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January 10, 2008 Front Page |
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Baker City Negotiating Contract To Begin Implementing System Development Charges
By Brian Addison
System Development Charges (SDCs) rely upon population projections. If a city experiences growth, SDCs are paid by the new development coming in to help fund a portion of the cost to expand a city’s water, wastewater, drainage, transportation and/or park systems. “SDCs are a very effective tool to keep the infrastructure at pace with population growth. SDCs done properly can enhance economic development quite well,” according to City Manager Steve Brocato.
Conversely, if a city experiences no growth in population, SDCs would not be needed and costs incurred during the implementation of the SDCs would have been spent for nothing.
City Crews Working All Night To Keep Up With Snow Removal
By Brian Addison
City crews have been given a monumental task this winter trying to keep downtown snow-berms from becoming mini Main Street Matterhorns. Crews were out late Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning with two large back-hoes and a blader piling snow from the downtown streets.
Some citizens have questioned the city’s snow removal strategy but, according to city officials, “The snow budget is being spent.”
Public Works Director Michelle Owen reported that the city has budgeted “$30,000 in labor” and thus far has spent $19,000 of the $28,000 budgeted for snow removal. Owen expressed a hope that some of the money budgeted for snow removal could be carried over for some of the street repairs that will likely be required after a harsh winter.
Truck Driver Escapes Serious Injury In Crash Near Baker City
OREGON STATE POLICE — The driver of an unloaded log truck escaped serious injury Tuesday after losing control of his vehicle on Interstate 84 about 31 miles east of Baker City and crashing through a guardrail. Oregon State Police troopers reported severe winter driving conditions were a factor in numerous crashes in the area and troopers were called in on overtime to assist with the increased calls for police service.
In one of the crashes on Jan. 8, an unloaded log truck traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 335 lost control on the snow and ice covered freeway crashing through a guardrail and went down a steep embankment stopping near the Burnt River.
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