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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2018)
BAMBINOS TO OFFER CLASSES DALLAS BOYS Page 9A Volume 143, Issue 3 BASKETBALL Page 10A www.Polkio.com January 17, 2018 $1.00 City seeks to fill Day’s council seat IN THIS ISSUE DALLAS Community bulletin board creates special calendar. By Emily Mentzer »Page 3A The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — After serving one year of a four-year term, Independ- ence City Councilor Ken Day resigned on Jan. 2. The city of Independ- ence is accepting applica- tions for those interested in filling the council seat. “The biggest reason was the six city coun- cilors, of those six, only two people were actively involved, myself and Mar- ilyn Morton,” Day said. “So the other people were either not prepared or not actively involved in dis- cussions.” Day said he had hoped to help improve the city’s transparency. “The city government wasn’t open and did not consider the public,” he said. “They did not keep the public informed. That was a big reason I ran.” Without more coun- cilors asking questions, Day said he felt like he and Morton couldn’t change the council. “You have to get 4-2 for change, and we were 2-4, so I didn’t see anything changing in the near fu- ture,” Day said. “People weren’t going to change. Rather than just being frustrated, I resigned.” Day said he didn’t see the point in spending 30 to 40 hours a month preparing for discussions when nobody else seemed to. Another factor in his decision was working with City Manager David Clyne. Day said that Clyne had told the coun- cil that he would retire when Independence Landing was completed. “We know that’s two years from now at least,” Day said, “probably closer to four before it’s complete. I don’t need to work with him. I’ve been president of two successful companies. I don’t need to work with a person like him. I’m not going to do it.” Clyne confirmed that he plans to resign this year. He had served on the board of directors of Monmouth-Indepen- dence Networks and on the parks and recreation board. Day said he appreciates those serving on council. “I think it’s important,” he said. “They’re volun- teers. They don’t get paid anything. There’s no pay, and there’s no benes. I ad- mire and appreciate the people on council. I just think they need to put in more work to accomplish what’s expected of them.” THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK INDEPENDENCE Central seeks new high school principal. »Page 12A MONMOUTH Sen. Wyden encour- ages civil engagement. »Page 2A emIly menTzer/Itemizer-Observer John Sanders, Pacific Power field supervisor, installs a new smart meter at Indy Commons in Independence. Smart meters come to Indy Ballots due Tuesday for Measure 101 Pacific Power to roll out new technology to all in Polk County Itemizer-Observer staff report By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — Pa- cific Power has started re- placing meters with smart meters — and Independ- ence and Polk County are the first to receive them. “It’s a big thing for the or- ganization, and obviously for customers,” said Tom Gauntt, media spokesman for Pacific Power. “There aren’t too many things that change for all customers. It’s a two-year effort. It’s defi- nitely going to touch every customer over a two-year period.” Gauntt said Independ- ence and Polk County made a good starting point for a variety of reasons, from the size of the county to the weather reports. “We picked Independ- ence since it has been build- ing out gigabit internet, working with technology companies to bring Internet of Things to agriculture, and trying to bring real 21st cen- tury jobs and opportunities to their community,” Gauntt said. Smart meters are not new, he noted. “This is fairly mature technology,” Gauntt said. “Rather than being the first person to get a PC (personal computer), you’re the 70th million to get a PC. It’s more smooth, more friendly. Prices are more competi- tive.” In fact, Monmouth Power & Light customers have had smart meters — albeit an older generation — since 2006, said Monmouth Power & Light Director Chuck Thurman. The meters have saved t h e Mo n m o u t h u t i l i t y money and time on meter reading and on getting more accurate meter readings, Thurman said. The new meters installed by Pacific Power will do that and more. Customers will be able to look at yesterday’s power usage and see what they used, Gauntt said. If a customer washed more laundry than usual, he or she could see how much energy that