Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Wolf once believed to be dead shows up near Crater Lake ... One of Oregon's two health insurance co-ops says it will shut down ... Rogue Valley gubernatorial candidate blasts Gov. Brown on climate change ... Wolf once believed to be dead shows up near Crater Lake ... One of Oregon's two health insurance co-ops says it will shut down ... Rogue Valley gubernatorial candidate blasts Gov. Brown on climate change ... ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL Ashland council to consider water rate surcharge, Welcome Center agreement Comment By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted May. 19, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted May. 19, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News A water rate surcharge that would amount to between $15 and $17 per ratepayer per year to cover ongoing costs to maintain the city's watershed and an agreement to provide city water and sewer services to a Welcome Center on Interstate 5 just outside city limits return to the Ashland City Council for further consideration at a regular business meeting Tuesday, May 19. The Welcome Center project, which would include a staffed visitors center and Oregon State Police station in addition to the usual rest stop amenities, is planned on the southern edge of the city, just south of the Crowson Road overpass. At previous meetings on Feb. 17 and April 7, the public and some councilors expressed concerns about possible impacts of the center on crime, drought and fire safety. The center is outside the city's jurisdiction, but since the Oregon Department of Transportation has asked for the city to provide potable water and sewage services for the center, the council has been negotiating terms of an agreement calling for certain conditions to be met, including guarantees to the extent possible of staffing levels, security and fire safety. The water surcharge is intended to fund the Ashland Forest Resiliency Project, which protects the city's water supply by reducing the risk of a devastating wildfire that could lead to the catastrophic runoff of silt into Reeder Reservoir, source of most of the city's drinking water supply. Much of the work to date has been paid for by federal funds and grants, but ongoing costs are expected to be about $175,000 annually. That's estimated to be enough to look after about one-tenth of the watershed area each year, meaning the entire area would be covered every 10 years, which is thought to be a sustainable way to maintain the area. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 1175 E. Main St. By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted May. 19, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501