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V k i* »
Voi. 72 No 33
by SCOTT NEWTON
The Sandy Post
SANDY OREGON THURSDAY. AUGUST 19. 1982
<i sp> »si
im .
Single Copy 25«
levy failure would close SUHS C
ity
dealt
setback in
LID battle
A number of topics had been
discussed before Kenneth Blackburn
asked. “ Are you going to open"” ’
“ We have sufficient funds to
operate through the month of
Septem ber,’ ’ D r Jack P eters,
superintendent, told the crowd of
more than 100 at the Sandy High
School Board of Directors meeting
Monday evening.
Most expected to find out which
programs would go on the “ A " ballot
and which would go on the “ B” ballot
on Sept. 21.
The board, which had met in ex
ecutive session for an hour and a half
before the meeting, apparently
decided to wait until after receiving
public input before making a pro
posal
A fter discussing the way education
is financed in Oregon, the possibility
of a unified district, the duplication of
bus runs, and numerous other topics,
the meeting was adjourned until Aug
24 at 7.30 p m. At that time the board
w ill entertain a motion concerning
what to put on the “ B " ballot, discuss
it and vote on it.
M onday
n ig h t
the
b o a rd
unanimously approved the size of the
“ B " ballot It was expected that
$636,381 would be needed, but an ad
ditional $133,157 in Basic School Sup
port was received from the state in All eyes, including the cam era’s, were
late July In addition to the Basic palatable to local voters.
School Support, an excess cash car in dealing with the “ B " ballot, which
ryover of $22,592, and a savings of
many do not expect to pass.
$76,592 realized when three full- and
Karen Topliff said her husband has
one part-time teachers resigned, put
taken a 10 percent cut in pay, and
the figure at $404,040.
asked if the school board is consider
A fter explaining that a state fo r ing such an alternative.
mula determines how much the
That “ is one of the things this
school may put on the “ A ” and “ B ”
board is considering,“ Johnson said
ballots, Cathy Coleman asked, “ That
Peters said if teachers' pay is kept
$404,040 is total funding for the pro at last year’s level, the adm inistra
grams you guys want?”
tion would also take such a cut. The
“ That’s the programs, including
classified staff would also be asked to
the " A ” ballot, that I believe (make)
make such a sacrifice. Freezing the
a viable program for high school
pay levels of all three groups would
students,” Peters responded. "And a result in a savings of approximately
budget committe of 10 citizens met $180,000, according to Joan Hay,
for many hours and that’s the budget
deputy clerk
they came up w ith.”
That would require re-opening
Wayne Johnson, board chairman,
negotiations, and the idea would
added, ” 1 might mention during the most likely not be popular with
time those 10 people were putting
teachers or classified personnel as
together that budget you were invited
people at feeder schools in the
to participate.
district have not been required to
“ We had five people at our budget
make such a sacrifice, being they are
hearing when we discussed it at
totally funded
length ”
Some entire athletic programs
The board has several alternatives
could be cut, or the board could
The city of Sandy was deali
another blow in its court battle ovet
Local Improvement D istrict 4 Iasi
week
But it isn't going to take the Oregon
Court of Appeals decision sitting
down Rather, the city plans to pick
itself up and jump back into the bat
tie, filing for a review with the ap
pellate court that could lead to a
Supreme Court appeal.
In the meantime, however, the city
plans to begin negotiations with pro
perty owners to reach a settlement
and make future court battles un
necessary
The decision, written by Associate
Judge Edward Warren, said the pro
ject to pave the parking lot at
Heritage Square should not have
been divided into two phases and con
tinued without initating new pro
ceedings
What the city should have done, the
decision said, was go back, re-initiate
the proceedings and start it all over
again.
As it stands now, there are w ar
rants for approximately $96,000 still
outstanding, said City Manager
Roger Jordan.
The parking lot project began in
« . Sondy H I«, School Boord member. M ood., nigh! ». they délibéra,«! w , „
moke ike high , r h j b o d g e îm m è ...
