Polk County News
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 20, 2017
NEWS IN BRIEF SW Polk, Falls City to negotiate contract
Ghost walk, scarecrow contest Friday
INDEPENDENCE — The Hop & Heritage Festival, originally
scheduled for Saturday, is taking a year hiatus because of a lack
of volunteers to organize the annual event celebrating the his-
tory of Independence as the “Hop Capital of the World.”
But that doesn’t mean other events traditionally held around
the festival are canceled. The annual Ghost Walk is still on for
Friday, with tours starting every 15 minutes from 6 to 7 p.m.
The tour is free, with donations welcome.
The Independence Public Library will host a the annual scare-
crow contest, another event traditionally associated with the
Hop & Heritage Festival, but going on without the festival.
The annual contest will be Friday. Entries must be turned in
by 6 p.m. For more information: ci.independence.or.us/library.
Curves celebrates milestone
MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE — Curves International Inc. is
celebrating its 25th birthday during the month of September.
Curves of Monmouth/Independence, located at 155 C St., In-
dependence, will mark the occasion by offering a number of
promotions and events:
Those include an in-club party and special workouts on
Sept. 28. Nonmembers can join for 25 cents to celebrate the
day. The party begins at 5:30 p.m.
The first 25 members who join Curves through Sept. 27 can
join for free with the purchase of an annual membership.
Follow Curves on Facebook for giveaways and more infor-
mation.
Community fund names Hatfield Fellow
GRAND RONDE — The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
and Spirit Mountain Community Fund selected Karlen Yallup as
the 2017-18 Hatfield Fellow.
Yallup, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs, is a graduate of the University of Idaho, where she re-
ceived a double bachelor of science degree in forest resources
and fire ecology and management.
The Mark O. Hatfield Fellowship was established in 1998 as a
tribute to Sen. Hatfield.
The Hatfield Fellow goes to a highly motivated and capable
Native American who will intern in a congressional office for
eight months.
This year’s Fellow will serve in Sen. Ron Wyden’s office.
Yallup will begin her fellowship in November Yallup plans to
attend law school in 2018.
For more information: www.thecommunityfund.com.
Indy skate park meeting Monday
INDEPENDENCE — A design meeting for an Independence
Skate Park will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at the Event Center in
City Hall, 555 S. Main St., Independence. Enter from the rear of
the building.
Pizza will be provided.
For more information: www.dreamlanskateparks.com.
Mid-Valley Quilt Guild holds sale
SALEM — The Mid-Valley Quilt Guild, which includes mem-
bers in Polk County, hosts the Stash N Go Sale Saturday.
The sale is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Center
in Salem, 4090 Commercial St. SE, Salem.
Crafting and sewing materials will be on sale, including fab-
ric scrap book supplies, partially completed projects and a few
finished projects. A stand-up quilt frame will be offered.
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — The South-
western Polk Rural Fire Pro-
tection District Board meets
Monday to discuss a new
agreement between the dis-
trict the city of Falls City.
The current agreement,
which allows the district to
store equipment and re-
spond to calls from Falls
City’s station, will expire at
the end of this month.
The two entities often as-
sist each other on calls
The city and district have
had a difficult time coming
to agreeable terms, which is
jeopardizing a partnership
that has been in place for 80
years, said Falls City Mayor
Terry Ungricht.
Fred Hertel, Southwest-
ern’s fire chief, said the
Southwestern Polk board
could extend the current
agreement or discontinue it
if the two sides can’t find
common ground.
The contract has already
been extended once, for
three months ending on
Sept. 30.
If it is discontinued,
Southwestern would pull its
equipment from Falls City
and respond to calls in the
Falls City area of the district
from the stations in Dallas
or Rickreall, Hertel said.
Ungricht said that could
affect the ISO rating, which
insurance companies use to
set insurance rates, for peo-
ple who live in the district
within five miles of the Falls
City Station.
Ungricht and Falls City
Fire Chief Bob Young would
like to see the current agree-
ment extended and oppose
changes that would give
more administrative author-
ity to the district. They said
they would prefer the work
out a deal.
Hertel said that two sides
met on Monday (Sept. 18) to
discuss the agreement and,
in his opinion, made some
progress.