used, he said. See METErS, Page 5A Deputies spruce up aging Titus 3 By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — The upstairs of Titus 3 House in Dallas was a scene of organized chaos on Saturday after- noon. Polk County Sheriff Mark Garton and eight of his deputies crowded into the small hallway and two of the three bedrooms following the instructions of Titus house mom, P.J. Johnson. The cause for the mass re- sponse from the sheriff’s of- fice? A painting party. In the middle of a touchup project at the women’s transitional home, Johnson was in need of painters to help get the proj- ect done so she could begin taking in more clients. The crew included deputies Jonathon Jones, Quenton Ihne, David Short- er, Mike Smith, Matt Gar- rett, John Kincaid, Mark W i d m e re a n d R i c h a rd Bittick. Johnson said through six years of operation, the three upstairs rooms temporarily housed 75 women working to put their lives back on track following serving time in prison. JOlene Guzman/ Itemizer-Observer Deputies John Kincaid, left, and Matt Garrett paint the hallway at Titus 3 House in Dal- las on Saturday. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office volunteered to help with the project. The rooms were a little worse for the wear, she said. Saturday’s mission was to provide a fresh coat of paint — and something perhaps even more valu- able to women who occupy wed thu fri Bring your brew of choice and learn about new Testa- ment figures during Brew and BS at St. Thomas church. 7 p.m. Free. If you need a relax- ing way to express your artistic side, come to adult Col- oring night at mon- mouth library. 5 p.m. Free. enjoy a hearty meal of stew and biscuits and enjoy live music at Dallas united methodist Church 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $7. Rain Hi: 57 Lo: 43 Rain Hi: 48 Lo: 39 Showers Hi: 45 Lo: 39 those rooms. “The reason I want the sheriff’s (deputies) here is I want the ladies to realize that when a man puts on his uniform, he’s doing his job. That doesn’t mean that he sat Western Oregon university’s men’s basketball team hosts northwest nazarene in a key conference battle. 4 p.m. $7/adults. Rain Hi: 47 Lo: 39 doesn’t want to see you suc- ceed,” Johnson said. “That’s what I want them to see, is Polk County Sheriff’s in here helping in a place where they can succeed.” See TITUS, Page 5A POlK COunTy — The statewide special election on ballot measure 101 is Tuesday. Ballots need to be in the Polk County Clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The measure will de- cide whether or not to up- hold some taxes passed in House Bill 2391. a yes vote upholds those taxes. a no vote rejects them. For more information about Ballot measure 101 and to see arguments for and against the measure: http://sos.oregon.gov/vot- ing/Pages/current-elec- tion.aspx. Drop boxes may be found throughout Polk County: • Polk County Court- house, 850 main St., Dallas. 24-hour drop site located on the east side of the courthouse. Polk County Clerk’s Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. • Falls City, Wagner Community library, 111 n. main St. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; election day, noon to 8 p.m. • Grand ronde, Gover- nance Center – building G, 9615 Grand ronde road. monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; election day, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. • Independence, Inde- pendence City Hall, 555 S. main St. 24-hour drop site located inside front lobby. • monmouth, mon- mouth Public library, 168 e c o l s S t . S . Tu e s d a y through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; election day, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. • monmouth, Western Oregon university, Werner university Center, 345 n. monmouth ave. monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; election day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. • West Salem, roth’s market, 1130 Wallace road nW. Sunday through Satur- day, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; elec- tion day, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. sun mon tue Check out the exhi- bition, “Beyond Watching” from artist Xianzhi Tu at Hamersly library at Western Oregon. Free. The mid-Willamette Valley Small Farms program will host a blueberry pruning workshop at minto Island Growers. 1 p.m. $10. The Dallas rotary Club will hold a meeting at the Dal- las Civic Center, 945 Se Jefferson St., Dal- las. Noon. Free. Rain Hi: 47 Lo: 35 Showers Hi: 46 Lo: 35 Partly cloudy Hi: 46 Lo: 36