TWILTB MEDFORD (OHEOOW) MAIL TRIBtJWB
mdar. June IS, ItSS
caAGarfACTOR
City's Invitation'
To Areas Includes
Multiple Services
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Soma 2,500 residents of two areas adjoining
Medford will be asked to vote July 5 on whether
or not they wish their areas to become a part of
the city of Medford.
There are reasons for annexation, and there
are reasons against it In the hope of clarifying
the problems involved, the Mail Tribune here
presents a discussion of some of the factors.
If any readers have additional questions, they
may be directed to the Mail Tribune, which will
make an earnest effort to see that they are an
swered before the election is held. y
TTTsn?ciaIenionTuITaDDroves annexation of about 3.000
acres unrounding Medford to the south, residents there will be
"accepting the City of Medford's invitation" to participate in a
program of better community development, and will receive
many additional services at little or no extra cost, according to
Medford officials.
A general annexation program was undertaken and recom
mended by Medford city planners and administrators because
widespread improvements of fringe area conditions, and benefits
from comprehensive planning, can be realized only when annex
ation is general.
The area, known as "South Medford," was proposed because
city officials believed annexation should be undertaken when
outside areas are urbanizing, and need city services, but before it
is extensively developed.
Sanitary Condition
Hasten Proposal
One condition which has has
tened the annexation program
ia a serious sanitary condition
developing in fringe areas. Be
cause of rapid growth without
regard to sanitary facilities, and
because of adverse soil arid
drainage conditions, septic tank
effluents spreading over adja
cent - lands are contaminating
ground water supplies.
; "The condition is not only a
menace to the health of the resi
dents in the areas," Mayor Earl
Miller pointed out. "but also en
dangers citizens of the city. We
are fortunate that a serious epi
demic has not developed."
Annexation is believed to be
the fastest and most economical
method of correcting sanitary
problems of this particular area.
City's Financial Resources
If annexation is approved, city
forces and . financial credit will
be available for correcting ad
verse conditions. Other city serv
ices also will be -available to
residents of the area.
But taxes will be about the
tame as are now being paid by
residents of South Medford.
According to figures compiled
by city officials and based' on
1954-55 assessed valuations and
levies, fire insurance rates will
decrease, and water rates will
be substantially lower if the
area is annexed.
The annual average per capita
cost for residents in the Jack
sonville Highway Water district
for water, rural fire protection
and fire insurance presently is
$73.86; in Kings Highway Water
district, the cost is $75.06; in
Meyers Lane district. $67.86; in
Charlotte Ann Water district,
$102.06; and for individual wa
ter users not in a water district,
the cost is $67.86 annually.
Other Costs
Taxes paid by residents in the
areas include $7.80 fire district
tax, an average of $16.26 for
. fire insurance (assuming the res
idence is within 500 feet of a fire
hydrant), and the following wa:
ter service charges: Jacksonville
district. $49.80; Kings district,
$51; Meyers district, $43.80;
Charlotte Ann, $54; and for in
dividual users, $43.80. Charlotte
Ann district residents pay an
additional $24 South Bear Creek
Sanitary sewer tax annually.
If a residence is not within
500 feet of a fire hydrant, an
additional $2.67 is added to the
$16.26 average fire insuranoe
rate outside the present city
limits. ' r . . '
Cost of Added Services
If annexation is approved, the
total cost for present services
in those districts and for addi
tional city services would be
$73.77 annually. The additional
services include: police protec
tion, planning and zoning pro
tection, street maintenance,
street lighting, sanitary sewage
disposal storm drainage, and
extra fire "protection.
The $75.77 annually includes
$34.20 Medford city tax, $23.04
for water service, $12.53 for fire
insurance, and $6 for sanitary
sewer service
City officials anticipate no
city tax will be possible in the
new area for the year 1955-56,
but a. city tax would start with
fiscal year 1936-57. should the
area be annexed.
Average Assessment
Figures used by city officials
wcra based on an assumed as
sessed valuation of $1,500, which
v.-as about the average resi-
t sitial assessed valuation in wa
t3r districts making contracts
Avith the city in the past few
c?rs, ana an average consump-
per month. Insurance rates were
based on an assumed $8,000
three-year residential policy.
School district taxes are not
included in estimates because
school district boundaries will
not change should annexation
be approved.
-Besides automatically receiv
ing established city services, resi
dents in the area, if annexed,
would be able to petition the city
council for installation of sani
tary sewer trunk lines, which
would be constructed on a dis
trict basis, with construction
costs assessed on property bene
fited in the. entire district.
City Manager ' Robert Duff
said present city trunk lines
would serve sewage purposes
for several years with additional
lateral lines installed in annexed
areas. The first trunk line prob
ably would be installed in the
southeast area. Duff said, be
cause the need in that area is
urgent. Other trunk lines would
be installed as soon as possible.
