Hope to receive energy credits for any work done

OROVILLE – Oroville is looking at rejuvenating Well #1, the oldest well in their public water system and hopes to get an energy grant so they can help pay for the improvements, as well as save energy.

“We have been working on rejuvenating Well #1 for some time now. We got a quote from Irrigation Technologies and Control,” said Rod Noel, Superintendent of Public Works, adding that the company was recommended by another firm the city has been working with regarding the wells.

“It’s hard for cities to do this kind of work and they came recommended. We are also working with the energy office and trying to get some energy credits. Energy money goes from the BPA on down to the PUD to be credited to energy saving projects.

“Of course you want to make sure your project qualifies for credits before you spend the money,”

Noel said he has been in conference with Irrigation Technologies and Control and working with them on designing the improvements.

“The way this system works we shift where we draw from around depending on the season. With three wells in the same area they are classified as a well field,” said Noel. “There is only so much you an pump out of the ground. If all pumps are going at once they begin to rob from the other wells.”

Noel said the city should consider going to a new control system to see if that works out so the city could realize some savings. He said he would like to get the project designed professionally in an attempt to bring down the bid for doing the work.

“I’m asking the council’s permission to pursue this,” he said.

“It needs to be done,” said Mayor Chuck Spieth.

Other business

In other business, there was a report from Officer Frank Kouteliers about progress on a case regarding check fraud. He said an arrest was made and that the city has a good case on two suspects. He also thanked the city for allowing the police department to get computers for their patrol cars.

“It will make our lives a lot safer and I have been able to do my reports in the car without having to head back into the office,” he said.

“It was a usable tool and the price was right,” said Mayor Spieth.

The council discussed an email that Councilman Walt Hart received requesting the RV dump station be kept open year around. Currently the dump station is closed during the winter and Prince’s RV Park has also closed the dump station there, which is usually kept open, this winter.

“There is no way we can keep the one at Veterans Memorial Park from freezing without installing a new line. The current line (installed by the state) is not very deep in the ground,” said Noel.

Mayor Spieth asked if there was an estimate on the cost of putting in a new line.

“We’d have to go 200 to 300 feet from up the hill. The state upsized the pipe to four inches, but they didn’t put it very deep,” said Noel, referring to work done while Veterans Memorial was still a state park.

“We were looking for an alternative as Prince’s RV Park is closing for the winter,” said Hart, asking if there was anywhere else a dump station could be installed.

Noel said anywhere with access to the sewer line and water for a hose, as well as good access for RVs would be suitable.

The council and Noel discussed the recent fire at Oroville Building Supply. Noel, who also serves as fire chief, said the fire got so hot that the concrete floor was literally blowing up in places.

“You could see craters in the concrete,” he said.

Since there was no nearby hydrant to the fire, which took place south of the city limits. Water tankers from Oroville and Tonasket brought water to the fire from a hydrant on Fifth Street and the Oroville Fire Department filled their 3000 gallon “bathtub” and pumped from it.

A crew from Rugged Justice uses a drone to film shots of the Similkameen River, the town of Oroville, locations where the three cougar kittens were found and Sgt. Dan Christensen with WDFW.

Cougar number three is warmed with blankets and towels, as well as a heated water bottle. WDFW photo

Officer Troy McCormick with Washington State Fish and Wildlife wraps cougar number 3 in warm towels and blankets after being found in the river after it was darted. WDFW/submitted photo

Oroville not only lit up it’s Community Christmas Tree at Centennial Park last week, it also hung the newly recolored poinsettia Christmas ornaments along Main Street. The ornaments which once had only white lightbulbs, now have red or white bulbs in the flower petals and green stems. The work was done by Streetscape with the help of volunteers. Streetscape paid for the red and green bulbs and is accepting donations to purchase more. Gary DeVon/staff photo