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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2016)
Polk County News 2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 7, 2016 Central seeks $26 M facilities bond By Emily Mentzer Local seats up for grabs The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — In November, Central School District will ask for a $26 mil- lion bond to improve facili- ties, from expanding class- room space to adding gyms. Should voters approve the measure, it should not raise property tax rates, Business Manager Cec Koontz said. That is because of some refunding the district did earlier this year, the property tax rate that would be as- sessed is currently estimated to drop in 2016-17. “If we pass this bond now, and interest rates on bonds remain low when we go to sell them, and assessed property values in the dis- trict grow at an average rate of 3 percent over the next 27 years, we estimate that the rate would stay at this year’s level long enough to pay off the bond,” Koontz said. The goals for the bond stem from the long-range plan completed in 2012, Su- perintendent Buzz Brazeau said. Projects include major components of either de- ferred maintenance or maintenance issues in need of correction. “Originally, we were talk- ing about some field space over on 16th Street, some work at Independence Ele- mentary School, Monmouth Elementary School and Tal- madge Middle School,” he said. “Halfway through the process, we started looking at enrollment numbers, par- ticularly at the middle school.” A bond exploration com- mittee comprised of citi- zens, school board members and district employees saw that Talmadge is expecting one of the largest sixth- grade classes it’s had: 290 students. “The 2012 plan called for a potential addition of a pod at Talmadge to finish some of their needs,” Brazeau said. After looking at other needs in the district, Brazeau said the committee moved away from field space altogether. “They identified work they felt we needed to do at IES,” he said. “They felt we needed to air condition it.” While 100-degree days are uncommon in Polk County, they do happen, Brazeau said. “When they are there, it’s pretty intrusive,” he said. Other work at IES in- cludes replacing the modu- lar buildings, which are old $8, 9am - 10am Sept. 17th Pre-Sale Admission: Adults $5 10am - 4pm Kids 10 yrs & under Free Food Available Polk County Fairgrounds on site 520 Pacific Hwy W, Rickreall Arleta Day 503-581-1206 Sally Bradfrod 503-399-7679 Hwy 22 Rickreall Salem ★ Polk Co Fairgrounds I-5 Sales Table Reservation $35 per table 99W Dolls, Bears, Books, Toys, Miniatures & Related Items, Doll Stringing No Appraisals RV Space Available Candidates have finished collecting signatures and have accepted — or will soon — their nominations for local of- fices. In Dallas, Mayor Brian Dalton will run for re-election. The following will run for five seats on city council: LaVonne Wil- son (for re-election), Kelly Gabliks (for re-election), Paul Tra- han, Marsha Heeter, Ken Woods (for re-election), Jennie Rummell and Terry Crawford. In Falls City, Mayor Terry Ungricht will run for re-election. The following will run for three seats on city council: Shane Curry, Charlie Flynn, Cliff Lauder, Jim Partridge, and Dennis Sickles (for re-election). In Independence, Mayor John McArdle will run for re- election. Richard King will run for council position 3, now held by Forrest Peck; Kenneth Day, Michael Hicks and George Neujahr will compete for council position 5, held by Jerry Hoffman; and Kathy Martin-Willis will run for council position 6, held by Nancy Lodge. In Monmouth, Councilor Steve Milligan will run for mayor. The following will run for four available council seats: Stephen Deptula, David Graham, George Jeffery, Mark Lane, Laurel Sharmer, Byron Shinkle, Darin Silbernagel (for re-election), Thomas Steinke and Steven Sundseth. Jesse Schafer and John Oberst did not file for re-election. The Itemizer-Observer will have more on the November general election, including more about local candidates, in future issues. and in need of replacement, Brazeau said. “And, of course, we have the requirement ahead of us that I know the Legislature is talking about and aren’t going to address until Febru- ary, and that’s the increase in physical education in K-8 grade,” he said. The expected increase in PE requirements combined with the communities’ needs for more athletic facil- ities gave the bond explo- ration committee members the idea that gymnasiums should be included in the bond, Brazeau said. “We need to make adjust- ments in cafeteria spaces for lunch, and gymnasium spaces for physical educa- tion,” he said. Right now, elementary schools make use of gyms for lunch time, and many gyms are old without regula- tion stats — cushioned floors and short baskets. Originally, the bond ex- ploration committee recom- mended the school board go forward requesting the bond when the district would re- ceive a $4 million matching grant from the state. “ We d i d n’t g e t t h e money,” Brazeau said. A Pleasant Place to Buy or Sell Your RV CALL TODAY FOR A NO-CHARgE EvALuATiON. OPEN WEEK! A Y A 7 D S 9-6 • Sat 9-5 i Mon-Fr un 10-4 S Rick 503-437-5398 Ruben 503-915-2080 4075 NE Three Mile Lane, McMinnville, OR www.macrvsales.com Next to the Spruce Goose Aviation Museum macrvsales@gmail.com Even without the grant — which the district could still receive if Central voters pass the bond and other districts are not successful in their bond bids — the committee thought the timing was right to go for the money. In addition to the district’s needs at the elementary schools and middle school, the bond, if passed, should have no effect on property tax bills, Brazeau said. “We can’t guarantee any- thing, but the estimate that is in the current financial envi- ronment is that we would not be increasing the (tax) assess- ment for anyone,” he said. “It would go longer; but the as- sessment wouldn’t go up.” Falls City The Falls City School Dis- trict trying again to pass a bond to build a new multi- purpose gym and cafeteria at Falls City Elementary School in November. The district is seeking a $2 million bond at the cost of $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed value on property taxes over the next 20 years. If the bond is passed, the state will provide another $2 million for construction through the Oregon School Capital Improvement Match- ing Program, which the Ore- gon Legislature approved during the 2015 session. The Legislature appropri- ated $126.2 million