Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 13, 2016 4A
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EDITORIALS
County vet services
are long overdue
The Polk County Budget Committee has approved
$40,000 to hire a veterans service officer to exclusively
focus on helping local veterans.
The county has not had its own VSO, while the number
of veterans has continued to grow. That will change in Jan-
uary, should the budget be approved.
Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs is backlogged,
with vets waiting to hear back about claims, appeals, or
even to see a doctor. The VSOs are often slow to respond to
a veteran’s request, sometimes taking weeks to reply to an
email.
We hope by having a local representative, it will help
ease some of those issues, bringing much-needed relief to
those who have given their lives to protect and serve our
country and way of life.
A local representative means easier access for veterans.
If he or she doesn’t respond, the vet can go to the office
and meet him or her face to face.
We are glad to hear the idea is supported by the board of
commissioners and the ODVA leaders.
Polk County Administrator Greg Hansen said the pro-
gram won’t start until Jan. 1, 2017, in part because he isn’t
sure where the office will be located or who will staff it at
this point.
We can think of a few places to get started, such as the
Central Community Resource Center, where people al-
ready go to get help with the Department of Human Serv-
ices, the Salvation Army, and other public services.
We hope Polk County veterans will make good use of a
local VSO, and know that part of that will depend on who is
hired for the job. He or she should have a positive attitude
and be determined to help the veteran rather than push
him or her aside and back in the never-ending VA line.
The VA and ODVA aren’t perfect and need many more
improvements than we can list here, but Polk County is
taking a step toward helping local vets.
That, we applaud.
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, APRiL 13
independence heritage Museum Commission — 4 p.m.,
Independence Heritage Museum, 112 S. Third St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth
Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
Monmouth Parks and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun-
teer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk Coun-
ty Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
Polk Soil and Water Conservation District board — 6 p.m.,
USDA Service Center, 580 Main St., Dallas, Suite A 503-623-9680,
ext. 5.
ThuRSDAy, APRiL 14
Polk County fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central Sta-
tion 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510.
Western Days Commission — 7 p.m., Independence Civic
Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
falls City City Council — 6 p.m., Falls City Community Cen-
ter, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787- 3631.
MONDAy, APRiL 18
independence Tourism and Events Commission — 6:30
p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence.
503-838-1212.
Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court
St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
TuESDAy, APRiL 19
independence historic Preservation Commission — 4
p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence.
503-838-1212.
Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
Dallas Parks Advisory Board — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City Hall,
187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
falls City School Board — 6:30 p.m., Falls City High School,
111 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3521.
Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m.,
Polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-
623-8173.
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
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
When will cities
get rid of Minet?
Regarding Emily
Mentzer’s article on Minet
debt, she just restated what
all of us in Monmouth have
known for years, Minet
(Monmouth-Independence
Networks) will never be able
to repay debt, and, regard-
less of how much they seem
to pay on the principle, in-
terest is still accumulating,
and the total debt increases
yearly.
(Mark) Dunmire seemed
to be a fan of creative ac-
counting until I read further
and note his statement
“whatever Minet doesn’t
pay, we will transfer from
Power and Light.”
$13,749,646. That is in
American dollars, a debt
just labeled “non-col-
lectible” by the Monmouth
City Council but payable by
the residents of Monmouth
through the Monmouth
Power and Light utility de-
partment.
So sad.
When are we going to rid
ourselves of this millstone
around our collective necks?
Harold E. Pippin
Monmouth
RFL survivor night
a wonderful event
We would like to thank
the Relay for Life committee
and all their sponsors for
the wonderful Survivors
Dinner they hosted at Eola
Hills Winery last Saturday
night.
It was such a relaxing
evening with delicious food
(catered by Washington
Street) and wonderful enter-
tainment.
The company was great,
too.
We appreciate all the hard
work that it took to plan for
this dinner, which resulted
in a lovely affair, full of gra-
cious encouragement.
Thanks, again.
Hollis and Elaine Ferguson
Dallas
I-O special sections
help area visitors
Spring and summer are
always good months for us
to share our communities
with friends and family
from out of town or out of
state.
Everyone enjoys the local
sights and events very
much.
We especially appreciate
the bonus publications that
are included in the Itemizer-
Observer: the Business Di-
rectory, Explore Polk Coun-
ty, and the latest Medical
Directory.
Thank you for providing
us — and our visitors —
such good information that
is welcomed and used over
and over again.
Patty Taylor Dutcher
Monmouth
Street repair will
get more expensive
Time is of the essence to
support the Dallas street
bond.
“Band-Aid” or “stopgap”
repairs are no longer street
repair options.
Based on criteria devel-
oped by an outside third
party, The National Engi-
neers Organization, the city
streets have a grade D on
our infrastructure report
card.
Due to increased energy-
related material and equip-
ment costs, waiting any fur-
ther is asking citizens to pay
more later.
We must reduce further
deterioration of our streets
and the increased taxpayer
expense down the road. We
cannot continue to delay
critical street repairs.
Please join with me and
vote yes on the street bond.
Rich Wolcott
Dallas
Wheeler friend of
workers, business
I’d like to publically ac-
knowledge and support Polk
County Commissioner Jen-
nifer Wheeler in this year’s
Polk County election.
I worked with Commis-
sioner Wheeler for several
years as an elected repre-
sentative for the Confeder-
ated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
Commissioner Wheeler
works hard to partner with
local governments, as well
as local businesses, to as-
sure that Polk County is
thriving and a great place to
raise families.
Please vote for Jennifer
Wheeler, as she is the best
choice for the upcoming
Polk County Commissioners
election.
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
Toby McClary
Former Tribal
Council member
Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde
West Salem
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—
Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108,
Dallas, OR 97338.
fax: 503-623-2395.
Email: ionews@polkio.com.
Office: 147 SE Court St., Dallas.
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
NEWSROOM
Emily Mentzer ..............Editor/Monmouth/Independence Reporter ....ementzer@polkio.com
Vol. 141, No. 15
(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 $35
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Outside of Oregon — One Year $45
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which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.
Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
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