City, district close to deal with TSID

The Sisters City Council is in agreement with the general terms of the Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) agreement that would put the historic (1880) Uncle John ditch, south and east of Sisters in a pressurized pipe. The agreement gives the city the opportunity to complete a planned irrigation project on the Lazy Z property for a fraction of what it would cost the city to do the project on its own.

For $1,000 or less, the city will also get the hardware installed for a water feature on the Peterson Ridge Trail at "Little Bridge."

The irrigation project was No. 1 on the city's sewer/water works list of capital projects, but it wasn't scheduled until the 2012-2013 budget cycle, and with the current economy the project might have been postponed even then.

By the city engineer's estimates, completing the project without including it as part of TSID's piping project would cost the city about $182,000. By contrast, upgrading the 12-inch pipe that TSID will supply free of charge to the city (covered by grants), to the 18-inch pipe the city needs to match its pumps will cost $48,000. That money will have to be spent in this fiscal year to realize the savings.

The entire project/agreement should be ready for final city review at the October 13 city council meeting.

In other council business:

Due to on-going traffic flow concerns around Village Green, and a recent bicycle/car collision at the intersection of Hood and Fir, the city will be proposing a four-way stop at that intersection (see related story, page 3).

ODOT has scheduled a second meeting to answer the public's questions and concerns about the county Traffic System Plan (TSP), specifically the proposed four-lane section between Black Butte Ranch and Sisters. The public forum will be held October 4 from 3:30 to 9 p.m. at City Hall.

A joint workshop of the Sisters City Council and the Deschutes County commissioners will be held at 8 a.m., October 6 at Sisters City Hall to review the final design and cost proposals for a roundabout at Barclay and Highway 20. If there is agreement on the design, there will be a public meeting on October 18 or 20 to review the concept and draw public input. As reported in The Nugget September 14, ODOT is currently under a mandate that precludes consideration of roundabouts as an alternative for traffic control at freight route intersections, such as Highway 20 and Barclay.

The city concluded its first bid using "weighted criteria," that is, using a point system that gives bidders points for demonstrated investment in the community. The use of a contract review committee and contract review board (city council) and weighted criteria is now required for jobs that may come in over $50,000. The $36,000 design contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, who also happened to score the best on the weighted criteria.