By James Tibbets, Pendletonian Times
PENDLETON, Ore. – Michael Fields has joined the Pendleton Tree Commission, Pendleton Airport Manager Dan Bandel gave a report on a recent award given to the airport, Ordinance 4026 was amended, Pendleton Police Department will be outfitting three new SUVs, the Wastewater Treatment Resource Recovery Facility is upgrading its internal software and South Main Street will be upgrading its water system.
The consent agenda consisted of accepting the minutes of the September 17, 2024 City Council meeting, executive session pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e) and (2)(h) litigation and the mayoral recommendation of Michael Fields to the Tree Commission. Councilor Carole Innes made the motion to accept the consent agenda and Councilor Steve Campbell seconded it and the consent agenda was unanimously approved.
Bandel presented the award given by the Oregon Airport Management Association to the Pendleton Airport on September 30 to the City Council. Bandel told the City Council that “we had no competition.” After the City Council and Administration had inspected the trophy which was presented to Bandel, City Manager Robb Corbett instructed him to “display the award prominently” at the Pendleton Airport.
Corbett read the text of an amendment to Ordinance 4026, which would modify the way that the Airport Commission conducts itself. According to the staff report from Bandel and City Attorney Nancy Kerns the amendment would allow the Mayor to designate a City Council member to serve as the Mayor ex officio member, change Commission meetings from monthly to quarterly with the provision for additional meetings when needed, provide for the removal of inactive and non-participating Commission members, have the Airport Administrative Assistant take the minutes for Commission meetings and have the Commission chair or the Airport Manager address the City Council as needed.
Pendleton Police Chief Charles Byram requested that the City Council approve the outfitting of three SUVs by Day Wireless of Pasco, Washington. According to the staff report from Byram, Day Wireless is the only outfitter of emergency vehicles in the area. The total cost of the project is quoted as $55,008.02. Mayor John Turner said that the service would be provided “at a cheap price” by Day Wireless. Byram estimated the project to take 12 weeks and explained that Ford produces a law enforcement variant of certain vehicles in its fleet so no modifications are necessary aside from the systems outfitting. Councilor Kevin Martin made the motion to approve the request and Councilor Linda Neuman seconded it and the request was unanimously approved.
Wastewater Treatment Resource Recovery Facility Superintendent Kyle Willman, Public Works Director Jeff Brown and Corbett requested that the City Council approve Corbett to issue a purchase order to Simtek for up to $100,000.00. According to the staff report, a professional service selection process was conducted and approved September 3 with the City Council and Simtek was chosen to complete the supervisory control and data acquisition system upgrade at the Resource Recovery Facility. Simtek has quoted $79,619.32 for programming, software, and equipment upgrades. Innes made a motion to approve the request which was seconded by Neuman and the request was unanimously approved.
Water Superintendent Scott Roe, Public Works Superintendent Casey Currin, Brown and Corbett recommended the approval of a purchase order for materials needed for the water mainline replacement project on the 200 and 300 blocks of South Main Street to HD Fowler Company of Pasco, Washington for $66,085.12. According to the staff report, three bids were received. Innes made a motion to approve the purchase order which was seconded by Martin and was unanimously approved.
During the portion of the meeting designated for business not on the agenda, Byram reported that “Round-Up was good.” He additionally reported that PPD is fully staffed and stated that “with Oregon State Police here … they show up and stop cars,” referring to cars operated by drivers who are suspected to be under the influence of intoxicants. He said that between 20 and 25 DUIs were issued by OSP during Round-Up. Finally, he reported that earlier in the day someone had called PPD to get their cat out of a tree, to which Turner replied that “we’ve gotten off the agenda.”