Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Page 13
County commissioners approve new fee schedule
Protester Charles McNeil (Photo by Michelle Binker)
Suspended sheriff’s aide
protests on many fronts
Suspended from his du-
ties because his passionate
enforcement of handicapped
parking laws has generated
complaints from Cave Junc-
tion business owners, a vol-
unteer unarmed deputy with
the Josephine County Sher-
iff’s Office (JCSO) has taken
his protest to the street.
Charles McNeil, who has
been an active volunteer for
the Cave Junction Citizens
Patrol and JCSO, took to the
street Saturday afternoon,
Dec. 1. He protests what he
feels is unfair treatment for
himself and disabled drivers
whose parking spaces are
often taken.
The irony is, businesses
had complained about drivers
who parked in handicap ac-
cessible spaces. Now some
are complaining that
McNeil’s over-zealous en-
forcement of those parking
laws has become bothersome
-- especially for management
at Shop Smart Food Ware-
house, whose after-hours
cleaning crew used to park
their vehicles closer to the
building for safety’s sake.
McNeil contends that
because services are available
after the business closes --
bottle return machines, tele-
phones and water machine --
that the handicap accessible
spaces ought to be available
at all times.
“They shouldn’t have to
fight the (employees) to get to
the phone,” said McNeil. “It’s
not morally right; it’s not
legally right.”
Some in the community
have said that common sense
must be used about the mat-
ter. They indicate that McNeil
has gone too far. And a store
spokesman stated that em-
ployees have not parked on
the disputed spaces since
early October, adding that,
“It’s a null-and-void issue,”
Additionally, it has been
noted that the bottle return
machines automatically turn
off at 10 p.m. when the store
closes.
Complaints about
McNeil’s activities are under
investigation, said JCSO Un-
dersheriff Don Fasching. The
complaints range from allega-
tions that he’s been confron-
tational when issuing warn-
ings, to an accusation that he
undertook a traffic stop,
which volunteers are not au-
thorized to perform.
“Instead of investigating
people who break the law,
they keep investigating me!”
McNeil said incredulously.
Fasching stated that volun-
teers are trained to issue cita-
tions for parking violations, but
that “They are not to take direct
enforcement action.”
“We have some 30 vol-
unteers,” Fasching stated. “I
love them, and they do a great
job for us. “
Fasching said he feels
that McNeil has taken the
situation with Shop Smart
personally. “I commend
Charles for his efforts, but he
has lost sight of the goal,”
said the undersheriff.
- Michelle Binker
By WALLY AIKEN
For IVN
What was anticipated to
be a low-key Josephine
County Commission meeting
Wednesday, Nov. 28 in Anne
Basker Auditorium in Grants
Pass turned into anything but
a routine meeting, apparently
as a result of a letter printed
in the Grants Pass Daily Cou-
rier the day before.
In the letter, Grants Pass
resident Paul Walter stated
that “Commissioners Dave
Toler and Dwight Ellis held a
non-televised public meeting
at 6 p.m. Wednesday (Nov.
21) to secretly impose and
sneak in new and higher
fees.” Three individuals were
present during the most re-
cent county commission
meeting in support of that
view. And the three, Lorraine
Walter, Kurt Ramme and
Pamela Hackett, dominated
the tone of the meeting.
The issue in question was
the county’s exploration of
raising certain fees already
charged by the county for
essential services. For in-
stance, dog licensing fees
will increase $3, going from
$35 to $38. Fees to cover the
cost of restaurant inspection
for a facility seating up to 50
will increase a total of $16
from $498 to $514.
In all, 205 types of fees
are listed in the action; and of
these, 131 will not change;
some will be reduced. An
example of a reduction is an
enterprise that operates 250
vending machines. Its yearly
licensing fees will drop $91,
from $441 to $350.
The largest increases in
fees came in the area of
“Environmental Health Fees”
and deal with inspections of
restaurants, hotels and motels,
child-care facilities and other
related operations. Although
Commission Chairman Jim
Raffenburg opposed the fee
increases, he stated during the
meeting that the material he
saw justifies an increase in
that area.
His general opposition to
the increases stemmed from
what he said was a lack of
information from the other
agencies affected by the in-
creases. “That is a major
problem for me,“ he stated
during discussion.
