Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 17, 2016 4a
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EDITORIALS
Independence is
playing the odds
It’s a gamble.
The city of Independence is prepared to spend another
$3.5 million on Independence Landing — the former Val-
ley Concrete site — to build roads, water and sewer sys-
tems, as well as streetscape — which is what makes the
sidewalks downtown look attractive.
The city has already spent roughly $1.2 million on the
property — $800,000 purchasing the riverfront acreage in
November 2014, and about half a million getting it what
cities call “shovel-ready,” leveling the land, demolishing ex-
isting structures, anything that needs to get done so the
developer doesn’t have to.
All said and done, should the total $3.5 million be spent
on the infrastructure project, the city will be into this prop-
erty for roughly $4.7 million.
City leaders say it will be money well spent when a hotel
is completed as well as retail and housing units on the
riverfront. True, the desired project will enhance the down-
town area and add a lot of foot traffic, benefiting all who do
business and live in downtown Independence.
The city says it is still in talks with Tokola Properties for
developing some of Independence Landing, and that
building the roads and infrastructure will help in those ne-
gotiations.
Leaders expect to recoup the invested millions through
tax revenues generated once the building is completed.
But with no agreements officially signed, it’s an educat-
ed guess at best — at worst, it’s a catastrophe waiting to
happen.
The city has done due diligence in exploring hotel devel-
opment, but so far no one has put their money where their
mouths are, except for the city itself.
That’s a lot of taxpayer dollars to be spending on a gam-
ble. We hope it pays off for Independence.
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for govern-
mental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County. To sub-
mit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the actual
meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via email
(ionews@polkio.com).
—
Wednesday, aug. 17
• 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, aug. 18
• Independence Parks and recreation Board — 6 p.m., In-
dependence Civic Center, third floor, 555 S. Main St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
• Polk County Fair Board — 8 a.m., Polk County Fairgrounds
and Event Center, Main Building, Meeting Room No. 2, 520 S. Pa-
cific Highway (99W), Rickreall. 503-623-3048.
Monday, aug. 22
• Independence Library Board — 4 p.m., Independence
Public Library, 175 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• dallas school Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District of-
fice, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623-5594.
Tuesday, aug. 23
• 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.
• Mid-Valley Behavioral Care network — 3 p.m., MVBCN of-
fice, 2965 Ryan Drive SE, Salem. 503-585-4935.
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
City should find
innovative funding
The Dallas Aquatic Center
is used by all ages and bene-
fits the entire community.
The city should consider in-
novative ways to improve
funding including:
Buy-in charges paid by
new property owners —
similar to water and sewer
facilities where new resi-
dents buy into the improve-
ments that were initially
built and paid for by exist-
ing property owners.
Special assessment dis-
trict for new property own-
ers — an assessment district
to capture newly developed
properties which would be
assessed a portion of the
pro-rata cost of operations
of the aquatics center.
Redevelopment agency
revenues — tax increment
or other revenues whereby
the amount of property tax
revenue available from
properties within a certain
area are frozen as of the cre-
ation of the district. Rev-
enues from within the dis-
trict that are attributable to
an increase in assessed
value are allocated to the
aquatic center and could be
used to retire bonds.
Joint financing — the
school district could partner
with the city to pay a pro-
portional amount of the op-
erations costs based on
their usage of the facility.
This could include reim-
bursement for the initial
cost of construction.
Community foundation
— a 501(c)(3) foundation
that can collect tax-de-
ductible donations used for
operation of the aquatics
center.
Volunteers could spear-
head programs to obtain
additional revenues.
George Irving
Dallas
Lions work to help
all see, hear well
To all the citizens and
business owners of our
community: As we start an-
other year in the Lions
working toward our centen-
nial in 2017, we would like
to say thank you for your
support and let you know a
little of what we accom-
plished this past year.
Central School District
students in kindergarten
through sixth grade — and
the Mid-Valley Christian
Academy — had their eyes
tested. Those needing glass-
es were assisted by the KEX
Kids Fund, Central Lions
Club and the Oregon Lions
Sight and Hearing Founda-
tion.
In addition, we had the
mobile health screening
unit in the community sev-
eral times and screened
more than 40 adults, and
were able to assist several in
need of glasses and even
some hearing aids.
For the first time, we gave
two $500 scholarships to
graduating seniors at Cen-
tral High School in memory
of Lion Carol Cable. And on
New Year’s Day, we provided
free breakfast at the Mon-
mouth Senior Center.
These and many other
things were accomplished
with your support. Again,
thank you.
If you or someone you
know would like more infor-
mation, or to join Lions, call
503-838-2240.
Steve Moser
Central Lions Club
membership chair
Independence
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
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 that are promotions
for a business, products or serv-
ices will not be printed.
The Itemizer-Observer does
not guarantee the accuracy of
facts presented by letter writers;
dissenters are welcome to re-
spond. Letter writers who dis-
agree with other published let-
ter writers should maintain a
civil discourse and address the
subject, not the author.
Letters, like all editorial mate-
rial submitted to the newspa-
per, are edited for length,
grammar and content.
Letters must include the au-
thor’s name, address and tele-
phone number. This includes
letters submitted via the I-O’s
website. Names and cities of res-
idence are published; street ad-
dresses and telephone numbers
are used for verification pur-
poses only.
Letters must be submitted
from individuals, not organiza-
tions, and must be original sub-
missions to the I-O.
Letters of thanks to busi-
nesses, individuals and organi-
zations are limited to 10 names.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let-
ters submitted may not be re-
tractable after this deadline.
—
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.
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
Vol. 141, No. 33
(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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neWsrooM
Emily Mentzer ..............Editor/Monmouth/Independence Reporter ....ementzer@polkio.com
Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
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