Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 28, 2015 4A
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EDITORIALS
Volunteer numbers
at an all-time low
West Valley Hospital’s staff of volunteers is at critically
low numbers. Just 24 people give of their time each week to
the hospital, down from 70 a few years ago.
Volunteer Services Coordinator Jennifer Best would like
to grow those numbers to at least 50.
Part of the problem for the hospital — and for other or-
ganizations who rely on volunteer hours — is people wait
until they retire to donate their time.
On one hand, it is wonderful to see people redefining
their time once they no longer have to punch a clock. On
the other hand, they seem to have a time limit for their vol-
unteerism. As people get older, their health may decline to
the point where they can no longer commit to donating
their time to an organization.
Volunteering isn’t just for the retired.
But when you work a full week, are trying to finish
school and get good grades, or raising a family, when do
you have time to volunteer?
It is more difficult to block out time for something that
isn’t necessary for paying bills or raising a family or com-
pleting school.
Everyone has the same 24 hours each day. It is not easy,
but it is possible — and rewarding — to give back to the
community, and not to delay volunteering until your twi-
light years.
The hospital asks for one three-hour block of time each
week and can use you during the day or evening.
Other programs seriously needing volunteers ask even
less. The Start Making A Reader Today program asks for
one hour a week.
Both Polk Fire No. 1 and Dallas Fire & EMS need volun-
teers for a variety of tasks, not just fighting fires.
Even our city governments, boards and commissions are
volunteer driven. Aside from the county commissioners,
local government leaders — school board members, city
councilors, mayors — aren’t paid positions.
The list of organizations needing manpower in Polk
County goes on.
As the holiday season quickly approaches, it is easy to
turn our minds to those needing help with food and gifts
and other material goods. But this year, take a hard look at
your busy schedule and see if you can find time to donate
in addition to cans of food or unwrapped gifts.
The Itemizer-Observer prints a list of volunteer opportu-
nities on a semi-regular basis. To find it, go to polkio.com
and search for “volunteer calendar.”
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 (ionews@polkio.com).
—
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Western Oregon University Board of Trustees — 2 to 6
p.m., Western Oregon University, Werner University Center, Co-
lumbia Room, 345 Monmouth Ave. N., Monmouth. 503-838-
8888.
MONDAY, NOV. 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, NOV. 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, NOV. 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. 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
Battle Buddies has
good turnout
On Oct. 19, Polk County
Battle Buddies had our first
support group meeting. We
had close to 20 veterans
show up for a good hot
meal and good conversa-
tion. Members of the com-
mittee as well as special
guest Beth Jones brought
food; nobody went home
hungry.
The veterans that attend
were made up of veterans of
Vietnam all the way to the
Global War on Terror.
Progress was made in both
the caring and openness of
those attending. Thanks to
all those who have served
and are supporting this pro-
gram. The next meeting will
be the third Monday, Nov.
16.
If you have any questions,
or would like to donate or
be involved, or for more in-
formation, you can contact
Wayne Crowder at 503-510-
1015, Beth Lillibridge at 503-
480-6254, or Mary Smith at
503-580-8001.
Beth Lillibridge
Dallas
Time to restructure
county government
My September letter in-
vited readers to question
why our Polk County Com-
missioners pay themselves
salaries and retirement ben-
efits with our property tax
dollars that could be used
elsewhere. Readers ex-
pressed agreement with my
questions but wanted to
know what voters could do
to change this practice.
For starters, we need to
collect about 1,250 signa-
tures from registered voters
to start a review process.
That is certainly doable if
citizens are willing to be-
come involved. Polk County
citizens have done it in the
past.
Four years ago Polk
County signature gathers
put a referendum on the
ballot changing the election
of county commissioners
from partisan to a nonparti-
san election.
We did it last spring when
a small group of dedicated
Polk County voters success-
fully worked to secure ap-
proval of the public safety
levy.
