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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2017)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 26, 2017 4A EDITORIALS Let your voice be heard and vote While the May 16 ballot is not as packed as the Novem- ber 2016 one was, your vote is important as ever. Even if you aren’t interested in some of the smaller dis- tricts whose boards have open positions next month, you have candidates seeking election to school boards and two bonds to vote on, depending on where you live in the county. The May election has not stirred up as much interest in our Letters to the Editor section, but we’d like to remind those of you who have written or plan to write about the election that all election letters are limited to 100 words or less. Letter writers may submit just one election-related letter per election season. We have until May 10 to print your letters, so there’s still time to express an opinion about something on the ballot, which are mailed out Thursday. All ballots are due by 8 p.m. on May 16. 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, APRIL 26 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. THURSDAY, APRIL 27 • Monmouth-Independence Networks Board of Direc- tors — 7:30 a.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independence. 503-837-0700. • Dallas Budget Committee — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. MONDAY, MAY 1 • Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independ- ence. • Independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Independ- ence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. TUESDAY, MAY 2 • Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 War- ren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 • Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., 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. Check out a book at your local library. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Resolution will not stop law enforcement I had not heard the word “inclusivity” used before. I looked in my well-worn Merriam-Webster and could not find it there. I am evidently out of touch with new reality. Question- ing my local coffee gather- ing and friends in the city was no real help. This is in reference to the April 4 meeting of the Monmouth City Council. I was not in attendance, but I read in the paper. It seems that our city council finds it necessary to be- come politically correct and state for publication that Monmouth will be- come a city open to all that wish to enter regardless of race, religion, political af- filiation, gender identifica- tion, etc. I thought that we were always a welcoming com- munity. However, the buzz words “Sanctuary City” did get my attention. We have a new president and cabinet that intends to run the United States as the founders intended. A country with laws. A country open to all that enter through the front door, as do many. Those that enter illegally are in violation of the law. Exactly the same as those who break any of the other laws of the land. You commit a crime; you are a criminal. Now, does the city of Monmouth mean that those that broke the law are to be regarded as equal to the law-abiding citizen- ry of our city? There are many illegal immigrants in the Mon- mouth/Independence area. Our police force has known this as well. They have been prevent- ed by previous administra- tions from doing their job. Now, the laws (that have been in place for years) will have to be enforced. Action by the city coun- cil cannot prevent this. I can only hope that Mon- mouth will not become one of the so called “Sanc- tuary Cities” that refuse to enforce the law. Harold E. Pippin Monmouth Roundabout is greener, best choice Based on the arguments made thus far in letters to the editor opposing the in- stallation of a roundabout at the Clow Corner inter- section, I remain uncon- vinced. From what’s been writ- ten thus far, I am led to as- sume that none of those in opposition have had any extended experience with roundabouts or under- stand how they work, other than, perhaps, with the bastardized versions found here in the U.S. Roundabouts are far su- perior to stop lights in many ways. One way they are safer is that no one runs the chance of an acci- dent caused by someone running a light, because there’s no light to run. All traffic is forced to slow to enter the circle. Clow Corner is a problem WANT TO WRITE A LETTER? Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words. Longer letters will be edited. Election-related letters of all types are limited to 100 words. Writers are lim- ited to one election-related letter per election season. Election letters from writers outside of Polk County are not accepted. Each writer is restricted to one letter per 30-day period. Letters that are libelous, obscene or in bad taste will not be printed. Attacks by name on businesses or indi- viduals will not be printed. Letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a business, products or services will not be printed. The Itemizer-Observer does not guarantee the accuracy in the first place because the traffic racing up and down 99W has the right-of- way over traffic trying to cross, exit off of, or enter 99W. As it is, one is often forced to dart between on- coming traffic. If stoplights were installed to alleviate this, then everyone would have to take their turn stopping and waiting. With a properly configured (Eu- ropean style) traffic circle, however, everyone slows and yields to traffic already in the circle, but the transi- tions are smooth and less time overall is wasted as it is idling at a light. Anyone caring to do the research will find that roundabouts are safer than intersections with traffic signals. And when the in- evitable accidents do occur, they occur at far lower and less lethal speeds. Finally, I would of facts presented by letter writers; dissenters are wel- come to respond. Letter writers who dis- agree with other published letter writers should maintain a civil discourse and address the subject, not the author. Letters, like all editorial material submitted to the newspaper, are edited for length, grammar and con- tent. Letters must include the author’s name, address and telephone number. This in- cludes letters submitted via the I-O’s website. Names and cities of resi- dence are published; street addresses and telephone numbers are used for verifica- tion purposes only. Letters must be submitted add that roundabouts are more expensive to install than lighting systems, but they don’t take any power at all to keep them in serv- ice. So for a greener Oregon, roundabouts make a lot more sense. Michael Welsch Dallas Oregon needs a new money source Next May, I’ll support tax increases for worthy causes like Polk County, but how long can Oregon depend upon property taxes? Single family home ownership rates vary from 42 to 61 percent. The burden on a single family is not comparable to a landlord or business/corporation who pass along increases. They don’t “donate” this extra from individuals, not organi- zations, and must be original submissions to the I-O, not copies of letters sent to other media. Letters of thanks to busi- nesses, individuals and or- ganizations are limited to 10 names. The deadline for letters to the editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Letters submitted may not be retractable after this dead- line. — 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. expense. Property taxes are a dis- proportionate burden on single family homeowners. Twenty percent of our house payment is for property taxes alone and, like most homeowners, we’re not rich. How does it make sense that those who don’t own property can vote to tax those who do? Nannette Willis Monmouth SW Polk posts bond measure We’re told the bond is to build a new station in the Salt Creek area. Is there clarity as to lat- eral costs involved? Who will do building and equipment maintenance? What are projected cost of utilities and other ongo- ing costs? If volunteers tend the building/equipment, where may they come from? From Dallas Fire Chief: Acquiring and retaining volunteers is a challenge at best. Will career personnel care for the building/equipment? Who pays this cost? Let’s evaluate all costs concerning this bond. Remember; we’re still paying the Sheriff’s Office levy. Certainly, homes will be challenged by additional annual property tax in- crease. Tim Kirkman Dallas HOW TO REACH US NEWSROOM Emily Mentzer ..............Editor/Monmouth/Independence Reporter ....ementzer@polkio.com Vol. 142, No. 17 (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 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338 Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com CLASSIFIED LINE ADVERTISING Dawn Ohren.....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PRODUCTION Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertise- ments. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement Web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395 which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.