Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 8, 2015 4A
EDITORIALS
How to
Contact
Officials
Districts dodge
bullet this time
“In these tough economic times” is a phrase we haven’t
heard in a while, and we liked it that way.
Now, with the state Senate and House of Representatives
approving a school budget for $7.255 billion — which
sounds like a lot, but isn’t when you divide it between 197
school districts in Oregon — it feels like we’ve slid a bit
back down the hole of recession.
The number isn’t far from the hoped-for $7.5 billion,
which would have allowed our local school districts to
maintain recently restored programs and even add a few
things back, but when talking dollars and cents at the gov-
ernment level, it’s miles away.
Fortunately for Dallas, Central and Perrydale districts,
the amount won’t hurt too badly. They’ll be able to contin-
ue the good fight. But in Falls City, the news was grim.
Falls City Superintendent Jack Thompson compared this
budget to putting the district back on life support. Cuts will
have to be made. In a such a small district, where one senior
can make a significant difference in graduation rates, cuts
will also be felt on a grander scale than in a larger district.
And this budget is not considering that districts are
going into negotiations with their teachers and certified
staff. Last time, teacher negotiations came to a stalemate
in Central and are ongoing in Perrydale. One of the issues
at stake in both districts was increases in wages.
We’d wager that will happen again. Teachers, adminis-
trators and certified staff members have gone a long time
through the dry spell created by the recession, and want
some compensation for past pay freezes.
Politicians in Salem whisper hope of better forecasts in
May, which may increase the school budget, but no one is
thinking that will come to fruition.
It feels like more empty promises from the leaders of our
state made to our schools. The worst part about it is it’s not
being made to our school boards, administrators and
teachers as much as to our kids who are our future leaders.
It’s time for those in the Capitol to pay it forward for these
kids to get a better education.
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 actu-
al meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via fax (503-623-
2395) or email (ionews@polkio.com).
—
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
• Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Mon-
mouth Public Library meeting room, 168 S. Ecols St., Mon-
mouth. 503-838-0722.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Polk Soil and Water Conservation District Board — 6
p.m., USDA Service Center, 580 Main St., Suite A, Dallas. 503-
623-9680.
• Monmouth Park and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun-
teer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
• Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central
Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510.
• Luckiamute Watershed Council — 7 p.m., Henry Hill Edu-
cational Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Monmouth. 503-837-
0237.
• Falls City City Council — 7:30 p.m., Falls City Community
Center, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3631.
MONDAY, APRIL 13
• Dallas School Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District
office board room, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623-9664, ext.
2334.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Dallas Planning Commission — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE
Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Kings Valley Charter School Board — 7 p.m., Kings Valley
Charter School, 38840 Kings Valley Highway, Kings Valley. 541-
929-2134.
• Independence City Council — 7:30 p.m., Independence
Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
GOVERNOR
Gov. Kate Brown (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
Polk County should
live with budget
The spoiled child is
yelling that their multi-mil-
lion dollar allowance is not
enough and junior (Polk
County) wants more.
It’s time for tough love
and say this is what you
have; live with it; there is no
more!
Our leaders are asking
you to live with less, work
harder, and spend less so
you can give more to junior.
So when junior runs out
of its allowance again, the
spoiled child will start
yelling again.
It’s time to say no and
mean it. Take control.
Please vote no on all
levies.
Sandra Mayer
Dallas
‘Yes’ vote for same
day protection
I, for one, will vote ‘yes’
on the additional property
tax increase for Public Safe-
ty. We need proper law pro-
tection 24 hours a day, espe-
cially since the Oregon State
Police are also understaffed
throughout rural Oregon.
With our high crime rate
and high domestic issues in
this county, we need the
proper police coverage and
full court staff to prosecute
and sentence these people
to keep them off the street.
It could be you or your fam-
ily that needs critical help
quickly, not the next day.
Bill J. Kluting
Monmouth
Levy would be
endless tax cycle
The Public Safety tax levy
will assess higher property
taxes for five years, but that
won’t be the end of it.
They will want to extend
it for consecutive five-year
terms up to 20 years.
Why doesn’t Polk County
be more aggressive about
bringing in new businesses
that will provide tax rev-
enues.
Economic development is
the answer to tax revenue.
Polk County voters can-
not afford this levy and
should, again, vote “no” in
May.
Debbie Pickering
Dallas
Levy would help all
in Polk County
I’m a senior living in Dal-
las and I will vote “yes” on
the public safety levy. I own
my home and live on a
small fixed income.
Yet, I am still willing to
pay a little extra so the DA’s
(district attorney) office can
prosecute crimes that every
police department brings
forth, and so the county jail
can safely and effectively
house inmates as well
(brought forward by every
police department in the
county, too).
I want a system that
works and holds people ac-
countable. Everyone de-
serves to be safe in their
homes and in their travels
throughout Polk County.
Vote yes.
Jo Domaschofsky
Dallas
I called Weldon Ryan at
the Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT)
about this because at night,
if you’re going east, a car’s
lights coming west blind
you and you can’t see the
crosswalk.
He said there were funds
for this and to talk to the
city about it too, which I
did.
I also told Weldon some-
thing needs to be done
about all the wrecks on East
Ellendale, lots of people
upset.
Does someone need to
lose their life before some-
thing is done?
Pat Jeske
Dallas
‘No’ protects folks
on fixed income
I live in Falls City and op-
pose the Public Safety Tax
Levy.
Our small town is eco-
nomically depressed and
many homeowners are on a
fixed income.
They do not have excess
funds to pay to Polk County,
especially since the recent
property tax increases.
What little money people
on a fixed income have left
each month is spent on
food and utilities.
The Polk County Com-
missioners should be more
sensitive to those on a fixed
income.
We definitely do not need
a five-year tax increase. Vote
“no.”
Money available to
improve crossings
Jack Sylsberry
Falls City
In regards to Dennis
Bouchard’s letter about a
crosswalk at Walmart
(“Crosswalk would improve
safety,” March 25).
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Letters
submitted may not be retractable
after this deadline.
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
—
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 10 a.m. Monday. 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. 14
(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/Editor .............................................................nadams@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