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The idea of acquiring the Dixonville Water System and making it a part of Roseburg's water services has turned out to be a bit more complicated than some expected.
The City Council directed staff in August to check into the possibility of taking on part or all of the system east of Roseburg, but both suggestions have raised concerns.
"I don't think we are anywhere near getting all the questions on the table, let alone the answers," said Fred Dayton, the Dixonville Water Association's president, Thursday at a Roseburg Utility Commission meeting.
Councilors have expressed interest in the system that supplies water to about 425 customers in part because it could be used to help plan for future growth in the area.
Though service would continue to current Dixonville customers, the city currently can't provide more water hook-ups outside the urban growth boundary. Officials could, therefore, use water service to entice more people to enter the boundary and the city limits.
"This is one of the directions we might go in" for future development, said Clay Baumgartner, Roseburg public works director. The city is already in the process of annexing the Sunshine Park area, which is served by the system.
A task force has been created to examine the possibilities of acquiring the system, which, Dayton said, would likely call for a vote of the system's customers.
Some task force members have raised questions about the effect that acquiring the 40-year-old system would have on the city's pocketbook.
The system is in a state of disrepair and some officials are concerned taking on the entire area could be a liability. The city has already agreed to loan the association $400,000 for upgrades, but more will be needed in the future.
Councilor Phil Gale and some other members of the task force have asked city staff to determine how much of a financial burden the system might prove and how upgrades would be paid for later on.
Councilor Jack Reilly, also a task force member, said he doesn't see the system as a burden. The city would just need to ensure customers are paying enough now to keep up with future costs so they aren't slammed with exorbitant bills in the future.
"This is the right thing to do," he said of acquiring the system.
The city could also take on a smaller portion of the system, though that raises concerns about a loss of customers for the association.
Officials are eyeing the parts of the system that are within or near the urban growth boundary. Those areas also happen to have nearly 40 percent of the system's customer base.
"The concern that Dixonville has is that a lot of their system is really rural," Baumgartner said.
Most seem to agree it would be unfair to only acquire these areas because without those customers, the system would struggle to pay for operating costs.
These questions and more have kept the task force from agreeing on a recommendation for how to proceed.
The group will meet at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall's third floor conference room to discuss the issue further.
* You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@newsreview.info.
The City Council directed staff in August to check into the possibility of taking on part or all of the system east of Roseburg, but both suggestions have raised concerns.
"I don't think we are anywhere near getting all the questions on the table, let alone the answers," said Fred Dayton, the Dixonville Water Association's president, Thursday at a Roseburg Utility Commission meeting.
Councilors have expressed interest in the system that supplies water to about 425 customers in part because it could be used to help plan for future growth in the area.
Though service would continue to current Dixonville customers, the city currently can't provide more water hook-ups outside the urban growth boundary. Officials could, therefore, use water service to entice more people to enter the boundary and the city limits.
"This is one of the directions we might go in" for future development, said Clay Baumgartner, Roseburg public works director. The city is already in the process of annexing the Sunshine Park area, which is served by the system.
A task force has been created to examine the possibilities of acquiring the system, which, Dayton said, would likely call for a vote of the system's customers.
Some task force members have raised questions about the effect that acquiring the 40-year-old system would have on the city's pocketbook.
The system is in a state of disrepair and some officials are concerned taking on the entire area could be a liability. The city has already agreed to loan the association $400,000 for upgrades, but more will be needed in the future.
Councilor Phil Gale and some other members of the task force have asked city staff to determine how much of a financial burden the system might prove and how upgrades would be paid for later on.
Councilor Jack Reilly, also a task force member, said he doesn't see the system as a burden. The city would just need to ensure customers are paying enough now to keep up with future costs so they aren't slammed with exorbitant bills in the future.
"This is the right thing to do," he said of acquiring the system.
The city could also take on a smaller portion of the system, though that raises concerns about a loss of customers for the association.
Officials are eyeing the parts of the system that are within or near the urban growth boundary. Those areas also happen to have nearly 40 percent of the system's customer base.
"The concern that Dixonville has is that a lot of their system is really rural," Baumgartner said.
Most seem to agree it would be unfair to only acquire these areas because without those customers, the system would struggle to pay for operating costs.
These questions and more have kept the task force from agreeing on a recommendation for how to proceed.
The group will meet at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall's third floor conference room to discuss the issue further.
* You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@newsreview.info.
