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Published By Your City Hall |
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  Maintaining ageing infrastructure can be challenging and can cause public inconvenience and adversely impact businesses. As a community, we experienced this firsthand this week when a section of a wastewater collection pipe failed under Hwy 101 near Morgan’s Veterinary Hospital.
The pipe in question was installed in 1919 and much of the downtown collection system in or around Hwy 101 is old. City crews systematically check the health of sanitary sewer lines as well as storm water pipes by utilizing a sewer pipe inspection camera system. Given the number of miles of underground pipe, portions of the system are checked every two to three years and more problematic areas are checked more frequently. This section under Hwy 101 was most recently inspected in 2021 and at the time no pipe deficiencies were observed. The failure of the pipe caused a 12’ x 12’ x 5’ deep void that had developed beneath the southbound lanes of Hwy 101. The pipe in this section of town varied in depth from 12’ to 19’ below the road surface. The depth of the pipe and the large void required both lanes of Hwy 101 to be closed which resulted in the need to reroute traffic.
As you all realize every time you get a utility bill, operating a wastewater utility is expensive! There are costs related to the collections and treatment of the wastewater received, but there is also an ongoing need to reinvest in repair and replacement of the many components that make up our community’s wastewater system. Did you know that our sanitary sewer system includes over 90 miles of sanitary sewer pipes, 22 sanitary sewer pump stations, and two wastewater treatment plants? The City also oversees maintenance of an extensive stormwater collection and management system, which includes three storm pump stations, and approximately 48 miles of gravity piping.
Since I have been Mayor (November 2016), the Council has invested $45,576,834.97 in capital improvements of the utility which funded replacement and upgrades of several pump stations, replacement of underground pipes, and a new treatment plant in Empire. We are currently in the process of replacing two older pump stations, upgrading two others, and getting ready to undertake major capital improvements to the downtown treatment plant which was originally built in the 1950s.
 The pipe has been replaced and the area around the pipe has been backfilled with rock. A five foot deep layer of slurry (concrete) has been poured over the area as required by ODOT. Crews are waiting for the concrete to cure which has been slowed by the recent cold temperatures. The contractors estimate that they will be able to begin paving on Friday afternoon and finish laying down the final layers on Saturday. We expect the road to be reopened to traffic on Sunday.
My thanks to Knife River Materials along with many of our staff who worked around the clock to replace the failed pipe and rebuild this section of the highway. And to our citizens and business owners who were impacted by this project, I appreciate your patience and understanding.
-Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay
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 Firefighter/Engineer Anthony Saccente has been named the American Legion Department of Oregon’s National Security Commission Firefighter of the Year. The American Legion National Security Commission selected Saccente from list of Firefighters nominated by American Legion Posts throughout the state. Saccente will be recognized at an American Legion Banquet in June of this year. Saccente’s nomination will also put him in the running for the Western Region Firefighter of the Year and potentially the National Firefighter of the Year.
Saccente was hired by Coos Bay Fire Department (CBFD) in May of 2018 after a competitive hiring process. Prior to being hired by Coos Bay, Saccente was an Intern Firefighter for North Bend Fire Department while he attended Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) focusing on Fire Science and Paramedicine. Saccente is a very capable Firefighter/Paramedic maintaining certifications as a Fire Officer II, Rope Rescue Tech, Hazmat Tech, and Fire Instructor. He is currently assigned as the Regional Hazmat Team Coordinator. In addition to working at CBFD, Saccente has spent time working as a part time Paramedic for Bay Cities Ambulance, and as an adjunct instructor at SWOCC.
When Saccente is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends as well as volunteering in the community and beyond. He has volunteered in multiple capacities with local youth sports and has a passion for helping coach little league. For the last several years, Saccente has also volunteered with Reach Out Worldwide (ROW) which is a global disaster response group. He has deployed multiple times supporting ROW missions as close as the aftermath of the 2020 Oregon wildfires and as far as hurricane relief in the Florida.
The Coos Bay Fire Department is proud to have Anthony Saccente serving our community and would like to congratulate him on earning this award. We wish him luck as the potential regional and even possibly national Firefighter of the Year.
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In support of a city goal to facilitate new housing opportunities, in 2020 the City Council adopted a 2020 Housing Needs Analysis (HNA). The HNA identified an available land inventory to accommodate housing demand over a 20-year span. Also adopted were a variety of land use regulation changes to encourage new housing. Completion of the 2020 HNA did not conclude the City’s efforts. An ongoing evaluation of housing needs and land availability has identified environmental challenges for housing development and differing housing types needed by Coos Bay residents. With a grant from the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Department, Housing Advisory Committee, and Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) evaluation work has been completed, reviewed by the Planning Commission, and shared with the City Council.
To hear from Coos Bay residents, the City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers regarding the evaluation work formatted into a draft update to the 2020 HNA, related Comprehensive Plan amendments, and a preliminary Urban Growth Boundary Expansion memo. You are invited to attend and comment. For comments or questions, please contact at cjohnson@coosbay.org or 541-252-2861.