Toler stated that this is-
sue has been under considera-
tion for more than two
months and that letters had
been sent to all people who
would be directly affected.
Illinois Valley News con-
firmed this statement by
checking with restaurants
which had received a letter
dated Oct. 18 explaining the
pending increase.
He added that Raf-
fennburg’s stated objection
was not made to him during
the two months.
Two Grants Pass resi-
dents commented during pub-
lic discussion indicating that
although they did not like the
fee increases, they understood
their necessity and would pay
them without complaint.
Concerning the allega-
tions of a “secret” meeting,
Ellis explained the situation
this way: Most of these meet-
ings are held at 9 a. m. How-
ever, every third Wednesday
the meeting is held at 7 p.m.
to allow an opportunity for
those unable to attend morn-
ing meetings to express their
views to the commission. The
commissioners realized that
the Nov. 22 meeting, regu-
made a scheduling error,
which he regretted.
This explanation was
given as a result of question-
ing by Ramme. After the ex-
planation he stated for the
Commissioner Jim Raffenburg told Illinois Valley Rotary
Club that increased user fees can help offset the cost of
some county programs. (Photo by Michelle Binker, IVN)
larly scheduled as an evening
meeting, would fall on the
night before Thanksgiving.
They rescheduled the
meeting at 9 a.m. However,
they did not have time to
properly follow state require-
ments for public notification.
The end result was that two
meetings were held Nov. 22;
one at 9 a.m. and one at 7
p.m. Because there is a cost to
televising the meeting it was
decided to save money by not
televising the evening meet-
ing.
According to Toler, com-
mission vice chairman, no
action was scheduled to be
taken. Ellis commented that
they expected to open the
meeting, recite the Pledge of
Allegiance, and close the
meeting. Ellis added that the
commissioners simply had
record that he could accept
the explanation as valid and
further that he could accept
the fact that a mistake had
been made. After discussion
however Ramme told I. V.
News that he was being
forced to accept the explana-
tion and compared the at-
tempt at a “secret meeting” to
what he believes to be gov-
ernmental conspiracies
against U.S. citizens.
Hackett went further in
the public discussion, accus-
ing Toler of being a “die-hard
socialist and Communist.”
She went on to attack Ellis,
telling him, “You are a threat
to the future of Josephine
County.”
The outcome was that
the fee increases were ap-
proved 2-1 with Raffenburg
not in favor of the changes.
Two structure fire alarms cause residents to flee homes
Two structure fires on
two consecutive days caused
residents to be evacuated,
said Grants Pass Dept. of
Public Safety/Fire Rescue.
The first blaze was re-
ported Thursday, Nov. 29 at
11:50 a.m. at an apartment
complex at 210 S.W. Rogue
River Ave. First-arriving fire-
fighters saw light smoke
coming from attic vents; eight
people had vacated their
apartments.
Fire was located in a
bathroom wall on the second
floor. The fire had been extin-
guished by the apartment
owner, Joe Tramdellini. He
told Fire Rescue that he had
been soldering in new water
fixtures when his portable
torch caught insulation paper
on fire.
Damage to the bathroom
wall was estimated at $1,500.
No injuries were reported,
said Fire Rescue.
Another structure fire,
this one requiring a second
alarm, occurred at a duplex at
1860 N.E. Fairview Ave. It
was called in at 9:16 p.m. on
Friday, Nov. 30 by a passer-
by who saw an orange glow
and went to investigate.
Besides GP Fire Rescue,
there were responses from
Rural/Metro Fire Dept., and
city of Grants Pass police
officers. The latter, arriving
three minutes after the alarm,
found a second story fully
involved in flames.
Firefighters entered the
building, and found no one
still inside. The fire was
called under control at 9:38
p.m. Heavy smoke damage
was sustained throughout the
residence, and there was
heavy fire damage to the sec-
ond story, said Fire Rescue.
No monetary damage
estimate was available.
Investigation indicates
that the fire cause was a ciga-
rette accidentally dropped into
the upstairs bedroom by a
resident as he crawled through
it due to being locked out. The
cigarette was picked up, said
Fire Rescue, but it’s believed
that embers remained.
