October 8, 2019

Dispensary Opening 
We were notified Friday morning of the event that happened Saturday night. We set up our incident command post about a ½ mile away. We had Police, Fire & Rescue and Treasure Valley Paramedics. Much thanks to our State Police partners and the City of Fruitland also. We responded to some incidents, but it went off as good as we possibly could have made it given the short notice. We estimate around 3,000 participants, which would have been near impossible to stop with only 15 officers on hand.
 
Planters
Additional ground planters have been planted and are downtown. This is part of the City Council’s Beautification initiative. Even though we have taken over watering again, Andrews Seed is doing weekly fertilizing and pest control just as a service to our community. It’s a great public/private partnership.
 
Airport
This has been a very successful week for our Airport Manager networking with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), ODA (Oregon Department of Aviation), Airport Managers and business personnel from all of Oregon as well as some folks from Washington, Montana and Idaho at the OAMA (Oregon Airport Manager‘s Association) meeting at Klamath Falls. Bringing Ontario‘s Airport to the table and connecting with the FAA, ODA and others will hopefully provide a positive future and increased resources.
 
Police
OPD swore in its newest police officer, Tyler Bullington last week.

Chief Romero met with Angela Salazar from the 8C School District. OPD will be conducting a Drug Awareness Workshop at the Ontario Middle School on October 29th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. Chief Romero and SRO Elizondo will be presenting at the event.

Field Services
“Coffee with a Cop” with OSP and Malheur County Sheriff’s was this week at Jolts and Juice downtown. Event was well attended by community members and there was great interaction between law-enforcement and community partners.

This week OPD Sgt. Swank made a proactive arrest of a local drug dealer who was in possession of 10 grams of methamphetamine. OPD has kicked off a new proactive approach towards identifying our local drug activity concerns and this case shows what results from great proactive policing.

OPD ordinance officer Brockett continues to work on chronic parking issues and complaints of blight throughout the city. Everyone is looking forward to the addition of another code enforcement officer.

Fire and Rescue
Fire and Rescue staff are in the community for the Smoke Detector Program. They are testing and installing smoke detectors for free.

A crew participated with the ladder truck 109 in the OHS homecoming parade. That night, the same crew took truck 109 to the football game and displayed a large American flag in the north end zone. We received many positive comments about the department’s participation in the parade and pride in having the flag displayed.

​Staff participated in the demonstration of a new health wise fire engine.

The chief along with numerous other public safety agencies participated in the Cairo school Jog-a-thon.
The crew did public education/public service at the Giggles and Grace Fall festival.

On the 28th Rescue One responded to a car. On the 29th the crew responded to a dumpster fire threatening the business, and Rescue One responded to assist OPD with access to a roof of a building where persons involved in a hit and run were hiding. On the 2nd, crews responded to a car fire at the intersection of 4th Ave and SW 9th St. On the 28th there was a gas valve to a fireplace left open and the family smelled gas, the crew was able to find the source and close the valve. Staff responded to a car in a canal South of Nyssa by Mitchell Butte with occupants inside on the 29th, but was canceled in route.

Public Works
Field Services
Crack sealing took place in the NW part of town. Our new crack fill machine is working extremely well.

A new front-end loader was delivered to the City Shops on Thursday. it replaces a unit that been in service since 2005. The old unit was traded back to the dealer. We came in under budget for the purchase.

Footings were excavated and prepared for the new shelter in Lions Park, the footings will be poured early next week and then construction will begin the following week. A concrete pad and sidewalk to the new shelter will follow. This will be a beautiful decorative replacement shelter for the one that fell during the snow storm of 2017.

Catch basin cleaning started and will continue through the fall.

Tree wells on East Idaho are completely evacuated and ready for tree planting later this fall.

Water
Water inventories are at target levels.

A dive team completed their inspections of tanks and river inlet structures. A report as to the current status will follow, but preliminary indications are that the tanks are in good shape.

Jar testing for decreased organic load was completed multiple times this week to optimize the water quality.

Wastewater
We begin discharging to the Snake River at the end of the month; the significance of this is that it will be the first time since our new NPDES went into effect. There are numerous new requirements in order to meet permit limits.

Parks and Cemetery
Staff will begin winterizing underground irrigations systems later this month as temperatures cool.

Nine new flower pots were planted and placed in the downtown core area. Andrews Seed spearheaded this effort and should be thanked for their support of the City. They will assist us with hanging planters in the spring.

​Engineering
Engineer staff continues work on the SRCI contract negotiations, Water Master Plan, Transportation Growth Management Plan, Tennis Court resurfacing, and Airport Wastewater design proposal. 

New front end loader. Again, this unit replaces another piece of equipment that was in sore need of replacement.

New crack seal machine. Replaces a unit over 20 years old and in dire need of replacement.