1. What is Oak Lodge Sanitary District?
Oak Lodge Sanitary District (OLSD) is a Special District organized under the laws of the State of Oregon and is a municipal corporation. It was formed in 1956 to provide wastewater collection and treatment services to the area from Vineyard Road north to the City of Milwaukie and from the Willamette River east to the top of Oatfield Ridge; an area encompassing some 2000 acres. Because the local soils were unsuitable for subsurface wastewater disposal (septic tanks), pollution and health problems were stemming from those conditions. During the design of a sanitary sewer system and wastewater treatment facility for Oak Lodge Sanitary District, the adjoining communities to the south of the newly formed district also recognized subsurface pollution and followed the lead of Oak Lodge Sanitary District by creating Oak Lodge Sanitary District No. 2. District No. 2 encompassed some 1600 acres in the area south of Vineyard Avenue to the City of Gladstone; an area known as Jennings Lodge. The two Districts agreed to share a common treatment facility and portions of the wastewater collection system. The entire service area had an estimated population of 6000.
The collection system and treatment facility, designed to serve a population of 15,000, was constructed at a cost of $2,800,000 and became operational in 1962. It had a treatment capacity of 1.5 mgd (million gallons per day) Two plant expansion projects, one in 1971 and the second in 1973, increasing treatment capacity to 4 mgd to meet community needs.
The wastewater treatment plant debt was retired in 1975, and the collection system debt was retired in 1985. Since 1973, there have been numerous pump station expansions, equipment replacements, sewer line extensions and replacements, and upgrades to the wastewater treatment facilities necessary to maintain quality service provision and environmental protection, as well as construction of a new Administration building. The new Administration building is designed to provide needed space and better community access. Since the retirement of the original debt in 1985, all of the improvements in the wastewater collection system and treatment plant, totaling millions of dollars, have been funded with cash derived from service charges. Currently Oak Lodge Sanitary District does not derive any of its funding from property taxes.
In 1993 Oak Lodge Sanitary District undertook development of a surface water management program. The program began with an existing system inventory and then progressed into development of a Surface Water Management Master Plan and program. Gradually, planning and program development has turned into implementation through regular system maintenance and new system construction. Operation and capital improvements are funded in both sanitary sewer and surface water management programs through service charge revenues.
Today, the District serves an estimated population of 30,000, which includes portions of the Cities of Gladstone and Milwaukie as well as unincorporated Clackamas County. The operations of the District are governed by an elected Board of Directors. In addition to complying with state and federal law and environmental regulations, the District utilizes a variety of committees, some standing and some created for specific purposes, to advise it in delivering a level of service that is consistent with community values.
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2. What services does OLSD provide?
Oak Lodge Sanitary District provides sanitary sewer and surface water management services. Sanitary sewer service is the used water that goes down your drains and flows to the wastewater treatment plant. The dirty water is then biologically treated, and is chlorinated before being sent to the Willamette River. Surface Water Management is a program for effective management of surface waters (i.e. streams, springs, rainfall) within the District. The program began with an existing system inventory and then progressed into development of a Surface Water Management Master Plan and program. Gradually, planning and program development has turned into implementation through regular system maintenance and new system construction. Operation and capital improvements are funded in both sanitary sewer and surface water management programs through service charge revenues. Water service is provided by Oak Lodge Water District – 503-654-7765 Garbage service is provided by Oak Grove Disposal – 503-654-6118
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3. How can citizens make their wishes known?
Oak Lodge Sanitary District staff welcomes input from the public that we serve. A telephone call, or letter or email, to us will be noted and the comment passed on to those it might affect. On the front counter of the Administration Building we keep a box and a supply of comment cards for the public’s use. To express your opinion or make a comment to the Board of Directors, you can either attend a Board Meeting (6:30 p.m., the 2nd Tuesday of each month, in the Conference Room of the Administration Building) or you can send written comment to Board of Directors, Oak Lodge Sanitary District, 14611 SE River Road, Oak Grove, OR 97267-1198. In addition, every few years (most recently in 1999) the District conducts a Public Opinion Survey. The surveys are mailed out with the Service Districts’ newsletter, and all residents are encouraged to return their completed survey to the Administration Office for tabulation. The next survey is planned for March, 2004, and will address the results of the Wastewater Treatment Options Study (Technical and Governance portions) which is planned for completion in early 2004.
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4. How are important decisions made at Oak Lodge Sanitary District?
Oak Lodge Sanitary District is governed by a Board of Directors. The members of the Board are elected by the registered voters of the District. The positions are At-Large, so each Director represents the District as a whole, not a particular portion of the District. The Board of Directors is responsible for setting the policies and determining the direction of the District. A General Manager manages the day-to-day operations as carried out by the employees, and takes direction from the Board. The General Manager is responsible for making recommendations to the Board on items such as capital projects, investment strategies, and major policies, however all final decisions are made by the elected Board of Directors. The Board of Directors meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Administration Building at 14611 SE River Road (at the intersection of SE River Road and SE Oak Grove Boulevard). The meetings are open to the general public, and residents are encouraged to attend. A Public Comment period is included in the agenda of each meeting. Meeting minutes and agendas are items of public record and copies are available to the public at the District Administration Building. Meeting minutes are also posted on this website Day to day decisions on conducting the business of the District are made by the employees, using District codes and policies as guidelines. Should you feel that these code and/or policies were not correctly interpreted by a staff member, you should first request an explanation from the staff person assisting you. If you are not then satisfied, then you should submit your request for review in writing to the District management. If you are not satisfied with the result of that review, then you should submit a request in writing asking that the Board of Directors review the situation. Also, in determining whether or not to recommend specific projects or activities to the Board, the District from time to time will make use of consultants who are experts in various areas, such as engineering or public funding/financial policies.
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