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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2016)
SERVING UP A CUP OF GRANT McFARLAND IS EDUCATION Page 14A THE NATURAL Page 10A Volume 141, Issue 4 www.Polkio.com January 27, 2016 75¢ Polk could benefit from lawsuit IN YOUR TOWN DALLAS School district holds meeting to discuss poli- cy allowing a transgen- der boy to use the boys’ locker room at Dallas High School. By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — The payout wouldn’t be big, but Polk County would benefit from a potential lawsuit over the Department of Forestry’s management of state forest- lands. Harvests off those lands send revenue to the 15 counties that have state forests, which were deeded to the state starting in 1929 in exchange for a cut of the harvest money. Linn County — one of the 15 counties, including Polk, among the Oregon Forest Trust counties — sent notice to the state on Jan. 13 that it intends to file a class-action lawsuit for $1.4 billion. The suit alleges the adop- tion of a new management plan in 2001 that slashed harvest revenues by $35 mil- lion per year and prioritized other uses is a “breach of contract.” According to the suit, that contract says the state’s responsibility is to manage the lands for the economic benefit of the counties. Polk County Commission- er Craig Pope, who is the vice chairman of the Forest Trust Land Advisory Com- mittee, said he — like repre- sentatives of other counties named in the suit — was surprised by the timing of the lawsuit. The Board of Commission- ers has yet to talk about whether Polk will remain part of the lawsuit, though Pope said he didn’t know of a rea- son why it would opt out at this point. Counties that elect to not participate would not receive financial benefit if the lawsuit is successful. Pope said he shares the frustrations that motivated the lawsuit. But he said the notice and eventual filing of the suit has ended any negotiations be- tween the state and the trust counties for what he thinks is the best and most sustain- able outcome: a new man- agement plan that creates revenue for counties from harvests, not the state’s treasury. “We are done talking,” he said. “I want to know how this lawsuit is going to expe- dite a better management plan.” The majority of the money would go to Tillam- ook and Clatsop counties, which contain the biggest tracts of trust lands. Polk County receives about $100,000 annually now. The county could get up to about $160,000 annually if the law- suit succeeds. THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK »Page 13A FALLS CITY Four Falls City resi- dents were arrested on drug charges on Sunday. »Page 2A EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Mike Ainsworth, center, and Buzz Brazeau, right, speak with Coleen Bradford at the open house of the Central Community Resource Center on Thursday. The center will be open starting Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. New resource center to open Social services will be available at old Central District Office building By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — The new Central Community Resource Center opens Thursday, filling a hole in access to social services for residents of Independence and Monmouth. The center is in the old Central School District of- fices, 1610 Monmouth St., across from Central High School. The buildings are still owned by the district. “The reality is, this is a community building,” Cen- tral Superintendent Buzz Brazeau said at Thursday’s open house. “It served 3,000 kids (as the district office); now it’s going to serve 17,000 people. That’s a good use of a building.” The center will house many of the same health and human services located at the Academy Building in Dallas through the service integration team. Family and Community Outreach Manager Brent DeMoe said the center will have one reception area, one lobby, and one intake form for people who need services. Coleen Bradford, with the Department of Human Services (DHS) self-suffi- ciency program, said DHS used to have a presence in Monmouth and Independ- ence, but budget cuts forced consolidation. “I know the need’s here,” Bradford said. “This is going to be such a good thing.” County Commissioner Mike Ainsworth said trans- portation can be an issue for those who need social services. “Some families have to decide if they’re going to eat that night or put gas in the car,” he said. “Five years ago, you only had to go to Dallas. Now we’re here.” See CENTER, Page 13A Falls City seeks solution to squatters INDEPENDENCE An Independence man was arrested on Monday after oicers and deputies respond- ed to multiple calls of shots ired. »Page 5A MONMOUTH Kevin McMillan hopes to raise aware- ness about multiple sclerosis through drag racing. »Page 5A SPORTS Central boys basket- ball team seeks to turn its season around quickly. »Page 12A With banks not serving eviction notices, city hopes to take ownership, rebuild Comm. Connect offers help By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — Several properties in Falls City have been foreclosed on or are otherwise abandoned, some with “squatters” living in the homes. Those taking up resi- dence in one of the homes have turned on the electric- ity, but can’t have running water because of a lien against the account at that address. The city has struggled for months to address the issue, but has been con- fronted with dead ends due to restrictions in its code, the lack of an active code officer, or inaction on the part of the banks that own the properties. Mayor Terry Ungricht said even with those diffi- culties, city staff is working on the problem, perhaps to the benefit the commu- nity. “The hope is we can de- velop an abatement process on some of these aban- doned properties that are bank-owned and maybe try to twist arms to get the bank to turn the property over to us. We can clean it up and sell it for develop- JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer The Falls City City Council declared a nuisance on a property in the 500 block of Cameron Street. Without a code officer, the city has struggled with compliance. ment,” he said during a re- cent city council meeting. “We are taking steps. It’s a very slow process.” Without a code officer, the city has had to rely on another city to have the properties registered as abandoned and find out who owns them. City Clerk Domenica Protheroe said she’s been investigating the properties brought to the city council’s attention as problems. One was recently sold; three are bank-owned and another two were ;sold under private contracts, so there is limited information on those. Of the bank-owned prop- erties, Protheroe said two banks were unresponsive and the other hasn’t taken any action. See SQUATTERS, Page 5A POLK COUNTY — The ifth annual Community Connect will take place Wednesday (today) from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Valley Life Church, 1795 SE Miller Ave., Dallas. The event connects people, especially home- less or at-risk of homeless- ness with local resources and services. It also serves as the Point in Time Home- less Count for the region. The event is open to the public. Service opportuni- ties will be available, in- cluding dental care, health screenings, pet care, bike repair and haircuts. Local social service agencies will also be on site to ofer in- formation about employ- ment, housing, veterans and behaviorial health. All services are free and conidential. Participants may re- ceive free transportation to and from the event through Cherriotts or CARTS buses (a Communi- ty Connect bus pass is re- quired) or through several churches and agencies. For more information: Heather Wright, 503-623- 6890 or Michelle Bornleth, 503-623-9664 ext. 2457. wed thu fri sat sun mon tue Join St. Thomas Epis- copal Church for its “Brew and BS” series discussing the Old Testament. Bring your own brew. 7 p.m. Free. Celebrate the music of Elvis Presley at the Dallas Senior Center’s music jam. All music enthusi- asts are welcome. 6:30 p.m. Free. Watch a movie and make a picture frame during the Marvel-inspired af- ternoon at the Mon- mouth library. 1 p.m. Free. Relay for Life will celebrate its 2016 event with a kickof at the Independ- ence Elks Lodge, “Ig- nite your Passion.” 2-5 p.m. Free. Enjoy old-time hymns and blue- grass at the monthly Jubilee Service at Calvary Chapel in Dallas. 6:30 p.m. Free. AARP Tax Aide of- fers free assistance to low- and middle- income seniors. Call 503-831-0581 for an appointment. All day. Free. Donate blood to the American Red Cross at Western Oregon University today and tomor- row. 10:30 a.m. Free. Rain Hi: 57 Lo: 49 Rain Hi: 55 Lo: 45 Showers Hi: 50 Lo: 38 Rain Hi: 47 Lo: 35 Showers Hi: 45 Lo: 35 Partly Cloudy Hi: 46 Lo: 34 Showers Hi: 46 Lo: 36