In February 2004, the Drinking Water Section of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has recently determined that the City of Columbia City's water system is out of compliance with a regulatory drinking water standard. Our water quality has not deteriorated or changed in recent years. Where we once met all standards, more stringent requirements have been adopted over the years by the regulatory agencies. As a result, it is now necessary to provide a higher level of treatment to our primary well source.

This is not a situation requiring that you take any immediate action. If it had been an emergency, you would have been notified immediately. You do not need to boil your water. You do need to understand the short-term implications of this water quality issue.

On February 4, 2004, ODHS issued an order requiring the City to filter its water in addition to our current disinfection process. This order came after water sampling led to our primary well source being placed in a category where there is an increased possibility of untreated surface water mixing with the groundwater in the vicinity of the well. The only feasible method of dealing with this possibility and meeting the ODHS drinking water standards is to filter the water.

Since the first public notification, a new water filtration facility site preparation construction work has begun for the City of St. Helens. The site preparation will be completed by early summer. Construction of the actual facility will begin in the fall of 2004. A start up date of August 2005 is scheduled. This state-of-the-art facility will use a system of microfiber membranes to filter the water supply and remove all potential contaminants. The City is working closely with the ODHS regulators to monitor and manage this situation until completion of the new facility.

In the event that surface water were to mix with the groundwater source, the water supply could possibly carry disease-causing organisms. However, our tests have never detected any of these organisms in the water. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches. These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. A home filter system will not necessarily increase protection because not all home filter systems protect against parasites. Infants, some elderly and persons with severely compromised immune systems would be at some increased risk in the event any contamination were to take place, and these people may seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

The City of Columbia City will send out updates every three months on our progress towards ultimate regulatory compliance. We will also post notices on the City's website at www.columbia-center.org/colcity. For more information, you may contact Leahnette Rivers at (503) 397-4010 or write to P.O. Box 189, Columbia City, OR 97018.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (such as people in apartments, businesses and schools). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

The Rose Festival Fleet will be sailing by the City June 9 – 10.

There will be a work party at Bundy Memorial Park on June 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please come help if you can.

The Spring Clean-up Day was a great success. We would like to thank the following people who actually helped at the Grade School:

• John and Jan Burdett
• Jack and Molly Hruska
• Larry Ouillette
• Columbia County Community Corrections
• We would also like to thank the following sponsors:
• St. Helens/Scappoose Chamber of Commerce
• Hudson Garbage
• RSVP
• Beaver Bark
• The South County Spotlight
• Hudson Portable Toilet Service
• Les Schwab Tire Center
• Scappoose Community Club
• Waste Management Transfer Station
• St. Helens School District
• St. Helens Kiwanis
• Columbia County Juvenile Department
• Columbia County Land Development
• Waste Management

Avoid over watering. Grass needs water when it is pale green and it stays flat after it has been stepped on.

Water slowly until the lawn is soggy. Use a hose; sprinklers allow the water to evaporate before the soil can absorb it. If you must use a sprinkler, use one that makes large drops of water.

Water in the morning. Sun and wind can evaporate much of the water before it reaches the soil.

Let the grass grow higher in dry weather – it saves burning and saves water.

Before planting, add compost or a mulch to the garden. Compost absorbs water and fertilizes plants. Mulches also absorb water and prevent the spread of weeds.

Toilets are the single biggest water consumer, accounting for 40-45% of all household use. Leaks in the toilet can double or even triple over-all water consumption wasting thousands of gallons a month. Often leaks are silent and go undetected.

Toilet leaks usually occur in the toilet tank where water either drains down the overflow pipe or drains past the plunger ball.

Overflow pipe leaks can be detected by visual inspection and will occur in two forms. First, the water level in the tank may be too high and water is overflowing down the pipe. Second, the small tube running from the ball cock assembly to the overflow pipe may have a continuous stream of water coming from it.

Plunger ball leaks can be detected by adding food coloring to the toilet tank. If after a period of 30 minutes food color appears in the bowl, the plunger ball is leaking.

If you experience an abnormally high water bill and suspect the usage may be accounted to a leak, a good place to start your search is with your toilet.

To comply with federal reporting requirements, the July newsletter will contain only the water quality reports from both the City of Columbia City and the City of St. Helens. Because these reports will take up a total of six pages, there will be no other news in the July newsletter. Please be sure to read the water quality reports so that you can understand the process of getting safe and high quality water to your residence.

03/25/04 City ordinance violation. Illegal parking in the 400 block of "D" Street.

03/25/04 Criminal mischief call taken in the 1700 block of First Street.

03/29/04 Parking complaint in the 1700 block of Front Place. Vehicle moved by owner.

03/29/04 Traffic hazard removed near Highway 30 and "A" Street.

03/30/04 Theft reported at the Mini Mart. Subject left without paying for gas.

04/01/04 Animal neglect reported in the 2200 block of Second Street.

04/02/04 Criminal mischief reported in the 200 block of "F" Street.

04/02/04 Theft reported in the 1700 block of Sixth Street.

04/02/04 Suspicious circumstances in the 1400 block of Second Street.

04/03/04 Suspicious persons checked near Trestle Beach.

04/03/04 Harassment reported in the Smith Road area.

04/06/04 Traffic accident at the intersection of Fifth and Pacific Streets.

04/10/04 Traffic hazard removed near Highway 30 and "E" Street.

04/16/04 Complaint of fireworks in the 400 block of Skookum Court.

04/20/04 Traffic accident on Highway 30 near "E" Street. Pallet semi-truck vs. log truck.

04/22/04 Criminal mischief reported in the 2200 block of Third Street.

04/22/04 Animal complaint in the 1400 block of Fourth Place.

04/22/04 Domestic dispute at a residence in the 2400 block of Fifth Street.

