Recycle pickup is every other week. Here are the upcoming dates through December:

• September 25
• October 9
• October 23
• November 6
• November 20
• December 4
• December 18

Door-to-door sales agents periodically visit our Table Rock neighborhood. Some may be polite and represent goods or services of interest. Others may use high pressure tactics to gain a sale at your expense.

The Federal Trade Commission advises people to beware of these signs of a scam:

• Pressure to act now to take advantage of a limited time offer.
• Offer of “free” equipment to get you to sign a contract.
• Scare tactics, such as a security systems agent saying, “Burglaries have occurred in your neighborhood.”

There’s wisdom in the old adage “If something sounds too good to be true…” Time is on your side in a high-pressure sales pitch. Stand your ground and insist on time to investigate and review the company, service or product.

A little online investigation can save you from making a costly mistake. If you’re not familiar with checking things out online, ask a family member, friend or neighbor for help.

Finally, don’t sign anything without reading it carefully. If oral promises have been made, make sure they appear in writing on the contract as well.

As a safety measure, the FTC has a cooling-off rule that allows you three business days to cancel if you sign a contract in your home or at a location that’s not the seller’s permanent place of business. And you don’t have to give any reason for cancelling.

If you have concerns about any door-to-door sales in our neighborhood, please contact a board member.

Final vote possible after the hearing—your support is needed.

Click image for larger view of annexation map.

A public hearing about Walla Walla city annexation of Table Rock and surrounding neighborhoods is scheduled for June 11.

The Table Rock neighborhood currently is located in the county.

The city annexation hearing will begin at 7 p.m. in the Fulton Community Room at the Walla Walla Police Station, 55 E. Moore St.

Earlier this year, a Union-Bulletin article suggested that annexation might save homeowners in our neighborhood $500 per year. This estimate is based on lower utility rates for city residents as well as savings on property taxes.

Nabiel Shawa, city manager, says the city council may vote to approve annexation after this public hearing. If the ordinance passes, annexation is complete and final. At that point, a census of the annexed area is required, and documentation will be filed with the state.

“We are shooting for an effective date of August 1, 2014,” Shawa says. “If we hit that mark, the reduction of utility rates will be reflected in September bills, and the reduction in property taxes will occur in 2015.”

Your support at the hearing would be very helpful. There’s no need to make a speech—just state your name and that you support annexation.

If you have questions, call the city manager’s office at 527-4522. Or contact a Table Rock HOA board member.

Previous articles posted on this topic:

• https://tablerockhoa.org/2014/03/reminder-city-annexation-meeting-march-26/
• https://tablerockhoa.org/2013/07/city-annexation-may-resurface/
• https://tablerockhoa.org/2013/04/city-annexation-moving-forward/

As seen in this photo (not from Walla Walla), fats, oils and grease build up inside sewer pipes, restricting and possibly blocking the flow of waste.

There’s a FOG problem at the sewer pump station that serves Table Rock, and your help is needed, says George Bell, street supervisor for the City of Walla Walla.

FOG stands for fats, oils and grease. As these substances flow through the sewer system, they build up in pipes and eventually cause problems.

For example, blockages already have been occurring at the sewer pump station located along the west side of Cottonwood Road just north of Russell Creek. This pump station collects waste from the Table Rock, Triple Creek, Shangri La and Costello neighborhoods.

“Most of the grease was coming from the south, which only serves Table Rock,” says George Bell, street supervisor for the City of Walla Walla.

Garbage disposals and dishwashers, although convenient, are part of the problem. Disposals, for example, grind up meat and vegetables, creating grease, which goes down the drain. Dishwashers generally use very hot water, which helps strip grease from dishes. But the liquid grease cools as it moves down the line. Then it begins sticking to pipe walls.

Even flushable wipes are more durable than toilet paper and can contribute to blockages.

Flushable wipes add to the problem. More durable than toilet paper, they catch in greasy pipes and slowly build blockages. They also stick in pump impellers at lift stations and require removal by hand, Bell says.

The City of Walla Walla will be mailing out more information about FOG and what Table Rock homeowners can do to prevent sewage backups, Bell says.

In the meantime, following these tips can help reduce sewer problems:

• In the kitchen, only water should go down the drain. Food and grease should not.
• Pour leftover hot grease into a jar. Let it cool, seal it and freeze it. Then throw it into the trash.
• Scrape pots, pans and dishes. Then use a paper towel to wipe out the rest. Throw the scrapings and paper towels into the trash. Coffee grounds can also be used to soak up oils.
• Dispose of rags, flushable and nonflushable wipes, razor blades, toilet deodorants, dental floss and other nonbiodegradable products into the trash.
• Tell friends and neighbors about the sewer problems caused by sending fats, oils and grease down the drain.

VIDEO LINK:

Keep It Clear – See for yourself how FOG affects sewer systems in this 9-minute video program from the BBC.

A Table Rock neighborhood-wide yard sale will be held June 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you have items you’d like to sell, plan to take advantage of this date and the traffic that will be generated as a result of advertising the event.

There’s no cost to participate. Simply set up your items in your driveway, yard or garage. Homeowners are responsible for their own sales.

If you have questions, call Tera Davis, event coordinator, at (509) 240-5463.