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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 2018)
Page A-10 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, October 3, 2018 MARTELL ... Contained from A-1 That’s going to take some research, and I’m a good researcher. If I don’t know all the answers, I know where to go to get the answers. Cave Junction is only a very tiny part of the entire Illinois Valley, both in area and in population. But it’s an economic center and driver for the entire valley. What role do you see for the county in helping the city to foster economic development? Better working relationships with the county will go a long way to help with this issue. Our service area includes other parts of the Illinois Valley, like Kerby and Selma. I’m interested in exploring what options there are for small cities that include a much larger service area. We have services those residents of other parts of the Illinois Valley access, like businesses and schools. We don’t have any responsibilities toward other parts of the Illinois Valley, but I think it’s good for the city to involve more people from outside of its municipal borders. I almost get the sense that you have a greater loyalty to the Illinois Valley as a whole, as opposed to just the city. Can you assure Cave Junction residents that your primary loyalty will be what’s good for the city? Yes, because I take seriously that the duties of the mayor have to do with taking care of the people who live in the city. However, the reputation of the Illinois Valley tends to hang on the reputation of Cave Junction. Outsiders don’t say ‘the Illinois Valley.’ They say ‘I’m scared to go out to Cave Junction.’ I’m tired of that. I want to live in a place that people are proud of. What have you done to bring yourself up to speed on city issues, constraints and resources? I’ve met with current mayor, Daniel Dalegowski. I’ve met with Becky Patton, the city recorder. She was concerned because the city charter and ordinances haven’t been updated for a while. And I’ve talked to people who are in the community, and are part of community organizations, such as the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCDO). But again, the IVCDO represents the entire Illinois Valley. Even though the IVCDO represents the entirety of the Illinois Valley, every time money comes into the Valley, the city benefits. For instance, every time a doctor comes on staff at the Siskiyou Community Health Clinic, which is not within the city limits, they spend money in CJ. So does that mean we shouldn’t work with organizations that are not in the city? Maybe I’m too big a thinker. If people are going to want someone who only focuses on what benefits people who live in the city, that’s pretty limited. I may be focusing on broader ways that the city can benefit. So to draw the lines and say that I’m only working for the residents of Cave Junction is, for me, very limiting. Have you attended city council meetings? I’ve attended some city council meetings, but I suspect that most of the work of running the city happens before or behind the city council meetings. A lot of the work has already been dealt with by committees or staff, so what you see is the broad brush strokes and conclusions that have already been made. Do you feel we need an augmented police presence in CJ? And if so, what ideas do you have on how to accomplish that? Absolutely. Mayor Dalegowski has made a good start, but we are not there yet. We need to work with and support the IV Patrol. Do a better job of educating residents because they will have to bear some of the costs of an expanded police force. We need to work more closely with the county to get CJ’s fair share of the county resources we pay for. What can the CJ City Council do to foster increased economic development within our city? Lack of a reliable revenue stream is a big issue. I believe there are resources out there for small towns, such as grants and county resources. What can we learn about best practices for a city our size? I would like to hear from more residents and businesses what ideas they have. What can the CJ City Council do to increase affordable housing opportunities in the city, in terms of zoning and building regulations, and also in terms of funding? This is a very large and complex issue. Building costs and regulations and the need for consistent management must be in place before proceeding. There are nonprofit organizations that build low-cost housing. My understanding is that the U.S. Department of Agriculture helps to fund rural housing. What can the city do, over and above what it is doing now, to rid the city of abandoned and dilapidated housing that constitutes a fire hazard or harbors drug activity? First the city needs to determine what authority it has to act in these situations. There are a lot of holes in the city boundaries, areas that are not in the city limits. The city needs to review what the options are. What’s your stance on our local marijuana industry? I’m glad it is not illegal. However, the whole industry is still in a lot of flux. Since most of the big grows are not in the city, this again is an issue of how CJ interfaces with the county and receives its fair share of taxes. IVFD CERT is Offering Free Disaster Training Course Oct: Fridays Evenings: 12, 19, 26 Saturdays: 13, 20, 27 Learn what to do after a Disaster Stop Bleeding, Splint a Limb, Treat Burns, Search Buildings Inside and Outside, Use a Fire Extinguisher, Move an Injured Person to Safety, Family Disaster Planning, and Much More WE ARE NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS AND YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! For Information Call 541-539-6356 IVFD CERT is Offering Stop Bleeding, Splint a Limb, Treat Burns, Search Buildings Inside and Outside, Use a Fire Extinguisher, Move an Injured Person to Safety, Family Disaster Planning, and Much More For Information Call 541-539-6356 September K/ Garman K/ Patterson K/ Pitts 1/ Bonney 1/ Senteney 1/ Snyder 2/ Gladding 2/ Clements Alana Williams Zach Villanueva Jace Searle Ole Olson Sierra Jones Sophia Szijjarto Colten Webb Justin Box 2/ Gilkey 3/ Gragg 3/ Gutierrez 3/ Nelson 4/ O’Donnell 4/ Bethke 4/ Green LS/ Keil Andrew Senn Dakota Kohler Emily Kittson Mya Hiler Kaylynn Thompson Lillian Bryant Morgan Clark Gavin Wood