Around the region

The South County Spotlight, Dec 30, 2009, Updated Dec 30, 2009

COLUMBIA CITY

At a water committee meeting earlier this month, Columbia City rolled out a plan to deal with declines in the city’s well pumping capacity. The first step, according to meeting minutes, will be to videotape the wells to see if the system has corroded, mineralized or collapsed. Based on those findings, the city will either perform preventative maintenance or it will consider bringing a “mothballed” well back on line. The other water issue the city is grappling with concerns the St. Helens water rate hike. Declining capacity has forced the city to buy St. Helens water and now the city is considering using easement royalties St. Helens may owe on its Columbia City water systems to bargain down the rate increase.

RAINIER

After nearly a decade of hoping, the city of Rainier will finally be getting sidewalk and bike lane improvements to Highway 30. The Oregon Department of Transportation is finalizing designs for the $1.5 million project and plans to start work in late 2010 with a targeted completion of October 2011. The bulk of the money comes from transportation enhancement funds.

Safety is a big reason for the improvements, said Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole, but also to make a better looking highway.

A comment period continues through Dec. 31. Contact ODOT at r1stip@odot.state.or.us or 503-731-8280.

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