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Helen M. Davis Recently Veneta residents were dismayed to learn that their water bills are going to increase beginning in January 2024. As many have suspected, this is a result of the residential building that has been taking place within city limits. Matt Michel, Veneta City Administrator, says the increase will be no more than 3% for water usage and 2% for wastewater treatment respectively. City population is now at 5,300 and as this number grows to reach 6,200 a Master Plan, which is updated every ten years, has indicated a need to expand water capacity and wastewater treatment to meet the needs of residents. Plans are in the works to acquire land south of Bolton Hill and west of Madrone Ridge for the creation of a reservoir. This, Michel says, needs to be at a certain elevation to create head pressure and feed into the area successfully. Once this land is accessible, a purchase will be made. Also, a major upgrade has begun at the wastewater treatment plant on Sertic Road. Already there has been regulatory and planning work and the seeking of approval from the DEQ. Next year, construction should begin in earnest and is expected to be completed in two years. Further increasesin residents’ water bills are recommended over the next 3-5 years, but this will have to be brought to the City Council to see if they want to actually implement this. If they choose, they can also elect to decrease people’s bills. There is a plan for $250,000 worth of water main replacement because the city wants to be ahead on wastewater management so as to take care of the system properly and be good stewards of the infrastructure. For those who may find the increase a strain on their budget it is suggested that they call City Hall regarding assistance, and they will be connected to Mid-Lane Cares. Meanwhile, the city continues to grow, with tentative approval for homes in the first addition to Forest Grove on Hunter Road, Oakley Estates on Jeans Road, Applegate Landing off of 8th Street Phases IV and V, Madrone Ridge Phases IV and V, Andrew Heights, Blake’s Mill, and the Cheney Drive Apartments for a total of 442 tentative lots and 128 units. As of November, of this year, six permits for new dwellings have been issued. The building is reported to be a result of a shortage of affordable housing in the state and a desire to correct this, but at what cost? Nobody wants to see Veneta lose its appeal as a small town where one can walk into a business and be greeted by name, nor does anyone want to see woodland and pastureland converted to subdivisions as the city grows ever bigger. Classroom size is yet another concern as families with children make their home in one of the new subdivisions or apartment units. However, people do need a place to live that is within their budget and they wish to be welcomed as the newest members of the community. Somehow, a solution to be found so that people can have a place to call home while others don’t have to feel like they are footing the bill. What this solution is remains unknown, but Veneta is changing, and the small-town country feel is changing right along with it. Could it one day become the size of Junction City to the north? It is doubtful anyone wants to see this happen.
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