Last modified: Tuesday, December 2, 2008 10:20 AM PST Mayor issues warning on underpass By Katie Pizza Argus Observer Ontario — The Ontario City Council heard from Ontario Mayor Joe Dominick regarding the future of the railroad underpass, voted to trade a police car for college credits for officers and approved a liquor license for a local truck stop at its meeting Monday night. Dominick said, while he did not want to “scare the public,” the underpass is in bad shape. Jurisdiction of the underpass was transferred from the Oregon Department of Transportation to the city in 2001. Ontario City Council member Bruce Tuttle spoke out against that move Monday night. “The public works director back then failed the city when he took that over,” Tuttle said. At the Sept. 2 City Council meeting, Ontario Public Works Director Chuck Mickelson said the underpass was constructed in 1937 and now faces numerous infrastructure challenges. He requested and received $35,000 from the public works contingency fund to cover the costs of engineering, field testing, significant traffic control issues, removal and replacement of failed concrete panels. Dominick said the entire underpass is an issue for the city and encouraged residents to look closely at the structure to see its flaws, such as water seeping down the sides, potholes and “a large bump.”  Dominick said it would cost $12 to $20 million to replace the structure, though that number could be lowered through grants. Tuttle said bicycle and pedestrian grants were available for the upper structure. Dominick said the council would be hearing more about the underpass in the future. As part of the consent agenda, the council deemed a 2003 Crown Victoria to be surplus property. This action allowed the Ontario Police Department to give the police car, which currently has 114,500 miles on it, to Treasure Valley Community College in exchange for college credits for a police officer’s continuing education. In a report to the council, OPD Capt. Mark Alexander said the patrol vehicle was becoming too expensive to repair and maintain. The council also approved a liquor license for Love’s Travel Stop, situated at 1041 N.W. Washington Ave. The Off-Premises Sales with Fuel Pumps license allows Love’s to sell malt beverages, wine and cider in factory-sealed containers, according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. In his report, OPD Chief Mike Kee said OLCC approved all the necessary paperwork, and the criminal records check for the local business manager as well as all the corporation officers had returned clear.