Image provided by: Friends of the Sandy Public Library; Sandy, OR
About Sandy post. (Sandy, Oregon) 1938-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1982)
''f u t i* » V o l. 72 N o 48 The Sandy Post S A N D Y. O R E G O N THURSDAY DECEMBER 2. 1982 U'SPS ttl-HMD Higher assessments levied on LID 4 by DAN D ILLO N The city of Sandy is going for broke in its attempt to recoup costs of the Heritage Square parking lot At the same tim e, city staff members are considering a lte r natives if adjacent property owners d o n ’ t a c c e p t th e c it y 's new assessments The city last week mailed the new assessments to the seven adjacent property owners based on a new engineering report that bills them for the entire project, excluding the c ity ’s legal fees and part of its e n g in e e rin g cost P r e lim in a r y assessm ent for the p ro je c t is $141.449 49 The city w ill kick in $23,047 98 on the project under the new plan In late 1981, Clackamas County C ir cuit Judge Winston Bradshaw ruled that property owners involved in the parking lot could be assessed just a portion of the cost That would have left the city to pick up remaining legal fees, interest and construction costs However, since a recent state Supreme Court ruling stated the city had to reinitiate the entire pro ceedings to establish the local im provement district, the Sandy City Council billed the participants for the cost of the project The 63-spa.e parking lot was com pleted in 1977 Cost of the construe tion, including grading, paving and drainage. landscaping, lighting and removal of overhead utilities was $56,954 89 The total cost, including engineering, legal expenses and land acquisition is $164.497.47. The c ity ’s participation under the new prelim inary assessment con siders lawsuit fees and engineering fees for Phase I I of the project which wasn't completed The new assessments were the result of the Supreme Court decision which, in effect, negated the whole project and sent the city back to the beginning stages of an L ID . accor • 1 I PUBUC'HOTICE FOR HOHE IHI-UKMATION CO NTACT sa hot city ^ ll : 668-5533 c *«rr The Heritage Square parking lot is the middle of a dispute between property owners and the city of Sandy. Monday, Dec. 13, a public hearing will help clear ding to City Manager Tom Reber The property owners now have un til a public hearing Monday. Dec 13, at 8 p m to remonstrate against the project. If all the affected property o w n e rs s a y no to th e new assessments, the city staff w ill come up with alternatives for the parking lot "W e're just going to do some brainstorming on what alternatives are available," Reber said "W e'll be presenting those to the city council and see what they will pursue." The options should be ready for council consideration at the Dec. 13 hearing If all property owners remonstrate against the project, the city manager expects the council to take action swiftly “ I would assume they would act that night,” Reber said, ‘i f all a lte r natives have been investigated and the air about the financing and future of the area, we have a thorough report, then I think they’ll make a decision We won't be presenting a report if it isn't complete.” The new assessments are based on the square footage of each land parcel that benefitted directly from construction of the parking lot. The area of each parcel was calculated and then a percentage was determin ed of that area as it related to the total square foo4age of the properties benefitted by the L ID Credit was given to those who donated property to the project Under the new plan, estimated assessments are Warren and Elaine Decker, $11,422 44; Arthur Bolster, $21,343 42; Heritage Square Develop ment Corp., $39,497.82; the Double D ragon. $20,405 66; C a rro ll and Phyllis Rader, $19,317 86, Georgia Shaffer, $17,967.49; and Betty A rm strong, $11,494.80. Prevention plan involves community by DAN D IL LO N " I f people think safely, they’ll act safely," said Sandy F ire Chief Bob Rathke, explaining new directions the F ire District's prevention pro gram may take in coming months "T h a t’s what I think we re trying to promote comm unity-wide.” Fire Marshal Jim Gallagher con curred “ F ire prevention here has never been stagnant It looks like some real new challenges are going to develop " The lo c a l d is tr ic t had been prepared to hire a fire prevention educator and work toward a local fire code In light of economic conditions and the recent statewide attempt to lim it property taxes, however, the plan has been abandoned "One of the things that came out of our review of Measure 3, in terms of that program ." Rathke said, “ we're not going to hire an additional man The fire prevention specialist and "all-encompassing" local fire code were two goals in the district's long- range plan completed three years ago Now the district finds it hard to justify hiring the new fu ll-tim e firefighter the program would re quire Instead, after a nine-month review of the fire prevention program. Rathke and Gallagher