March 1976 when property owners
asked the Sandy City Council to build
a 106-space municipal parking lot
reduce them a ll, w hich would
medieu, fo re stry, M ark Kuntz,
discussed was the duplication of bus
th ro u g h a lo ca l im p ro ve m e n t
eliminate some junior varsity or drama, and Welcome Rumbaugh, in
routes
district.
freshman programs
dustrial arts. In addition a math
Lillias Crane said at one time three
The engineer's report, however,
Fall sports are continuing for now,
teacher and a com m unications
of her children were taking three d if
didn’t detail plans and specifications
although some could end abruptly in
teacher just resigned this week, and
ferent buses to school
but simply listed general work with
September if the “ B " ballot fails. If
the administration feels they need
A study done a few years ago ad estimated costs. It didn’t list the cost
the “ A” ballot fails Sept. 21 the those positions filled
dressed this issue, according to Bob
of property acquisition, appraisal
school w ill close Sept. 30.
Jan L u e lling was rehired as
Boring, board member. Reportedly,
fees, lig h tin g , w ater lines and
Twelve non-tenured teachers may
librarian, and Billie Sue Chambers
the study indicated SUHS could save
hydrants, utilities or attorney fees
not be hired, which would result in a was hired as a special education
$75,000, while cumulatively all the
The engineer estimated the pro
savings of $352,065, but would be teacher
districts could save up to $300,000.
je ct’s cost at $57,565
devastating to programs, according
Teachers who resigned, resulting
“ I really think the man was dream
At a subsequent city council hear
to Hay.
in the $76,000 saving (in salaries and
ing
just a little b it,” Boring said of
ing to assess property owners, fewer
There were 19 “ nonrenewed”
frin g e b e n e fits ), w ere J u d ith
the figures, but added. “ I think it ’s a
than 20 percent of the owners
teachers this spring, but two were
Fischer, speech, B ritt Tucker, social
very viablotprogram
remonstrated against the project and
rehired and others have accepted
studies, Ruth Kostur, English, and
“
I
think
this
board
has
gone
about
a resolution creating LID 4 was pass
other positions. Those left, and the
Vickie Andrews, a part-time home
as far as it can. If we can get some in ed
subjects they teach, include Scott
economics teacher.
put (from the grade school boards)
By October 1976, problems had
McMullen, science, Molly Knudsen,
At the meeting Monday night
I'm ready to open it up (again).”
arisen and property owners were
physical education, Joseph Kniser,
voting by mail, having volunteers
Fred Del Ziel said he’s 73, on a fix concerned that the project hadn’t
math, Charles Kearney, a rt and
drive buses to athletic contests, a
ed income, and paid $1,000 to the Bull
progressed In executive session on
physical education, John Smith,
sales tax to finance schools, and hav
Run School D istrict and $500 to the
Oct. 1, 1976 the council decided to
social studies, Jeannie Rossos,
ing students walk further to the bus
SUHS D istrict in property taxes for
divide the project into two phases.
agriculture and work experience,
stops were among the ideas discuss
“ nothing fancy at a ll.”
The council wanted to expedite the
Robert Karsten, art, Nancy Haskell,
ed.
“ Let ’em walk to school and they’ll
project without finally determining
communications, Barbara Haggerty,
A unified school district was one
get all the athletics they need.” he certain costs that could have been
business education, Alan L'hom-
topic brought up several times Also
said
estimated, and that later constituted
a major portion of total costs, Judge
Warren wrote in his decision.
The result was a motion to continue
with two phases No further notice of
council meetings was given until pro
perty owners were assessed.
by DAN DILLO N
infiltration into the sewer system
When assessments for Phase I
recommends a phased approach to
needs to be addressed The problem, expanding the plant.
were handed down, they totaled
Studies released last week indicate
he said, “ isn't something you solve
$104,979.76—n e a rly d ouble the
Under Mintkeski s timetable, the
the city of Sandy’s sewage treatment
once and forever. I t ’s ongoing
engineer’s estimate.
