Banks, Event, Government

The state of the city: Mayor Edison to give annual address Tuesday, March 5

Banks City Hall. Photo: Brenda Schaffer

BANKS – Banks Mayor Pete Edison will make the annual State of the City address at the Banks Fire District offices on Tuesday, March 5 at 12:00 p.m.  

Edison told the Post he will discuss recent and future goals the city plans to accomplish, and highlight others completed in 2018 or that are now close to fruition.

“I’m going to talk about the city’s employees, their tenure and what they do, discuss projects we’ll complete in 2019, and there’s other things I want to mention when I give the speech. I don’t want to give it all away now,” Edison said.

Edison, in his third-elected term as mayor and fourth overall after being appointed to complete the final two-year term of former mayor John Kinsky, provided a brief overview of this speech, which he said he still is crafting.

He said one of the main topics he will broach is the completion of a six-month study on new water sources and aquifer storage for the city, as well as recovery feasibility.

The Banks City Council adopted what it deemed a “water supply development moratorium corrective action plan” on February 7 on most new development because the city’s water supply is nearly at capacity.

The city plans to summarize, document and present at a public hearing with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development its current and projected water system deficiencies, as well as short-term and long-term corrective measures.

City documents show Banks has water rights or groundwater permits that total 1,109 gallons per minute (GPM) of potable H2O with surface water rights authorizing 188 GPM from the west springs and 81 GPM from the east springs, which collectively are known as the Green Mountain Springs, for a total of 269 GPM.

Additionally, groundwater permits allow the city to withdraw a total of 750 GPM from Behrman Wells No. 1 and No. 2, however, the actual capacity of water from these sources is less than what Banks is permitted.

City documents detail that leaks in Banks’ water system along Cedar Canyon Road and Sellers Road are the primary cause of a majority of the water shortage.

Edison said the city also updated and completed its transportation system plan, specifically regarding plans to expand the east side of Banks.

“We also had some other projects that started last year but will be implemented this year,” he said. “Two of those that come to mind are water transmission-line replacement, which is going to begin this summer — the engineering is just about complete. For the other (project) — I’m not sure what to call it, really — we’re doing a combination of street improvements and additional water line improvements, which will be funded by a Community Development Block Grant that’s part of a federal program. The money is administered by the county and it will be about $600,000.”

Edison added that the Commerce Street upgrade project will begin in March.

The mayor also will discuss street and sidewalk improvements being made in Arbor Village, an emergency response plan that focuses on and details earthquake preparedness, and a comprehensive plan for rewriting city code, especially its development code.

Finally, Edison said he will discuss the water moratorium in more depth, as well as the Highway 47-Banks Road intersection upgrade, which soon will resume after a six-month work hiatus.

“There’s always some other things I will think of that I want to mention,” Edison said. “What those are varies from year to year.”

Banks citizens interested in attending the 2019 State of the City are required to RSVP with City Recorder Angie Lanter by calling 503-324-5112 or by sending an email to [email protected]. Lunch will be provided prior to the speech. For more information contact Lanter.

+ posts

Sign up for Banks area news in your inbox ↓