Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 30, 2016 4A
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Fix streets before
it gets too late
18 percent of this wage.
This is why I support
Bernie Sanders, who,
through his education poli-
cy, will empower people
rather than making them
dependent on handouts to
secure their future votes, as
the current party in power is
doing.
Everything on this planet
only lasts so long and so it is
with the streets of Dallas.
The time to pay the piper is
now.
I get the part about there
never being enough money
to go around because I am
one of those folks, but the
proverb “For Want of a Nail”
seems apropos here — for
want of a nail the shoe was
lost, then the horse, rider,
battle, and ultimately the
kingdom followed.
Let’s “shoe the horse” be-
fore the “kingdom” is lost by
voting “yes” on the bond
measure for street repair.
Gary Weis
Dallas
Invest in streets
now, save later
Tom Augustyn
Dallas
County shines in
volunteer efforts
I appreciated Joe
Koubek’s letter about the
Ford Program benefiting the
community. I had spotted
the interpretive/way finding
signs to the Rickreall Trail
System in driving by two
sites. Being physically chal-
lenged, I hadn’t stopped to
walk to the signs to read
them.
I want to inform commu-
nity members of the jewel
we have in Polk County:
Services Integrated Teams.
Polk County, and the school
districts in the county, each
contribute funds and have a
group of governmental,
nonprofit, religious groups,
and interested community
members that help decide
how to coordinate services
and provide for needs in the
community.
Salem Health (the “par-
ent” corporation over Salem
Hospital and West Valley
Hospital) also contributes
money, and they “earmark”
their funds for health needs.
I’m sure I first read about
this program at least 10
years ago, when I was still a
Kiwanis member.
I started participating to
facilitate the club assisting
the community, and the
community learning about
the club.
Later, the club “folded,”
and I have participated as a
Dallas Lion and interested
community member. When
a need is brought before the
committee, we often “brain-
storm” solutions, and indi-
vidual groups often volun-
teer to assist.
It is my understanding
that no other county in Ore-
gon has this commitment to
collaborate to meet needs.
Barb Chrisman
Dallas
Retain Wheeler as
commissioner
I will be voting to retain
Jennifer Wheeler as our Polk
County Commissioner. Her
years of governmental expe-
rience and as our commis-
sioner earn her the right to
be re-elected. She will con-
tinue her efforts to support
public safety; to maintain
our local infrastructure; to
protect property rights; and
to judiciously manage our
tax dollars.
Jennifer represents Polk
County citizens with hon-
esty and integrity, using
common sense and good
judgment in her decision
making.
She is a strong advocate
for community involve-
ment; victims of domestic
violence; promoting local
businesses and preserving
our rural farm communi-
ties.
Wallace W. Lien
West Salem
Outlet would provide
low-cost groceries
As we know, there are no
Grocery Outlet Bargain Mar-
kets in the whole of Polk
County at this time. The cit-
izens of Polk County, for
years, have had to drive a
long way to Salem, McMin-
nville and Corvallis to shop
for groceries.
It is a hardship for people
who cannot afford to or are
unable to drive to other
towns.
Local Safeway and Wal-
mart stores’ prices are too
high, and people with low
incomes cannot afford to
shop or buy all they need at
these stores. So, we are
badly in need of a Grocery
Outlet right here in Dallas.
The Dallas Mini Market,
located between Oak and
Mill streets, was opened last
year, but lasted only a few
months before going out of
business.
It had limited options, the
prices were too high and the
market has been vacant for
some time.
It is my suggestion for
that vacant market to be
converted to the Dallas Out-
let Bargain Market. It would
create a much better busi-
ness. Also, the location in
downtown Dallas is a great
advantage for many nearby
neighborhoods. Customers
can walk to do their shop-
ping rather than go to Safe-
way and Walmart, thus
avoiding heavy traffic.
The Grocery Outlet can
provide affordable dry
foods, dairy, fruits, vegeta-
bles, meats, medicines,
tools, organic foods, Cart
bus tickets, etc.
It’s time for a Grocery
Outlet to be established in
Dallas and I hope it will be
soon.
M.L. Hamstreet
Dallas
Sanders to
empower people
Concerning Emily
Mentzer’s excellent article
on the minimum wage, I am
writing to comment on Rep.
(Paul) Evans’ assertion that
“profit ... and value therein
has not been equally dis-
tributed ... .” Sounds too
much like “to each accord-
ing to their ability and each
according to their need.” In
six years, federal mandated
inflation will erode at least
Homeowners know a roof
leak, if not quickly repaired,
will involve interior ceilings,
walls and furnishings. The
same holds true for our
streets.
If defects are not quickly
repaired, the cost to repair
Dallas street sub-structures
will rapidly mushroom from
about a dollar to $4 or $5
per square foot.
Economically, we should
no longer postpone repair-
ing Dallas’ residential
streets.
Our willingness to invest
a few tax dollars now will
save thousands of dollars in
the future.
Let’s keep Dallas a great
place to live.
Vote yes to fix our streets.
Jim Fairchild
Dallas
Dallas bond small
effect on taxes
A third-party evaluation
indicates that greater than
50 percent of our streets are
rated less than good. Of
those, two-thirds are rated
poor. Let’s not be like other
cities that wait too long to
fund street repairs, or it will
become a debt no one will
fund.
The City Street Bond in
May’s election will ensure
we don’t incur a lifelong
debt for street repair. The
County Road Bond will be
paid off January 2017. This
new bond will take effect as
the county bond expires;
our taxes will only go up
slightly. Let’s keep our
streets up to date.
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 oice: 707 13th St. SE,
Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-589-4555
Email: via website,
www.wyden.senate.gov
PUBLIC AGENDA
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
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, MARCH 30
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Rickreall Watershed Council — 2 p.m., Delbert Hunter Ar-
boretum House, Dallas City Park. 503-623-9680, ext. 104.
MONDAY, APRIL 4
• Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m.,
Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independence.
• Independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Independ-
ence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• Dallas City Council work session — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City
Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. The council meeting
will follow at 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Dallas Urban Renewal Advisory Committee — 5:30 p.m.,
Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3565.
• Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9
a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC oice, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6
• Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
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
Ken Kentch
Dallas
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
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will be edited.
Election-related letters of all
types are limited to 100 words.
Writers are limited to one elec-
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Each writer is restricted to
one letter per 30-day period.
Letters that are libelous, ob-
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will not be printed.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let-
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tractable after this deadline.For
the complete letters policy, see
our website at polkio.com.
HOW TO REACH US
Vol. 141, No. 13
(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
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Polk County — One Year $27
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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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