City Info Weekly - 2010/02/03 (Archive)

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Mint Farm Water Supply Project Approved

After nearly four years of study by numerous experts in hydrogeology, water quality, human health risk assessment, and water treatment processes, on January 28 the City Council authorized final design of facilities to develop a municipal water supply at the Mint Farm Industrial Park to replace the existing treatment plant on the Cowlitz River.  The Mint Farm Water Supply Project will install wells and develop a groundwater supply for treatment and distribution to customers of the Longview and Cowlitz PUD/Beacon Hill Sewer District water utilities.  Extensive water quality testing from newly installed monitoring wells and test pumping combined with hydrogeologic modeling, have determined that the deeper groundwater aquifer at the Mint Farm is recharged by percolation from the bottom of the Columbia River and that the aquifer is capable of providing an abundant supply of high-quality drinking water.

With City Council authorization to proceed, construction is anticipated to begin in July for the new production wells and in February 2011 for the new treatment plant.  Construction is scheduled to be complete by September 2012, when the Mint Farm water supply will begin serving the community and the existing treatment plant will be abandoned.

More information:  Contact Amy Blain at 442-4206 or click on the Water Supply Project link on our home page.

Project READ in Urgent Need of Tutors

The Project READ adult literacy program at the Longview Public Library needs several caring, accepting, and patient volunteers willing to share at least two hours a week to help an adult learn to read or improve reading skills, learn English, improve writing, basic math, or to prepare for the GED or citizenship exam.  Currently, there are 18 individuals on the waiting list needing help in reading, English, math, and citizenship and GED preparation.  Those wanting to improve reading skills can read at a 3rd, 4th, or up to a 6th grade reading level.  Those needing to improve English skills come from China, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Bulgaria, Somalia, Iran, Cambodia, and Korea.

Project READ matches volunteer tutors with adult learners to work in one-on-one or small group settings.  Sessions are typically twice a week for one hour.  Volunteers are asked to make a six-month commitment, but most choose to stay longer!  The Project READ staff provides resources, direction, tutor training, and ongoing support.  The next tutor training will take place in March.  Share your love of learning.  Make a difference.  Become a volunteer tutor at Project READ.

More information:  Please call Elizabeth Partridge at 442-5321 for more information and to see if this opportunity is right for you.

Cindi McCoy retires with over 30 years of service

Transit Division’s Cindi McCoy retired from City service on January 29.  Cindi has been a part of local transit since the late 1960s, when her parents owned the local bus service.  Cindi officially began her employment with the City in November of 1979 as a bus driver after the City purchased the bus service.  Cindi was promoted to Transit Supervisor in August of 1984.  Cindi recognized very early how important transit services were to our community, and this dedication was her personal motivation to provide the best transit services possible.   Some significant accomplishments during Cindi’s tenure include:

• Equipping all buses with wheelchair accessibility in 1990, prior to the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Keeping Transit operational after the passage of Initiative 695, which reduced transit funding by approximately 40%.
• Writing all transit grants, resulting in several millions of dollars to fund both capital and operating expenses.
• Implementing the installation of bicycle racks on all buses.
• Organizing the annual holiday joy ride.

She will be missed by her colleagues at the City.

Old West Side neighborhood properties will go into 6th phase of historic property inventories

At its January meeting, the City of Longview’s Historic Preservation Commission voted to support the sixth phase of an effort to produce intensive-level historic property inventories of homes in the Old West Side Neighborhood.  This project seeks to capture details about the architecture, historic significance and local history of each property in the Old West Side. The results are a snapshot in time of a neighborhood which may be eligible to be listed on the local and perhaps National Historic Register as a Historic District because of its unique significance. The City received a grant from the State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to pay for a historic preservation consultant to produce the inventories.  Owners of historically significant homes are encouraged to list their homes on the Longview Register of Historic Places, an honorary designation approved by the Longview City Council.  The City has contracted with local architect and resident of the Old West Side, Craig Collins of Collins Architectural Group, P.S. to provide historic preservation consultant services.  The ongoing inventory project has benefited from the contribution of thousands of volunteer hours from residents of the Old West Side and other local citizens, led by lead volunteer and president of the Old West Side Neighborhood Association, Doris Disbrow.

More information:  Contact the Community Development Department at 442-5092.

Heart & Sole Run

Bring the entire family to the Heart & Sole 5K/10K Run/Walk on Saturday, February 27 to improve your health through physical activity. The run/walk starts at 8 a.m. from the Elks Memorial Building, 2121 Kessler and goes around Lake Sacajawea Park. There is a free mini K run/walk for kids 12 and under. Proceeds from the event benefit teen recreation programs. This event is a collaborative partnership of Longview Kiwanis and Longview Recreation.

More information:  Register online at www.mylongview.com/reconline by February 10 to order a shirt. The cost to run or walk is $15 per person or only $25 for a shirt and the race.

Red Hat Ladies Tea

Calling all ladies for afternoon tea on February 16 at noon! This special day at the Senior Center, 1111 Commerce, will honor all ladies…especially the “Red Hat Ladies” variety. Lunch will be provided by the “Friend of Longview Senior Center” for only $5, and Longview Recreation will provide entertainment.  

More information:  Please call the Senior Center at 636-0210 to make reservations or get additional information. 

Thank you for your service!

Outgoing board and commission members recognized
The Longview City Council gave their thanks and acknowledged the service of outgoing boards and commission members at the January 28 meeting.  Those recognized included:

• Alan Ledgerwood (Downtown Advisory Board)
• Betty Rush, Scott Moultine (Golf Advisory Board)
• Mike Wallin; Thomas Patrick Hill, Jr.; (Historic Preservation Commission)
• Deena Martinsen - passed away in 2009, Lois Huffman (Library Board)
• Bill Cox (Housing Authority)
• Kay Beck and Linda Jessen (Salary Commission)
• Kyle Rice and Machiko Rowland (Sister City Commission)
• Kris Kleger and Larry Wood (Stormwater Advisory Committee)

Questions about Longview programs or services?  Don’t forget to check with ASK Longview!