BNA Minutes form September 14th

14 Sep 09

BNA meeting at school w/18 in attendance

Leslie opened the meeting at 7:00 PM and introduced Adam Zucker and Bob Eaton from MCDD and Dick Shaffer from Pen #2. They presented detailed information and responded to questions from the attendees. Briefly, after the New Orleans flood, the Corp of Engineers rated levees around the nation beginning with the Columbia River. The Columbia River levee rated favorably between the Sandy and Willamette rivers.

Improvements are planned to improve the overall rating. An upcoming bond measure to pay for levee improvements was described. It uses current levee funding to pay off the bond so no increase is under consideration.

MCDD is working closely with CRC to coordinate levee issues with the overall bridge design. The annual meeting of Pen #2 is 3 Dec 09. Proxy votes are used to elect Pen #2 board members to represent the people living in the Pen #2 boundaries and to vote on any bond measure. Proxy cards need to be signed by the property owners and given to the representatives designated on the proxies prior to the annual meeting of Pen #2.

The CRC presentation by Peter Ovington was limited to the subject of bridge tolls. Tolls are a fact, says Mr. Ovington. While many in the audience disagree with the need for or length of tolls, there are really two toll questions. How high will the toll be? Where will the toll booth be located?

The variable by time of day toll range presented by Mr. Ovington was from $1 to $10 per trip. The tool booth may be located either before or after exit 308, Hayden Island. Toll will be collected by a radio transponder that reads a signal from each car that passes. Transponder-less cars will be photographed and a bill sent to the vehicle owner.

Mr. Ovington informed attendees that portions of the community favor tolling the existing I-5 bridge ASAP. Tolling the Glen Jackson I-205 bridge ASAP is also considered highly desirable.

The ODOT CRC engineer will be back to present at the November BNA general meeting.

Fall cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, November 7th.