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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2015)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 6, 2015 4A How to Contact Officials LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Levy not needed for public safety I do not believe Polk Coun- ty needs more money from taxes for the public safety tax levy. Polk County received unexpected additional tax revenue due to tax increases on taxpayers. Our Polk Coun- ty commissioners need to make cuts where necessary instead of burdening us with more taxes. Vote no on the public safety tax levy. Jeffrey L. Pickering Dallas No moral high ground for no vote Voting no on public safe- ty, however you dress it up, is a matter of self-interest, of caring most of all about your money. It is not patriotic because patriotism means taking re- sponsibility for your com- munity, and underfunding public safety puts your community at risk. It is not Christian because Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and many neigh- bors have already suffered — or died — because of un- derfunding. There is no moral high ground for those who oppose a levy that so clearly helps us take respon- sibility for our community and care for our neighbors. Some taxes are good. Steve Richardson Dallas Cost of crime is the cruelest ‘tax’ It falls most heavily on those least able to afford it. Nevertheless, it also falls on all of us through things like insurance premiums. It’s about all of the public safety system — not just deputies and patrols alone. It is a public concern and obligation. It is for all of us to deal with. Our taxes pay for it. They should. Bite the bul- let and act responsibly on your own behalf, and of your friends and neighbors in your community. Support the public safety levy. Vote yes. Don Homuth West Salem Levy is sensible solution to issue Obviously no one wants to pay more taxes, but sooner or later we all must face the reality that the mil- lions of dollars in timber subsidies for public safety in Polk County are gone. Since we can’t expect funding fixes from Uncle Sam, we must find a sensi- ble solution to our problem. The longer we keep saying “no to any new taxes” only guarantees that our prob- lems will get worse. Please support our public safety levy, Measure 27-117, Last Call Writers who would like to submit a letter endorsing a candidate or ballot meas- ure have one final opportu- nity to do so before the May 19 vote-by-mail general election. The Wednesday, May 13, issue will be the final one in which the Itemizer-Observer will publish endorsement letters from Polk County residents for the upcoming election. With the deadline to re- turn ballots set at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, the May 13 edition is the last pub- lished prior to the election. All letters must be sub- mitted and verified by 10 a.m. on Monday, May 11, to be considered for publica- tion. We encourage writers to submit their letters as soon as possible and not wait until the last minute. And a reminder that the limit for all election letters is 100 words. — Reach us at: Email: ionews@polkio.com. to ensure the level of public safety we would all like to have. Please vote yes! John Brown West Salem a friend were to need emer- gency services and there was no one to come. I would not be able to accept such a thing over an average of $7.50 a month. If they were hurt or died, just because there was no one to come. I think that our county should think real hard about a family, friends, and neighbors when you go to fill out your ballots. Rod Buchanan Dallas Levy needed for effective system Whether we live in Polk County’s cities or rural areas, an effective law en- forcement system is need- ed. For less than $8 a month per average household, the propose safety levy would re-store 24/7 rural policing and city police backup (12 officers restored); our coun- ty District Attorney’s office — which handles many city cases — re-staffed (5) to op- erate in an effective and timely manner, and the jail be properly staffed (5). Also, if federal timber funds are received, Polk’s commis- sioners have pledged to re- duce the levy by that amount. A yes vote is need- ed for an effective, safe law enforcement system. Taxes should be cut, not raised Jim Fairchild Dallas Increased property taxes do not just come from property owners. Tenants may have their rent in- creased. Business owners will pass on their increased property tax to consumers. Vote no on the public safety levy. We need to cut taxes not raise them. Levy will provide sense of security Don Blair Rickreall Think of friends, family when voting I don’t like the idea of more taxes either, but what would really bother me more is if someone in my family or Some people don’t trust Polk County government (or government in general) and some believe there is hidden money in the county’s budg- et that isn’t being given to public safety, which isn’t true. Some believe that we shouldn't raise taxes, yet don’t provide a solution to the funding shortfall. The personal issue is, do you, your family or neighbors feel safe? Will you feel safe after you’ve been a victim of a crime by knowing that the person responsible will be arrested, placed in jail and prosecuted by the DA? On your ballot is a solution. Please vote for public safety. Mark Garton Dallas Safety, security is so important Wherever you live in our Polk County, security and safety of our lives and prop- erty is like our health — we too often take it for granted, but it is vital to how we live our lives! Imagine your call to 911 that goes unheeded because no one is available to respond! That’s just where we are today from 10 p.m. to noon the next day each and every day! And the fact that you live in one of our cities leaves you vul- nerable too. We desperately need prosecution for those apprehended. Vote yes! Ken Jacroux Dallas Levy the remedy to the safety problem What we have too many of: ne’er-do-wells, malefac- tors, miscreants and scofflaws, many of whom are drug addicted and/or drug manufacturers. What we don’t have enough of: apprehension, prosecution, incarceration and post-incarceration su- pervision. What we need: proper staffing for 24-hour sheriff’s patrol, District Attor- ney’s Office, jail supervision, juvenile and adult services. I know — that’s a lot of big words — but one small word would go a long way to remedy the situation — yes! Russ Noll West Salem Show ‘Unearthed’ exploits Falls City I have never sent one of these emails. I have never protested anything, until now. I will not watch the ex- ploit of my backyard on Discovery’s new show “Un- earthed,” and I will send as many emails to urge others to, as well. I’m going to fight every avenue I can think of to rally people to join in telling Discovery Channel that Oregon is not for sale! This show will impact many honest Oregonians in many ways, and Discovery is really the only one that ben- efits from the show. The kind of people that will come to the area in droves are the kind of people that do not make an honest living: drug addicts and felons and illegal immigrants will make up a large percent of the group. We all know that truffle harvesting has been going on for a long time here, but the demand and exposure from this show will bring a hoard of unsavory charac- ters to the area looking to strike it rich for free. The large lumber industry will struggle to keep tres- passers at bay; the general public will lose access to the wilderness if that gets out of hand; and the people who own land in the forested areas will have to be made aware of people coming on their land to harvest and could be a danger as well. I can think of many other negative examples of how this show will impact Ore- gon. Please spread the word the only way we can really win is with our mighty dol- lar. Let’s show them Oregon is different. Cancel your cable subscription in protest! Amy Sledge Dallas Three reasons to vote yes on levy I have changed my mind from voting no to voting yes because of the following facts: 1. Currently there are only four deputies, which are backed up by three ser- geants. I had been told there were 16. The levy will provide 12 more deputies, making 16 total. 2. Currently one detective. The levy will add one more. Five more jailers. 3. The levy includes five more in the DA’s de- partment, added costs from equipment, operating sup- plies, overtime costs when needed, fuel costs, etc. Join us supporters in voting yes. 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 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 Les Oehler Dallas Levy unnecessary as economy grows I support public safety, but as the economy contin- ues to improve, I am reluc- tant to vote for a property tax increase to support oper- ations. I’m upset that raises for county officials are being considered when basic serv- ices are not funded. Mary Runyon Independence PUBLIC AGENDA Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for governmental 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 (ionews@polkio.com). — MONDAY, MAY 11 • Dallas School Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District office board room, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503- 623-9664, ext. 2334. TUESDAY, MAY 12 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Independence City Council — 7:30 p.m., Inde- pendence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 • Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth Public Library meeting room, 168 S. Ecols St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623- 8173. • Monmouth Park and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. • Dallas School District Budget Committee — 6 p.m., District office, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623- 9664, ext. 2334. 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. 18 (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. 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