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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, March 21, 2007
HOMETOWNE INTERIORS held a cribbage tournament
to benefit Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance. More
than 30 players turned out and raised close to $400.
(Photo by ‘Illinois Valley News’)
Contractors Board urges
use of its new Website
Just when home owners
begin to think about spring
home improvement projects,
the Oregon Construction
Contractors Board (CCB)
has rolled out its new con-
sumer-friendly Website at
hirealicensedcontractor.com.
“The agency’s primary
Website includes a lot of
information important to
construction contractors,”
said Gina Fox, spokesman
for the CCB. “The new
Website is all about what a
consumer might need to
help make a project run
smoothly.”
Helpful information on
the site includes these time-
tested tips that CCB recom-
mends to all home owners
contracting for work:
*Make sure the contrac-
tor is licensed with CCB.
Before hiring, check the
contractor’s license and
complaint history at the
Website or phone (503)
378-4621. Take the time to
make an informed decision.
You wouldn’t trust an unli-
censed driver with your car.
Don’t give the keys to your
most precious investment to
an unlicensed contractor.
Licensing is required
for those that offer painting,
roofing, carpentry, siding,
plumbing, electrical, floor
covering, concrete, asphalt,
window, insulation, manu-
factured dwelling installa-
tion, inspection services,
heating and air conditioning,
and most other construction
and repair services.
*Use a written contract.
Put all agreements, and all
changes, in writing. Gener-
ally, the more detailed a
contract, the fewer problems
that occur later. A big pro-
ject needs more than a
vague contract: “Remodel
master bedroom, $19,500”
is insufficient.
Know what your con-
tract does, and does not
cover. Don’t sign unless you
understand everything.
*Get more than one bid,
but don’t automatically ac-
cept the lowest bid. The old
saying, “You get what you
pay for,” applies to con-
struction projects. A higher
bid may be worth the price
in better materials, work-
manship and reliability.
A large number of CCB
complaints are a result of
home owners accepting an
unrealistically low bid and
then being unhappy with the
low quality of work.
*Communicate. Asking
lots of questions before the
job starts helps prevent
problems later. Talk to your
contractor throughout the
project. Most disputes hap-
pen because people fail to
communicate at every step.
*Check references.
Learn as much as you can
about the contractor you are
hiring.
*Get building permits.
Most home improvement,
repair or remodeling jobs
require permits from the
appropriate city or county
building department. Usu-
ally, contractors get them
because they know what
permits are required. But
ultimately, the owner is re-
sponsible for making sure
the required permits are ob-
tained.
Failing to get building
permits doesn’t save you
money -- it can cost you
your safety and sense of
security.
According to CCB,
most construction projects
go smoothly when consum-
ers do their homework by
checking out their contrac-
tor, set realistic expecta-
tions, and make wise, in-
formed decisions during the
project.
CCB is a state agency
licensing more than 44,000
contractors. Anyone who is
paid to repair, improve or
build a home must be li-
censed by the CCB.
ID theft protection announced
A new legislative pack-
age to strengthen protections
for Oregonians against
ID theft was announced.
The Oregon Consumer
Identity Protection Act
(Senate Bill 583) would
establish new standards for
safeguarding personal infor-
mation. It would ensure that
consumers are notified
promptly if the security of
their information has
been compromised, and
gives the public the right to
freeze their credit files if
they become a victim.
“Identity theft remains a
major problem plaguing
Oregon families and
businesses alike,” said Gov.
Kulongoski. “Once a victim
discovers a crime has been
committed, it can sometimes
take years to clear up the
damage,” he said.
“This legislation would
help protect consumers and
give them the tools to take
back control of their credit,”
he said.
He made the announce-
ment with Sen. Floyd Pro-
zanski (D-Eugene) and
Rep. Larry Galizio (D-
Tigard), flanked by fellow
lawmakers, business leaders,
and consumer advocates.
ILLINOIS VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OR-
GANIZATION (IVCDO) recognized the efforts of several
people Thursday evening, March 15, during its annual
general membership meeting at the Josephine County
Bldg. in Downtown Cave Junction. Kenny Houck,
chairman of the IVCDO board, presented a certificate
of appreciation to Bill Moore (above, left in left photo)
who has been coordinating mentorship, job training,
and business development activities for IVCDO, Houck
noted that Moore has counseled some 140 clients with
their business ideas and problems. He also was instru-
mental in formation of Illinois Valley Merchants Asso-
ciation. Moore has accepted employment with Rogue
Truck Body in Kerby, and is stepping down from
IVCDO; Bill Waggoner (left) was recognized for his
extensive service as a member of the IVCDO board;
Rebecca Pearson (above) was honored for her involve-
ment in Second Friday ArtWalk, and recognized for
having brought BeBe’s Art For Everyone gallery to
Downtown CJ. (Photos by Michelle Binker/’IVN’)
SHADES OF TOM SAW-
YER - Painting the fence
for Picket Fence Fabrics
in Cave Junction was
accomplished as a fund-
raiser by members of the
Illinois Valley High
School football team on
Friday, March 16. Coach
Bob Thornhill said that
the project will help
boost funds for the team
come next season.
(Photo by ‘IVN’)
Mandatory school health insurance approval disliked by some
Oregon House Democ-
rats passed legislation last
week to increase education
administrative costs by $99
million, said House Repub-
lican Leader Wayne Scott
(R-Canby), who led the
fight against SB 426.
The bill would establish
a mandatory health insur-
ance pool for school dis-
tricts, community colleges
and education service dis-
tricts.
Scott said that the bill
will increase education
costs, take money away
from the classroom, and
take away local control.
“Our local school
boards tell us SB 426 will
cost them $99 million in its
first year, forcing them to
direct taxpayer dollars away
from the classroom,” Scott
said.
“This bill does not save
tax dollars; it only under-
mines our local elected offi-
cials and school administra-
tors.”
House and Senate Re-
publicans have supported
amending SB 426 to author-
ize an indep end en t
actuarial study, and to im-
plement the program if true
savings were found. On a
party-line vote, Democrats
rejected this amendment in
committee.
Republicans were not
alone in opposing SB 426.
The bill also is opposed by
the Oregon School Boards
Association, the Confedera-
tion of Oregon School
Administrators, Oregon
Community College Asso-
ciation, League of Oregon
Cities, Association of Ore-
gon Counties, Special Dis-
tricts Association of Ore-
gon, Oregon Association of
Health Underwriters,
and the Oregon Association
of School Business
Officials.
SB 426 was pushed by
the Oregon Education
Association, which gave
more than $355,000 to
House Democrats during
2006.
Water Wells
Pump Sales
Installation
Service
592-6777
1470 Caves Highway
Licensed • Bonded • Insured
Locally owned and
operated in the valley
for over 25 years.
WWC #1504 • CCB #152266 • CPl #7-113
The Kerby
Transfer Station
Member Oregon Ground Water Assoc.
is open to help you...
Hours: Mondays -
Saturdays
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
For more information
phone (800) 922-1025
Linda Sallman
128 S. Redwood Hwy.
Cave Junction OR 97523
541-592-4541
Across from Caves Pharmacy on Redwood Hwy.
Open Mondays - Fridays, 9 to 5
Auto - Home - Life - Commercial
Support the merchants who advertise in the ‘Illinois Valley News’