By Ferrell Miller
At the December 22 Celebration of Optimist Gathering, Red Dunham was recognized for being a member of the JC Breakfast Optimist Club for 53 years. The JC Breakfast Optimist Club was first organized 60 years ago in 1961.
Ray Ibarra, Director of Public Works for the City of Junction City was the guest speaker. He told members that his department is responsible for the streets, sanitation, utilities, water distribution, the airport and the fleet of vehicles used to perform their duties.
“Recent projects have included paving the last half mile of Blue Jay Way and the roundabout near the new Junction City High School; changing the water meters to an automatic read; planning to improve the dam and change the spillway at Homer’s Pond and other street improvements and maintenance. In 2022 a new bridge will be constructed over the railroad tracks and in 2023 repairs will be made to the roundabout on South Washington Street”, he stated.
Ibarra also shared that “the most recent incident involving the loss of water in the city occurred on December 15 when power was lost because of the storm. The generator was turned on, but when the power came back on something happened at the generator switch. Thousands of gallons of water flooded the area and caused damage, which crews scrambled to repair as quickly as possible. Twenty-five samples of water have been sent in for testing of the current water supply, with hopes that the boil order can be lifted today, but we must wait for the results.”
Ibarra said that “Bike and walking trails are being constructed or added. One example is a path from Seventh Street to the new Junction City High School”.