Polk County News
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 27, 2016
County commission
grants Dallas money
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — The Polk
County Board of Commis-
sioners decided Tuesday to
award $17,000 in economic
development funds from
video lottery dollars to the
city of Dallas.
That is the full amount
the city expected before the
board required Dallas, and
the cities of Monmouth and
Independence, to apply for
the funding through a newly
developed grant program.
The cities had included
the funding in their 2015-16
budgets with the expectation
that the county would dis-
tribute the funding the same
way it had in the past. Only
after those budgets were
adopted — and in Dallas’
case, some of the money
spent — did the county in-
form them of the new
process.
County Administrator
Greg Hansen provided the
commissioners with three
options: deny the request,
which he strongly recom-
mended against; reimburse
the city for the $5,500 it
spent before the grant pro-
gram was established; or
provide $17,000 with the
caveat that a future appli-
cation may be reduced by
$11,500, the difference be-
tween what was spent and
what was given.
In a letter to the commis-
sioners, Dallas City Manager
Ron Foggin said the city had
been spending the money
on marketing materials. He
said he suspended spending
after learning the city may
not receive the funding and
would have to apply for it.
“If the county awards the
city the Economic Develop-
ment Grant, we will contin-
ue with the marketing
plan,” Foggin wrote.
Commissioners Mike
Ainsworth and Jennifer
Wheeler were in favor of
giving the city $17,000 be-
cause of the confusion over
the change in the program.
“I think we changed the
rules in the middle of the
game,” Ainsworth said.
Commissioner Craig
Pope suggested giving the
city up to $10,000, but didn’t
object to the final decision.
Hansen said he will
hand-deliver the check to
the city within a week.
Falls City schools to test for lead
FALLS CITY — The Falls City School District Board approved
on July 18 transferring $3,800 out of contingency to pay for
state-required lead testing.
The money will be transferred to the operation and mainte-
nance of buildings fund to pay a contractor to collect samples
and send them for testing.
The expenditure wasn’t included in the 2016-17 budget be-
cause the state request had not been made when the spending
plan was developed.
Falls City will test 59 faucets and drinking fountains, follow-
ing the state’s request that every outlet be tested.
“It’s everything that we think we can drink out of,” said Falls
City Superintendent Jack Thompson.
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DEADLINES
NEWS DEADLiNES
For inclusion in the
Wednesday edition of the
Itemizer-Observer:
Social news (weddings,
engagements, anniver-
saries, births, milestones) —
5 p.m. on Thursday.
Community events —
Noon on Friday for both the
Community Notebook and
Community Calendar.
Letters to the editor —
10 a.m. on Monday.
Obituaries — 4 p.m. on
Monday.
ADVERTiSiNG DEADLiNES
Retail display ads — 3
p.m. Friday.
Classified display ads
— 11 a.m. on Monday.
Classified line ads —
Noon on Monday. Classified
ads are updated daily on
www.polkio.com.
Public notices — Noon
on Friday.
Polk County Fire District No. 1/ for Itemizer-Observer
A field fire burned five acres and caused two people to be evacuated on Saturday, but
due to a quick response from firefighters, there was no major damages or injuries.
CORRECTIONS
Two evacuated during field fire
The Polk County Itemizer-
Observer is committed to pub-
lishing accurate news, feature
and sports reports. If you see
anything that requires a cor-
rection or clarification, call the
newsroom at 503-623-2373 or
send an email to
ementzer@polkio.com.
No major damage, no injuries in fire on Saturday
itemizer-Observer staff report
POLK COUNTY — Two
residents were evacuated,
but major damage and in-
jury were avoided in a field
fire Saturday on Zumalt
Road.
At about 2 p.m., the owner
of the property called 911 to
report his field was on fire.
Firefighters from Polk Coun-
ty Fire District No. 1, South-
west Polk, Falls City, Dallas
Fire & EMS and Oregon De-
partment of Forestry re-
sponded and had the fire
under control in about an
hour.
The fire burned approxi-
mately five acres and caused
minor damage to the deck of
the house on the property.
Polk No. 1 Capt. Mike
Rusher said the first priority
was to protect the home-
owners and their home.
Fire officials said the fire
started while the homeown-
er was mowing the grass
around his residence.
Deputies from the Polk
County Sheriff’s Office as-
sisted notifying other resi-
dents in the area of a possi-
ble evacuation.
Only two residents in the
immediate area of the fire
were evacuated and were
able to return to their home.
An engine from Salem
Fire and an ambulance from
Falck assisted with staffing
Polk County Fire District No.
1’s station while crews bat-
tled the blaze.
No injuries were reported.
Fire officials remind resi-
dents that during fire sea-
son, it is critical to create
“defensible space” around
homes of 30 to 100 feet.
Suggestions include clear-
ing all flammable vegetation
by raking leaves, dead limbs
and twigs; removing leaves
and rubbish from under
structures; removing dead
branches that extend over the
roof; and mowing grass regu-
larly and in the mornings.
WEBSITE
The Polk County Itemiz-
er-Observer website,
www.polkio.com, is updat-
ed each week by Wednes-
day afternoon.
There, you will find
nearly every story that ap-
pears in the print version
of the newspaper, as well
as some items, including
additional photos, that do
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space limitations.
The Itemizer-Observer is
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breaking news, links to sto-
ries, sports scores updates
and more.
Sheriff searches for arsonist
itemizer-Observer staff report
FALLS CITY — The inves-
tigation continues into a fire
in Falls City that has been
determined as arson.
On Friday shortly after 3
a.m., the Polk County Sher-
iff’s Office, along with the
Falls City Fire Department,
responded to a fire at an un-
occupied house at 279 Mill
St. in Falls City.
Based on the initial inves-
tigation, it was determined
that the fire was started in-
tentionally, the sheriff’s of-
fice said.
Polk County Sheriff Mark
Garton said the former ten-
ants had been evicted prior
to the fire and no one was
injured in the incident.
“I can’t really say much
more as it is an active inves-
tigation,” Garton said.
The Oregon State Fire
Marshal’s Office and the
Oregon State Police Arson
Unit responded to assist in
the investigation.
The sheriff’s office is seek-
ing any person who may
have information about who
committed this crime.
In conjunction with the
Oregon State Police, a re-
ward has been offered to any
person who has information
WEATHER
RECORDED
¢
50
RAiN
.00
.NA
.00
.T
.00
.00
.00
regarding this fire that leads
to the arrest and conviction
of the suspect.
Anyone with information:
tip line at 1-800-452-7888.
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Rainfall during July — 0.45 in.
Rain through July 25 — 21.75 in.
Remnant
as low as
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Lamina
Hardwood
hiGh LOW
July 19............... 78
July 20.............. NA
July 21............... 84
July 22............... 77
July 23............... 79
July 24............... 89
July 25............... 89
Free
Estimates!