An architectural drawing of the proposed Alkali Park in Arlington. Architect Mark Seder completed the drawing. The proposed park is now a finalist for a competitive grant from Oregon Parks and Recreation. The grant would bring $800,000 to build the park.
The Arlington City Council met on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. In addition to the public hearing for the proposed sale of property at the Arlington Mesa Industrial Park, several other topics were discussed by the council.
Marta Mikkalo shared that the Arlington Public Library is considering moving under the umbrella of the county, and potentially calling itself the Gilliam Co. North End Library. Mikkalo noted that the Gilliam County Library budget in Condon got $48K more for coming year.
Librarian Mary Mitchell and staff member Michelle O'Tool were in attendance, as was Arlington High School student Madeline Hayter.
Mikkalo asked for an increase in pay for the staff after 22 years. Mikkalo asked to present a new budget to the city council next month.
The library bought four computers this year. The library is a place that many children go to after school, as there is no after care in Arlington available for them. Staff say they are happy that the children come to the library.
Librarian Mary Mitchell encouraged people to get a library card and shared that there is a new museum pass called the Libraries of Eastern Oregon – which can provide entrance to a number of museums in Oregon.
Next, Marta's niece Cori Mikkalo provided an update on the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan that is managed by FEMA. The plan is multi-jurisdictional and is federally mandated to revise every five years. Having the plan in place opens gates to several other FEMA grants – specifically FMAG super fire designation.
Following this was an update from the Department of Land and Conservation Department (DLCD). Dan Meter and a coworker discussed the Oregon Fire Map – originally known as the "risk map" – that had a flawed rollout in 2020. The map has been revised as the Wildfire Hazard Map.
The map will be adopted by May of 2025. The new effort will bring enforcement of "Defensible Space." The City Council agreed to hold a workshop in late September or October on the subject.
Next, architect Mark Seder gave an update on the proposed Alkali Park, which would sit between the Bank of EO and the Arlington Store. With the Arlington City Council, Seder developed architectural drawings for a park and submitted the plans for an Oregon State Parks grant. Mayor Bufton gave a presentation to a grants committee, which moved the grant into a finalist category. If approved, the project would receive $800K in grant funds and a total project costing $1 million.
Alkali Park will host a splash pad for younger kids, along with cooling areas with shade for local families and visitors to town.
The council then discussed the need to replace fire hydrants in town. Shannah Gronquist said that replacing all of the fire hydrants in Arlington would cost about $300K. Restoring old fire hydrants is challenging as parts no longer exist. Fire hydrants are now functional on 2nd Street.
Shannah also reported that a new part-time worker joined her team.
There was also a discussion about the proliferation of goat head weeds, or puncture vines, growing in Arlington. Local Daryl Potter shared that he is unable to walk from his house toward the high school as there are so many goat heads. Shannah Gronquist said that it would cost about $580 an acre to spray and mitigate goat heads.
Lastly, Mayor Bufton reported that after consecutive weeks of power outages on Sundays between 5 PM and 9 PM, he contacted Pacific Power. Bufton eventually learned that Pacific Power is cutting power in the heat of the summer out of fear that a wildfire will start from a downed power line.
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