want to take the prevention program to the people in a greater degree "We re looking for outside help," G allagher explained "The new avenue to look at is tc provide the ser vice without m ajor expenditures of taxpayers' dollars.” The program, which the fire chief w ill present to the board of directors at its Dec 14 meeting, could involve service groups. Boy Scouts and senior citizens "The whole concept is a different focus,” Rathke said. "How can we in crease effectiveness and get other people involved9" The outside groups, after training by local firefighters, could provide hom e safety inspections on a volunteer basis, help out with the smoke detector program and take audio-visual programs to the schools Part of the long range plan called for greater emphasis on the use of smoke detectors A recent survey by the district revealed that district residents got that word Nearly 75 percent of those polled had detectors installed T h e n e x t s te p in v o lv e s a maintenance program to find a way where citizens, “ besides us,” Rathke said, become involved spreading reminders about battery checks and such “ W e ’re looking to m ake fire prevention a com m unity effo rt, rather than a fire district effo rt,” Gallagher said adding, the new pro gram provides "better balance.” District personnel would also take an active role in the program, if it is implemented. A review of the district’s records showed a steady increase in the number of illegal fires such as burn ing on days when it is prohibited by the Department of Environmental Quality. "One aspect is to make a greater effort in controlling illegal burns." Rathke explained. That could include revising adm inistrative procedures for handling burning per-its, in stituting a brochure to be handed out to first-tim e offenders and, ultim ate ly. assessing people the cost of put ting out the fires, a practice permit ted by Oregon law. The district would also place greater emphasis on buildings where there is a potential for the loss of lives such as assem bly halls, restaurants and taverns “ In the past it's been, ‘If you call us, w e’ll m ake an inspection," Rathke said In the future, the district could begin a regular inspec tion process The district also plans to update the fire loss records annually to make appropriate adjustments in the fire prevention program District joins area-wide cooperative At the same time the Sandy F ire District is examining its preven tion program, it is beginning a uni que cooperative venture to combat the growing fire problems of the area The M t Hood Fire Prevention Association, following the old sports adage that teamwork wins the game, utilizes the expertise of fire and ranger districts in eastern Clackamas and Multnomah coun ties T h e p u rp o se of th e new cooperative is to "consolidate in formation and make it go twice as far and reach more people." accor- ding to Sandy F ire Marshal Jim Gallagher The group includes experts in structural and wildlands fires "Both have been doing basically the same thing,” Gallagher noted, "but approaching it in different manners ” Charter members include San dy, Estacada. Hoodland and Cor bett fire departments, the Oregon State Department of Forestry, and C o lum bia G o rg e , C lac ka m as . E stacada and Zigzag R anger District of the M t Hood National Forest Once initial studies of the major fire causes of each member agen cy have been completed, projects of the association will include a regular newsletter, cooperative presentations on fire safety to schools and community groups, newspaper articles to keep the public informed about fire issues and programs aimed at reducing fire hazards in summer homes in forested areas "P a rt of this joining together is dropping some identity," the local fire marshal said "W e’re talking as members of the co-op about common problems, rather than in dividual " The cooperative's educational programs are designed to tie in with local districts' individual prevention program s enabling districts to get more mileage without spending more money. A partial list of subjects which have been targeted for Mt Hood F ire Prevention Association atten tion include safe wood stove in stallation and use, woodcutting, forest campfires, debris burning and fireproofing holiday decora tions. Programs help handle winter bills H e a tin g b ills r is e as th e tem perature drops Post-Christmas bills put a pinch on budgets For fam ilies and individuals with troubles meeting w in tertim e ex pensea. two programs can lend a helping hand Wednesday, the state of Oregon began taking applications for low income fam ilies who need help to meet w inter heating bills This winter, an estimated $23 million w ill be available from the federal government for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program Local agencies, including the San dy Community Action Center and Sandy Senior Center, take applica tions or help area residents set up ap pointments for interviews Any household whose income is at or below 125 percent of