Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 18, 2016 5A
EMS answers more calls
FC sewer on life support Dallas
Response to incidents may increase by 20 percent in 2016
City to conduct income to determine grant eligibility
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — Resi-
dents of Falls City served
by the city’s wastewater
system may soon have an
“income survey” coming
their way.
City officials say it is criti-
cal that they complete the
survey, as it could save rate
payers a lot of money.
In the census from 2010,
less than
51 percent
o f Fa l l s
City resi-
d e n t s
qualified
as low to
moderate
income.
Ungricht
Mayor
Terry Ungricht doesn’t think
that is true, and it matters
for more than just demo-
graphic record keeping.
Falling below that thresh-
old disqualifies the city from
seeking the state’s Commu-
nity Development Block
Grant funding for infrastruc-
ture improvements, such as
for the city’s aging sewer sys-
tem.
Ungricht said the city is
sinking a lot of money into
repairs on the facility, which
has served residents on the
north side of city only for
about three decades.
“We are Band-Aiding a
system that has reached its
life expectancy,” he said.
“We’ve got it on life support.”
Government
Needed repairs and ex-
pansion could cost up to
$2.5 million, a significant
portion of which could be
paid for with grants.
That is where the survey
will come in.
If it can prove 51 percent
or more customers on that
system are considered
moderate or low income,
the city can apply for grants.
For the survey to be valid,
80 percent have to be re-
turned to the city.
Thursday, the Falls City
City Council approved hav-
ing the survey completed.
The city has asked for bids
on the project from Oregon
State University, Portland
State University, Mid-
Willamette Council of Gov-
ernments, and Western Ore-
gon University.
The cost of the survey
would be about $6,500, Un-
gricht said.
“The sooner that we get
this done the sooner I can
start applying for funding,”
Ungricht said.
Time could be running
short for the facility. In a let-
ter updating the council on
infrastructure needs, Un-
gricht said the city has re-
ceived Department of Envi-
ronment Qualify violations.
The system’s drain field,
under the high school foot-
ball field, has leaked sewage
onto the field three times
since 1998 and there’s a risk
for it happening this year.
If the situation reaches a
critical point, the state
could force the city to up-
grade its system, funding or
no funding, Ungricht said.
If that happens, rate pay-
ers could be looking at fork-
ing over $100 per month.
City leaders would prefer
to not have that happen.
“I think we should do it
under our terms and look-
ing into future expansion to
the rest of the city,” Un-
gricht said. “This is the key
to the health of our city for
the next generation.”
Even if the city receives
grants, it still may have to
implement a significant rate
increase to pay for the bal-
ance of the project.
Residents pay $46 per
month. Ungricht said that
could increase by $10 to $20.
Ungricht asked for the
council’s backing in ex-
plaining the need for a
steep increase.
A few councilors vowed
their support.
“We need to look at it. We
need to be aware of what
we are doing, but if it’s
needed it’s needed,” said
Councilor Dennis Sickles.
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — If call levels
hold from the first three
months of the year, Dallas’
Emergency Medical Service
(EMS) is on track to respond
to more than 4,000 incidents
in 2016.
That would be more than
20 percent growth over 2015,
said Dallas Fire & EMS Chief
Fred Hertel.
“Our EMS is going crazy,”
he said “That’s enormous.
Traditionally we’ve been 5-
to 7-percent a year increas-
es. It’s a pretty significant
change for us.”
Hertel said a component
of the year-over-year growth
is more people having insur-
ance under the Affordable
Care Act.
A recently completed fire
and emergency services
master plan for Dallas and
Southwest Polk Rural Fire
Protection District doesn’t
see that work load lessening
in the future, especially given
that the population in the
Dallas area is trending older.
That plan outlined per-
formance measures for Dal-
las and Southwest, including
the city’s two full-time and
one backup medic units.
Fire responses were far be-
hind performance objectives
for both agencies, largely
due to relying almost exclu-
sively on volunteers.
EMS response times also
were longer than established
goals, but had far less
ground to make up.
Goals for medic units are
for “turnout” time, or getting
out of the station, within 90
seconds, 90 percent of the
time. Response times (in-
cluding travel) within the
city should be within 6 min-
utes, 30 seconds and 11:30
for responses in Southwest’s
coverage area.
Actual performance has
turnout times at about three
minutes. Response time in
the city is within 8:09, 90 per-
cent of the time and within
16:04, 90 percent of for inci-
dents in Southwest Polk.