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Coos County Launches Resident Survey
on Homelessness Community
 Coos County, in partnership with the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend, is launching a new public survey to understand how the community can respond better to the housing crisis. The survey will only take five-ten minutes to complete. It will be utilized to develop a five-year strategic Continuum of Care (CoC) plan.
This pilot program was established by Oregon House Bill 4123, which allocated $1 million in state funding over two years to coordinate efforts.
The survey will help to identify the needs of people experiencing homelessness in the area and provide insight into how the issue can be addressed. The survey is open to all community members and is available by clicking the button below:
“We are proud to be part of this pilot program and to have the opportunity to make a difference in our community,” said Coos County Commissioner John Sweet. “We encourage everyone who can to participate in this survey to gain a better understanding of homelessness in our area and work together to find solutions.”
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  The Energy Trust of Oregon is bringing energy savings to the Coos Bay community.
Currently, Energy Trust is offering a no-cost LED lighting upgrade opportunity for smaller businesses and commercial-type buildings, who are customers of Pacific Power. This includes inside and outdoor lights.
Buildings must be either less than 20,000 square feet OR have fewer than 20 employees.
Examples of qualifying types of businesses and non-profits buildings include stores and commercial businesses, restaurants, offices, service stations, motels, food banks, social and community services organizations’ buildings, churches/houses of worship or faith, clinics, and many others. Industrial facilities and common areas of multifamily/apartment property lighting may also qualify.
Energy Trust encourages participation from those organizations and buildings that have not been able to upgrade to LEDs and those that can most benefit from electric bill savings through these lighting upgrades.
Energy Trust will schedule with you to conduct an onsite review for eligible no-cost lighting upgrades. And the lighting installation contractor will work with your schedule.
To learn more or check your eligibility, call 1.800.326.2917 or email: lighting@energytrust.org.
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CITY OF COOS BAY PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Coos Bay is accepting grant applications from non-profit organizations. Applications available from City Manager’s Office, 500 Central Ave., or csylvester@coosbay.org or 541-269-8912. Funding requests will be reviewed by the Budget Committee in May. Deadline to apply 03/27/2023.
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City Transitions to New Phone System
 Extensions may be unavailable for brief periods
On Friday, February 17, 2023, the City of Coos Bay will undergo a transition to a new phone system. We expect this cutover to occur between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Between that time period, there may a possibility for short windows of time that a specific phone extension is unavailable as it is transitioned to the new system. Should you attempt to contact staff during that transition time and are unable to connect, please do try again. The transition is expected to be a very short duration for each extension transition.
This transition does not involve equipment changes, so we do not expect any phone extensions to be unavailable but want to communicate the possibility. The North Coos 911 Dispatch Center will not experience any outages during this time, ensuring access to emergency services as always.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the City Manager’s Office at 541-269-8912.
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Properly Dispose of Your Toxins
Free Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
Event Date: Saturday, February 18, 2023
Time: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Beaver Hill Transfer Site
1/4 mile south of Milepost 253, Highway 101, between Coos Bay and Bandon
The collection event allows Coos and Curry County residents to safely dispose of a wide range of materials such as poisons, pesticides, solvents, fluorescent lights, pool chemicals, aerosol cans, caustic cleaners, mercury thermometers and flammable liquids.
This event is for household hazardous waste only.
No industrial or commercial wastes will be accepted.
If you are a business, we can provide a phone number and contact name to make an appointment for collection of these wastes.
Not accepted at this event
Ammunition, asbestos, explosives, fireworks, radioactive materials, medical wastes and Sharps. No large quantities of unknowns will be accepted. Please bring your household hazardous materials in the original containers with labels intact – do not mix products. Label materials not in their original containers. If unaware of specific product name, provide product category, such as pesticide or cleaning product, if possible. No containers larger than five gallons. Leaking containers should be placed inside a larger, plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. A non-flammable absorbent, such as kitty litter, should be placed around the bottom of the product to absorb any leaks. Label the container with the contents and date. All materials should be packed in a plastic-lined, sturdy cardboard box, secured to prevent spills and breakage. As an additional safety precaution, the materials should be placed in car trunks or in the back of trucks in route to the event.
Call for an appointment time with
Coos County Solid Waste Department at 541-396-7624
Make an appointment to drop off your household hazardous waste. Appointments should be made prior to the day of the event. Best time to call is Tuesday –Friday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. We are asking for appointments, so we do not have long traffic lines and we better able to avoid congestion on Highway 101.
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 The Community Coalition of Empire (CCE) is pleased to once again be working with the City of Coos Bay and the Coos Art Museum to bring art to the Empire District. The Community Coalition of Empire has identified 13 city owned utility boxes in need of local artists to develop and hand paint their visions of our nautical theme, “Historic Empire with a Focus on the Waters.” Artists may use the completed Empire Mural to draw inspiration, or they are free to use their imagination. The color palette will be blue, red, white, black, and yellow, and can be mixed according to the artist’s discretion.
