Category: Uncategorized

The Bend Landmarks Commission has several openings coming up. Click on the link for more information! http://cascadebusnews.com/bend-landmarks-commission-openings/

The Bend City Council authorized a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Wednesday for construction of the intake facility and pipeline components of the Surface Water Improvement Project. The GMP from Mortenson Construction provides a guarantee to the City that the defined scope of work for the two project elements can be constructed within the authorized “maximum” price of $23,679,438. This amount includes about $4.4 million of work previously authorized by City Council.

Mortenson Construction serves as the construction manager and general contractor after being selected in March 2011 through a formal procurement process. Mortenson’s participation in the design phases has enabled the project team to evaluate the most cost-effective way to design and construct project elements. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2012.

On March 7, 2012, the City Council passed a resolution for a new approach to the project that prioritizes the replacement of the aging pipelines and intake facility while slowing further design and construction of the water treatment plant. The City is currently working with the State for more time to respond to treatment rules. Plans for a proposed hydroelectric facility were place on indefinite hold. Additional infrastructure will be needed to connect the pipeline to the existing water system if City Council decides not to move forward with the delayed facilities.

About the Surface Water Improvement project
The Bend Public Works Department is addressing aging infrastructure and new federal requirements to ensure continued access to cost effective, clean, and reliable drinking water for Bend residents and businesses now and for the future. The Surface Water Improvement Project will update the City’s Bridge Creek water supply system and provide residents continued access to high-quality drinking water by:

• Replacing failing water supply pipelines with a new pipeline under existing roadways.
• Adding flow-control features to the new pipeline; minimizing environmental impacts by only diverting water needed for beneficial use by the City of Bend.
• Providing new state compliant fish screening at the Bridge Creek intake facility site.

Future phases of the project may include building a treatment plant to filter water from Bridge Creek and meet new federal drinking water regulations and building a hydroelectric facility to generate renewable revenue.

More information is available on the project website: www.bendoregon.gov/surfacewater.

Will your home survive a wildfire?

Save the dates for upcoming FireFree Recycling Events.

Fire science tells us that if you have created and maintained a defensible/survivable space around your home, it has an 80% chance of surviving a wildfire without fire department assistance. Those are great odds and FireFree encourages residents to take that bet and get prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. Now is the time to clean up your yards and create defensible space around homes and recycle that debris at FireFree collection sites FOR FREE in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties.

FireFree Recycling Events in Central Oregon

Friday, May 4 THROUGH May 12 at Knott Landfill in Bend (closed Sunday).

Fridays & Saturdays, May 4 & 5 and May 11 & 12 at the Westside Collection Site in Bend.

Friday & Saturday, May 18 & 19 at Deschutes County Transfer Sites:

Negus Transfer Station in Redmond
Fryrear Transfer Station in Cloverdale
Southwest Transfer Station in La Pine

Friday & Saturday May 4 & 5 at the Sunriver Compost Site in Sunriver.

Saturday & Sunday May 5 & 6 and 12 & 13 at Box Canyon Transfer Site in Madras.

FireFree reminds you to take a look around your property in the “home ignition zone” where glowing embers can ignite spot fires and vulnerable areas like decks, patios and fences that can spread flames to your home. And take advantage of upcoming FireFree Recycling Events to dispose of the debris for FREE.

Where are your most vulnerable places for glowing embers to ignite your home?

• Are your gutters and roof valleys free from debris like pine needles and leaves? Clean them out.  Despite a metal or asphalt shingle roof, the buildup of gutter debris provides necessary fuel for the glowing embers to ignite adjacent fascia boards or siding – most often made of wood.
• Do your shrubs and weeds provide a path of fuel for fire to reach your trees or home?  Reduce shrubs and other “ladder fuels” around your home and under trees to reduce the threat of ground fires igniting trees or your home.
• What can catch fire on your deck or patio or near your fence?  Remove weeds, shrubs or any combustible materials from around, under or on top of your deck, patio or wood fence.   This includes toys, planters, construction materials, furniture and cushions along with even small piles of pine needles or leaves.
• Is your wood pile near your home or other combustible vegetation?  Move wood piles at least 20 feet away from your home or other combustibles.

Visit the FireFree website at www.firefree.org for more information about how you can prepare your property for wildfire season.##