$3.6 m illion project in three phases,
plant can handle 670 new connections
maintenance like a ca r.”
would be completed around 1994
The city conceded that proceedings
and the possibility exists that the
were defective, but claimed that once
The city has agreed to spend $7,000
North Bluff area may some day be
it is past the remonstrance stage in
NORTH B LU FF SEWER
for Lee Engineering to study the in
served by a gravity-flow sewer line
creating an LID, all decisions in
Although there is no timeline on the
flow
problem,
the
bulk
of
which
is
The two studies, prepared by Lee
m aking the im provem ents and
project, residents of the North Bluff
caused by rainy weather, and try to
Engineering, Inc , of Oregon City
assessing its cost are political actions
Road area would like to be on-line by
come
up
with
a
solution
to
lengthen
show that the city's treatment plant,
the time the new sewage treatment
and not subject to defeat by
once written off as nearly at capaci the life of the plant.
remonstrance.
plant is completed.
ty, can handle the new connections
The property owners, however,
The study, presented by Duane
PLANS
FOR
2000
but there is work to be done so it can
Lee, president of the engineering
argued that the city denied them the
Looking
ahead,
the
engineering
reach its theoretical capacity.
right to remonstrate against an LID
f ir m , o u tlin e s s e v e ra l a l t e r
firm has prepared a step-by-step
that differed from the original pro
natives—the final result of which
The news that the sewage treat plan for the city to meet its future
posal.
would be gravity-flow lines from the
ment plant is in better shape, thanks
needs
Because the city split the original
“ panhandle" area near Kelso Road
to implementing some of Lee’s
Based on a review of the c ity ’s to the sewage treatment plant
LID into two separate L ID ’s in phas
earlier suggestions, is “ one of the
comprehensive plan, the c ity ’s urban
ing, the court said, it must go back to
While the entire network of sewer
reports that makes you feel good,”
growth boundary could contain up to lines is being installed, a temporary
square one and begin the process
said City Manager Roger Jordan. “ It
12,500 people by the year 2000 That, pump station would be installed to
again for the new version of the LID.
means that sewage treatment plant
coupled with additional industry and pump sewage from the B luff Road
City officials are unsure what w ill
expansion is important, but not
commerce, would increase Sandy’s area and the area surrounding the
critical at this tim e.”
happen now if the property owners
sewer needs to a 1.5 m illion gallon Sandy High School athletic field to
remonstrate against the project,
Walt Mintkeski, of the engineering
per day plant
the proposed sewer line along
which has been in use for some time.
firm , said the problem of inflow and
To prepare for that day, Mintkeski
Highway 26
The options, if that happens, accor
ding to Jordan, are doing something
with the parking lot such as making it
a city lot, or appealing to the
Supreme Court
“ We ll have to deal with the ques
tion of what to do if no solution can be
found,” Jordan said
by M IC H A EL P. JONES
creases, disallowing the sale of Ban have opted for this route to pay off
He is hopeful that the negotiation
Post Correspondent
croft bonds for assessments, explain the assessment Only 30 have elected
process proves fruitful.
ed Abrams The bond sale is needed
to pay in cash which represents ap
Two property owners have already
to pay the construction costs for the
E a r lie r
th is
sum m er
the
proximately $60,000
applied for Bancroft bonding and
Clackamas County utilities division $5 5 million Welches sewage treat
A bond counsel is in the process of
what effect the case w ill have on
delayed the assessments in the Cedar ment fa c ility , operated by the
putting together bid sales for the
them has not been discussed, Jordan
Hoodland Service District.
Ridge area, near Brightwood, until
se w e r bonds, sa id A b ra m s
said.
The o rig in a l intention of the
the construction of the sewerline that
Clackamas County is targeting the
delayed assessment, said Abrams,
would serve the area was completed
sale of the Bancroft bonds in mid-
was
to give the Cedar Ridge property
September, probably through local
At that time Dave Abrams, utilities
banks and bond houses.
