Document text
Water district formation approved Shady Cove organizing group passes county hurdle for creating citywide system using treated water from the Rogue River By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A city water system may be just around the bend for Shady Cove residents. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to tentatively approve the formation of the city's first water district. Final approval is scheduled for a March 20 hearing. "We're pleased that we made another step on the journey in getting a water district in Shady Cove," said Arthur Smith, chairman of the district's organizing committee. The committee proposes a system using treated water from the Rogue River. The meeting was a continuation of a Jan. 30 hearing in which the commissioners postponed their decision after learning of a second petition filed by the Upper Rogue Water and Power District, which proposed piping nearby mountain spring water into the city. Shady Cove City Council voted Feb. 7 not to endorse the spring water proposal. That petition since has been dropped. Some Upper Rogue Water and Power proponents were not pleased with Wednesday's decision. "Don't like it, but not surprised," said Jim Collier, adding that he and his group will continue the effort to put the water and power district together. Shady Cove relies on 900 private and shared wells for its 2,315 residents. In drought years, many wells are low or dry. "It's a public health issue for me," said Ted Stark, Shady Cove resident who supports using treated river water. "I have water at my house, but I have neighbors hauling water," he said. Stark said a water system also would provide the city with its first fire hydrants. "We (currently) have no fire protection," he said. "We have to haul water in tankers." The boundaries of the district are the city limits excluding five mobile home parks that historically have voted against a city water system. They would have the option of joining the district later, however. District opponents say the exclusions keep a segment of Shady Cove's population from having a voice in decisions affecting their future. The commissioners said they did not have the authority to address the relationships between park owners and park residents. "We're not really in a position to settle neighborhood disputes," said Commissioner Sue Kupillas. "Those things you have to work out in your community." She added that not accepting the proposal would be putting the people who need the water and want to pay for it in jeopardy. The district committee's next step is to begin an engineering study for the system, which would include an intake pump, a treatment plant, a storage reservoir and a distribution network. Residents opposing the formation of the district may call for an election by making written requests to the commissioners at or before the final hearing. A minimum of 100 requests must be filed. The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. March 20 in the county courthouse auditorium. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.