Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • may 18, 2016 4a
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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
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which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.