STEADY PROGRESS CONTINUES ACROSS EMPIRE AREA There has been a lot of steady progress happening in the Empire area this past month, and it’s worth taking a moment to share some of the work that’s been completed. Public Works crews have been especially busy tackling a variety of projects aimed at improving infrastructure, maintaining public spaces, and addressing ongoing community needs. In addition, there is ongoing coordination with the Community Coalition of Empire. The City Council has designated Council Member Jacob Niebergall to attend the Coalition’s monthly meetings, helping to ensure questions are answered and information is shared consistently with community members. Here are a few highlights from recent work in Empire: • Thinned overgrown vegetation at the Plant 2 site, removed invasive species, and installed mulch to reduce future weed growth • Performed storm culvert and drainage maintenance along N. Empire Blvd., clearing vegetation and logs that were blocking water flow • Installed a drainage improvement at Fulton and Blanco to better manage water from an underground spring • Developed a dashboard application to help Public Works and the Police Department coordinate identification, posting, and cleanup of abandoned camps • Cleaned up 17 abandoned camps in the Empire area • Participated in the OBAB event at Topits Park on March 14 • Strip paved the end of Wisconsin Street to address a maintenance issue and allow staff to allocate resources elsewhere • Paved the area along N. Morrison following earlier culvert installation • Finalizing the in-house design of a proposed public parking lot at Newmark and Wall • Awarded contracts for capital road improvement projects on N. Wason and Taylor, and on Newmark Avenue from Staples to LaClair Coming soon: • Reinstall floats at the boat ramp in April • Clean and replant landscaped areas along Newmark Avenue • Begin twice-monthly maintenance of landscaped areas through a new landscaping contract All of this work represents the kind of steady, ongoing effort it takes to keep the Empire area maintained and moving in a positive direction. While some projects are more visible than others, each one plays a role in supporting the neighborhood and responding to the needs of the community. -Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay