Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 4, 2017 4A
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EDITORIALS
Some counsel for
our new councils
This month, Dallas, Falls City, Independence and Mon-
mouth will get new councilors — and a new mayor in
Monmouth.
The changes in city councils is significant, and could
change the entire feel of the city governmental bodies in
Polk County.
It’s exciting to see so many people willing to serve their
communities through sitting on the council, making poli-
cies and decisions that affect each citizen within their
cities’ boundaries.
Welcome to politics!
Please remember that you are one of a group of coun-
cilors — one voice among six, or nine, depending on the
city.
While you are eager to help your city be the best it can
be, please leave your agendas at the door. Remember deci-
sions you make will affect all equally.
Be considerate of city employees, but remember you do
not work for them. They do valuable work and will try to
achieve the goals you set — as an entire council, not as an
individual — for your city, but ask questions.
That goes for other councilors and the mayor, too. A
good, spirited discussion is always good for democracy,
but that does not mean you have to agree — or disagree —
with everyone.
In fact, it’s perfectly fine to have split votes. Don’t feel
obligated to “go along” for the sake of looking united all the
time. The council is more than one person. You are one
voice: use it.
Not everyone will like what you do all the time — believe
us, we know about this one — but you must make the
tough decisions and stand for what you believe is best for
all.
You may encounter people who are vocal about some-
thing, perhaps disagreeing with a choice, or perhaps in
support of it.
Don’t let the voice of a few affect your decisions for the
entire town.
Many of you spoke to residents of your town at length
before getting elected to the office. Don’t stop talking to
them now. Stay connected with the community and find
out what’s working well and what needs to be changed.
Being new to the job doesn’t mean you have to hold
back, but it might be wise to do your homework before you
start plotting massive changes to systems or budgets.
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
Chamber director
reflects on job
As I look back at the past
four and a half years, I am
filled with gratitude for the
opportunities and commu-
nity connections gained
while serving as your execu-
tive director of the Mon-
mouth-Independence
Chamber of Commerce and
Visitors Center.
Through this role, I have
had the pleasure to work
with business owners and
their staff, as well as organi-
zational leaders and their
members.
From creating, designing,
and implementing pro-
grams and services to en-
hancing membership bene-
fits and strengthening foun-
dational components of the
organization, my time with
the chamber has been excit-
ing, stimulating, and educa-
tional.
Learning about our com-
munity from the business
owner's perspective, seeing
our cities and county from
the tourist point of view,
and hearing about this spe-
cial place from new resi-
dents and visitors, have
made my love and apprecia-
tion of living here grow
stronger.
Although I understood
the importance of a cham-
ber of commerce for a
community when I accept-
ed the position in April
2012, I underestimated the
impact this job would have
on me.
Yes, like with any position
there are challenges, but the
overall joy and fulfillment of
being a part of something
greater for the good of our
community has made it
more than worthwhile.
Thank you to all of you
who welcomed me to this
role, who have supported
my efforts, and who em-
braced my ideas.
Nothing great is accom-
plished alone, and for all
who collaborated, part-
nered, volunteered, and as-
sisted me, you have my sin-
cerest appreciation.
It has truly been my
pleasure and privilege to
serve our community.
Wishing you all a very
safe, healthy, and prosper-
ous 2017.
Jean Love
Monmouth
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov-
ernmental 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 email
(ionews@polkio.com).
—
WednesdAy, JAn. 4
• Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
MondAy, JAn. 9
• dallas school Board of directors — 3:15 p.m., LaCreole
Middle School, 701 SE LaCreole Dr., Dallas.
• Hops and Heritage Festival Commission — 6 p.m., Inde-
pendence Elks Lodge, 289 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-
1212.
• Central school Board of directors — 6:30 p.m., Henry Hill
Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independence.
• WIMPeG Board of directors — 7 p.m., 150 N. Knox St.,
Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
TuesdAy, JAn. 10
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Independence City Council — 7 p.m., Independence Civic
Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• dallas Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall,
187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3565.
WednesdAy, JAn. 11
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Independence Heritage Museum Commission — 4 p.m.,
Independence Heritage Museum, 112 S. Third St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
• Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth
Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Monmouth Parks and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun-
teer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
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, like all editorial mate-
rial submitted to the newspa-
per, are edited for length, gram-
mar and content.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let-
ters submitted may not be re-
tractable after this deadline.
For full letters policy:
polkio.com.
—
Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108,
Dallas, OR 97338.
email: ionews@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. 142, No. 1
(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
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Polk County — One Year $35
Other Oregon Counties — One Year $40
Outside of Oregon — One Year $45
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