Council indicates confidence in staff

Following several hours of presentations last Saturday on current and proposed projects, members of the Sisters City Council one by one voiced confidence in the city staff's ability to set their own priorities.

"I'm frankly at a loss on how to give you priorities... except the budget," said Mayor Lon Kellstrom.

Department heads made their presentations at a council goal-setting session on Saturday, February 5.

Even though each counselor in turn expressed their own "agenda" for the coming year, as a group the council deferred to the staff's expertise in determining which projects to prioritize.

"I have confidence in the staff, they know what they have to do on a day in and day out basis, and they hear from us regularly if something comes up," said Councilor Pat Thompson.

There is a whole new approach to the recently contentious issue of setting of new water rates for the city. Earlier this month the city staff presented a list of capital projects to the council with the city's recommendations. The council agreed on which water projects were absolutely essential to complete in the coming year.

According to Interim Director of Public Works Paul Bertagna, these projects will include replacing and upsizing existing old undersized water mains downtown and in the southwest corner, and rehabilitation of Sisters' original 36-year-old well.

The city staff is now preparing a variety of financing scenarios to cover these projects. The council's choice of financing will determine the timing and amount of water rate increases, if any, required to cover costs.

Another major issue is the city's participation in the potential sale and development of the 56 acres of Forest Service property on the west edge of town. This will be the subject of a joint city council/planning commission workshop to be held Thursday, February 10 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. This workshop is open to the public, but public testimony will not be taken at that time.