Water main installations and
street improvements in the area
would be done when petitions
signed by property owners de
siring the improvements are sub
mitted to the city council.
In installing water mains, the
city pays the difference between
a six-inch cast iron main and the
extra sized trunk water main
judged necessary to delivery an
adequate supply of water for
fire protection and other neces
sary uses.
The water commission, within
the city limits, furnishes and
installs fire hydrants of correct
size and spacing to comply with
the Oregon Fire Insurance Rating
bureau's requirements.
: Should annexation be . ap
proved, zoning regulations would
be established to protect and
safeguard agricultural uses of
land until such time that the
land became available for sub
division purposes.
Earlier, this year, the plan
ning commission recommended
that zoning ordinances be
changed to create an agricultural
zone.
When . the planning commis
sion and city council studied the
proposed annexation, it was be
lieved that consideration should
be given to long term hazards of
poorly planned and developed
fringe areas, and that annexation
should be balanced among resi
dential, commercial and indus
trial uses.
Mayor Miller, in reviewing the
annexation program, pointed out
that with present and additional
city services in South Medford,
"it is cheaper to live in the city
and receive all of the services
available."
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PROPOSED BOUNDARIES Boundaries of proposed annexa
tions of Laurelhurst addition and South Medford areas are
shown in the cross-hatched areas in the above map. The area
with the present city limits is unshaded. South Medford in
cludes the area briefly described as follows: From the east
city limits, 200 feet north of Hillcrest rd., east to a point 200
feet east of Foothill rd.; south (with two zig-zags as indicated
toward the right of the above map) to a point east of South
Pacific highway; west across Southern Pacific railroad tracks;
northwest to opposite Charlotte Ann st.; westward 200 feet
south of Garfield st. and to a point 200 feet west of Thomas
rd.; north to a point 200 feet north of Stewart ave.; eastward
to a point 200 feet west of Lozier lane; north to a point 200
feet north of West Main st.; and east to present city limits,
shown toward left of map. The Laurelhurst annexation area
includes that portion of the addition not now within the city.
The boundary extends from the present city limits on Crater
Lake ave., north to a point 150 feet north of Stevens st.,
and east to Wabash st. Residents who are not sure if they
live within the proposed boundaries may check their resi
dence location at the city hall. .
Precincts, Voting
Places for July 5
Election Described
South Medford will be-divided into three precincts for
an annexation election July 5.
Laurelhurst addition will be a separate precinct, and resi
dents in that area will vote at the residence of Ray T. Os
borne, 1001 Stevens it.
The South Medford first precinct will include all the
area east of Bear Creek, and residents will vote at the home
- of Mrs. Blanche Powell. 1920 Barnett rd.
Qualified voters in the second precinct, which includes
that area between Bear Creek and South Peach si., will vote
at the Southern Oregon Heating and Air Conditioning comp
any. 2356 Highway 99.
The third precinct is that area west of South Peach St.,
and registered voters will vole at the home of W. G. Warner
Jr., 1798 Stewart ave.
Those qualified to vote must be registered voters living
within the proposed area.
(Medford residents will vote in a special election, on finan
cial questions, the same day, but the city election has no
connection with the proposed annexation of Laurelhurst ad
dition and South Medford). .
Water District Indebtedness
Would Still be Obligation
Of Annexed Area Residents
Residents of organized water
districts, if annexation of South
Medford is approved, still will
be responsible for obligations
contracted by the district.
Under present laws, the area
annexed is withdrawn from the
water district, but that portion
is not relieved of liabilities and
indebtedness previously con
tracted by the district.
The annexed portion may con
tinue to be subject to taxation
by the district for payment of
tion of water of 8,000 gallons tion.
Weed Beetle Colony
Reported by Agent
Persons needing goatweed
beetles to clean up the weed on
their property will find a con
centration on Laurlehurst rd.
where the insects may be caught,
according to Earle Jossy, assist
ant county agricultural agent,
A quarter of a teacup of
beetles is needed to start a col
ony, Jossy reported. They should
be put out wherever goatweed
is thick.
The county agent stated that
the beetles have so completely
cleaned up the goatweed in the
county, using up their source of
food, that they are now hard to
find.
The beetles were introduced to
the county by L. G. Gentner, en
tomolokist with the Southern
Oregon Branch Experiment sta-
Rogue River Forgery
Suspect To Face jury
David Leone Herburger, 19,
route 1, box 302, Rogue River,
waived counsel and preliminary
hearing in district court Friday
on",a forgery charge and was
bound over to the grand jury.
The ' case involves a Grants
Pass creamery check for $44.08
and dates from Jan. 10, accord
ing to district court records.
Bail wai set at $1,500 and a
jail committment was issued.