EMS has two staffed
medic units available 24
hour per day.
“There’s some work to do
there,” said Joe Parrott, a
consultant with Emergency
Services Consulting Interna-
tional, with completed the
study and plan.
Parrott recommended a
number measures that could
improve turnout times, which
are now three times longer
than national standards and
twice as long as Dallas’ own
performance goals.
“I’m recommending you
look at the station, its con-
figuration,” he said.
Parrott noted simple fixes
like adding doors, rearrang-
ing furniture and installing
alert system speakers could
cut important seconds off re-
sponse times. The report said
survival rates decrease by 10
percent for each minute that
passes between collapse and
medical intervention.
He said another time
saver is the use of technolo-
gy to find incident locations
instead of paper maps. He
said the agency should en-
sure the technology used is
reliable and that staff mem-
bers are willing to use it.
Parrott also recommend-
ed that officials consider the
use of a single-paramedic
unit for calls that are not life-
threatening. That would re-
duce the work load on the
two-person medic units. He
said the concept is being
used in a number of places,
including in Oregon by Tu-
alatin Valley Fire & Rescue.
“It’s being successfully
used in a number of loca-
tions,” he said. “This is a
cheap way to offload some
of the work from the existing
two medic units to make
their capacity greater.”
Hertel said the idea is an
option, but he would need to
study it carefully before im-
plementing it in Dallas.
He said while it noted a
number of areas that need to
be improved, Hertel is happy
with the quality and com-
prehensiveness of the re-
port, which included not
just data, but interviews
with city leaders, volunteers
and fire and EMS staff.
“It tells us how we should
be moving forward in the fu-
ture,” he said. “It’s not going
to be accomplished in six
months, but we are going to
take pieces of it and start
working our way toward
those.”
P OLK C OUNTY W ORSHIP D IRECTORY
DALLAS
Calvary Chapel Dallas Currently meeting for
worship and verse by verse Bible teaching at
628 SE Jefferson St. www.calvarydallasor.com
Worship service begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Sunday school is available from youth ministry
and below to nursery. Wednesday evening
cafe-style Old Testament study starting at 6:30
pm. Come join us for a relaxed study around a
cup of coffee or drink. Mens prayer is Saturday
at 7:30 a.m. Womens Bible studies are sched-
uled also, call for times. The Pastor/Teacher is
Larry King. Come join us and be a part of God's
family here in Dallas. For more information call
503-831-1074.
Church of God of Prophecy New Beginnings
- 575 SW Ash St., (corner of Ash & Stump St.)
Pastor Travis Clemons, 541-671-0375. Bible
Study School 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship
11:00 a.m. We welcome all to come and get ac-
quainted with our Pastor and his wife Christina.
Home Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Sunday. Associate
Pastor Jim Dickason 503-302-9816.
Church of Christ - 691 N.E. Kings Valley Hwy.
Sunday Class 9:30 A.M. Worship Service
10:30 A.M. Sunday Afternoon Service 2:00
P.M. Thursday evening Bible Study 7:00 P.M.
We follow the New Testament Plan of Salvation
in becoming a Christian and the Pattern of the
N. T. Church. We would be glad to study the
Bible with you and answer any of your ques-
tions. We would like to present a very helpful
one hour overview of the Bible. Call 503-831-
4886.
Dallas Alliance Church - 775 E. Ellendale,
Dallas, 503-623-2265, Email office@dallasal-
liance.org, Lead Pastor Jim Jamieson; and
Youth/Children’s Pastor Lance Baker; Every
Sunday: classes for all ages at 9:15 a.m., Morn-
ing Worship at 10:30 a.m., (Nursery provided
for a.m. services); Tuesdays: Youth Night 7:00
p.m. in Ediger Hall; Wednesdays: Adult Prayer
Meeting 1:00 p.m., Choir practice 6:45 p.m.
Call for info on current Bible Studies. Web: dal-
lasalliance.org.
Dallas Church - PO Box 462, Dallas, OR
97338, 503-623-2711. Worship Gatherings:
Sundays 10am. Meeting at 450 SE Washington
St., Dallas OR 97338. Atmosphere is relaxed,
families & children welcome, come as you are,
current music & relevant teaching about Jesus.
Pastor: Ben Bauman. www.dallaschurch.org
Dallas Foursquare Church—Located at 976
SW Hayter St. on the corner of Washington
and Hayter. Worship Service: Sundays at
10am. Youth Group: Sundays 6pm to 8pm.