The citizen restructuring
of Polk County government
by establishing a county
charter committee offers an
opportunity for voters to in-
crease representation and to
better utilize Polk County’s
limited resources.
What’s on your
mind? Send a letter
Letters to the editor are
due at 10 a.m. on Monday
and are limited to 300
words. To see the entire let-
ters polic y, go to
polkio.com.
We can do it with your
participation. Join in the re-
vitalization of Polk County
by supporting the Polk
County charter initiative.
Need more information;
want to become involved?
Contact me at
emeasterly@comcast.net.
E.M. Easterly
West Salem
Wage increases
have consequences
Minimum wage wars.
Why does everyone think
raising minimum wage will
help the economy? Don’t
they realize someone has to
pay those wages? Prices for
most things will go up, tak-
ing up that extra income
people will be getting. Any-
one who has employees will
raise costs to compensate
for the inflation.
So, our everyday purchas-
es are going to rise: grocery
stores, gas stations, fast
food, etc. Businesses will be
strained and may have to let
people go to afford to pay
the ones who are lucky to
keep their jobs. This will not
solve any problems; it will
create more.
Sherry Garcia
Rickreall
Thankful for story,
in spite of error
A belated thank you to
Emily Mentzer's coverage of
the Western Compass (cam-
pus ministry club) vigil held
at Western Oregon Universi-
ty on Oct. 3. Her sensitive
presence and lovely photo-
graphs captured the quiet
concern of those attending.
One correction — I was list-
ed as “a pastor at WOU”; ac-
tually, Jill Mayer is the Pro-
gram Director of Western
Compass.
I am a pastor in Mon-
mouth and Falls City, and a
member of the ecumenical
Advisory Board of the Unit-
ed Methodist, Presbyterian
(USA), and Episcopal-spon-
sored ministry at WOU.
We will continue to en-
deavor to be a “safe place”
for college students in the
area.
Thank you again for your
responsive coverage of our
local news!
Rebecca Strader
Pastor, Christ’s Church
Methodist and Presbyterian
United Falls City United
Methodist Church
Valuation soars at
86 percent increase
My mother, a resident of
Meadow Creek Village, just
received her property tax
bill. She anticipated an in-
crease in her real market
valuation of approximately
56 percent due to the infor-
mation recently received
from the assessor. Instead,
her real market valuation
went up 86 percent.
She was told the increase
was due to the sale of seven
properties in Meadow Creek
in a 15-month window of
time where the sale prices
far exceeded what the asses-
sor had identified as their
real market value.
Because of the increase in
sale prices, the assessor sep-
arated out Meadow Creek
from all the other manufac-
tured home parks in Polk
County. The higher sale
prices are largely the result
of the appearance of the
park as a whole and the
curb appeal of the manufac-
tured homes being sold, not
the value of the manufac-
tured home itself.
Those living in Meadow
Creek do not own the lot
their manufactured home
sits on, but residents are re-
quired to maintain the lot
per the CC&R’s.
I can’t help but wonder
what the staff in the asses-
sor’s office has been doing
that all of a sudden they dis-
covered this issue.
The assessor indicated
that no other property in
Polk County experienced
this increase in real market
value. Good thing, because
folks would be screaming at
the top of their lungs and
Meadow Creek residents
shouldn’t sit quietly either.
Residents of Meadow
Creek are predominately
senior citizens living on
fixed incomes trying to jug-
gle how to pay for their
medication, food and heat-
ing bills.
Now they also get to
worry about this substantial
increase in their property
values and how it impacts
their taxes. I encourage all
the residents of Meadow
Creek to demand a review
of their taxes.
Taxes go up, but not 56 to
86 percent in one year?
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 oice: 707 13th St. SE,
Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-589-4555
Email: via website,
www.wyden.senate.gov
Theresa VanDusen
Dallas
Sen. Jef Merkley (Dem.)
313 Hart SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997
Salem oice: 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 oice: 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. 43
(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 inancial 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
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Phone: 503-623-2373
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