Aaron Francis Gentry, 24, of
57 Vista st., Ashland, was fined
$10 and $5 court costs in district
court yesterday on a petty lar
ceny charge. He was' also given
a 20-day suspended jail sen
tence. Court records showed that the
case concerned theft of a small
hotel alarm clock from the Co
lumbia hotel, Ashland, on June
5. Gentry also ordered to pay
the hotel keeper the remainder
of his bill, according to tb.e
court report.
its indebtedness at the time of
annexation. Thus the annexed
area would be taxed by the dis
trict at millage rates set by the
district without regard to asses
sed valuation in the annexed
area, which may increase at a
much greater rate than the bal
nce of the district,
with his8 mother, Mrs. Golda
As an alternative, if the city
chooses, the city may assume
the obligations of the annexed
area for previous indebtedness.
In this case the city will be li
able to the district for the
amount of taxes which otherwise
would be extended, each year
against the annexed area.
The city will succeed to own
ership of all water mains, me
ters, services and fire hydrants
in the annexed area, except
operations of the remainder of
those facilities necessary for the
operation of the district, such
as trunk mains.
Humane Society Asks
Hot-Weather Pet Care
Several cases of pets being
tied in the sun have been report
ed to the Southern Oregon Hu
mane society, Mrs. Sidney W,
Richardson, manager of the soc
iety, said today.
Mrs. Richardson pointed out
that state laws provide protec
tion for pets and require that
animals be protected from the
elements, provided with fresh
water and . sufficient exercise.
Medford Police Chief Charles
Champlin said the police depart
men would cooperate with the
humane society in settling cruel
ty cases reported to the society,
For A Pleasant Sunday Afternoon
DARDANELLE
For Really FINE FOOD
4 Children Always Welcome
v Very Pleasant Atmosphere
Open at 1 p.m. Sunday and Monday (Memorial Day)
CLOSED WEDNESDAY - PHONE 5-9230 GOLD HILL
ServSce Expansion
Seen on Annexation
Area iff IPflan (Passes
School Emergency
Funds Allocated by
Rural School Board
Jackson county rural school
board Friday gave final approv
al to an emergency fund re
quest of six districts totalling
$15,003.65. ;
The amount brought to $37,
727,.33 the emergency sums
granted for the year. Districts
had requested $54,080.67, Coun
ty School Superintendent A. B.
Mekvold reported. A previous
grant of $22,723.68 had been al
lowed toll districts.
Largest single grant Friday
was $4,182.16 to Eagle Point for
an extra teacher and additional
commercial room equipment to
take care of increased enroll
ment. Phoenix, faced with in
adequate water supply at the
high school, received $3,400.' The
district is negotiating with Char
lotte Ann water district to se
cure Medford water.
Other Purposes
Building and bus repair were
among reasons for other funds
approved.
Mekvold said that the total
amount budgeted this year in
the emergency fund was only
$36,000 but that the board was
able to allow $37,727.33 because
of the balance in the fund car
ried over from the previous
year.
The overall amount included
$5,000 for the retarded chil
dren's classes at: Phoenix. A
reimbursement will be received
from the state.
Improvements in South Med
ford and extending of city ser
vices to that area will be done
as soon as possible after annex
tion, if the proposal is approved
by area residents in a July 5
election.
However, Mayor Earl Miller
pointed out that "residents of
the area should not expect ex
tensive improvements immedia
tely, as it will require some time
to accomplish the many things
necessary to provide adequate
service to the area."
Cost To City
City officials have estimated
general expenses to the city in
South Medford will total about
$62,326 annually, and an esti
mated $111,560 over a two or
three year period lor capital im
provements by the water depart
ment. But levying of taxes in the
proposed annexation area is not
anticipated in fiscal year 1955
56. The eventual cost of improve
ments in South Medford would
depend on the area's growth
and the demand for city ser
vices. Some provisions have been
been made on the city's general
fund budget for additional po
lice and engineering work in an
ticipation of annexation.
The area now includes 715
homes, 42 commercial busines
ses, and nine industries in addi
tion to agricultural tracts, a
golf course, a garbage dump and
hog feeding facility, two ceme
taries, including a mausoleum
and crematory, and three saw
mills. "
Construction Proposed
Proposed construction . in
South Medford includes a large
general hospital, development
of two shopping centers, and
several residential subdivisions
Under construction is a grade
school.
Agricultural . tracts include
orchards, dairy pasture lands,
and several small acreages for
horses and cows which, in most
instances, are for pleasure or to
supplement, the income of the
owners.
Zoning and planning in the
area will serve to protect var
ious uses of the land, and the
building inspection department
will probably be increased by
making a prt-time employee a
full-time inspector at an eshma
ted cost of $2,040 annually. "
See Population Increase
Should annexation be approv
ed, an increase . in population
from the present 2,500 to 6,
250 by the year 1965 is antici
pated. Th increase is approxima
tely 15 per cent per year. How
ever, without annexation, the
area probably could not develop
as rapidly, because of adverse
sanitary conditions.
