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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 Flood Article #14 ,¥tai! D'ibune 3/19/97 Mail Tribune / Jim Crave The New Year's Day flood damaged sidewalks, bridges and trees along Guanajuato Way in Ashland. Flood measure back on ballol By DANI DODGE ..[~ ~'~ learned in the March 11 election will lead to of the Mail Tribune ~ If the measure passes, property owners ASHLAND-- Voters will have another chance to pay for the city's flood-related damages. The city council Tuesday unanimously agreed to put a measure on the May 20 ballot seekiug up to $1.25 million to pay costs related to the January flooding. The money, combined with federal matching grants, would finance flood-repair work including park restoration and road repairs. The city put a similar measure on the March 11 ballot, but it failed because of a new Measure 47 rule that requires a 50 percent h,rnout for approval of money matters. In ~land, 47 percent of the electorate returned o~dots~with 54 percent in favor of spending the money. Council members said they hoped lessons' a win May 20. Mayor Cathy Golden, who led a get-out-the-vote effort, said many people called who hadn't turned in ballots and had moved away, and some had even died. She said she would be turning in the names of people who have moved out of the city. The county elections office will then veri~ they are no longer registered in Ashland. "The last one passed and the next one will as well, but whether we can get 50 percent turnout is a larger issue," Golden said. Councilman Ken Hagen said the city needs to do "an educational campaign" to explain what the bond wfil and won't do. Council members said they felt that this bond would be easier for people to swallow because the amount being sought is about half the total of the March 11 ballot. And the city may not even use all of the $1.25 million. would pay an additional 10.2 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. That means the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $10.20 annually for 20 years. The council Tuesday also agreed to suspen( all flood restoration work except in Lithia park at the Winburn Way crossing and in Reeder Reservoir until after the May election City Administrator Brian Almquist said none of the projects left waiting, such as wate,. treatment repairs and road repairs, are "ofar emergency nature." The council also agreed to hire Otak, a Lak~ Oswego-based engineering firm, to start work on a restoration plan for Ashland Creek including areas of the park, the Winburn Way crossing and Guanajuato Way, behind the Plaza. While Otak will be ailowedto start planning, the scope of the project won't be determined until after the May election. Ashland Daily Tidings 4/1/97 · ' ' ' Plaza bus"tnesses Spnng revives ""-.':'!".~, "'~i~~ - March roars in with X? reopenings of many Ashland mainstays By Richard Moeschl Ashland Daily Tidings Don't let the snow fool you. It's really spring, and with it comes the promise of new life. For many Ashland businesses on the Plaza, new life has come in the form of reopening their doors after the New Year's flood closed them. March came in like a lion, artd with it Munchies Restaurant, Tree House Books, pilaf Restau- rant, Lithia Stationers, Websters and Small Change Children's Store returned. As March went out like a snowy lamb, three more shops were back in busi- ness: Gateway Real Estate/Bet- ter Homes and Gardens, Quinz Restaurant and American Trails Gallery. Most businesses on the Plaza experienced some degree of flood-related damage. They all went through a thorough inspec- tion and clean up. Some store owners either had to remodel or rebuild. This meant staying closed longer. For example, work is still going on at Gold & Gems, which is aiming for a May 6 open- ing of its completely remodeled store. Plaza merchants faced the daunting prospect of a major cleanup after the New Year's flood of Ashland Creek. The Save the Plaza Loan Fund has raised close to $18,000 to pro- vide no-interest loans to the busi-. nesses affected by the flood. The Ashland Chamber of Commerce and Southern Oregon Regional Econ0niic: 'Development Inc. (SOREDI) are still accepting do- applications." Donations have come from 15 businesses, three physicians, one church and 20 in,d. ividuals. ;She Ashland cornmunlt~/,ii~obd lhir/d contributed ' ' l' an l -'?addi/i~)r/al amount from the AshlandOom: munity Food sto.re...'Five,.~l~usi. nations. ',Right now SOREDI is nesses provided coffee?ColemanI [ in the process of disbursement of lamps, flashlights, batteries and funds,, said Diane Allen, admin. gloves to Plaza :. merchants istrative assistant for the chain- . through the cha ~mbe'r'.(t0": h~lp ber. ,"They'are reviewing a~ .the::.-. i: With .~e cleangp~ ;:~: :!': ,'}'.'~f.;,.~.} [i ,;i:'~ '