August 11, 2010 · 9:49 pm

End of a long road?

Lincoln City approves ordinance to expedite annexation process

By: Terry Dillman
Newport News Times

Whether it marked the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end depended on one’s viewpoint at Monday night’s Lincoln City Council session.

With very little discussion, council members unanimously approved an ordinance that would require property owners outside the city limits but within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary to sign consents to annex as a condition of receiving ongoing city water service.

The low-key approach to the high-tension decision contrasted sharply with the measured session-opening protest from a group of about 20 property owners from the Roads End development. They showed up to speak against the ordinance in another chapter of a story dating back to at least 1978.

During the council’s July 26 session, when the ordinance was first introduced, City Manager David Hawker said Roads End topped the city’s list of sites for potential annexation, and outlined the reasons, including the cost of providing water and sewer service to Roads End, which has 715 of the 1,240 properties outside the city that receive those services.

Roads End residents took exception to many of Hawker’s assertions and offered rebuttals Monday night. Continue reading →

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Filed under Annexation, City Actions, Lakeside

August 11, 2010 · 12:50 am

Water Rights Countdown Begins

Comments Due by September 09, 2010

Notice of Lincoln City’s application for a change in the Point of Diversion (P.O.D.) of their existing Rock Creek water right appeared today in the Oregon Water Resources Department Weekly Notice.

The thirty-day clock has begun for public comment on the City’s transfer application. Any person may comment on a transfer application. Comments must be submitted by September 09, 2010. Any person who provides comments within the comment period will receive a copy of the formal Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) preliminary determination of whether the application should be approved or rejected, and will be provided an opportunity to protest the application and preliminary determination at that time.

The proper place to express your opinion on this proposal is during the OWRD application process.  Please see “How to Participate in a Water Rights Proceeding” for a detailed description of the process including how and where to file comments.  Links to related ORWD Documents are below as well as a summary of the application.

Current Transfer Documents

T-11116 Transfer Application
T-11116 Transfer Application Map

Continue reading →

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Filed under City Actions, Lakeside, Rulings

August 9, 2010 · 11:29 pm

Roads End faces inclusion

City ordinance would expedite annexation process

Friday, Jul 30th, 2010
By: Terry Dillman
Newport News Times

A proposed ordinance introduced during Monday night’s regular session of the Lincoln City Council would enhance the city’s ability to annex areas outside city limits and within the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) by requiring signed consents to annexation as a condition of continued water service.

The city supplies water service to most of its 6,078 accounts from three storage tanks via gravity feed. Booster pumps serve customers at a few higher elevations, including one for the Port Lane area of Roads End. The imminent failure of that aging booster pump station and the price tag to replace it prompted council members to find a way to expedite the annexation of Roads End district, located at the north end of the city.

“It’s been on our agenda for years,” City Manager David Hawker said. “It’s time to move forward.” Continue reading →

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Filed under Annexation, City Actions, Lakeside

August 8, 2010 · 11:21 pm

Potluck a Success

Fun Was Had By All; Despite Soggy Skies

Some sixty-five residents of Devils Lake came out Saturday, August 7th for the Second Annual Potluck on the Point.

Attendees spent the evening visiting with their neighbors while enjoying great food.  Several party goers were heard to say that what made it really fun was the ability to socialize with those you already knew as well as having the chance to make new acquaintances.   Every shore of the lake was represented!  Our friends at the Devils Lake Water Improvement District joined in with our Lake Manager and our Board Chair and another Board member in attendance.

Mother Nature tried her best to interfere offering up the first rain of the summer.  These were seasoned lake residents who didn’t let the dampness spoil their evening.  Not one person had enough sense to come in out of the rain.  Visit our photo album to get a little taste of the event.    The consensus was that the Potluck should continue and to that end we have selected the first Saturday in August every year. So mark your calendar for August 6th, 2011 and plan on a fun evening.

