Help prevent sewer clogs
Do you know what items should and should not go down the drain?
Help prevent the risk of sewer clogs by disposing of household waste responsibly. Here are a few items that clog pipes and should never be disposed of down drains, in sinks, showers or toilets.
- FOG – Fats, Oil and Grease. These substances can clog pipes, cause backups and damage sanitary sewer systems – all risks to human health and the environment. FOG is a leading cause of sewer backups into homes and crawlspaces. FOG occurs when cooking fats are poured down the drain and coat the inside of the pipes, eventually forming a blockage. Each year the number of FOG-related blockages and emergency call outs and repairs increase with the growing size of our population and visitors.
- Wipes. There is no such thing as a flushable wipe. Cleaning wipes, baby wipes, and other wipes that are sometimes described as “disposable” or “flushable” generally do not dissolve when flushed. Instead, they accumulate in sewer systems causing clogs and backups.
- Paper towels, diapers, facial tissue and sanitary products. Please dispose of these items in the garbage as they are made out of materials that do not break down.
- Kitty litter. Keep kitty litter out of the sewage system, even the kinds that claim to be disposable. Cat waste can also carry harmful parasites.
Other items that pose environmental risks and should never be disposed of down the drain are Household Hazardous Materials, such as motor oil, paint and pesticides, and prescription and over-the-counter medication. These items contain toxins and chemicals that can pollute our waterways. Head to Tri-County Hazardous Waste and Recycling Program (tricountyrecycle.com) to learn more about safely disposing these items, and the schedule for Hazardous Waste disposal events.
The City Budget Committee seeks applicants
Interested in diving into the inner workings of the City? The City of Hood River is seeking applicants for the City Budget Committee to fill two vacancies with terms expiring at the end of this year’s budget cycle on June 30, 2024. Appointees must be qualified voters residing in the City of Hood River, but may not be officers, agents, or employees of the City.
The Budget Committee is comprised of members of the City Council (six councilors and mayor), and an equal number of members of the public. Serving on the committee is a unique opportunity to get an inside look into the City’s finances and operations, and help ensure that funds are spent effectively. The committee will receive the budget message and deliberate the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year budget. The public meetings typically occur on Wednesday evenings during the month of May.
Interested persons should submit an application, resume, and a statement detailing their desire to be appointed. Applications are available at City Hall, 211 2nd Street, online at cityofhoodriver.gov/city-budget-committee/, or by calling (541) 387-5212.
Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. March 15, 2024, and may be filed with the City Recorder, City of Hood River, 211 2nd Street, Hood River OR 97031, or emailed to j.gray@cityofhoodriver.gov. Applications received are included in the public record, and therefore, any information provided in the application may be disclosed to the public upon request.
Heights Streetscape Plan and FAQs available online
The full report of the Heights Streetscapes Plan with appendices and an executive summary in both English and Spanish are available to view online at the link below. The project webpage also features a condensed frequently asked questions (FAQs) tab to address common questions and concerns. Some of the current questions included on the drop-down menu are, “When will the Heights Streetscapes projects happen?”—“Why is the proposed Roundabout at May & 13th Streets so large?”— “How will the Streetscape Plan impact parking?”— and “Will large trucks still be able to travel through the Heights?”.
The running list of questions will be periodically updated. If you have any questions not addressed in the FAQs, you can submit them using the contact form at the bottom of the webpage: cityofhoodriver.gov/urban-renewal/the-heights-streetscape-plan/.
City Council holds annual goal setting and study session
On January 6, Hood River City Councilors attended their annual goal setting and study session, where they took a deep dive study into the topic of annexation.
The term annexation refers to when properties outside of the city limits but within the Urban Growth Boundary are integrated into the City. In these situations, public roads, water mains and other infrastructure that had been maintained by the County would be maintained by the City. A few reasons that property owners may want to annex into the City include the ability to develop their property more fully or to connect to utilities such as sewer. However, annexation also means that the property owners must also pay taxes to the City.
The Hood River County Board of Commissioners requested a joint discussion on annexation in the near future. This study session both prepared City Councilors on the topic, as well as gave Councilors an opportunity to explore the pros and cons of annexation.
At the same meeting, Councilors reviewed the status of the goals on their 2023-2024 Work Plan and made updates. Some of Council’s top priorities for the coming year are the Development Code Audit and Update (covered in more detail in this newsletter), the Westside Urban Renewal District, Racial and Social Equity, and more. You can read the full Work Plan at cityofhoodriver.gov/administration/city-council/hood-river-city-council-goals/ or watch the study session online at cityofhoodriver.gov/administration/public-meeting-upcoming-and-archived-videos/.
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