04/28/04 Unlawful dumping reported near the Four Square Church.

04/28/04 Abandoned vehicle reported. Vehicle gone on arrival.

04/28/04 Outstanding warrant arrest.

04/28/04 Solicitor reported. Subject checks out okay and warned.

04/28/04 Suspicious persons checked okay. 04/28/04 Fraud reported. Referred to New York State.

05/01/04 Traffic complaint. Highway 30 southbound checked.

05/01/04 Loose dog near the 2200 block of Second Street. Unable to locate the dog.

05/01/04 Report of speeding vehicle near Second and "G" Streets.

05/0204 Suspicious vehicle. Checked okay at the mini mart.

05/03/04 Abandoned vehicle reported at the Mini Mart.

05/03/04 Parking complaint reported near the 3400 block of Sixth Street.

05/04/04 Vandalism reported. Unknown motorist runs over plants in yard.

05/04/04 Person contacted and advised of ordinance violation relating to junk accumulation.

05/04/04 Welfare check. Checked okay.

05/05/04 Ongoing noise problem of construction near Fifth and Pacific Streets.

05/05/04 Barking dog in the 600 block of Calvin Street.

05/06/04 Complaint of yard debris near Ninth and "E" Streets.

05/08/04 Suspicious vehicle reported near Highway 30 and Pacific Street.

05/10/04 240Z traveling southbound on Highway 30 at high rate of speed.

05/10/04 Dog complaint reported in the 2300 block of Sixth Street.

05/15/04 Noise complaint reported. Loud party in the 2400 block of Fifth Street. Persons advised.

05/17/04 Traffic hazard reported. Basketball hoop in roadway in the 1700 block of First Street.

05/19/04 Vehicle blocking street in the 300 block of "A" Street. Vehicle removed by owner.

05/20/04 Welfare check near the Mini Mart. Female subject checked okay.

05/21/04 Burglary reported in the Metlako Way area.

05/22/04 Domestic dispute reported in the 300 block of "A" Street.

05/22/04 Citizen reports concern for a cat on the roof near the 500 block of Belle Street.

Recently we have seen an increasing interest and use of motorized scooters. Although they are fun and can be a great way to get around, there have been laws passed to regulate their use so that everyone on the road can be safe. Following is a summary of those laws:

• The operator must be 16 years of age.
• The scooter must travel 15 mph or less.
• The scooter may only be operated on a highway with a speed limit of 25 MPH or less, except if in a designated bike lane or crossing a highway. Remember, there is a City ordinance prohibiting operation of any motorized vehicle on the bike path.
• If traveling at a speed less than designated for that roadway, the scooter must be ridden as far to the right as possible, or if a one way street, as far to the left or right as possible.
• The rider must signal a stop or turn 100 feet before the stop or turn.
• It is unlawful to operate a motor-assisted scooter on any sidewalk except to get to a roadway from adjacent property or enter adjacent property from a roadway. Before crossing sidewalk, pedestrians must be alerted.
• The scooter must be walked through a crosswalk except for handicapped persons operating a scooter.
• It is unlawful to carry a passenger on a scooter.
• It is unlawful to carry anything that does not allow for one hand on the handlebars at all times and have control of the scooter at all times.
• Protective headgear approved by law must be worn while on a public way or on premises open to the public.
• A person commits the offense of endangering a scooter operator if the person is the parent, legal guardian or person with legal responsibility for the safety and welfare of a child under 16 years of age and authorizes or knowingly permits the child to operate a motor-assisted scooter.

We'd like to extend a very special thank you to:

• Bernadette Albertine, Alice Barchus, Gloria Chinell, Dolores Heinz, Phyllis Moss, Phyllis Rowley, Helen Sandstrom and Amy West for helping with newsletters and utility bills in April.

• John and Jan Burdett, Jack and Molly Hruska, Larry Ouillette and Buddy Rivers for helping with the Spring Cleanup.

• Claudia and Jack Yoes for maintaining Harvard Park.

• The City appreciates the time neighbors along the bike path are taking to keep the grass and weeds mowed.

Three concerts are currently scheduled for Columbia Meadows:

July 2^nd – The Dead – Doors open at 4:30 pm and the show starts at 6 pm.

July 11^th – Warped Tour at 1 pm

August 5 – ZZ Top at 8 pm

Columbia City Community Hall

Saturday & Sunday

June 12^th & 13^th

9 am – 4 pm

Volunteers are needed to help set up on Friday and pack up on Sunday.

Please call 503-366-7588.

June Safa-READ Begins – Pick up reading logs.

June 14 Community Read Planning Meeting 7 pm in the Library

June 21 Friends of the Library Meeting 7 pm in the Library

June 21 –30 Closed for Cleaning

July New Summer Hours

Mon. 10 – 2 & Wed. 4 – 8

July Children Summer Activities Begin. (Check the library for schedules.)

Story & Art Activity 10:30 – 11:30

Book Bunch Lunch 12:00

July 19 Friends of the Library Meeting

7 pm in the Library

August 23 End of the Safa-READ Trail

Ice Cream Social and Awards 1:00 pm

August 30 Return to Regular Hours

Mon. & Wed. 4 – 8 pm

Safa-Read – Pick up a travel reading log at the library in June. Collect safari animal stickers each time you visit the library.

The Story Beyond the Story – Take a closer look at the art techniques used by illustrators to make a story more exciting. We read a story, discuss how the illustrations enhance the story, and do a related art activity.

The Book Bunch Lunch – Bring a sack lunch and join a group of kids that enjoy reading as we talk about popular and award-winning books for children. Come to give a book review, share your thoughts, or just to learn about some great reads. We’ll be discussing books appropriate for children ages 9-13 and parents are welcome. Every other Monday beginning July 5 at 12:00.

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