Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 3, 2015 3A
Polk County News
DEADLINES
NEWS DEADLINES
For inclusion in the
Wednesday edition of the
Itemizer-Observer:
Social news (weddings,
engagements, anniver-
saries, births, milestones) —
5 p.m. on Thursday.
Community events —
Noon on Friday for both the
Community Notebook and
Community Calendar.
Letters to the editor —
10 a.m. on Monday.
Obituaries — 4 p.m. on
Monday.
ADVERTISING DEADLINES
Retail display ads — 3
p.m. Friday.
Classified display ads
— 11 a.m. on Monday.
Classified line ads —
Noon on Monday. Classified
ads are updated daily on
www.polkio.com.
Public notices — Noon
on Friday.
CORRECTIONS
If you see anything that re-
quires a correction or clarifi-
cation, call the newsroom at
503-623-2373 or send an
email to nadams@polkio.
com.
WEBSITE
The Itemizer-Observer is
online at www.polkio.com,
on Facebook and Twitter.
Watch for breaking news,
links to stories, sports
scores updates and more.
WEATHER
RECORDED
HIGH LOW
May 26.............. 71
May 27.............. 80
May 28.............. 86
May 29.............. 82
May 30.............. 80
May 31.............. 87
June 1................ 64
47
49
51
53
50
55
54
RAIN
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.64
Rainfall during May — 0.72 in.
Rain through June 1 — 15.24 in.
Citywide Internet for all? NEWS IN BRIEF
Officials suggest exchanging access for debt forgiveness
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH/INDEPEN-
DENCE — Monmouth-Inde-
pendence Networks
(MINET) must find new av-
enues to increase revenues if
it is to be self-sustaining, Di-
rector Don Patten said to the
board at its Thursday meet-
ing.
“As a result in the change
in demand and fewer ad-
dresses to serve, MINET
cannot save for the future,
cover debt and cover operat-
ing costs using the tradition-
al business model,” he said.
Patten has previously sug-
gested a purchase service
model, where the company
would lease out excess data
infrastructure.
While he is working on
that, he proposed citywide
WiFi or a low-level broad-
band for Monmouth and In-
dependence.
If the MINET board of di-
rectors approved, all resi-
dents and visitors of Mon-
mouth and Independence
would receive free WiFi, or a
free low-level Internet band-
width would be provided for
every home.
In exchange for MINET
providing one of those serv-
ices, the cities could forgive
some of the company’s debt
service shortfalls, Patten
suggested.
“We live in a technical
utopia,” Patten said. “WiFi or
low-level bandwidth are
practical solutions for the
low- or never-served com-
munity. Should access be a
birthright to anyone who
ever lives in these cities?”
Patten added that Central
School District is looking to
offer more online courses.
One hurdle to that is getting
technological hardware —
computers and tablets, for
example — into the hands of
students.
Another hurdle, Patten
said, is getting those devices
connected to the Internet,
particularly because 70 per-
cent of Central’s students are
on free or reduced lunches,
meaning they are below the
federal poverty level.
Patten noted that free
WiFi or Internet, even a low-
level bandwidth, would help
solve that problem.
While city managers and
board leaders Scott McClure
and David Clyne liked the
idea of citywide Internet
service in one capacity or
another, neither liked the
idea of paying for it, or of
forgiving MINET some of its
debt service shortfalls.
Clyne said that the service
would provide value to tax-
payers, who have paid mil-
lions of dollars of subsidy
payments from water or
power bills — depending on
which city they are from —
for about 10 years.
“I like the notion that
there’s be some kind of re-
turn value for the money
we’re putting in anyway,”
Clyne said. “We’re a long
ways from seeing it re-
turned, why not return some
kind of service.”
MINET board member
Jerry Hoffman said a move
into Internet for all would
boost customer loyalty to
MINET.
“People who are paying
for the system already will
be seeing a tangible result,”
Hoffman said. “I think that
bodes well for the future of
MINET loyalty.”
David Ritchey, MINET
board member, noted that
such an undertaking was
bound to be wrought with
challenges, and would be ex-
pensive.
Patten agreed, adding that
grants may be available to
expand services.
McClure said paying for it
would be an issue.
“I think it can be devel-
oped,” he said, “but it’s (the
idea) so vague, it’s hard to
react too much.”
With the concept of for-
giving MINET’s debt short-
falls, McClure said the
cities would have to find a
way to pay for the Internet
for all services, which could
mean raised rates in some
areas and cut services in
others.
When Patten asked the
board when they wanted a
business plan outlining
possibilities for Internet for
all, the response was unde-
fined.
“I’d rather it was thought-
ful than fast,” Clyne said.
Polk No. 1 tries again to find new chief
INDEPENDENCE — The board of directors for Polk County
Fire District No. 1 is going for round two in looking for a new
fire chief.
“We were unsuccessful on our first go-around, so we re-
opened it again,” said Joost Vanderhave, board chair.
The same company, Emergency Services Consulting Interna-
tional, that ran the first search will conduct the second one, at
no additional charge, Vanderhave said. The consultant will cost
between $10,000 and $15,000. The first recruitment started in
January. The second recruitment will be open for the next three
weeks.
During the first search, the top candidate and board of di-
rectors were not able to negotiate a contract because they
were too far apart on salary, Vanderhave said. Other top candi-
dates had accepted other employment.
Interim Chief John Stein will work on an extended contract
during the second search.
Vanderhave said he is hopeful to have a new chief in place
by the end of August.
Photo contest to highlight Indy history
INDEPENDENCE — The City of Independence Historic
Preservation Commission seeks submissions for its historic
photo contest. Entries must be of a historic structure that has
been restored with a note that reads “This Place Matters.”
Entries must be of one of Independence’s historic buildings
or houses that have had restorations done that improve the
structure’s appearance and bring it back to its original architec-
tural beauty.
Contest judges will choose three winners. Winning photos
will be displayed in the central lobby of the Independence City
Hall and on the city of Independence website.
Finalists will be exhibited throughout August.
Entry deadline is June 26. Photos may be mailed to:
Historic Photo Contest, City of Independence, P.O. Box 7, In-
dependence OR, 97351, emailed to Irvine.shawn@ci.indepen-
dence.or.us or delivered in person.
For more information: 503-838-1212.
New prop to help train firefighters
PERRYDALE — Amity Fire District has built a new ventilation
prop for volunteer firefighters to train on. The prop was con-
structed with help from 1-800-BoardUp and McGee Salvage.
Ventilation is done on structure fires in both residential and
commercial buildings to remove the super-heated gas and
smoke, which allows firefighters to quickly search for and res-
cue potential fire victims.
It also helps firefighters locate and confine the fire within the
building for safer and more effective fire suppression.
With this prop, Amity firefighters can practice their skills
needed for safe firefighting efforts, and train neighboring fire
departments and new volunteer firefighters.
The prop is located at Amity Fire District’s substation in Per-
rydale.
Visit us online at www.polkio.com