The Milton-Freewater City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to authorize a $457,000 forgivable loan from the state to connect the trailer park to the city’s water system.
Inside the urban growth boundary but outside city limits, Locust Mobile Village has been in a protracted battle with the city to gain access to the municipal water system.
A year later, the Oregon Health Authority found a federal grant that would have covered the city’s cost of extending water lines, with the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners agreeing to act as the fiscal agent.
“I just want to thank Linda and staff for not folding or buckling to the county commissioners when they didn’t stand up for the city,” he said.
“And not buckling to the state (for) the disaster that no one will enforce their code over.
Balancing the budget required a few corresponding moves, including: • The council agreed to raise golf course rates 3 percent, but exempted student daily greens fees, student punch cards, golf cart barn rentals, and season passes from the increase.
The council also had the option of instituting an across-the-board rate increase, but the Milton-Freewater Golf Board recommended the more targeted raise.
The council voted 4-1 to raise the rates, with Humbert voting against.
• The council unanimously voted to increase electrical rates 3 percent and raise the service availability fee for commercial and industrial customers.
The council incorporated Pressnall’s recommendation into the motion and unanimously passed the fee increases.