Park restrooms to reopen
With all the beautiful weather we have been having our parks are being used more and more. The question has come up as to why the bathrooms are locked. There are a few good reasons. First, the park bathrooms are locked during the months where it is most likely to freeze: November through March. Because they are not heated they are winterized by Creswell’s Public Works crews. When they winterize the bathrooms they shut off the water at the street and then drain all the pipes, toilets and urinals. They blow out all the drains. Then they put an environmentally friendly antifreeze in all the bowls and drains to keep them from freezing and breaking in the cold weather. Other concerns that are addressed by closing the bathrooms are vandalism, illicit drug use, camping and other ”adult activities” that occur in the bathrooms. The bathrooms can provide a shelter from the elements and are especially attractive dry locations in the winter. The City regrets the inconvenience that closing the restrooms causes.
Two important changes coming to your EPUD bill
First, a City Franchise Fee will be shown on your bill, under your usage charges. This is not a new charge. It was previously listed as Town Tax on your bill, but has been renamed to more accurately describe its function.
The City Franchise Fee is required by your city. It applies to all EPUD customers within city boundaries. All utilities operating within city limits pay franchise fees to cities in exchange for permission to operate within the city limits. The fees are set by each city. They are collected from customers by the utility, and sent on to the city.
Second, the fee amount will change beginning in May. In an effort to keep rates down, EPUD will no longer absorb a portion of the City Franchise Fee. The city’s entire five percent fee will be calculated and added to your bill. The resulting fee amount will be higher than previous months.
Remember, the City Franchise Fee is collected for the city. It is not revenue for EPUD.
Rural Housing Rehabilitation Program
St Vincent de Paul offers assistance to Creswell residents who meet income requirements and who need help repairing plumbing, foundations, dry rot, electrical, doors, heating systems, paint, windows, insulation, siding and more. Applicants must own and occupy the home and the property must be located within Lane County. For more info, contact Andy or Christina at 541-687-5820 or complete the needs assessment form at http://www.svdp.us/.