Pastor: Darrin Hausler. We are a multi-gener-
ational church with a heart for our community.
Our mission is to Love God and Love People
to Extend His Kingdom. For more info call us
at 503-623-8277 or you can visit us online at
dallasfour.com.
Dallas Presbyterian Church invites you:
Warm, spirit-filled fellowship with traditional
Sunday worship 10:30 am, engaging discus-
sion study groups, prayer "chain" and a lov-
ing spirit.—Adult Sunday School 9 am, men's
breakfasts Tuesdays at 7 am, women's
groups, needle crafts group and Indoor Play
Park (for children with accompanying par-
ent). Sensitivity to older adult accessibility
and needs. 789 SW Levens, Dallas. 623-
3397 dalpreschurch@gmail.com.
Evangelical Bible Church - 1175 S.E. Howe,
Dallas 503-623-2331. Senior Pastor Jerry
Franz, Visitation Pastor Allan Wiebe, Youth
Pastor Nathan Ensz. Sunday: Worship *8:00
a.m.; *10:45 a.m.; *6:00 p.m.; Sunday School
9:30 a.m.; High School Youth Group 7:00 p.m.;
Thursday: Jr. High Youth Group - 7:00 p.m.;
2nd & 4th Tuesday: MOPS *9:00 a.m.;
Wednesday: AWANA - 6:30 p.m.; Prayer Meet-
ing & Bible Study 7:00 p.m.; Thursday: Bible
Studies *9:00 a.m. & *7:00 p.m. (women);
Thursday Group Bible Study 2:00 p.m. *Nurs-
ery care provided.
Faith Evangelical Free Church - 2290 E. El-
lendale Ave., Dallas, 503-623-8034; Interim
Pastor Dennis Beatty, Associate Pastor Ed Sut-
ter, Worship Pastor Ted Kitzmiller, Youth Pastor
Aaron Swank, Ministry of Children & Family
Debbie Davies. Sunday School 9:00 a.m.; Sun-
day Worship 10:30 a.m., Sunday High School
Youth Group 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday Jr. High
Youth Group 7:00 p.m. Please call or visit our
website for information about other meetings.
www.faithfreechurch.org
First Baptist Church - 245 S.W. Church St.,
Dallas, 503-623-5189; www.gofbc.org; Church
Office Hours: Mon - Fri. 10 am - 2:30 pm; Pastor
Rick Bratton 503-551-9561; Sunday School
9:30 a.m., Worship 10:45 a.m., Wednesday
Bible Study 6-7 p.m; Everyone Welcome!
First Christian Church - Joyfully Worshipping &
Serving 1079 S.E. Jefferson Street, Dallas, 503-
623-2569. Pastor Darren Anderson. “Live Wire
Worship” with Praise Team - 8:30 a.m., Adult,
Youth & Children Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.,
Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m. (Nursery pro-
vided), Men’s Bible Study - Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
Christian Women’s Fellowship - 2nd Tuesday,
1:00 pm (Sept through June). Please call church
office for information about other meetings.
Grace Community Church - 598 E. Ellendale
Ave. PO Box 69, Dallas, 503-623-4961. Senior
Pastor-Dave Bertolini, Pastor of Worship & Dis-
cipleship-Ryan Bucher, Pastor of Student Min-
istries-Ben Potloff. Sunday Worship: 1st
Service-9:00 a.m. with Kids, Youth, & Adult Sun-
day School running concurrently. 2nd Worship
Service-10:45 a.m. with Kids Worship running
concurrently. Nursery provided for 0 - 2 year
olds during both services. Office open Tuesday-
Friday for office hours visit our website at
www.graceindallas.org. All are welcome!
Living Hope City Church - 180 SE Mill St.,
Dallas. Family Worship 10:30 am. www.living-
hopecitychurch.org Equipping Center & Offices
186 SE Mill St., Dallas. For more information
call 503-623-6890.
Living Word Faith Fellowship - 830 SE Shel-
ton Street, Dallas, 503-623-9062. Pastor Joan
Siewert. Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. Wednes-
day Worship 7:00 p.m. Children's Sunday serv-
ice 10:00 a.m., nursery provided. Men’s
fellowship second Saturday of month breakfast
at 8:00 a.m. at Murphy’s Restaurant, Dallas.
