Manager Newsletter - October 2015 is Available
City of Bandon
Newsletter October 2015
THE GREAT OREGON SHAKEOUT OCTOBER 15
Millions of people worldwide will practice how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” at 10:15 a.m. on October 15, with Great Shakeout Earthquake Drills.
Oregonians can join them by registering for the 2015 Great Oregon ShakeOut at www.shakeout.org/Oregon. Participating is a great way for your family or organization to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes, wherever you live, work or travel.
Federal, state and local emergency management experts all agree that “Drop, Cover and Hold On” are the appropriate actions to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are opportunities to practice how to protect ourselves during eqrthquakes. You cannot tell from the initial shaking if an earthquake will suddenly become intense, so always Drop, Cover and Hold On immediately.
DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!). COVER your head and neck with your arms, and seek shelter by getting under a sturdy desk or table if nearby. HOLD ON to your shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops. If there is no table or desk near you, drop to the ground and then, if possible, move to an inside corner of the room. Be in a crawling position to protect your vital organs, and be ready to move if necessary. Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Do not move to another location or outside. For more information, visit www.shakeout.org.
BRUSH AND YARD DEBRIS PICKUP BEGINS OCTOBER 12
The next brush and yard debris removal event will begin Monday, October 12. Bandon Disposal will pick up piles of brush and yard debris. City residents are allowed up to a maximum of five cubic yards of brush and yard debris (approximately two pickup loads) at no cost. Simply place your brush and yard debris in the right-of-way alongside the street adjacent to your house prior to Monday, October 12, and Bandon Disposal will pick it up.
If you get missed, contact Bandon Disposal at 541-347-9633 and let them know. Please make sure that your brush is in one pile, since there is a maximum of one pile per address, and no group piles. Keep in mind that this program is for woody yard debris such as branches, brush, gorse, etc., so other items and materials such as metals, appliances, furniture, etc. will not be accepted. Branches must be cut into lengths no longer than five feet. Grass clippings and leaves will also be picked up, provided they are placed in biodegradable paper bags. No plastic bags can be accepted. Also, please avoid placing your pile under overhead utility lines or overhanging trees, since a boom truck is used to pick up the debris. Locate your pile away from fire hydrants and utility boxes, and do not impede sidewalks or pedestrian walkways.
If you have more than five cubic yards of debris, or if you want debris picked up at times other than the three brush removal events, please contact Bandon Disposal at 541-347-9633 for a price quote.
TOWN HALL MEETING POSTPONED
Regular readers of this newsletter know that the City was planning to hold a Town Hall meeting in October. At this point, however, we decided it would be best to postpone the meeting until we have more firm information to share and discuss regarding the issues facing the utility operations. One of the largest issues we would like to address is the need for a 50 acre-feet reservoir, to store raw water. The problem with putting that issue on the table now is that we’re seeking grant funding to do a feasibility study about it. The discussion will be much more helpful once we know more about the proposed project.
YOUR ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT
Bandon Electric is a safe and reliable source of power to residential, commercial and industrial customers, and it belongs to those customers. Your service area includes Bandon and extends from the Coquille River south to Denmark, and from the Pacific Ocean east on 42S to the Fish Hatchery, and along both sides of US Highway 101. The area is about two miles from east to west, and 17 miles north to south. It includes 123 miles of underground wire and 292 miles of overhead wire.
Bandon Electric purchases wholesale power from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which is a federal agency. Power gets delivered to three step-down substations located at Bill’s Creek, Two Mile and Langlois. From these delivery points your utility distributes approximately 6.7 million KWH of power to 3,729 customers each month. That’s 2,823 residential and 906 commercial customers.
And your utility is frugal: all this is done by 7.5 employees!
OCTOBER AT THE BANDON LIBRARY ART GALLERY: “SKETCHES OF JAPAN”
PAINTINGS BY VICTORIA TIERNEY
With their assured yet delicate lines, the Japanese brushwork-inspired watercolors of Victoria Tierney document her recent journey throughout that island nation. While visiting her granddaughter, she captured the moments and places of Angelica's life and loved-ones, with particular emphasis on the gardens and waterways she is surrounded by. These lovely little scenes reflect Victoria's affection for both the land and her granddaughter, as well as the artistic traditions of Japan.
The show runs from October 1st through the 31st; there will be a reception in the Sprague Room on October 10th from 2 – 5 pm.
DRIVING TIPS FOR A FUN AND SAFE HALLOWEEN
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so please be extra aware when driving during the scariest evening of the year. Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Kids are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Driveways and alleys need special attention; drive slowly and carefully as you enter and exit. And don’t look at your cell phone when you should be looking out for hobgoblins in or near the street.
