Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 2015)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 28, 2015 4A EDITORIALS How to Contact Officials How companies deal with a fear of change Last year, the world’s largest public relations firm, Edel- man, added a new question to its annual survey on trust in institutions. People around the globe were asked if they believe change and innovation are happening too quickly. Much to Edelman’s surprise, more than half of respon- dents said “yes.” People’s ability to cope with ever-more- complex gadgets, data, machines and documents may be reaching a neo-Luddite threshold of resistance. “Innovation should be a trust accelerator, but today it is not,” said company chief executive officer Richard Edelman, based on the survey. “To invent is no longer enough. There must be a new compact between company and individual.” That compact requires greater empathy, clarity and sim- plicity from all institutions to keep up with the rapid pace of change in products and services. One sign of this shift: The technology industry, once a beacon of trust compared with other industries or with government, saw a decline in trust in most countries for the first time last year. “Changes in technology are happening at a scale which was unimaginable before and will cause disruption in industry after industry,” writes Vivek Wadhwa, a blogger on innovation for The Washington Post and a Stanford University researcher. A group set up to promote new technologies, the Infor- mation Technology and Innovation Foundation, is worried about this trend: “While many people believe they support progress, when it comes right down to it, many individuals are ambiguous, if not downright negative, about their views toward progress.” To measure people’s friendliness toward innovation, it offers a test at www.doyoulikeprogress.org. Another global survey, done for the American consulting firm siegel+gale, shows what consumers now demand from technological advances: 70 percent of people are more likely to recommend a product or service if it pro- vides a simple experience and communication. More than a third are willing to pay extra for that experience. The firm ranks companies on a “simplicity index,” based on consumer feedback. The top global brands in simplicity in- clude Aldi, Google, Lidl, McDonald’s, Netflix, IKEA and Ama- zon. Such firms try to remove the fear and uncertainty in their services and products, making sure their wares are transpar- ent and organized, saving time and empowering consumers. “(L)et your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand,” wrote Henry David Thoreau in his book “Walden,” which extolled the merits of simplicity. Institu- tions, too, are being forced to learn what many individuals have long sought in an era of constant change. And eternal values, such as caring for others — including customers — haven’t changed. There’s no app for those. —Christian Science Monitor PUBLIC AGENDA Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov- ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County. To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via fax (503- 623-2395) or email (kholland@polkio.com). — WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. MONDAY, FEB. 2 • Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independ- ence. 503-838-0030. • Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dal- las. 503-831-3502. • Independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Independ- ence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. TUESDAY, FEB. 3 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Dallas Urban Renewal District Advisory Committee — 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. • Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. • Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. GOVERNOR Gov. John Kitzhaber (Dem.) 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-378-4582 Email: via website, http://governor.oregon.gov/ — STATE LEGISLATORS Sen. Arnie Roblan (District 5, Democrat) S-417 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/roblan LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Safety levy would create hardships Polk County ranked sixth highest in Oregon out of 36 counties for effective tax rates in fiscal year 2013- 2014, according to the Ore- gon Department of Revenue. According to the Oregon Employment Department, Polk County is in the lowest of four categories for per capita personal income. Now, the proposed Polk County public safety levy could add 45 cents (per $1,000) to the effective tax rate, moving Polk County up to the second highest in the state. The 45 cents per $1,000 is a whopping 35 per- cent increase. Our current total tax rate when you include the coun- ty road bond is $2.26 per $1,000 of assessed value, not the $1.72 quoted at public hearings (quoted as the per- manent tax rate). And if this levy were to pass, the next time they want a levy, the same $1.72 figure can be quoted by this logic as it is being presented as a five- year levy (temporary, not permanent). The tax burden is espe- cially onerous to low income homeowners as it takes a greater percentage of their income. The economic stress on families may indeed con- tribute to the need for more government social and pub- lic safety services to solve problems caused by govern- ment in the first place. Public safety takes a whopping 63.72 percent of the general fund, according to the 2014-2015 published Polk County budget. While we appreciate the fine work of the district attorney, juve- nile department and sher- iff’s office, we need to keep in mind that while their • Looking for a Letter to the Editor from a previous issue? You can find a large number of letters on a large number of subjects by searching the Itemizer- Observer’s online archives at www.polkio.com. Archives go back to 2000. salaries and retirement ben- efits are growing, it is grow- ing on the backs of the tax- payer, many of whom are still suffering from the ef- fects of the recession. If they need more money, perhaps they can find a less critical place in the pie to get it. Rose Bajorins Falls City Humans greatest threat to planet The “teapublicon” party and perhaps too many De- mocrats seem oblivious to the facts that viable life on our possibly unique and wonderful planet will cease to exist in the foreseeable fu- ture due to the multiple abuses by our species. During the last 500 mil- lion years, Earth has had five major extinctions, and now we are quickly advancing into the worst and perhaps final one. The many causes include mainly the unstoppable world population explosion, the reality of global warming and our exposure to un- countable new and older chemicals, most of which have not been proven safe for humans and other species. Now, genetically engi- neered food crops utilizing systemic