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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2017)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017 Port adopts budget, bids farewell to commissioners Last meeting for Fulton, Raichl ‘I just want to thank the staff for all their indulgence over the few years.’ By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Future Port of Astoria Commissioner Dirk Rohne’s hope for “boring but produc- tive” meetings came one step closer to reality Tuesday. The last meeting of Com- missioners Stephen Fulton and John Raichl on the Port Com- mission ended with a rela- tive 25-minute whisper and the passage of a $13.6 million staff-recommended operating Stephen Fulton John Raichl John Raichl budget for the coming fiscal year. The Port Commission has become defined in recent years by Fulton and Commis- sioner Bill Hunsinger’s with- ering criticism of the Port staff and Executive Director Jim Knight. Fulton, who chal- lenged and was defeated by fellow Commissioner James Campbell, was relatively quiet in his last meeting Tuesday, besides unsuccessfully asking for a $250,000 contingency in the budget. Hunsinger phoned in briefly while commercial fishing in Alaska, but soon disconnected before the Port Commission’s 4-0 vote to pass the budget. Knight and Port Commis- sion President Robert Mushen presented Fulton and Raichl with plaques to mark their service. “I want to tell you both how much I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to be in this position, and it’s been a great honor and privilege for me to be serving the Port,” Knight said in his closing remarks to Fulton and Raichl. “I know there have been some conten- tious times, but overall I know people’s hearts are in the right place, and that what they really do want is the betterment of the Port for our community.” Fulton, who joined the Port Commission in 2013, replac- ing Pier 39 owner Floyd Hol- com, had no parting remarks, except that the Port should pay close attention to the effect the Advance Astoria five-year economic development plan could have on the Port’s indus- trial waterfront lands. Raichl, who was appointed in 2014 to fill out the remain- ing term of Port consultant Ric Gerttula after he resigned, thanked the Port staff. “I just want to thank the staff for all their indulgence over the few years,” Raichl said, wishing his replacement, Frank Spence, the best of luck. Knight said the Port will hold a free community barbe- cue at noon July 3 at the Port’s main offices on Pier 1. Rohne and Spence will be sworn in as commissioners at a special ses- sion at 2 p.m. Oregon Ethics Commission will resume review of Kitzhaber, Hayes By NICK BUDNICK Capital Bureau R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian Business Manager Justine Hill provides a guide to the Seaside School District budget. Seaside approves $140 million budget for schools Bond money swells figures By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian SEASIDE — Budgets of more than $140 million are usually reserved for big city or suburban schools, not 1,000-student districts like Seaside’s. Combined with general fund, debt service, special revenue and capital projects, the Seaside School District will be working with a grand total of $140.5 million. “The budget amount is not a typo,” Superintendent Sheila Roley said at Tues- day’s meeting of the board of directors. “The bond proceeds are now in our budget.” “I had to check my glasses,” board member Mark Truax said. The outsized figures are the result of the passage of a $99.7 million bond by vot- ers last fall for a new cam- pus. Because the school dis- trict’s bonds sold at a high rate and with a matching grant from the state Depart- ment of Education, capital projects reached more than $112 million. At $20.6 million, the dis- trict’s operating expense is a fraction of that. Debt service of $4.4 mil- lion and special revenue of $2.6 million make up the rest of the financial summary. The budget addresses ris- ing student technology costs, with districtwide licenses for math and science software. A new science curriculum will be implemented in the fall to meet new science and tech- nology standards. Staff hires and facilities upgrades are included. This is the largest budget the school district is likely to see, as the number will soon be reduced as construction bills come in. Business Manager Jus- tine Hill anticipates paying out $22.5 million next year in building costs and fees. The budget was unan- imously endorsed by directors. “The budget committee had met twice previously, and we worked through the details then, so this was really formalizing the rec- ommendation,” Roley said after the meeting. While the criminal probe of former Gov. John Kitzhaber and his first lady, Cylvia Hayes, has ended, they now will undergo scrutiny from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. The commission issued a statement Tuesday saying that a review of the allegations against Kitzhaber and Hayes will now continue. In February 2015, the commission put its review of three complaints filed over the couple’s actions in govern- ment on hold, citing a newly launched federal probe. Under commission rules, its investigators must first conduct a preliminary review to determine whether to launch a full investigation. In light of the announce- ment Friday that the federal probe has closed, “the prelim- Ex-Energy Department official pleads guilty to taking bribes Associated Press PORTLAND — The state Justice Department says a for- mer Oregon Department of Energy official has pleaded guilty to accepting over $291,000 in kickbacks in con- nection with the sale of state energy tax credits. The Oregonian reported that Joe Colello, who managed tax credit sales for the depart- ment, pleaded guilty Tues- day to racketeering, receiving bribes, aggravated theft, tax evasion and official miscon- duct charges. Colello had told the news- paper he was under investiga- tion for expediting the sale of tax credits for a private energy consultant. Court documents say Colello accepted cashiers checks on 52 occasions from a Seattle based energy consultant, Martin Shain, who is under indictment by the state for alleged forgery to secure state tax credits. With Thanks Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 ll Ca ime yt n A Fre e as Est F ima t t es Jeff Hale P ainting • Residential • Commercial •Cedar Roof Treatments • Interior & Exterior Jeff Hale, Contractor Q: Are headaches a way of life? least 80 percent of headaches A: At originate from problems with ASTORIA CHIROPRACTIC Barry Sears, D.C. 503-325-3311 2935 Marine Drive Astoria, Oregon LICENSED BONDED INSURED CCB#179131 the neck. Tendons from the neck muscles go into the skull and attach to the brain’s covering. 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Consult PHYLLIS EDY Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A handle travel arrangements, claimed reimbursement from the state for her expenses, and gave instructions to high- level state officials that they obeyed.” For the part you played in the life of 1925 W A NTED inary review will now resume,” accord- ing to the statement. Even vol- unteers are Former considered Gov. John subject to Kitzhaber state ethics laws. But in December 2014, lawyers for the couple sub- mitted an argument to the Eth- ics Commission first reported by The Oregonian, saying that the commission had no juris- diction over Hayes because she was not a public official. As The Oregonian then noted, disclosures at that time already showed that Hayes functioned as a de facto state official and had been given a desk, office and computer at the Capitol. “She attended governor’s staff meetings, spearheaded policy initia- tives, had governor staff L ooking to upgrade your computer ? W e stock a fuLL Line of Laptop and desktop computers . M-F 10-6 Sat . 11-4 77 11th Street, Suite H Astoria, OR 503-325-2300
