Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2016)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • may 18, 2016 4a How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS Looks public, acts public: is it public Thursday afternoon, city managers led an impromptu meeting with concerned citizens about water rates in the city of Independence. First, kudos to taking the time to hold the meeting. It shows great dedication to the community. Where things go sour is when City Manager David Clyne insisted that the meeting was considered private, barring it from being video recorded. Clyne’s response makes us ask — in an otherwise trans- parent city government — what else could be going on? That is perhaps unfair to Clyne, but it is a fair reaction. The meeting was arranged on Facebook and word quickly spread. Eight people RSVP’d to the event created on the social media network; more than 25 packed into a small room in the Independence Civic Center. Eli Killen, from Willamette Riverside Studios, was asked by the citizen who organized the meeting to video record. He was asked by city management not to. Clyne said the meeting was private, and city employees have a right to privacy. Clyne cites in a letter to the city council that because the meeting was not held with elected officials, he and other employees have a right to privacy in private meetings. Clyne says in the letter that city employees often meet with the public in private meetings, and this was one of those types of meetings. We agree with the first premise; we strongly disagree with the latter. This was not a case of a city employee discussing an issue that concerned just one citizen — say, Jane has a problem with her meter reading. This was a discussion with a large group of citizens con- cerned about something that affects every resident of Inde- pendence — water rates, and the water and sewer systems. Independence city management had no obligation to take minutes or give public notice about the meeting, but that in no way makes the meeting private. While we respect the right of city managers to meet with individuals in a private capacity, it is difficult to see how public managers, in their public capacity, addressing the public in a public building about a public utility can call the act private. Denying video recording and claiming a right to privacy in this case flies in the face of transparency, which Clyne has been adamant about preserving. Regardless of motive, it cast a shadow on the very transparency the city works hard to maintain, sending mixed messages. City leaders have a great opportunity to make things right. Clearly, more residents than previously thought have much to say and learn about the city’s water and sewer rates and systems. The city should arrange a second — more publicized — town hall to discuss the water system and rates, in a place large enough to handle a crowd — the auditorium at Cen- tral High School, the conference room at Independence Civic Center, or even the amphitheater at Riverview Park. The city, already adept at broadcasting meetings through live-streaming, can ensure all residents have ac- cess to this town hall. We look forward to a clearly open discussion about water. We also look forward to an even more open govern- ment from the city of Independence. 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 BOC needs to stop seeking welfare I really enjoyed your edi- torial in the April 20 issue. I’ve watched our Polk Coun- ty Commissioners drag their feet for literally decades, un- able to come up with an al- ternative to funds that come from our O&C lands, in- stead whining and pointing fingers and now possibly, wasting our money on law- suits. I come from an Oregon timber family, but we’ve (al- most all) moved on to other careers. We will always need our forests and the wise management of forestlands for all of us, but we don’t need timber welfare. We need commissioners who actively seek to attract busi- nesses that can succeed in today’s environment, not yesterday’s. Wishing for past glories is an old-timer’s exercise. Thank you for voting yesterday Gail Oberst Independence E.M. Easterly West Salem Yesterday, Dallas voters expressed their sense of community at the ballot box. A special thanks to Dallas residents who cast ballots. Your act affirms the democratic process. For those of you who ac- knowledged and supported the message of “Citizens for a Better Dallas,” I sincerely salute your positive attitude. 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 office: 707 13th St. SE, Suite 285, Salem, Or 97301 Phone: 503-589-4555 Email: via website, www.wyden.senate.gov 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 PUBLIC AGENDA Public agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for governmental 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, May 18 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, first floor conference room, 850 main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. THuRSDay, May 19 Polk County Fair Board — 8 a.m., Polk County Fairgrounds and Event Center, main Building, meeting room no. 2, 520 S. Pacific Highway (99W), rickreall. 503-623-3048. Polk Fire District no. 1 board — 6 p.m., Central Station, 1800 monmouth St.., Independence. 503-838-1510. MOnDay, May 23 Dallas School Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District of- fice, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623-5594. Central School District Budget Committee — 6:30 p.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Inde- pendence. TuESDay, May 24 independence City Council — 7:30 a.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. Monmouth Senior advisory Board — 1 p.m., monmouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St., monmouth. 503-838-0725. Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. WEDnESDay, May 25 Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. WANT TO WRITE A LETTER? letters to the editor are lim- ited to 300 words. longer letters will be edited. Each writer is restricted to one letter per 30-day period. letters that are libelous, ob- scene or in bad taste will not be printed. Attacks by name on businesses or individuals will not be printed. letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a busi- ness, products or services will not be printed. The Itemizer-Observer does not guarantee the accuracy of facts presented by letter writers; dissenters are welcome to re- spond. letters must include the author’s name, address and telephone number. This in- cludes letters submitted via the I-O’s website. names and cities of residence are published; street addresses and telephone numbers are used for verifica- tion purposes only. letters must be submitted from individuals, not organiza- tions, and must be original sub- missions to the I-O, not copies of letters sent to other media. The deadline for letters to the editor is 10 a.m. monday. let- ters submitted may not be re- tractable after this deadline. For the complete letters to the editor policy, see the Item- izer-Observer online: polkio.com. 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. 20 (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 SUBSCrIPTIOn rATES: Polk County — One year $35 Other Oregon Counties — One year $40 Outside of Oregon — One year $45 POSTMaSTER: Send address changes to: Polk County itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338 lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com DiSPLay aDVERTiSinG Heidi leppin .................Display Advertising manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com CLaSSiFiED LinE aDVERTiSinG Dawn Ohren.....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PRODuCTiOn Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertise- ments. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement Web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395 which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.
