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Residents urge city action on flies and contest street-access changes; council clears minor historic-house request
Summary
Public commenters asked Mount Angel to investigate a recurring fly problem and raised complaints about a street access change that they say was mishandled; council indicated staff will follow up and clarified no council motion is needed to remove a non-original bathtub at the Soft Belt House for storage improvements.
During public comment at the May 10 Mount Angel City Council meeting, two residents raised distinct neighborhood concerns and councilors directed staff to follow up.
Fly problem: Maria Sanaroff introduced herself as a Mount Angel resident and urged the council to investigate an ongoing fly nuisance on the northeast side of town. She said she had collected specimens and compared them to Marion County Vector Control materials and asked the city to consider allocating funds for a formal investigation to identify the fly species and source. "I did do a little of my own research," Sanaroff said, asking the city to look into testing and possible remedies. Council members suggested contacting Oregon State University's extension service for technical guidance before hiring a private investigator or committing significant funds.
Street-access complaint: A second commenter (speaker S6) reported that a change near 390/290 Dollar/Auto Street limited homeowner access, alleged the city did not follow required processes for temporary or permanent street closures, and said prior minutes and staff statements contained inaccuracies. The speaker asserted the change had negative effects on parking, emergency access, and property value and urged better communication and corrective steps. Council directed staff to gather records and follow up with the homeowner to clarify the situation.
Historic-house storage: The council heard from the Mount Angel Historical Society about removing a non-original bathtub in the Soft Belt House to install storage cabinets and free display space. Council and staff reviewed the lease/maintenance provisions and staff advised that no formal council motion was required for the modest alteration; the city manager (Mark) was authorized to approve maintenance work if needed.
Next steps: Staff agreed to contact the resident who raised the fly concern and to consult OSU extension for options; staff will also assemble records and follow up on the street-access complaint. The historical society was given direction to coordinate with the city manager on the bathtub removal and storage improvements.
