Hi Mitch,
I completely hear your frustration in about the sewer line, but it does sound like the City attempted to help you recover some costs by installing the water line.
In regards to the design review and construction inspection fees, these are “standard fees” that are charge by the majority of municipalities in Oregon. I recently conducted a fee review and update to confirm the standard practice. For a long time, the City has not been fiscally responsible in charging fees that directly account for my time, our engineer’s time or the crews time to do the inspections. These fees are assessed at 5% for the engineer estimate and 5% of the final estimate paid for the public improvements.
The OHA fee unfortunately was recently increase to almost double this year. We are working diligently to update the Water Master Plan to seek approval from OHA and thus waving the need to have the reviews causing developer and the City to be charged additional fees. Unfortunately, this is a process and takes about 1-2 years to complete.
Hope this addresses your concerns,
Regards,
Jennifer Cline, P.E. | Public Works Director
Licensed in OR, WA
117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 * |Molalla, OR 97038
O: 503.759.0218 | F: 503.829.3676
From: Mitch Jorgensen [mailto:mjj@molalla.net]
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 9:51 AM
To: 'Jennifer Cline' <jcline@cityofmolalla.com>
Cc: 'Dan Huff' <dhuff@cityofmolalla.com>
Subject: RE: Approval from OHA
I would surmise that Dean Madison, then PWD, came to that very same conclusion when they installed the branch down to us in 2007. We provided the materials, the city installed it.
This was done because we got the shaft from the city when we installed the sanitary sewer line for our batch plant with the intent that NW Polymers, who was relocating to their new site next door to us; through a state business grant, would attach onto it, thus sharing a portion of the costs. That didn’t happen because an engineer the city hired (He later went bankrupt) decided it was better to install an all new line down Hwy 211 to NWP. So we ate it all. That and a few other things transpired; so the city at that time agreed to install the line for us.
Now you might understand the heartburn I had when you came back and said we had to fix the easement problem on that hydrant near our new shop in January.
Now I get to pay in fees 31% of the cost of a waterline extension to install 350 ft; oh and + $3300 to the state for their approval. No wonder we can’t get any businesses to come here. This is freaking ridiculous.
I must thank you for allowing us to remain at 6” instead of 8”. That’ll save us both $$’s.
Sorry for the history lesson. I’ll have that form and fee to you hopefully today. MJJ
From: Jennifer Cline [mailto:jcline@cityofmolalla.com]
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 9:17 AM
To: Mitch Jorgensen
Cc: Nicolas Lennartz; Dan Huff
Subject: RE: Approval from OHA
Hi Mitch,
Unfortunately the 8” water line is the standard minimum size for the City. I’m not certain why a 6” line was allowed in the past, but I am not going to request to upsize the line since it primarily serves only your facilities.
In the future with development, there is a likelihood the 8” line will need to extend to Molalla Forrest Rd and then to OR 211 to meet added capacity demand and maintain required hydrant flows.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
Jennifer Cline, P.E. | Public Works Director
Licensed in OR, WA
117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 * |Molalla, OR 97038
O: 503.759.0218 | F: 503.829.3676
From: Mitch Jorgensen [mailto:mjj@molalla.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2016 9:04 PM
To: Jennifer Cline <jcline@cityofmolalla.com>
Subject: RE: Approval from OHA
When do you give me the cost difference up sizing the line to 8"?
Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Jennifer Cline <jcline@cityofmolalla.com>
Date: 6/9/16 6:33 PM (GMT-08:00)
To: Mitch Jorgensen <mjj@molalla.net>
Cc: Nicolas Lennartz <nlennartz@cityofmolalla.com>, Peggy Johnson <pjohnson@cityofmolalla.com>, Chelsi Sanders <csanders@cityofmolalla.com>
Subject: RE: Approval from OHA
Hi Mitch,
To start the permit process, please complete the shaded areas in the document. I will then begin processing the permit. Once that has been completed, you may stop by and pay the design review fees (5%) and pick up the permit.
Please note that you will need to contact Public Works prior to beginning the work for a short pre-con meeting to discuss materials and inspection requirements.
Once the inspections are complete and approval is given, the construction permit fee (5% of work completed) is due along with a 1-year Maintenance Guarantee at 20% of the estimate.
Regarding the plans, I can approve the plans you last submitted as long as no changes were requested by OHA and made after. See attached plans.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Jennifer Cline, P.E. | Public Works Director
Licensed in OR, WA
117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 * |Molalla, OR 97038
O: 503.759.0218 | F: 503.829.3676
From: Mitch Jorgensen [mailto:mjj@molalla.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2016 12:20 PM
To: 'Jennifer Cline' <jcline@cityofmolalla.com>
Subject: Approval from OHA
Got the letter approving construction of the line. What more do you need to issue the building permit? Do you need plans to stamp?; OHA didn’t send them back, so do I need a clean copy or do I have to get the pans back from OHA?
Mitch Jorgensen, Pres.
QCT/CCT #44362
Molalla Redi-Mix & Rock Products, Inc.
PO Box 555
Molalla, Or 97038
(503) 829-5555 x 15 office
(503) 829-5558 fax
(503) 969-3377 cell
Online at molallaredimix.com