This project will happen in two phases with an estimated completion date of July 23, 2023. Artists will be given all supplies necessary to make their vision a reality. In addition, each artist will receive a stipend of $100 and will be honored at a reception upon completion of the project. This project is open to all artists. Submissions must be original and may be submitted via:
- Mail to CCE P.O. Box 3452 Coos Bay, OR 97420
- Email via pdf format to moss_joanne@yahoo.com
- Dropped off at Star of Hope Activity Center 657 Newmark, Coos Bay
Submission deadline for PHASE I is MARCH 17, 2023. PHASE II deadline is MAY 31,2023. Questions may be directed to louanndewater@sohoregon.org
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 Did you miss the January program at the Coos Bay Public Library about the Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery and its new preservation initiative? A recorded program is now available online: https://youtu.be/ZJH9b5HJrFk.
Join public historian and cemetery volunteer Becky Soules for a virtual lecture exploring some of the untold stories of the Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery. Learn about immigrants making the area their new home, Civil War soldiers seeking new opportunities in Oregon, women struggling to support their families, and young children dying from all-too-common accidents and childhood diseases. Becky will also share information about the new preservation initiative, "Partners to Preserve our Pioneer Cemetery," which will repair and stabilize over 100 of the cemetery's gravestones in the upcoming months.
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 (Certified Operator Wage range $24.00 - $33.14/hour with excellent benefits)
(Trainee Wage range $20.26 - $25.85/hour with excellent benefits)
Starting Wage Dependent upon Qualifications
Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board is located on the Southern Oregon Coast where recreational opportunities and beautiful scenery abound; providing a quality living and working environment. The Water Board serves a customer base of 13,600 accounts within the Cities of Coos Bay and North Bend and the surrounding area outside the city limits.
This position works under the general supervision of the Water Treatment Supervisor and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant; monitors watershed, production, and distribution system; performance and data collection of chemical, bacteriological and laboratory processes used in conventional water treatment filtration plant.
CERTIFIED OPERATOR POSITION:
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION - 18 months of progressively responsible experience in the operation and maintenance of public water treatment systems: An Oregon Water Treatment I certification at time of hire; graduation from a Senior High School or GED.
MINIMUM SKILLS AND ABILITIES - Considerable knowledge of the chemical, bacteriological, and laboratory processes used in water treatment; knowledge of the operation and maintenance of water supply and treatment facilities and equipment; demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and carry out work with only general supervision; ability to interpret the results of water tests, assess operating conditions and make successful operational decisions; ability to develop and maintain positive, cooperative, team- oriented working relationships with supervisors and co-workers; ability to maintain a professional appearance and a positive, courteous, and helpful attitude toward customers and the general public; knowledge and skill in the use of personal computer; ability to work shifts and weekends; or satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the above.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/LICENSES - Must possess a valid driver’s license upon hire; obtain valid Oregon driver’s license within 30 days of hire and have acceptable driving record; Oregon WT II certification within four years of hire and Oregon WTIII within six years of hire
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: Possession of Level II or higher Oregon Water Treatment Certification at time of hire; previous experience working under minimal supervision.
TRAINEE POSITION:
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION - One year of experience in the operation, maintenance or repair of mechanical equipment or an associate’s degree in a related field or any combination of experience, education or training that which provides the required knowledge, skill and abilities to perform the essential job functions;
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Library ESO Outreach Technician
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of full-time Library ESO Outreach Technician. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a city application, resume, and letter of interest to the HR Office or by email at jspencer@coosbay.org. City applications are available from the Finance Office, City Hall, 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420, by email at jspencer@coosbay.org or on the City’s website at https://www.coosbayor.gov/government/job-openings.
Applicants must complete and submit the required City application packet by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 2023, as specified in this job announcement. All applicants will be notified of the final status of their application.
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Firefighter/Engineer
The City of Coos Bay is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Firefighter/Engineer. Interested parties should go to the National Testing Network website www.nationaltestingnetwork.com and register as a firefighter candidate. Candidates should then complete and submit the National Testing Network (NTN) application, complete the Fire Team test, and have a valid Professionally Recognized Physical Ability Test dated no earlier than March 3, 2022. All testing must be complete prior to an applicant being considered for the application pool.
The deadline for receiving completed test scores at the National Testing Network is 5 p.m., March 3, 2023. Scores received after the March 3, 2023 deadline will not be considered. Coos Bay Fire Department will select a limited number of candidates from the list provided by the National Testing Network. Selected candidates will be invited to complete a City of Coos Bay employment application and participate in a competitive selection process.
Lateral Candidates: Lateral candidates with at least two years of full-time paid firefighting experience are not required to complete the National Testing Network Fire Team test or physical abilities test. Lateral candidates must contact Battalion Chief Jeff Adkins at jadkins@coosbay.org prior to the close date of March 3, 2023 to obtain a City of Coos Bay Fire Department employment application and to verify experience.
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