for grants during the 2015-17 biennium for school dis- tricts that pass school facili- ty construction bonds. For November’s election, six school districts were guaran- teed grants if they could pass bonds. Falls City School District was third on the pri- ority list. The grant comes at no ad- dition cost on property taxes in Falls City. The bond failed by 11 votes in May’s primary. NEWS IN BRIEF Four arrested in Dallas meth bust DALLAS — Two men and two women were arrested on Thursday after a month-long investigation by the Polk County Inter-Agency Narcotics Team. John Molina, 46, of Dallas, was arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine, one count of unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine, three counts of unlawful possession of methamphetamine and one count of unlawful delivery (possession with intent to deliver) of methamphetamine with substantial quantity. Michael Gravelle, 46, of Dallas was arrested and charged with three counts of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Brooke Williamson, 19, of Dallas, was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine. Vicki Pastre, 41, of Dallas, was arrested and charged with one count of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine. Since the beginning of August, several investigations were tied to these persons, who were part of an informal organiza- tion that distributed meth throughout the Dallas area, accord- ing to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Orchestra accepts new members MONMOUTH — The Willamette Valley New Horizons Or- chestra welcomes new players as it begins its third year. This year, the orchestra rehearses on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Monmouth Senior Center. There are no auditions or try-outs. The orchestra welcomes beginning-to-intermediate musicians, as well as more experi- enced musicians. At this time, the flute section is full. Flute players may be placed on a waiting list, or try a different instru- ment. The orchestra gives two or three public performances. A $25 monthly fee covers the orchestra’s expanses, such as purchas- ing music. For more information: Paul Doellinger, 503-838-4884. ‘Marketplace’ sold back to city INDEPENDENCE — Friday, Family Treasures Marketplace, owned by Jewels Cresser, was sold in a sheriff’s auction. The property, 240 Monmouth St., was sold back to the city for $415,000 as a credit bid. Cresser will have a period of time to make redemption on the building. “Our plans are to change the locks and secure the building at the soonest opportunity, provide for the return of personal property to the rightful owners and market the property pur- suant to council directive,” City Manager David Clyne said. Dallas DHS building complete DALLAS — The Oregon Department of Human Services Multi-Service Center is complete. The 33,000-square-foot building will house a number of re- sources, including an after-hours child welfare facility featuring an outdoor playground. The building was completed by White Oak Construction in conjunction with Lenity Architecture. To read more about the building, see polkio.com, “New DHS offices going up in North Dallas.” Hill to read from book examining race DALLAS — The Dallas Public Library will host an author visit by former Oregon State treasurer Jim Hill. Hill will read from his new book, “The New ‘N’ Word: The White Middle Class,” at the library at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15. In 1992, Hill became the first person of color to be elected to a statewide office in Oregon. He served two terms as state treasurer. Prior to that, he served as an assistant attorney gen- eral at the Oregon Department of Justice, an Oregon state rep- resentative and an Oregon state senator. After the recession of 2008, Hill noticed a change in the sta- tus of the white middle class in America. His premise is that dis- crimination isn’t always race based; it is also about power and money. He will be signing copies of his book after he speaks. Free trees to new Arbor Day members POLK COUNTY — The Arbor Day Foundation is hosting a membership drive. All who join the foundation in September will receive 10 free trees as part of the foundation’s Trees for America program. Trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between Oct. 15 and Dec. 10. For more information: arborday.org/September. Thompson to host town hall on Monday DALLAS — House District 23 Jim Thompson candidate will host a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday at Pressed Cof- fee & Wine Bar, 788 Main St., in Dallas. All are welcome to meet Thompson and talk about issues important to them. Furniture Upholstery All types: for homes, offices, equip- ment. Also, repairs, RV cushions, slipcovers, High Quality since 1966 Stephen Everyone is aware of the catastrophic effects on Europe, Africa and Asia produced by the World Wars…But how did the World Wars impact Polk County? What was the war like here at the “Home Front”? This is a part of Polk County history that is little known today, forgotten as the population has aged. PARAMEDIC AMBULANCE MEMBERSHIP Support Your Local Ambulance How did we deal with the local effects of the war: rationing, labor shortage, black- outs, fear of invasion, the disruptions caused by the establishment of Camp Adair, the concerns for loved ones who were in the Services and the new pressures on women who had to deal with life in the absence of their men gone into the war effort? How did Polk County change? These are the topics that we wish to examine. A joint effort of the Itemizer- Observer and the Polk County History Museum is soliciting input from anyone who wishes to participate. Are you old enough to remember those times (at least WWII), do you have old letters, newspapers, photos, family history or diaries? We are open to almost anything that could give us an idea of “…how it was…” back then. I welcome your contributions…I can be contacted at: davidm3123@aol.com. Winters Sewing DALLAS FIREMED Open Enrollment September - October 31st $65 per household within city limits $75 per household outside city limits 24 hours a day, year-around Emergency Medical Service Membership DIAL For enrollment assistance call: 9 1 1 CITY OF DALLAS 503-831-3508 FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES Offered to the communities of Dallas, Falls City, Rickreall, and surrounding areas Enroll and pay online www.ci.dallas.or.us 503-838-4999 or 503-375-9266 Emmy Joseph 440 E. St • Independence, OR 97351 www.winterssewing.com Serving Polk County 16yrs