Item 7 - Action MWMC Fac. Plan - Laserfiche WebLink

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Message Page 2 of 3 impact on the McKenzie/Willamette river systems as we dwell in and develop our communities. We owe it to other human communities downstream like Corvallis, Salem, and others and to the in-stream inhabitants and to birds and other wildlife that depend on the system. Because of that sense of obligation, I served, as a private citizen, on the wet weather flow citizen advisory committee. That process, lasting more than a year was an educational and very positive experience for me. I learned a great deal about our communities and the system that deals with the second half of our "public water cycle" - the waste end. The citizen members of that group were able to ask probing questions of staff and the consultants, and to provide our feedback on assumptions and how trade-offs should be made, because trade-offs were required to select an optimal plan. I also know that it was only one of the avenues for citizens to learn about what was going on with respect to our wastewater systems. (Thank goodness we are not facing Portland's problems with a combined sewer and stormwater system.) In a simple statement let me say - I have reviewed the proposed master plan and offer my endorsement for the proposal. Not only did it incorporate the recommendations of the citizen members of the committee I served on, it went on to address new requirements put on the system by the regulatory authorities trying to enhance and restore what is one on Oregon's vital assets. I believe the Wastewater staff, management, and commission have always endeavored to find cost-effective and technically sound approaches for our communities to deal with our wastes. My committee's work on dealing with the wet weather influence on system is an example - we were presented with many options that could have cost more but staff was able to show how flow management changes and some capital investment could deal with the issues for the next several of decades. I believe timing is crucial to the successful implementation of the proposed plan - not only for environmental compliance reasons, but for financial reasons as well. Interest rates on municipal and other public obligation bonds are at their all-time or near all-time fi~e://C:xD~cuments%2~and%2~Settings\CEEXELF\L~ca~%2~Settings\Temp~rary%2~~nt... 6/23/2004