tonight (5/3) if the Board votes to accept the proposal.  The ending fund balance was at a negative $250,000, which is not allowed, and the desire was to have a positive of $900,000 to one million, so the decision was made to cut $750,000 from the supplies budget (bringing the ending fund budget to $500,000) and then to not fill some of the vacant and open positions, saving another $400,000.  The changing of the school layout also made some of these cuts possible. The goal was to increase the EFB without impacting the classrooms.
 
Discussion:
What will the Woodard campus be when it is done?
            It will be the middle school.
It is understood the goal is to get the Woodard campus built, then to pass another bond in a few years to build a new Middle School and turn the Woodard campus into a CTE campus.
            Let's get this campus done first, then look at the future plans.
Did the school get the walking path grant they applied for?
            It did not, but they are looking for more grants and will try again.
How is it going with the mental health center?
            Three of the four social workers have been hired and one has already started.  It is expected that services will be available by the end of May.
 
Mt Hood Community College:
The Board has passed next year's budget and they are in good shape.  They don't like to raise the cost of attending and last year they didn't have to, but this year they are raising the cost $2 per credit hour.
 
They are continuing to meet with their Legislators to try and get help and support of continuing education.  There have been several who have come to the campus, which helps in getting support, but more is needed.
 
The Foundation Board held an auction and made around $200,000.  All monies will go towards scholarships once expenses have been paid.
 
The college has been redoing the dental hygiene clinic so they can continue to meet accreditation requirements- the students have been taking classes in another location but will be back in their classrooms next year.
 
There are some hybrid classes going on right now, but most of the students are back on campus.
 
Sheriff's Budget Advisory Committee:
In the budget process the departments turn in their "in target" budget items, which means they will fund the positions.  With the "out of target" items it means it would be nice to have it, but its not in the regular budget.
 
Community Resource Officers are in the "out of target" area of the budget.  There was a lot of concern regarding not having the CRO's funded (both for Corbett and Sauvie Island ) but the Chair picked those two positions up and put them in her budget.
 
Oregon State Parks:
The repair work on the wall at the Vista House is going well, John DiBona is doing the work.
 
Due to the large number of false calls to the Fire Department the faulty pull stations are off line.  Work is being done to correct the problem.
 
Women's Forum is going forward, the design contract is expected to be ready for presentation in a public forum by late summer.  There is a large group of community members that the State is in regular contact with regarding the progress.
 
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office will be able to fulfill their contract to have a dedicated Deputy available to patrol the parks.  Its been a few years since this has been possible.
 
Hiring is on-going, they are looking to fill 19 seasonal positions.  There is also a student worker program- the applicant needs to be enrolled in school (either high school or college) and be between 16-18 years of age.  Information on this will be sent to the Schools.
 
The spring at Nielsen is being addressed by Parks and ODOT.  It will take some time, but they are working on it.  The spring was not put in by the CCC, it was placed there by the Portland Auto Club when they had their club at the current Yoshida center to fill radiators.
 
Job Corps:
Springdale is on pause due to being short staffed in the health and wellness department. Once we have 3 full time RNs on staff, we can begin to bring in new students again.
 
A date hasn't been set yet for the next Community Relations Council meeting but it will be shared out once the date is released. If anyone is interested in being added to the guest list, I encourage them to send an email to Sandra at: Closser.Sandra@jobcorps.org, she would be happy to get them an invitation. The meeting is an opportunity to come to center, meet a few of the students, take a tour, and learn about the community partnerships that they are wanting to develop.
 
Demolition on the water damaged dorms will start on May 8, Aho Construction will be doing that work.
 
Grange:
There was a wonderful Meet and Greet of the School Board candidates, thank you to all who came to meet the candidates.  If you would like to know more about the candidates you can find some information at the Columbia Grange home page.
 
The plant share will be held at the Grange on Saturday, May 6th from 10-1.  Please come even if you don't have a plant to swap.
 
May 10 from 7-8:30 come to a Conversation About Forest Management for Carbon Capture & Storage.
 
On May 12th there will be a meeting with Representative Helfrich from 10 until noon, at the Grange.  If you have a question you'd like asked please bring it written down so if you don't have an opportunity to ask it you can leave it for the Representative to take with him.
 
Mother's Day, May 14th there will be a dance from 4-6 featuring the music of Caroline Oakley.
 
And mark your calendars for May 20th for a kids clothing exchange from 3-5.
 
For all events please go to : http://www.columbiagrange267.org/weekly-events
 
Corbett Water District:
There will be a public hearing regarding increases on fees with the budget hearing.  These increases will affect after hour calls, etc.
 
The District has been going over the policy manual, meeting every other week with volunteers from the community.  This has been educational for everyone and an education program will be coming to let users know their responsibilities.
 