Monday’s meeting is at
7:30 p.m. at the Falls City
Fire Station, next to the
Community Center at 320 N.
Main St.
Indy considers utility increases
By Stephanie Blair
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE — A
water rate presentation ana-
lyzing the effect of the city’s
purchase of a water right last
month, as well as the poten-
tial building of a new waste-
water pumping plant, was
given at the Sept. 12 Inde-
pendence City Council
meeting.
Steve Donovan, of Dono-
van Enterprises, conducted
and presented the study.
Within Donovan’s presen-
tation were breakdowns of
how much money the city
would need to pay each year
to execute both the water
and wastewater capital im-
provement plans that the
public works department
has slated for the next five
years, as well as a proposed
plan of where to get the
funds.
For the water CIP, the total
cost over the next five years
— adjusted for inflation — is
$2,273,377. More than half
of that cost would come in
2018.
Donovan’s suggestion of
sources for money was a
combination of obtaining
revenue bonds, using sys-
tem development charges
and pulling money from res-
ident water rates.
The proposed amount of
funds from the water rates
was 28.85 percent of the
total needed.
This would result in a rise
of approximately 2.5 percent
per year until 2022, making
the average monthly bill $7
higher than it is at present.
Revenue bond proceeds
would cover the bulk of the
cost at 53.46 percent, and
system development
charges would pay for 17.69
percent.
For the wastewater CIP,
the total cost over the next
five years is $9,696,516.
While this amount is sig-
nificantly higher than the
water CIP, Donovan suggest-
ed that the city could use the
DEQ’s Clean Water State Re-
volving Loan Program with a
sponsorship option.
This would allow the city
to borrow nearly $1 million
more than they would with a
conventional SRF loan, with
a 1 percent principle and in-
terest rate rather than a 2.53
percent rate.
Revenue bond proceeds,
including the aforemen-
tioned DEQ loan, would ac-
count for 75.97 percent of
the required funds for the
wastewater CIP, while sys-
tem development charges
would cover 21.13 percent,
and residential water rate
increases would pay for 2.9
percent of the total.
To provide this 2.9 per-
cent, the wastewater rate
would rise 5.5 percent per
year over the next five years.
The projected monthly
base rate for 2022 would be
$57.02 — $11-and-change
more than it is at present.
After Donovan’s presenta-
tion, Mayor John McArdle
advised the council that,
should they have detailed
questions, they should ap-
proach the city staff for ex-
planation at a later time, and
that there would be time for
more discussion about the
plan moving forward.
“Is this helpful, outlining
a business plan?” McArdle
asked the council. “Is this
looking — we’re not voting
or anything — but does this
look like a reasonable ap-
proach?”
Councilor Tom Takacs
voiced a request to “go for-
ward and do further analysis.”
“It is daunting to do more
debt, but I don’t think there’s
any other way to accomplish
this other than through
debt,” Councilor Marilyn
Morton said. “And it certain-
ly doesn’t make us unique
from other communities.”
The rate increases men-
tioned above are not final.
The study was conducted
to give the city council and
community an idea of what
effects the coming capital
improvement plans will
have on the city’s finances,
as well as providing a sug-
gested plan of action.
The city manager and
other city staff will continue
to work with Donovan over
the coming weeks to create a
finalized plan to present to
the council in October.
A murder is planned for Monday night
Independence Grill to host mystery dinner, written by Marilyn Morton
Itemizer-Observer staff report
INDEPENDENCE — A
murder is planned for Mon-
West Valley Housing Authority will hold their
Work Session Meeting on Wednesday,
September 27, 2017 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at
204 SW Walnut in Dallas, Oregon. The Regular
Meeting will be held on Wednesday,
September 27, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at 204 SW
Walnut in Dallas, Oregon. An Executive
Session pursuant to ORS 192.660 will be held
immediately following the Regular Meeting, if
required.
Agenda for the meeting is posted on the Housing
Authority website at www.wvpha.org. The location
for the meeting is handicapped accessible. Please
advise the West Valley Housing Authority if you
need any special accommodations to attend the
meeting. For information, please call 503-623-8387,
TDD 1-800-735-2900.
day night at Independence
Grill.