Pastor Michael Van Dyke in charge of men's fel-
lowship. Call for additional information. Website:
www.proclaimhim.org
Salt Creek Baptist Church - 15075 Salt Creek
Road, Dallas, 503-623-2976. Senior pastor
David Curtis. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday
morning Worship 10:50 a.m. Nursery provided
for worship services. Classes for all ages.
Wednesday Senior High and Middle School
Youth at 6:30 p.m. Please call for information
about other meetings or visit our website at
www.saltcreekchurch.org.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 589 SW
Birch, P.O. Box 450, Dallas 97338-0450. 503-
623-5872. Services on Saturday: 9:30 A.M.
Sabbath School Bible Study for all age groups.
10:50 A.M. Worship Service. Office Hours: Mon-
day, Wednesday, Friday, 9 to Noon. Pastor:
Lary Brown
St. Thomas Episcopal Church – 1486 SW
Levens St., Dallas (at the corner of Levens &
Cherry) 503-623-8522. Email: stthomasdalla-
sor@gmail.com www.stthomasdallasor.org
10 AM worship with Holy Eucharist. Father
Fred Heard. Sunday School and Nursery
Care available during worship. The church
has formally adopted a policy of welcoming
and fully affirming individuals who are les-
bian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).
The new policy formalizes and expands on
the church’s longstanding tradition of radical
hospitality towards all people regardless of
race or ethnicity, marital status, disability or
socio-economic status. St. Thomas Wel-
comes you—please join us.
Trinity Lutheran Church - 320 SE Fir Villa Rd,
Dallas, 503-623-2233. Pastor - David Pederson.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service
10:00 a.m.; Kids Church during 10:00 a.m. Wor-
ship. Youth Group HS/MS 11:30 a.m. Sundays.
Free Medical Clinic 1st & 4th Saturday of each
month. www.dallastlc.org. Catch us on Facebook.
United Methodist Church – A church with
Open Hearts, Open Minds & Open Doors. 565
SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas, 503-623-2481. Rev.
J. Quinton Kimbrow, Minister. Worship Service
11 a.m. Sunday School for Adults & Youth, 9:30
a.m. Sunday School for Children during worship
service. Child-care available. Handicap access.
All are welcome! Email: dallasumc@qwestof-
fice.net Website: www.sites.umcdallas.com
Valley Life Center (Assemblies of God) -
1795 S.E. Miller Ave., Dallas, 503-623-4116.
Lead Pastor: Chris Barker; Associate Pastor:
Ted Gibson; Children’s Director: Crystal Barker;
Youth Director: Kirk Bathke. Sunday Morning
Service 10:30 a.m., Wednesday Family Night
6:30 p.m. Please call for more information or
visit our website at www.valleylifecenter.com
FALLS CITY
Falls City Christian Church 233 S. Main
Street, Falls City, Oregon 97344, 503-787-3104
Sunday Service: 10 am; www.fallscitycc.com
Falls City United Methodist Church - 242 N.
Main Street, Falls City, 503-851-3213. Pastor
Rebecca Strader. Morning worship Sunday 9:20
am. All denominations are welcome. www.fallsc-
ityumc.org
Mountain Gospel Fellowship - 303 N. Main,
Falls City, 503-787-8037. Sunday School 10:00
a.m., Worship Service 11:00 a.m., Wed. Dinner
6:15 p.m. Everyone welcome just as you are.
Join Us!
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 205 N. Main,
Falls City 97344, 503-787-3907. Pastor Lary
Brown. Sabbath School Sat. 9:30 am-10:40 am;
Worship Service 11 am. Community Service
Center (Food Bank) third Wed. of each month,
noon-3pm.
INDEPENDENCE
Buena Vista Community Church - 11355
Church St., Buena Vista. Independence. Pastor
Larry Lyon. Morning Worship 10:00 a.m.
Cornerstone Church of God - 4395 Independ-
ence Hwy, Independence, 503-838-5119. Sun-
day Service 10:30 a.m., Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.
Nursery available.
First Baptist Church - A warm, friendly church
that cares about you! Located at 1505 Mon-
mouth St., Independence (across from Central
High School); 503-838-1001. Senior Pastor
Michael Parks. Sundays: Worship Service 11
am Wednesdays: AWANA 7 pm (during the
school year). Thursdays: Youth Group 6:15pm.