We still trying to locate the owner of a few serving utensils so take a look at this photo and email me if you’re the owner of anything shown. If you have any ideas on more ways we can get our community together to enjoy our mutual company let us know and we’ll do what we can to promote it.

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Filed under Events, Lakeside

August 8, 2010 · 9:43 am

August DLWID Board Meeting Report

The Devils Lake Water Improvement District held its August board meeting in the District offices on Thursday, August 5th, 2010.  The meeting was attended by approximately 10 interested parties.

Hot Topics.

Executive Session of the Board: The Board of Directors held an Executive Session preceding their regularly scheduled meeting.

Lake Level Update: The Board discussed the current lake level as measured at the dam structure, being 8.03’ + 18” or 1.5’ equaling 9.53’ above MSL.  The discussion continued related to the staff gauges which currently read 9’ 3” or about 3” lower than the read at the dam.  It was reported that Greg Beaman and both from the Oregon Water Resources Department surveyed both staff gages the day previous, and they verified the readings for the dam’s base 8.03’ and top 9.53’.

Native Vegetation: It was reported that there has been strong interest in the Shoreline Planting Guide recently published by the District. Lakefront property owners interested in the guide are best to download the PDF version from the above link.  The board approved the printing of 100 copies primarily for contractors, nurseries, and government agencies that have all expressed interest in the guide. If downloading the guide presents a hardship please contact the District.

Save our Shoreline: The Save Our Shoreline campaign is currently recruiting property owners for projects to be planted this fall.  It was recently discovered from the Department of State Lands (DSL) that homeowners can apply for a free general authorization permit from DSL to plant aquatic vegetation to prevent erosion.  It was decided to incorporate this streamlined permitting process into the SOS program as soon as possible.  Some preliminary research has been done related to the use of special signage easily identifying properties involved in the SOS program.

Devils Lake Plan: A draft update to the Devils Lake Plan was presented to the board for their initial reaction and comment.  The board discussed their review of the draft and provided staff guidance on the document.  Look for more on this document in upcoming meetings.

Many More Topics: Several other items were discussed including reports by the Lake Manager on many important topics. Continue reading →

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Filed under DLWID, Meeting Reports

August 8, 2010 · 9:32 am

City paves way for expansion

Roads End tops list for annexation

PATRICK ALEXANDER
The News Guard

A new law that could boost Lincoln City’s ability to annex adjacent areas, starting with Roads End, received a warm welcome from Lincoln City Council at its Monday, July 26 meeting.

The proposed ordinance would allow Council to designate any area outside its limits but within the urban growth boundary, or UGB, as an annexation target.

The area’s residents would then have 60 days to sign a consent to annex or risk having the City shut off their water supply. Continue reading →

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Filed under Annexation, City Actions, Lakeside

July 30, 2010 · 11:52 pm

How to Participate in a Water Rights Proceeding

The City of Lincoln City and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians of Oregon made a presentation and answered questions related to the use of water from Devils Lake to irrigate the golf course at the June Devils Lake Water Improvement District board meeting.  The Board of Directors of DLWID passed a resolution by a vote of 4-1 indicating support for the proposal. Since that time, several residents have expressed their opinions on the matter; some support the proposal, some do not.  For the record, the Navigator has not taken a position on the proposal.

The proper place to express your opinion on this proposal is during the formal Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) application process.  In order for the City to meet the terms of their agreement with the Siletz Tribe they will apply for a change in the Point of Diversion (P.O.D.) of their existing Rock Creek water right. This process is described in OAR 690 Division 380 Water Rights Transfers.

In an attempt to simplify the process for interested parties we have summarized the required steps below.  The summary is necessarily general, and may not specifically address the facts in this specific application. Water rights can impact citizens in unexpected ways; that is why a formal process has been established.  If you feel, the City’s proposal will have an impact that is not being considered follow the steps below to provide public input into the process. Continue reading →

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Filed under DLWID, Lake Level, Lakeside, Rulings