Independence Downtown
E
VIC
R
E
I S
TAX
• 24 Hour Service
• Pick up Drop Off Get home safe, call your D.D.
Association stands to gain
from the event.
An original dinner theater
play, written by IDA presi-
dent Marilyn Morton, will
present attendees with a
choice of prime rib, herb-
crusted chicken, or a vege-
tarian main course and
plenty of action in between.
Morton set the scene in
1919.
“It’s a party to lament (or
celebrate): the coming of
Prohibition,” Morton said.
“The action features the
(staged) murder of a real his-
toric character.”
Being the “Hop Capital of
the World” at the time, the
residents of Independence
are understandably a bit
grumpy about the idea of
prohibition, but trying to
keep a stiff upper lip about
it — perhaps the local estab-
lishments can serve tea in-
stead?
Morton will take partici-
pants through a delightful
two-hours of adventure,
coupled with handmade
food prepared by Independ-
ence Grill.
Each table will have an
advertisement of a business
that existed in 1919.
Guests are asked to take
on the persona of the busi-
ness owners — cast mem-
bers may interact with them
accordingly, Morton said.
The experience begins at
6 p.m. Tickets are $50, with
half of the proceeds going to
IDA.
Tickets must be pur-
chased by Saturday.
Merlin D. Berkey
Solar Arrays
on Farm Lands
Public Forum
Matinees are all shows
before 6pm. New pricing for
matinees are: Adult $8.00
Children $7.00 • Senior $7.25
Pricing does not reflect
3D showings.
Independence Library Conference Room
Sept. 21, 2017 • 7 PM
• Sam Sweeney, Yamhill Farm Bureau
• Meriel Darzen, Circuit Rider Staff Attorney,
1000 Friends of Oregon
• Jeff Bissonnette, Executive Director,
Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association
• Tim Murphy, Department of Land Conservation
and Development, Farm & Forest Specialist
Each speaker will give a 10 minute overview of the
utilization of solar panels on farm land from their per-
spective. Topics will include economics, siting on non-
high value farmland, allowed sizes of facilities, and
required infrastructure for energy transmission. This
will be followed by a question and answer session.
Tremaine Arkley will moderate the session.
Hosted by Friends of Polk County
Refreshments will be provided.
Friday - Saturday • September 22 - 23
MOTHER! (Digital) (R)
(1:35 4:20) 7:05 9:50
FRIEND REQUEST (Digital) (R)
(12:45 2:45 5:00) 7:15 9:30
LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE (Digital) (PG)
(12:00 1:30 2:25 3:55 4:50) 7:15 9:40
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (Digital) (R)
(12:40 3:45) 6:20 6:50 9:25 9:55
IT (Digital) (R)
(1:00 4:00) 7:00 10:00
HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (Digital) (R)
(1:50) 6:55
HOME AGAIN (Digital) (PG13)
(4:25)
9:35
AMERICAN ASSASSIN (Digital) (R)
(1:50 4:30) 7:10 9:45
Sunday • September 24
MOTHER! (Digital) (R)
(1:35 4:20)
FRIEND REQUEST (Digital) (R)
(12:45 2:45 5:00)
LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE (Digital) (PG)
(12:00 1:30 2:25 3:55 4:50)
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (Digital) (R)
(12:40 3:45)
IT (Digital) (R)
(1:00 4:00)
HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (Digital) (R)
(1:50)
HOME AGAIN (Digital) (PG13)
(4:25)
AMERICAN ASSASSIN (Digital) (R)
(1:50 4:30)
7:05
7:15
7:15
6:20
7:00
6:55
6:50
7:10
Monday - Thursday • September 25-28
MOTHER! (Digital) (R)
FRIEND REQUEST (Digital) (R)
LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE (Digital) (PG)
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (Digital) (R)
IT (Digital) (R)
HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (Digital) (R)
HOME AGAIN (Digital) (PG13)
AMERICAN ASSASSIN (Digital) (R)
(1:35 4:20)
(12:45 2:45 5:00)
(1:30 2:25 3:55 4:50)
(12:40 3:45)
(1:00 4:00)
(1:50)
(4:25)
(1:50 4:30)
7:05
7:15
7:15
6:20
7:00
6:55
7:10
6:50