State announces $458 million project for psychiatric sites
Sabrina Miller, a senior stu-
dent at Illinois Valley High
School, is November Student of
the Month honored by Kerby
Belt Lodge AF&AM.
Miller is the daughter of Gerry
and Cathy Miller, of Selma. She
has maintained a 3.71 grade-
point average.
Miller is a member of Cougar
Pals, College Dreams, Focus
Teen Council, Dream Leaders,
Southern Oregon Meth Project
Teen Forum and IVHS Chapter of the National Honor Society.
She has received the Cougar Pride Award, Principal’s Student of
the Month recogntion, and numerous Attendance Awards.
After graduation, Miller plans to attend Southern Oregon
University at Ashland and major in psychology with a minor in
business.
A nationally recognized
architectural and engineering
firm with offices in San Fran-
cisco has been awarded a
contract to design new state-
operated psychiatric facilities
in Salem and Junction City
that will replace aged Oregon
State Hospital.
And an award-winning
construction company based
in Portland has been named
construction manager and
general contractor on the
Salem portion of the six-year
project, with a contract to be
signed soon.
The project is to build a
620-bed psychiatric hospital
south of Center Street N.E. in
Salem; and a 360-bed facility
at Hwy. 99 and Milliron Road
in Junction City.
Financing the first part of
the $458 million project with
certificates of participation
(COPS) was authorized by
the 2007 Oregon Legislature.
COPS are sold on capital
markets, and because investor
income is exempt from state
and federal taxes, the state
pays a reduced interest rate.
Construction is planned
to begin during spring 2008
on the Salem facility, which
is scheduled to open in Octo-
ber 2011.
The Junction City facility
is scheduled to open in Octo-
ber 2013.
The architecture and en-
gineering contract went to
Hellmuth, Obata and Kassa-
baum. The architecture and
engineering firm, also known
as HOK, was awarded the
contract jointly with Portland-
based SRG Partnership to
design the two new facilities,
for which conceptual ideas
are being solicited.
The project’s general
contractor likely will be Hoff-
man Construction Co., with
whom the Oregon Dept. of
Human Services is currently
in contract negotiations. Ear-
lier, a contract was awarded to
CH2M-Hill, a global com-
pany founded in Oregon, to
manage the project.
The relatively modest
increase in patient capacity
over that of current facilities
assumes state investment in
strengthening community
mental health services. Such
services help people with
mental illness avoid psychiat-
ric hospitalization and pro-
vide treatment and care in the
community for patients ready
to be discharged, said Gov.
Kulongoski, who has worked
to implement the project.
LEGAL NOTICE
TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE Pursuant to
O.R.S. 86.705, et seq. and O.R.S. 79.5010, et
seq. Trustee No.: 035-15681 Reference is made
to that certain Trust Deed made by Donald C Mel-
ville and Lisa M Melville as Grantor/Trustor, in
which Downey Savings and Loan Association,
F.A., is named as Beneficiary and DSL Service
Company as Trustee and recorded 05/14/2004 as
Instrument No. 2004-011014 in book xxx, page
xxx of Official Records in the office of the Re-
corder of Josephine County, Oregon covering the
following described real property situated in said
county and state, to wit: Exhibit "A" Real property
in the County of Josephine, State of Oregon,
described as follows: Beginning at the Northwest
corner of the Northwest Quarter of the Southwest
Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of the North-
east Quarter of Section 25, township 35 South,
Range of West of the Watannetta Meridian, Jose-
phine County, Oregon. thence East along the
North line of the Southwest Quarter of the South-
east Quarter of the Northeast Quarter to a point;
which bears 55 feet Westerly from the Southwest
corner of a parcel of land described in Volume
203, page 672, Josephine County Deed Record,
when measured along the North line of the
Southwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of
the Northeast Quarter; thence North, parcel
which and 55 feet distance from the West line of
said parcel, the South right of way one of Soldier
Creek Road; thereon West; along said right of
way and, 140.0 feet to the West line of the East
Half of the West Half of the Southeast Quarter of
the Northeast Quarter of said Section; thence
South, along said line, to the point of beginning.
