“We will be closed until further notice. (Flooded) Follow us on social media for updates” reads the sign on the covered up door of Mugs Coffee after a cut waterline flooded businesses in downtown Bingen. Aziza Cooper-Hovland Photo.
“We will be closed until further notice. (Flooded) Follow us on social media for updates” reads the sign on the covered up door of Mugs Coffee after a cut waterline flooded businesses in downtown Bingen. Aziza Cooper-Hovland Photo.
BINGEN — Bingen’s aging infrastructure is always on the mind of city staff and councilors, but last week, everyone in downtown got a good look at it.
When GradeWerks Excavating, a hired contractor for the SR-14 Crossing improvements, was digging downtown April 15, it struck a water main, flooding the downtown streets and several businesses. The excavating company had located the dig based on the city’s outdated water line maps, with the maps showing that their locate mark was 5-feet away from the main line.
They were digging with an auger, and not using the time-consuming “pothole” method — a slow, hand-digging method to ascertain line locations — which was not a required part of their contract. Because the outdated maps are to blame, the city has asked its Risk Management Services Agency to assess the cost of the damages, which the city will assume. City Administrator Krista Loney had no estimate of the cost as of press time. Moving forward, all such work will require potholing.
Housing update
Robert Rudinsky was on hand to update the council on the McKenzie River housing development. Developers plan for some of the apartment units to be on the market as early as this July, with additional units this fall.
Rudinsky reported that the development will provide 22 one-bedroom, 42 two-bedroom, and 16 three-bedroom apartments. The units all feature a balcony or patio, and the design reflects the heritage of the Dickey Family Farms and SDS Lumber. These units will be market priced.
The council then held a public hearing for its Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Emergency Housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing (STEP) policy. State law requires the city to support these transitional housing types in residential areas and appropriate commercial zones. Though popular in theory, many residents disdain having these units in their neighborhood; this policy makes it illegal for the city to marginalize these dwellings. There were no public comments.
Maintenance committee
The city is forming a new committee to oversee the use and maintenance of its buildings and properties, including the museum building. Along with Mayor Kelsey Ramsey, Councilor Eric Shroder will serve on the committee, with Councilor Craig Trummel as chair. Their first building of focus will be the current museum building.
The Bingen City Council next meets on Tuesday, May 5 at 6 p.m. at city hall.
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