HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 11-02 01/18/2011RESOLUTION 11- 02
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMIVION COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
ACKNOWLEDGING AND ACCEPTING ARTIFACTS REPRESENTING THE
LEGACY OF THE SPRINGFIELD MILL POND
WHEREAS, in 1852 Elias Briggs, founder of the City of Springfield connected a series of
sloughs and creeks to establish the Springfield Mill Race; and
WHEREAS, the 1VIi11 Race served a pond in downtown Springfield which provided power for
the first mills in the community; and
WHEREAS, in 1906, a new Mill Pond was constructed east of Fifth Street which served the
Booth-Kelly lumber Mill as a log storage area; and
WHEREAS, the Booth-Kelly site along with the Mill Pond and the Mill Race, was acquired by
the Georgia-Pacific Company and was deeded to the City, ~by Georgia-Pacific in 1985; and
WHEREAS, for the past 25 years the City has endeavored to rehabilitate the Mill Race ,system
to create an efficient and effective stormwater management system, enhance habitat and create a
cultural amenity for the City; and
WHEREAS; in cooperation with the U: S. Army Corps of Engineers, the City developed a plan
to rehabilitate the Mill Race and replace the Mill Pond with a meandering stream and side ponds
and wetlands, creating improved riparian habitat; and
WHEREAS, through the diligent efforts of Representative Peter DeFazio, with the support of
Senator Ron. Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley, as well as former Senator Gordon Smith, federal
appropriations were secured to provide major funding for the prof ect; and
WHEREAS, in August 2009 the Corps of Engineers contractor broke ground on Phase I of the
Mill Race Ecosystem Restoration Project and continued on to begin Phase II of the project in the
Spring of 2010; and
WHEREAS, as~part of the process of removing the Mi11 Pond the City discovered numerous old
growth logs that had become misplaced in the pond; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to acknowledge the efforts of many people who have contributed
to the success of the Mill Race Ecosystem Restoration Project as well as to preserve the history
of the Booth-Kelly Mill Pond; and
WHEREAS, to accomplish that goal the City has had constructed two benches from .logs found
within the pond, as well as a finished, and. an unfinished round from logs found in the' Mill Pond,
accompanied by other artifacts of the.logging history of Springfieldfound in the Mill Pond; and
WHEREAS, those objects have been completed and are presently on display in City Hall;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, that the City acknowledges the efforts of numerous citizens,
officials and staff who by their dedication and diligence have made this project possible and
contributed to its success; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council accepts the artifacts from the Mill Pond and
those created from logs found in the Mill Pond; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect upon adoption by the
Council and approval by the Mayor.
Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Springfield, Oregon, by a vote of 4
for and ~ .against, this 18th day of January , 2011.
~1 absent -Moore)
Mayor
ATTEST:
REVIEWED PPR®YED
AS T® F®RM
Cit Recorder ®p-TE. ', TTORNEY
Y OFFICE OF CITY A
RESOLUTION N0. 11-02