From: Gerald Fisher

Sent: Thu Mar 30 12:48:46 2017

To: Dan Huff

Subject: The real answer on rates

Importance: Normal

Hi Dan,

Here is the comparison for the monthly service costs for a homeowner in Molalla vs. a homeowner in Silverton.

Note that Silverton residents pay more in water, sewer, and stormwater fees plus pay for street maintenance and parks maintenance. Having been the PW Director in Silverton, I was the one who developed the CIP’s, updated the SDC’s and rates, and allowed for the communities opportunity to start making needed repairs and improvements to all of its systems. I have begun the same process here in Molalla and am currently working on the rates component. It took me three years to get through the process in Silverton. I am almost through the same process here in one year, while doing it with less staff and more projects to manage on my own.

We will need to spend $2M for a new additional filtration system at the treatment plant that will allow us to produce 4 MGD of water along with a series of other improvements. Silverton is looking at over $10M to replace their antiquated treatment plant and other improvements. In other words, they will pay even more than Molalla in the long term.

The only folks who really have any idea of what improvement costs we will incur now and into the future is the management staff here at the City. Grant Sharp is in no way an authority on the matter or has any capacity to represent the City on City government related matters. Unfortunately, the Chamber of Commerce has an executive director that has and continues to give out misinformation on matters that he doesn’t understand or have any of the facts. What the Chamber’s executive director should be focusing on is the success of businesses within the City of Molalla, helping fill empty store fronts downtown, and being the lead with other businesses and property owners within the City to move economic development forward and work on business expansion and retention. Unfortunately, folks are looking at the City Council and City staff to lead up that endeavor that most other communities our size is handled by the Chamber of Commerce. Silverton is very successful in this area because they have an Executive Director who understands the role of the Chamber of Commerce and actively works with businesses and economic development partners. What Grant has done instead is talk negatively about the City and its staff, blame you for the lack of Buckaroo plaques along Hwy 211, interfere with our contractor on Molalla Ave, and waste an enormous amount of my time responding to and correcting the rumors he continues to spread about City staff, Public Works, and the community in general.

Feel free to share with the Council and the Chamber Board at your discretion. I stand behind everything in this email.

Regards,

Gerald Fisher, P.E. | Public Works Director

City of Molalla

117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 |Molalla, OR 97038

Office: 503.829.6855 | Direct: 503.759.0218

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