Sewer site still sketchy

The City of Sisters has yet to secure the land necessary for a sewer plant, but city and U.S. Forest Service officials say they may be close to a deal.

Nearly all options for a land swap have been exhausted in the city's quest for property to exchange for Forest Service land that has become known as "Section 9," the proposed site for the sewer facility.

"We haven't totally abandoned opportunities for an exchange," said City Administrator Barbara Warren.

"There is one good-sized parcel possible but we haven't had a chance to talk to (the owner) yet, and we don't want to say anything until we approach her."

The city's engineer, Richard Nored of HGE Engineers, Inc., continues to pursue this exchange opportunity, working with the owner's Realtor, Reed Brothers Realty. However, he believes an outright purchase of the land may be more feasible.

"We did write a letter to Reed Brothers but nothing came of it yet," he said. "Right now we're going with the Townsite Act."

According to Mike Hernandez, community relations team leader for the Sisters Ranger District, the Townsite Act allows cities and counties to purchase Forest Service land for community benefits. Monies from the sale would go directly to the U.S. Treasury.

"As an agency we don't typically sell a piece of ground unless it's a benefit to the community," Hernandez explained.

While he agrees that a sewer system would benefit the community, Hernandez added that the facility would only use a portion of the land under consideration. "The question is, what (will) the rest of the ground be used for?" he asked.

The proposed site encompasses 260 acres of resource land on the city's southern border, with Three Creek Road as its western boundary. The property actually comprises most of the south half of 640-acre section nine, which includes the Buck Run subdivision and much of Sisters north to Cascade Avenue.

According to Warren, a preliminary appraisal by Dana Bratton of Bend valued the entire 260 acres at $672,000.

Nored predicts that the city would only use about 140 acres for the proposed system, but that it would ultimately depend on the type of irrigation chosen.

"That takes care of the first phase, second phase and the effluent disposal site," he said.

"If we went with a wetlands (effluent dispersal) system, it would take a little more property, and there are some areas that would not be developed," Nored added.

Warren said that the city would need some of the land to isolate the sewer facility.

"We would need buffer areas for Buck Run, Three Creek Road and adjacent Forest Service land," she said.

Federal funding may be the city's best hope for purchasing the land.

"The money would come from grant funds, likely through the federal Rural Economic and Community Development program," Warren said.

She noted that these funds have not been promised, but they have been applied for.

"We're meeting with all of the granting agencies in November to discuss which funds will come from where," she said.

And while the city waits for funding, the Forest Service anticipates the city's proposal.

"We are currently waiting for a proposal from the city to begin our process," Hernandez said. "We need the formal commitment.

"They would have to talk about what piece of ground would be used, why other properties aren't sufficient and what the benefit is to the city and the Forest Service," he explained. "It's our responsibility to make sure all the steps of the (National Environmental Policy Act) process are followed.

"After we get their document we begin the (environmental assessment) process (including) public scoping to get feedback," he said.

Hernandez said the city would be responsible for completing the EA.

"We currently don't have the funding available to do that, and in their time- line there's no way we can acquire those funds," Hernandez said.

"The project could be very beneficial to wildlife and the community in general," he added. "These are the types of things the city needs to analyze and propose."