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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 2017)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 23, 2017 4A How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS Postal reform needed soon Most people get mail Monday through Saturday. But what happens when the mail comes later than we expect? We found out a few years ago, when the Postmaster General had to take away overnight First-Class and Period Now, we may be facing a new slowdown, if something isn’t done by Congress very soon. Who needs the mail, some people ask? We have the In- ternet now. But a lot happens in the mail, and a lot goes wrong when it is late. To begin with, mail is the backbone for about $1.3 trillion in jobs, products and services. And then there is the personal impact. People send in their credit card payments at the last minute when cash is tight. The payment reaches the credit card company late, and credit scores take a beating. That causes loans for cars and houses to get more expensive. Many people count on the mail for medicines. A missed dosage can mean a trip to the hospital. Small businesses count on the day’s mail to bring in cash from customers. Some things just can’t be emailed. It is hard to send your grandkid’s birthday cake overnight by the Internet. Some farm supply houses use the mail to deliver small animals quickly. They certainly can’t zap them across broadband, or allow them to die in a post office waiting for a mail truck. And then there are legal documents that have to ar- rive by certified mail. Also, I have to mention late newspa- pers, where sales coupons are missed and public event an- nouncements arrive after the event. Newspapers like this one that rely on the mail for delivery to readers took it on the chin the past few years, with disappointed readers can- celing their subscriptions. We are at another crunch point. The U.S. Postal Service has a $57 billion deficiency on its balance sheet, most of it caused by Congress. Fixing it may require the Postmaster General to close more post offices and mail sorting plants, eliminate mail-hauling truck routes and ground the air- mail. The mail would be slowed down even further. The choices are tough, and Congress is never good at tough choices. Businesses that buy postage cannot afford big increases. Consumers cannot afford to pay more for slower mail. USPS wants to protect jobs for its workers. Of course, USPS is not supported by tax dollars, but by postage. And no tax-payer money should be needed unless Congress lets the system deteriorate further. There is a better choice. A bill, HR 756, was sent to House Ways and Means Com- mittee last March by the House committee responsible for overseeing the U.S. Postal Service. The legislation would require about 77,000 retired postal workers who draw benefits from a federal benefits health fund to use Medicare instead. Medicare taxes were already paid for these workers. The Medicare fund owes these re- tirees their benefits anyway. It is just that this group has chosen a different benefit for themselves, which they were allowed to do. Now it is time for them to follow the prac- tice of most private sector workers and draw their earned benefits from Medicare instead. Commercial mailers would have to accept a small postage increase to pay most of the new cost to Medicare. But the benefits to the federal budget and to USPS would be substantial. Overall, the federal deficit would be $6 bil- lion less if the bill passed. And the U.S. Postal Service would save about $30 billion over 10 years. All that needs to happen is for House Speak- er Paul Ryan to put the bill up for a successful vote. If you are concerned about losing more mail service, particularly in rural America, contact your Representative and ask for a big push for HR 756 in September. Matthew Paxton IV NNA President Publisher of the News-Gazette 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, Aug. 23 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. ThursdAy, Aug. 24 • Monmouth-Independence networks Board of direc- tors — 7:30 a.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independence. 503-837-0700. MondAy, Aug. 28 • 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. 29 • Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. WednesdAy, Aug. 30 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. 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 League thanks Boquist for session This letter is to express the League of Oregon Cities’ appreciation to Sen. Brian Boquist for his leadership during the 2017 legislative session in gaining passage of a $5.3 billion transporta- tion package that will result in significant benefits for all Oregonians. The senator also played a critical role in efforts to ne- gotiate legislative solutions to protect local flexibility, while ensuring accountabili- ty for public dollars being spent on local public im- provement projects. His efforts will help to en- sure that local communities get the best value when making investments in local infrastructure. In addition, Boquist was instrumental in the passage of a pilot program creating a more equitable property tax assessment method for new construction, and defeating harmful property tax ex- emptions. Local governments and schools rely heavily on property tax revenues to fund their budgets. We thank Boquist for his achievements and contribu- tions during the 2017 leg- islative sessions which ben- efit Oregonians living in cities. Mike McCauley Salem Dallas citizens find success with help In the process of trying to 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 sell a rental home in Dallas, a loan request from our buyer was denied by every possible lending service due to a zoning issue at this ad- dress. We struggled through several layers of local au- thorities before our situa- tion was brought before the Dallas City Council, and ul- timately resolved. We would like to thank those involved for their amazing efforts including Jeff Laeng, of Avenue Mort- gage, Amber Archibald and Windemere Realty; Chase Ballew, Jason Locke and City Attorney Lane Shetter- ly; and finally, the efforts of Mayor Brian Dalton and the council members, especially Council President Micky Garus, and councilors Jim Fairchild and Paul Trahan. Our apologies if we left out anyone, but we at- tempted to stay within the maximum names allowed per I-O policy. 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 Larry and Nancy Wilson Dallas 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 limited to one election-related letter per election season. Election letters from writers outside of Polk County are not ac- cepted. 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 serv- ices will not be printed. The Itemizer-Observer does not guarantee the accuracy of facts presented by letter writers; dissenters are wel- come to respond. Letter writ- ers who disagree with other published letter writers should maintain a civil dis- course and address the sub- ject, 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 residence are pub- lished; street addresses and telephone numbers are used for verification purposes only. Letters must be submitted 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 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. sen. Jeff Merkley (dem.) 313 Hart SOB Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-3753 Fax: 202-228-3997 Salem office: 161 High St. SE, Suite 250, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-362-8102 Email: via website, www.merkley.senate.gov 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. 142, No. 34 (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 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 Stephanie Blair.............General Assignment Reporter........................................sblair@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 The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertise- Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com 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. PosTMAsTer: send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-observer, P.o. Box 108, dallas, oregon 97338