Multnomah County Roads:
Adopt a Road program is being revamped and simplified!  NEMCCA  is adopting Corbett Hill Road and the County will be providing bags, pickers, disposable vests and signs, the same thing they will do for anyone else who would like to adopt a road.  Bags will be picked up within 24 hours as long as the pick up is between Monday and Thursday.  A list will be coming out letting everyone know which roads are still available for adoption.
 
Various ways to fix Pounder Road have been discussed, the most recent was to have the City of Gresham come out with their machinery to take up one lane of road at a time and redo the road.  The issue that has been run into is staff is not available from Gresham on Fridays and the MultCo crew is not familiar with the equipment to be able to run it.  More conversation needs to happen.
 
The County is having some of the same hiring issues as other businesses, but they have recently filled the Supervisor position and are looking to fill another seven vacancies.
 
Discussion:  Money to fix the roads comes from the gas tax, and with the switch to electric with personal and agency vehicles the revenue is falling.  What can we do?  NEMCCA did send a letter to the County Chair and Commissioners asking for six million for roads in Unincorporated Multnomah County .  We understand that the Chair sets the budget and infrastructure needs to see some investment.
 
Citizens Patrol:
They will be helping with the Plant swap at the Grange this weekend, also with the Tea on June 11th.  If the school wants them at Graduation they'll be there (school said Yes!) and will be helping with the 4th of July parade and fire works.
 
Yes, there will be fireworks again in Corbett this year!  There will be a couple changes on the parade route for safety, lead cars will be turned into the school parking lot so cars aren't heading back down the Highway against the flow of traffic.  Come to the parking lot after the parade to see the displays.
 
Darcie Arnold is interested in putting up banners honoring our Veterans along the highway, name and pictures would be shown.  These could go up with the flags.  If you are a vet, or know a local vet, please get that information to Darcie.
 
BOEC:   (Bureau of Emergency Communication)
The Director puts out a monthly newsletter updating what is going on in the Center.  Follow the link to get a full report to download and read
https://www.portland.gov/911/documents/boec-directors-report-april-2023/download
 
The center is now adequately staffed and they are holding academies with an eye on keeping ahead of retirements and people transferring to other work.  A recent academy had 400 applicants and they were able to fill all 16 slots that were being offered.  There are a total of 41 of trainees right now, vacancies are currently at 26.
 
Call volume for 911 has gone up 39% since 2018 for a variety of reasons, including the number of people who have cell phones, so there can be several people who call in on one incident.
 
If you call 911 and are put on hold, please do not hang up.  For every hang up a call back has to be made to insure the caller doesn't need assistance.  This takes time away from answering incoming calls, so it is very important you stay on the line once you've called in.
 
The Directors report also does a comparison between years of call volume, performance trends, staffing and other categories that impact our 911 system.  One comparison is 911 calls for March 2022 (42,375) and March of 2023 (44,791).  You can also look to see how quickly each call was answered, a trend which has been improving for our local center.
 
Calls are prioritized when they come in:  911, 911 transfers from another County (like those in the Gorge that bounce over to Washington and then have to be sent back) and then non-emergency.
 
(Side note:  I had to step out for a moment during this portion and missed some of the discussion. I apologize for the missed information.)
 
There is a goal to have two numbers for people to remember to call:
911- for emergencies
311- for non-emergencies and general information
When do you call which number?
If the crime is occurring or has just occurred call 911.
 
The Center is implementing technology to address non-emergency calls.  This project is now in the testing stage and they are working to help it recognize heavy accents and is addressing language barriers. (It knows 100 languages)
 
ODOT:
Adding to what BOEC was saying, one of the issues that has come up over the years is the fact I-84 does not have the same mile markers as the Historic Columbia River Highway.  The mile markers for HCRH starts at Broadway and comes down Stark, then goes down HCRH, so when someone calls in and says there is an accident at they are at mile marker (fill in the blank) the calls can actually be off by several miles. This means a delay in response time.  To address this issue ODOT is putting in metal markers alongside the Historic markers so people can report both numbers.  It was also suggested in the discussion surrounding this topic that BOEC have their dispatchers ask if the marker they are referring to is concrete or metal.  Apparently some of the more experienced dispatchers do know to question this, but it will be brought up as a reminder.
 
I-84 is making progress with getting the second pipe under the freeway by the landslide area.  Placement under the railroad tracks was scheduled for May 3.  The Old Quarry caught three mudslides this year that would have impacted the RR and the roads, so that is working well.
 
The tunnel paving project is still running into a few issues and while they were hoping to get the work done before Memorial Day it will most likely be around the 4th of July before work is complete.
 
