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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2016)
S ERVING THE S ILVERTON A REA S INCE 1880 50 C ENTS ● A U NIQUE E DITION OF THE S TATESMAN J OURNAL V OL . 135, N O . 44 W EDNESDAY , O CTOBER 19, 2016 SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM Silverton trying to improve water quality in Silver Creek CHRISTENA BROOKS SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE Silverton is trying to turn an environ- mental blunder into an opportunity to cultivate the health of Silver Creek. In 2014 and 2015, the city accidentally released treated wastewater into Silver Creek that was too high in ammonia, ni- trogen, bacteria and suspended solids. The municipal wastewater plant’s treat- ment process had been disrupted by high-strength industrial waste from lo- cal food processors, said the Oregon De- partment of Environmental Quality. The resulting $19,400 DEQ fine to Sil- verton could’ve been the end of the story. But instead of simply paying, the city is partnering with the Pudding River Wa- tershed Council to put its dollars to work in the creek. Eighty percent of the fine may instead go toward removing inva- sive plants, planting trees and shoring up the creek bank. If the DEQ approves the idea, Silver- ton will still pay 20 percent ($3,880) to the state, but the lion’s share ($15,520) will be spent on creek improvement. That’s how a Supplemental Environmental Project, a sort of community service for environ- mental offenders, works. “To my knowledge, Silverton has nev- er had a civil penalty to deal with be- fore,” said Steve Starner, Silverton’s wa- ter quality supervisor. “I feel the Supple- mental Environmental Project opportu- nity is a great alternative to putting penalty funds into the general DEQ bud- get. A Supplemental Environmental Pro- ject will provide an environmental bene- fit and lasting improvement, in this case, for the Silver Creek watershed.” Silver Creek runs through downtown Silverton, turning west near the inter- section of Water and C streets and flow- ing out of town. The 3.6-mile stretch of creek between the water treatment plant on Schemmel Lane and its confluence with the Pudding River near Brush Creek Road had environmental prob- See WATER, Page 2A County gets body camera funds Grant will pay for training and maintenance of equipment LAUREN E HERNANDEZ STATESMAN JOURNAL Marion County sheriff’s deputies will soon be wearing body cameras. The county was recently awarded a $99,000 grant from the federal De- partment of Justice, through its Bu- reau of Justice Assistance. Marion County was one of four law enforcement agencies in Oregon that shared more than $500,000 for body- worn camera programs, according to the Department of Justice. Money from the program, initially launched on a recommendation by the President’s Task Force on 21st centu- ry Policing, will allow Marion County to purchase cameras, maintain equip- ment, train officers and create policy regarding the use of body cameras. Marion County started the grant process earlier this year and reached out to community partners to draft letters of support for the program, in- cluding Marion County District Attor- ney Walt Beglau, Mano a Mano Family Center, Marion County Sheriff’s Of- fice Community Advisory Committee and the Marion County Public Safety Coordinating Council. The grant was awarded to 106 po- lice agencies nationally. Baldridge said Marion County will add $80,000 to the grant money. ANNA REED/STATESMAN JOURNAL Senior Officer Jason Meeker wears a Stayton Police Department camera. Marion County received a $99,000 grant for cameras. See CAMERAS, Page 2A Eugene Field School loses and gains potential buyer CHRISTENA BROOKS SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE APPEAL TRIBUNE FILE The Eugene Field School closed in August. One buyer’s offer has been replaced by another’s in the school district’s ongo- ing effort to sell the empty Eugene Field School building and property in down- town Silverton. Listed for $1.45 million, the property landed its first offer within days of hit- ting the market in May. That potential buyer completed a contractual 60-day “due diligence,” period of investigation into the 35,000-square-foot building and surrounding property’s condition and development options. After being grant- ed an additional month to investigate, he rescinded his offer Sept. 30. “The reasoning that we received was that the purchase didn’t pencil out for this buyer,” said Andy Bellando, Silver Falls School District superintendent. Now a second offer, made in Septem- ber, has moved into first position. Under contract, this second buyer has begun a new 60-day due diligence period. The old school building is at 410 Water Street. A total of 3.46 acres is for sale: the land upon which the building sits and and three tax lots across A Street to the north. SVN Commercial Real Estate Ad- visors has the listing. Four names ready for council write-in CHRISTENA BROOKS SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE Four residents have launched write-in campaigns for the city council seat soon to be vacated by retiring Councilor Ken Hector. Faced with the possibility of an empty seat on the council in Janu- ary because no one signed up to run for election, four candidates are now asking vot- ers to consider writ- ing in their names on their ballots in the Nov. 8 general elec- tion. Running as write- Ken Hector ins are Matt Plum- mer, a Marion County health and wellness coordinator; Stu Rasmus- sen, former mayor and owner of Online at SilvertonAppeal.com NEWS UPDATES PHOTOS » Breaking news » Get updates from the Silverton area » Photo galleries the Palace Theatre; Jim Squires, a retired general contractor; and Ken Tobin, a semi-retired volun- teer fire fighter and public safety software worker. Plummer and Tobin announced their candidacy and posted re- sumes on Facebook. Rasmussen announced his intent to theater au- diences. Squires confirmed he’s a candidate by phone. INSIDE Births......................................3A Briefs......................................3A Calendar ...............................3A Classifieds..............................3B Obituaries.............................3A Police logs.............................3A ©2016 Printed on recycled paper It’s a Great Time to Sell! ‘Tis the Season of the “Serious Buyers” This property went “Pending” in 2 days! This property went “Pending” in 5 days! If you’ve been considering Selling, now is the time! Call us for a No-Obligation FREE Market Evaluation of Your Property! 119 N. Water St. Silverton, Or 97381 • 503.873.8600 • NWORG.com 25