Ontario council votes to use fuel funds for venture
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 11:00 AM PDT
Ontario — The Ontario City Council voted to use federal gasoline funds to pay for part of a potential North Oregon Street revamp at its meeting Monday night.
Ontario Mayor Joe Dominick called the street the worst in Ontario before Ontario Public Works Director Chuck Mickelson detailed a plan to fix the section of North Oregon Street that stretches from West Idaho Avenue to Northwest First Street.
Mickelson said a design to revamp the street, which will cost an estimated $380,000, could potentially be funded by Ontario Surface Transportation funds from federal gasoline taxes. These funds are currently in an account with the Oregon Department of Transportation. The money is awarded yearly in increments of about $100,000, and $512,254 in state money is available for Ontario to use for road maintenance.
After the funds are spent on the design, Mickelson said staff recommended the city take its remaining share from the pot.
“The other funds can be used for other local projects,” he said.
Ontario City Council member Charlotte Fugate asked if Mickelson believed the gas tax funding would be lower in the future, because of the cuts that are currently being made at the state level. Mickelson said the funding formula was set up in the 1990s, and he did not think it would change. However, he said a decrease in driving would mean a decrease in gas taxes collected, which would amount to a decrease in funding for the city.
Mickelson said the construction and rehabilitation of the roadway is estimated to cost $1.7 million, and Ontario is competing with other Oregon cities for a $44 million pot of federal funds. Large cities, such as Portland and Eugene, are not included in this total and have separate funding, he said.
“I feel fairly comfortable that we are in a good position,” he said of the potential funding.
He also said he planned to invite La Grande-based firm Anderson-Perry, which will be doing the design work, to the council’s next work session to discuss plans to turn four-lane North Oregon Street to three lanes, with a center turn lane and a bike path.
Noticeably absent from the agenda was a request by the Ontario Police Department to use unanticipated revenues to purchase a replacement undercover vehicle for drug surveillance. At Thursday’s work session, Ontario Police Chief Mike Kee said the current 1996 Ford Taurus is easily recognizable because of its common use by government and law enforcement officials.
However, after Monday night’s meeting, OPD Capt. Mark Alexander said the request was taken off the agenda in order to look at more vehicle options.
“We’ll bring back a request before July 1,” Alexander said after the meeting.
In other council action:
—The council approved a resolution that designates the outside of school buildings anti-gang zones in Ontario. The zones include school play areas and extend 80 feet from all school property boundaries, excluding private property. Designated gang members will still be able to attend school and meet with school officials when required. The council approved an ordinance allowing the establishment of anti-gang zones in February.
—The council approved the final reading of a Malheur Bell franchise agreement, which will raise fees per user 7 cents, bringing the total fee per telephone user to 21 cents.
The boost would capture an extra $26,000 to the city yearly, which would go into the general fund to help pay for police and fire services. Ontario City Attorney Larry Sullivan said Malheur Bell must now sign the agreement, which is slated to be in effect for 10 years.
—The council voted to increase fees on aviation fuel from 5 cents to 7 cents per gallon and jet fuel from 5 cents per gallon to 9 cents per gallon. This change would increase revenue at the airport by $4,500 a year and would go to maintenance costs.
—The council accepted a $2,500 grant from ODOT to purchase child safety seats used in monthly child safety seat checks. The checks take place at the Ontario Fire & Rescue station the second Thursday of every month. If a family comes into the fitting area at the fire station with a seat that should not be used, a replacement can be bought from a technician.