Tax Parcel Number: R304561. APN: R304681
The street address or other common designation,
if any, of the real property described above is pur-
ported to be: 695 Solider Creek Road, Grant
Pass, OR 97526 The undersigned Trustee dis-
claims any liability for any incorrectness of the
above street address or other common designa-
tion. Both the beneficiary and the trustee have
elected to sell the said real property to satisfy the
obligations secured by said Trust Deed and a
Notice of Default has been recorded pursuant to
Oregon Revised Statutes 86.735 (3); the default
for which the foreclosure is made is Grantor’s
failure to pay when due, the following sums: Total
payments from 8/1/2007 through $6,514.86 Total
Late Charges Total advances $0.00 Interest on
Advances (if any) $0.00 Total due the Beneficiary
$6,514.86 Also, if you have failed to pay taxes on
the property, provide insurance on the property or
pay other senior liens or encumbrances as re-
quired in the note and Deed of Trust, the benefici-
ary may insist that you do so in order to reinstate
your account in good standing. The beneficiary
may require as a condition to reinstatement that
you provide reliable written evidence that you
have paid all senior liens or encumbrances, prop-
erty taxes and hazard insurance premiums. These
requirements for reinstatement should be con-
firmed by contacting the undersigned Trustee. By
reason of said default, the beneficiary has de-
clared all sums owing on the obligation secured
by said Trust Deed immediately due and payable,
said sums being the following: The unpaid princi-
pal balance of $306,729.30 together with interest
thereon at the current rate of 8.67200 per cent
(%) per annum from 7/1/2007 until paid, plus all
accrued late charges, escrow advances, attorney
fees and costs, and any other sums incurred or
advanced by the beneficiary pursuant to the terms
and conditions of said deed of trust. Wherefore,
notice hereby is given that the undersigned trus-
tee will on 3/4/2008, at the hour of 01:00 PM in
accord with the standard of time established by
O.R.S. 187.110 at the following place: At the front
door to the Josephine County Courthouse, Sixth
and "C" Street, Grants Pass, OR County of Jose-
phine, State of Oregon, sell at public auction to
the highest bidder for cash, the interest in the said
described real property which the Grantor has or
had power to convey at the time of execution by
him of the said Trust Deed, together with any in-
terest which the grantor his successors in interest
acquired after the execution of said Trust Deed, to
satisfy the foregoing obligations thereby secured
and the costs and expenses of sale, including
reasonable charge by the trustee. Notice is further
given that any person named in O.R.S. 86.753
has the right, at any time prior to five days before
the date last set for the sale, to have this foreclo-
sure proceeding dismissed and the Trust Deed
reinstated by payment to the beneficiary of the
entire amount then due (other than such portion of
the principal as would not then be due had no
default occurred) and by curing any other default
complained of herein that is capable of being
cured by tendering the performance required un-
der the obligation or to cure the default, by paying
all costs and expenses actually incurred in enforc-
ing the obligation and Trust Deed, together with
trustee’s and attorney’s fees. In construing this
notice, the masculine gender includes the femi-
nine and the neuter, the singular includes plural,
the word” Grantor” includes any successor in in-
terest to the Grantor as well as any other person
owing an obligation, the performance of which is
secured by said Trust Deed, and the words
“trustee” and “beneficiary” include their respective
successors in interest, if any. If the Trustee is
unable to convey title for any reason, the success-
ful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be
the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the
successful bidder shall have no further recourse
Date: 10/25/2007 Lawyers Title Insurance Corpo-
ration By: Tina Suihkonen, Assistant Secretary
For further information please contact: Lawyers
Title Insurance Corporation c/o LandAmerica De-
fault Services Post Office Box 5899 6 Executive
Circle, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92616 (949) 885-
4500
Sales
Line:
714-573-1965
or
www.priorityposting.com Reinstatement Fax Line
949-606-9274 State of California County of Or-
ange I certify that I, Tina Suihkonen am an author-
ized representative of Lawyers Title Insurance
Corporation, Trustee, and that the foregoing is a
complete and exact copy of the original trustee’s
notice of sale. Tina Suihkonen Authorized Rep-
resentative of Trustee This office is attempting to
collect a debt and any information obtained will be
used for that purpose. P330848
Publish:
11/14, 11/21, 11/28, 12/05/2007