The levy in Measure 22-186 will assess district property owners the same 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed value as the current levy. Thus, a homeowner whose property is assessed at $200,000 would continue to pay the same $30 per year as under the current levy. District officials estimate that the levy, will raise approximately $236,000 over five years. The measure passed with 54% of the vote, with about 52% of district voters in Linn County supporting it and 61% of those in Marion County.
Lyons and Mehama Lyons and Mehama, which also straddle the Linn and Marion borders, also received a boost from voters when Measure 22-187 sailed through in the May ballot with 80% approval. The measure will raise more than $5 million from district property owners to upgrade the water system. District officials plan to:
ARTIST’S RENDERING OF THE ENTRANCE AND CITY HALL PORTION OF THE DETROIT COMMUNITY CENTER.
• Replace two storage reservoirs that have reached the end of their useful lives. • Provide a new, 1.3-million gallon tank to promote system resiliency and provide additional storage capacity. • Install two new water mains to assist with water delivery and provide higher fire flow capacity. • Refinance outstanding borrowings for related capital costs. • Pay for site improvements, demolition, equipment and bond issuance costs. Property owners in the district will be charged $1.10 per $1,000 of assessed value to pay for the improvements. Property valued at $200,000 would be liable for an additional $220 per year in property to pay for the bond. The district serves residents of Lyons as well as unincorporated areas east and south in Linn County and the community of Mehama in Marion County. And it passed with nearly 80% of the vote in both counties.
Gates Hard hit by fires, like the forest floor, there are many signs of life and renewal in Gates. While Upward Bound Camp lost most of its structures to the fires, what looked to be an impossible task just a few months ago is changing into a new beginning for the camp. Summer programs are planned. The Christian-
based recreational and educational camp will continue to provide experiences for persons with special needs, as it has since 1978. More new growth: the Santiam Canyon Tool Library was set up and began operating on the grounds of the Gates Community Church. Donated tools from individuals and local businesses can be checked out and returned free of charge: saws, pressure washers, generators, wheelbarrows, chain saws, ladders, paint sprayers, leaf blowers, sanders and more. To honor the work of city employees who juggled their own losses with the struggle to get city services back online, the city of Gates was awarded a flag flown over the nation’s Capitol in December. The flag will be mounted at City Hall. A second flag was donated to the Gates Rural Fire District. It will be displayed at the fire house with memorabilia collected from the fire.
Idanha
The small town at the eastern end of the canyon has added a card-lock gas station, making it easier for residents and commercial traffic to fill up in that more isolated corner of the region. The Idanha-Detroit Rural Fire Protection District was gifted with a used engine from Coos Bay to replace a vehicle destroyed in September’s fires. That brought the district’s rolling stock up to date. More than 3 acres were donated to the district as a site to replace the fire station that burned down. Now the goal is identifying funding sources for the project, estimated $2.4 million, to move into construction. Mary Owen contributed to this report
The North Santiam River Country Visitor Guide & Business Directory 2021 | 5