director, said assessments for the owners the same break as those in
500-acre tract would probably not be the Welches area who weren't assess
Abrams said the interest rates for
ed until the sewage treatment facility
le v ie d
u n til
O c to b e r
The
the bonds isn't known, but is ex
was
built
and
ready
to
provide
ser
SECTION 1
assessments total nearly $2.5 m illion
pected to be between 11 to 14 percent
vice
Editorial, Opinion ....... ----- 2
The
rates
could
be
lower
because
in
However, last week, Abram s
July 1 $2,986,665 in property tax
Keeping Posted
terest rates are reportedly dropping
n o tifie d Cedar Ridge p ro p e rty
assessments were levied in the
Senior Center News
4
owners and advised them the
W elches a re a , sa id A b ra m s ,
With the levy assessments against
Inside the Church
assessments w ill be levied this week,
representing 394 tax lots
Area News
the Cedar Ridge property owners,
to head off the potential impact that
Assessments in both areas are due
Atorams admitted there w ill be some
Sports. Recreation ....... .11-12
could be created by passage of state Jan 1, 1983 Those who wish may
economic impact because the land
Ballot Measure 3 in the Nov 2 elec have up to 20 years to pay the assess
is n ’t developed. Three subdivi-
.SECTION II
tion
ment.
sions—totalling 994 units on 494
Classified Ads
Inside Tab
The ballot measure would lim it
In the Welches area, Abrams said
acres—are currently proposed for
TV Revue ............... Inside Tab
property taxes to 15 percent in an nearly 350 of the tax lot owners
the area.
Future of sewer system outlined
One-year tax base
planned for voter try
by DAN DILLON
ft
The city of Sandy w ill continue
its fiscally conservative approach
this fall when it asks voters to ap
prove a $460,000 tax base proposal
in the November general election.
City Manager Roger Jordan
estimates that the base would be
good for one or two years, but
would at least give the city a
toehold that it doesn't now enjoy
with its miniscule $14,000 base
“ I t ’s something to get something
on the books,” he said, “ so every
s in g le y e a r we d o n ’ t ris k
everything we have” with a levy
election
Jordan admitted changing his
thinking on the tax base matter,
switching from favoring a pro
gressive tax base which can last
six seven years to the more conser
vative base which, he estimates,
would just meet the city 's needs for
an A ballot in the spring.
“ I t ’s the best estimate of what a
Ballot A w ill do next year," he
said He said the estimate takes in
to consideration a small growth
year in assessed values and that
with the $460,000 base and the rest
of the c ity ’s revenue, the local
g o ve rn m e n t w ill be “ f a ir ly
stable ”
Jordan cautioned that the city
must continue to keep its cash car
ryover in good shape to pay bills
after the fiscal year ends and
before tax receipts come in
One consideration facing every
budge ter statewide is the proposed
1.5 percent property tax lim itation
that w ill be on the November
ballot
“ If you're only taxing $15 per
$1,000, it doesn't take long to figure
out how much the city's losing,”
Jordan said
“ I guess you can basically divide
your organization in half ”
With one-person departments
like the city of Sandy’s, he noted,
“ I ’m not sure how you divide those
persons in half ”
On an optimistic note, Jordan
said the city could levy up to the 1.5
percent lim itation and still be
ahead of what the existing tax base
allows the city to collect before it
passes special levies every year
Under the 1.5 percent lim itation,
Jordan thinks growth would be
penalized because more services
would have to be provided for the
rising population, but a lower
am ount of money w ould be
available to provide them “ There
is an incentive to stay stagnant,”
he said
A resolution calling for the
$460,000 tax base w ill be presented
at a special adjourned meeting
Aug 26
Most of that meeting w ill be
spent in executive session as the c i
ty council and a citizens' com m it
tee screen the final list of ap
plicants vying to become the new
city manager
Jordan said there are currently
12 candidates still in the running.
Final interviews w ill be held Sept.
11.
In other action Monday night the
council:
— Accepted two separate bids
that w ill allow the summer street
improvement program to go ahead
as scheduled Jim Turin and Sons
bid $22,130 to complete the first
pha3e of the North B luff Road pav
ing project; C H . Stenson bid
$9,552,40 to complete the oil mat
projects at other sites.
— Agreed to spend $3,000 to pur
chase new water meters to begin a
project that w ill eventually replace
all city water meters over c
10-year period
— Appointed Virginia Kallen to
fill a vacancy on the Library
Board
Early assessment tied to tax limit
Index
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