insecticides threat- en our pollinating and most- needed bee populations and is also killing birds, butter- flies, fish, etc. Two of the neonicotinoid insecticides now used are banned in the European Union. Fortunately, many world seed banks exist, so that when and if GMOs destroy our food supplies they can be restored naturally. Walden Joura Dallas Area senior center extends invitation I would like to send out a special invitation to all Dal- las residents 60 years and older to join the Dallas Area Senior Center. The fee is only $15 per year. We have wellness class- es to improve your health. We have games, play cards and dancing. We have craft day, which is lots of fun. We have movie day once a month with free popcorn, and homemade soup and bread after the movie for only $2. We go to Spirit Mountain Casino once a month. We go on the bus once a month to a fun place and have lunch. We have received a grant to build a new senior center, and will be starting to build it soon. Join the senior cen- ter and be the first to be in the new building to enjoy all the fun we will be having. We have a monthly newsletter that we mail out to all members so you can be part of all the fun we have. Stop by the Dallas Senior Center at 955 SE Jefferson St. (we are next to the library) and have a friendly cup of coffee with the volunteers here at the center or call 503-623-8554. We would love to hear from you. Sen. Jackie Winters (District 10, Republican) S-301 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1710 sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/winters Sen. Brian Boquist (District 12, Republican) S-305 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1712 sen.brianboquist@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/boquist Rep. David Gomberg (District 10, Democrat) H-471 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1410 rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg Rep. Paul Evans (District 20, Democrat) H-281 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1420 rep.paulevans@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/evans Rep. Mike Nearman (District 23, Republican) H-378 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1423 rep.mikenearman@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/nearman — U.S. CONGRESS Sen. Ron Wyden (Dem.) 221 Dirksen SOB Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-5244 Fax: 202-228-2717 Salem office: 707 13th St. SE, Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-589-4555 Email: via website, www.wyden.senate.gov Judy Reid, president Dallas Senior Center WANT TO WRITE A LETTER? Letters to the editor are lim- ited to 300 words. Longer letters will be edited. Election-related letters of all types are limited to 100 words. Writers are limited to one elec- tion-related letter per election season. Election letters from writers outside of Polk County are not accepted. Each writer is restricted to one letter per 30-day period. Letters that are libelous, ob- scene or in bad taste will not be printed. Attacks by name on businesses or individuals will not be printed. Letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a busi- ness, products or services will not be printed. The Itemizer-Observer does not guarantee the accuracy of facts presented by letter writers; dissenters are welcome to re- spond. Letter writers who dis- agree with other published letter writers should maintain a civil discourse and address the subject, not the author. Letters, like all editorial mate- rial submitted to the newspaper, are edited for length, grammar and content. Letters must include the au- thor’s name, address and tele- phone number. This includes letters submitted via the I-O’s website. Names and cities of res- idence are published; street ad- dresses and telephone numbers are used for verification pur- poses only. Letters must be submitted from individuals, not organiza- tions, and must be original sub- missions to the I-O, not copies of letters sent to other media. Letters of thanks to busi- nesses, individuals and organi- zations are limited to 10 names. The deadline for letters to the editor is Monday at 10 a.m. Let- ters submitted may not be re- tractable after this deadline. — Reach us at: Mail: Editor, Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, OR 97338. Fax: 503-623-2395. Email: ionews@polkio.com. Office: 147 SE Court St., Dallas. Sen. Jeff Merkley (Dem.) 313 Hart SOB Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-3753 Fax: 202-228-3997 Salem office: 495 State St. SE, Suite 330, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-362-8102 Email: via website, www.merkley.senate.gov Rep. Kurt Schrader (Dem.) 108 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 202-225-5711 Fax: 202-225-5699 Salem office: 544 Ferry St. SE, Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-588-9100 Fax: 503-588-5517 Email: via website, www.schrader.house.gov — POLK COUNTY Board of Commissioners 850 Main St. Dallas, OR 97338 Phone: 503-623-8173 www.co.polk.or.us — CITIES Dallas 187 SE Court St. Dallas, OR 97338 503-623-2338 www.ci.dallas.or.us Falls City 299 Mill St. Falls City, OR 97344 503-787-3631 www.fallscityoregon.gov Independence 555 S. Main St. Independence, OR 97351 503-838-1212 www.ci.independence.or.us Monmouth 151 W. Main St. Monmouth, OR 97361 503-838-0722 www.ci.monmouth.or.us HOW TO REACH US Vol. 140, No. 4 (USPS) - 437-380) The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875 Winner of 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 General Excellence Awards from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR. Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street Dallas, Oregon 97338 Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Polk County — One Year $27 Other Oregon Counties — One Year $33 Outside of Oregon — One Year $38 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338 The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in adver- tisements. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault. NEWSROOM Nancy Adams ...............Publisher ...........................................................................nadams@polkio.com Kurt Holland..................Managing Editor...........................................................kholland@polkio.com Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com Emily Mentzer ..............Monmouth/Independence Reporter ..................ementzer@polkio.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com CLASSIFIED LINE ADVERTISING Dawn Ohren .....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PRODUCTION Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com BOOKKEEPING Pat Letsch ......................................................................................................................pletsch@polkio.com Web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395