The Old Highway had a lot of debris come down between Larch and the Vista House this year, its kept them busy removing it.  The regular drop in the road is to the point they will be repaving on May 11th from 11-2, full road closure will be in place for that work.
 
On May 29th (Tuesday) there will be flaggers in place with a 15 minute hold time while ODOT removes 45 trees between the Vista House and Latourell, this is a project they are doing with State Parks.
 
Starting Friday, May 26th, there will be a flagger at the Crosswalk at Multnomah Falls to assist with traffic. This will be in place until September 4th.
 
ODOT is an agency funded by the gas tax, and with the current changes happening to the funding source, ODOT's expenditures will exceed income in one year.  What does that mean to the public?  In the past ODOT has been doing more with less, but within the year it will be noticed that they are doing less with less. I-84 is a priority one road and needs to remain at that level, but other roads may fall to a lower level and maintenance will reflect that change.  Instead of see a couple passes with the mower, you may see one.  Or instead of one, full pass, you may see the road is only cut back for line of sight and fire safety cuts will be dropped.  ODOT has worked to keep grass and vegetation at Multnomah Falls green and healthy due to the visitation attraction of the site, but going forward they will not be watering and it will be going brown.
 
Gates to shut down the roads in case of emergencies have started going in.  You'll be seeing them at Jordan Road , Larch, Cascade Locks and other areas where staffing has been used to shut the roads.  There will be nine gates total, they will not block the entire road so emergency vehicles can get around to respond, but they will allow for more staff to be out on the roads responding to bad weather conditions.
 
Some of the issues that also need to be addressed is the bike trail maintenance.  Money was put in the budget for the projects as Capital improvements, but there was around $500,000 spent on maintenance issues and this hits the operational budgets.
 
Forest Service:
Permits have started for Dog Mountain .  These will be for weekend hiking and will go through June 19th during the heavy flowering time.  This year the permits will be by vehicle instead of by person.
Multnomah Falls permits will start May 26 and go until September 4th for the parking lot.  No timed permits in the Waterfall Corridor this year.
 
Campgrounds began opening on May 1st. (Eagle Creek and Wyeth)
Herman Creek will be open next year.
Wahkeena picnic area is not yet open but should be soon. They are looking for a camp host.
 
Forest Service has a staffing shortage this year and are looking to do an emergency hire.  They have no seasonal field rangers at this point.
There is also a shortage of volunteers, so if you or someone you know may be interested, please check out their site.
 
Under the Great American Outdoors Act there are projects underway including an upgrade to the Visitor's Center at Multnomah Falls .  A design of how the new interpretive center will look should be available by the end of the year.
 
MCSO:
There was a semi stuck on the Stark Street Bridge this morning, commuting traffic, including those for the school and the buses had to be detoured.  While it is understandable that people get upset about these interruptions, there is usually no violation occurring for which the driver, or their company, can be fined.  The company will receive a hefty tow bill (ranging from $3,000 to $20,000) and any damage done to the bridge has to be repaired.
(Discussion:  at some point, even if the damage isn't visible, or if the "hit" doesn't seem that hard, the bridge will suffer enough damage that it will require major repairs or to be shut down.  This is long term issue, not a short term one, but everyone is aware.)
 
The CRO position is looking solid right now with the Chair putting it in her budget. Thank you to the Chair and Sheriff's Budget Advisory Committee.
 
You can find a link to the Chair's budget at:
https://www.multco.us/budget/fy-2024-chairs-proposed-budget
 
A fantastic job was done by the school and Citizen's Patrol at the Prom, it was a great community effort and it went very well.  No problems to report.
 
The tree situation on Pounder is being looked at and MCSO is working with the owner to see what may be changed.  (There is a desire by the County to leave some of the fall down trees in the creek for fish and stream health, so while some May come out, not all will be removed.)  The owner of the property wants to be a good neighbor.
 
NEMMCA:
Sent a letter to the Chair and all County Commissioners asking for funding for second full time deputy in the area.  Also asked for six million in funds for road repair in Unincorporated Multnomah County .  Let them know the leftovers at the end of the budget cycle is not enough to address infrastructure.
 
A request to attend a Community Meeting in Corbett has been sent to the Governor, Congressman Blumenaur, Senator Bonham and Representative Helfrich for June 15.  We are waiting to hear back from the Governor and the Congressman.
 
Please attend the Body Cam listening session scheduled for May 18 at 6:30 at the fire hall with Chief Deputy Eriksen.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

     

[Safety Meeting April 5, 2023]

**

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.

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.

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.

 

[10 am to 3 pm]

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!

[10 am to 3 pm]

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!

It's all good - the goofball is now back home.

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

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.)