the poverty level is eligible for assistance Pover ty levels are based on household in comes To be eligible, the household must have demonstrated energy costs For example, a fam ily of four with a monthly income of $989 or less or an annual income below $11,825 would be eligible Com m unity action and senior agencies around the state take the applications for assistance from low- income families who face rising bills Checks will be distributed by the state Community Services Program Payments are made to suppliers who sign contracts with the state or to ap plicants whose suppliers haven't signed contracts B IL L -P A Y IN G H E L P Free professional counseling*^ be ing offered local residents whose fam ily income can't keep up with debts incurred when the economy was better Consumer Credit Counseling Ser vice of Oregon is currently helping some 16 Sandy. Eagle Creek and Bor ing residents find ways to make financial ends meet Of the estimated 15,000 persons in the area, however, L arry Winthrop, president, calls 16 "an insignificant number Several hundred people in the area could use our services “The trouble is getting to people to tell them there is a non-profit service that’s ready to help them, free or for very little money," he said The services are open to anyone, regardless of income level, who can’t pay the bills "Our clients are people anxious to pay their debts and protect their credit," Winthrop said “ In the past. we've said their troubles were caus ed by bad luck, bad management or a combination of both These days, it's also a bad economy and the loss of a job or a lay-off ” Counseling is free If more held is needed, there's a debt management program for which a $9 charge is made—o r waived in hardship cases In these programs, counselors work with clients and their creditors to a r range m utually satisfactory pro grams for getting debts paid usual ly by extending repayment periods and reducing monthly payments Appointments are available by calling 232-8139. Single Copy 25< Santa Claus visit begins festivities Santa’s coming to town! Jolly Old St Nick, portrayed by Herb Fenwick, arrives by fire engine at 9:30 a m Satur day. Dec 4, at the Sandy Rexall Drug parking lot He ushers in a host of Christmas festivities sponsored by Sandy A rea M erchants under the banner. "Christmas in the Country ” Santa w ill preside over Satur day's "breakfast with Santa" from 10 a.m until noon beginn ing Dec 4 at Sandy Senior Com munity Center The merchants are hosting this first breakfast, with free admission for kids younger than 12 accompanied by an adult Adult fare for the continental breakfast is 50 cents Pictures with Santa w ill be available Subsequent breakfasts with Santa will be 10 a m until noon Dec. 11 at T J ’s Fireside and 10 a m. until noon Dec. 18 at Tollgate Inn Local school children are decorating a community tree going up Saturday in the drug store parking lot. Carolers from Sandy Grade School, Kelso School and Sandy High School will entertain at the three Sandy breakfasts with Santa K R D R will perform a live remote radio broadcast this Saturday at the Santa breakfast at Sandy Community Center Herb Fenwick will be relieved by perennial Santa figure. Paul Spence, on subsequent ap pearances by Santa in Sandy After the breakfasts, Santa will stroll throughout town to greet shoppers and pass out free can dy Wy'East Lodge celebrates new craftsmanship The craftsmanship of the 1930s W PA p r o je c t th a t becam e internationally-fam ous Tim berline Lodge comes full circle this weekend with the culmination of an 18-month drive to furnish the new W y’East Day Lodge with the craftsmanship of the 1980s Two flat bed truckloads of new art works and furniture have been delivered already to the day lodge by Sandy Truck Lines as the grass-roots fund drive celebrates completion of the project More will be delivered this week and in the coming months This Saturday, 4 to 8 p m , visitors will have the opportunity to chat with more than 30 craftsmen involved in making the 80 tables. 400 chairs, 20 concrete containers, 115 steel and wood signs that continue the comm it tment to works by the hands of Nor- thwesterners begun with Timberline At 4:30 p m there w ill be a short d e d ic a tio n e n d in g w ith the ceremonial cutting of a cake in the shape of the day lodge by Dick Kohnstamm, area operator for 28 years. Dick Hoffman. Timberline forest ranger, and Dick Spies, day lodge architect Because all the funds—more than $260,000 in cash, m aterials and labor—raised for the project were us ed only for the hand-crafted work, the contributors going tn the celebra tion are bringing the hors d'oeuvres for the party themselves It is ex pected to be Oregon's biggest potluck in the spirit of community and pit ching in for that spirit Index SECTION I Editorial. Opinion ... 2 Keeping Posted ... 3 Obituaries ........................ 4 Menus ............................ 9 Senior Center News ... 5 Sports. Recreation 11 12 SECTION II Classified Ads T V Revue Inside Tab Inside Tab