Join us for small groups and life groups through-
out the week. First Baptist Church has min-
istries for children, youth, adults, families and
seniors, throughout the week. Check us out at
www.independencefirstbaptist.com
St. Patrick Parish, Catholic - 1275 E St., Inde-
pendence. 503-838-5801. Father Henry Guillen
Vega Masses Sat., vigil 5 p.m.; Sunday 9:30
a.m. (English), 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Spanish);
Weekdays Mon, Tues, Wed, & Thurs. 9am, Sat-
urday 7 p.m. (Spanish). Evergreen Nursing
Home; Holy Days 9 a.m. (Eng) & 7 p.m.
(Eng/Span). Sacrament of Reconciliation: Sat
3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Religious Ed-
ucation: RCIA Mon 7:00-8:30 p.m.; Mid-High &
High School Grades Mon 7:00-8:30p.m.;
Grades 1-4 Tues. 7:00-8:30 p.m. WOU Campus
Ministry: Mass Sun. 5:00 p.m. at 315 N. Knox
St., Monmouth followed by a social hour.
MONMOUTH
Christ The King Christian Church - Meets at
959 Church St. W., Monmouth 7:00 pm Satur-
day Night. Christ The King Christian Church is
a conservative, contemporary, charismatic Bib-
lical Church. At Christ the King we learn: the
truths of the Bible, how to live Biblical truths,
how to please God, and how to be a blessing to
all people. Come and join us as we learn and
grow together. Everyone is welcome. Wally
Wildman, senior pastor. For more information
call 503-623-2262. www.ctkmonmouth.com
Christ’s Church Methodist & Presbyterian
United - Come care and share with us. 412
Clay Street West, Monmouth, 503-838-1724.
Pastor Rebecca Strader. Worship Service 11
a.m. Call for information on small groups.
Church of Christ - 127 N. Heffley St., Monmouth,
503-838-2360. Minister - Jon Siegrist. Sunday
School 9:45 a.m., Worship Service 10:45 a.m.,
Wednesday Service 7 p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church – 200 Monmouth-In-
dependence Hwy., Monmouth (the church
with the lighted cross on the “S” curve). Pas-
tor Dallas C.R.Dubke. 503-838-3459. School
Year Schedule: Sunday School & Adult Bible
Study 9:00 am; Divine Service of Holy Com-
munion 10:30 am. Everyone is welcome!
www.FaithLutheranMonmouth.org;
Monmouth Christian Church - 959 Church
Street W, Monmouth, OR 97361; Office: (503)
838-1145; Fax: (503) 838-1162; Email:
mcc@mymcc.cc; Website: mymcc.cc; Lead
Pastor: Sean Bitzer; Pastors: Ulysses Vela, Mary
Weinbender, & Seth Halligan; Sunday Worship
Service: 10 am, English & Spanish; children’s
programming for birth to 6th grades also avail-
able. Momentum (7th & 8th Grades) meet Tues-
days 6:30-8:00 pm MCC; Join us this Sunday in
person or live online at www.mymcc.tv.
New LIFE Ministries – we’re growing in Polk
County! CHILDREN'S CHURCH NOW AVAIL-
ABLE! We are a God-loving, Bible-believing,
non-denominational church body. This church
is a little different, in that it’s not just a church
service, but is all about being a “service church”.
We strive to seek out and serve the needs of
the community. It is our hope that God will use
us to make a difference. Come join us! We
meet at Henry Hill School 750 S. 5th St. in In-
dependence every Sunday morning at 10:00-
11:00 am. Our minister is Marion Seick. Feel
free to call us at (503) 871-5207. Please come
visit and worship with us this Sunday!"
Praise Assembly 189 Monmouth Ave S., Mon-
mouth (locations in McMinnville and Willamina
as well). Our English worship gathering is 11 am
on Sundays, followed by a Spanish service at 2
pm. Kid’s church available for 12 and under.
Youth group meets at 9:30 Sunday morning.
Other ministries include: Celebrate Recovery
(Tues, 7 pm), College Bible study (Wed, 7 pm),
and Spanish Bible study (Thurs, 7 pm). Please
check our website for the most up-to-date infor-
mation, www.praiseonline.net, or call us at 503-
837-0300.
St. Hilda's Episcopal Church 245 Main St. W.,
Monmouth, 503-838-6087, sthildas church.org
Sunday Eucharist - 10:00 am followed by Fellow-
ship. Children's Sunday School & Adult Bible Study
9:00 am. Wednesday Worship at 8:00 am and
7:00 pm. Nursery care provided. Call for periodic
small groups and celebrations. All are welcome!
Call 503-623-2373
to be added to this directory.