Citizens raise sewer‑leak, mental‑health bench idea and Habitat fundraising at public comment

During the public‑comments portion of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, three residents addressed the council with distinct community requests.

Michael Vandero, identifying himself as a resident at 2107 North Benjarrin, reported what he described as “brown, nasty looking” standing water and possible sewer leaks at a trailer park near 2202–2204 North Bend. Vandero said a tenant reported monthly water bills as high as $800 and asked the city’s legal or code staff to engage the trailer‑park owner to address the leaks; he said the tenant feared reprisal if identified publicly.

Harley Fisk described a model he saw on television called the Friendship Bench program, developed in Zimbabwe and now used in some U.S. cities. Fisk said trained older volunteers would meet visitors on benches in safe public places to provide problem‑solving “talk therapy” at low cost and to refer serious cases to professionals; he suggested the council and city manager explore a similar program to expand local mental‑health access.

Ingrid Sparkman, who identified herself as the new development director for Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity, thanked the council for community support, noted a local family recently displaced by an electrical fire, and invited council members to support Habitat’s “25 in ’25” fundraising initiative (a pledge drive asking for $25/month pledges) and a telethon event on Feb. 20 at Habitat’s offices.

Council members acknowledged the comments; staff follow‑up for the sewer report and invitations to Habitat events were noted during the meeting record.