In addition to added expenses
in building inspection and plan
ning, an estimated $11,000 an
nually is expected for mainten
ance of 17.9 miles of roads in
the area, not including several
"public roads" which are not
eligible for county maintenance.
Additional streets constructed
in the future, if the area is an
nexed, would be built to city
standards and require little addi
tional maintenance.
Intersection Paving Costs
Costs also will be added for
intersection paving. The policy
of the city council is to pay for
intersections on new paving pro
jects and for extra width paving.
About 600 intersections are es
timated to be in the area, with
each intersection costing about
$800.
About $15,925 is estimated to
be Medford's share of gas. tax
refunds for the area if annex
ed. The estimate is based on the
present population, and would
be used to help provide ordi-j
nary maintenance, with some
designated for intersection and
extra width costs.
The street lighting program
in the area would cost about $2,
100 the first year, and $21,100
in 10 years depending on the
growth of the area.
Mere Street Lights
The eventual street light de
velopment program includes 2,
500 lumen residential street
lights costing $15,840, with an
additional $5,292 going for ma-
Tfieves Steal PrtfFab
House in Portland -
Portland (U.P.) Thieves
stole house in Portland yes
terday. Willis M. Sexton of
University Homes told police
that 3t-sctions of a pre-fab
house were .carted off the
building site. Each section:
weighed 275 pounds.-
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Twin IF
'Ounges
Open Daily
10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
Ashland, Oregon
jor and minor arterial street
lights. The cost would par
tially be offset by revenue from
Copco franchise.
An estimated $1,500 will be
required for., installation of
street signs annually. Each of
600 street name signs will cost
about $25 for installation.
Additional police work in the
area, if it is annexed, would
cost about $21,675 annually, for
an additional clerk and another
patrol beat, to provide good ser
vice in the area and maintain
the present standard of service
within the present city limits.
All in Fire Area
The proposed area Ys all with
in the Medford Rural Fire Pro
tection district and is served by
the Medford department. An
additional fire station in South
Aieaiora would be necessary
only if a considerable high val
ue ; district develops otherwise,
the area would be served by
present facilities.
The total initial capital expen
diture by the water department
in the proposed annexation area
is estimated to be $111,560 over
a two to three year period. Of
the amount, $97,500 would be
for installation of new mains and
fire hydrants to provide water
service to new customers as
soon as possible.
Mains and Hydrants
The remainder of the amount,
$14,060, is for payment of mains
and fire hydrants' in water dis
tricts, which would be paid off
by the water Department. '
Revenue in the water depart
ment would decrease if the area
is annexed. The average water
revenue per customer in the
area outside the city is $3.22,
while the average revenue per
customer inside the city is $1.90.
DR. G. A. DIERDORFF
New Osteopathic President
Dr. G. A. Dierdorff
To Be Installed
Association Head
Portland Dr. Gerald A. Dier
dorff, Medford osteopathic phy
sician and surgeon, will be in-
stalled as president of the Ore
gon Association of Osteopathic
Physicians and Surgeons, which
is holding its convention at the
Multnomah hotel Monday
through Thursday, June 13-16.
The four-day conference is a
joint gathering with the Wash
ington Association oi usteopatme
Physicians and Surgeons.
The 37-year-old doctor, who
was elected president-elect dur
ing last year's convention, will
succeed Dr. Elmer A. Flaming,
Dallas, Ore.
- Dr. Dierdorff has been practic
ing in Medford since 1945, and
is ' a member of the staff at
Osteopathic hospital and clinic
.V ..LV4 1 VU ..u.
from Des Moines (Ia.) Still Col-
luwum in iLDiiiy All wtiyi
Osteopathic hospital, Dr. Dier
dorff took his post-graduate
work, in surgery at Los Angeles.
He has been active in the Meth
odist cnurcn in me uiaeons ana
m 4FtanH1 nni) MiitiA etf-i iri Aat "
4U A ct ici tiix auu vi v aw buvsua
Cherry Fruit Fly
. m a m u
ipray is Advised
7. T 1
uon cterry, iat;uvn tuunij
horticultural agent, today ad
vised cherry growers to apply a
spray for the control of cherry
fruit fly as soon as possible. This
is the pest which causes the
worms in cherries at harvest
time.
The first adult flies of the
season were found June 9, which
allows about a week before the
first eggs will be laid. Deposited
under the skin of the cherries,
these eggs hatch maggots which
cannot be controlled.
According to Berry, spraying
now with 3 pounds of metho
xychlor per 100 gallons or 1
heaping tablespoon in 2 gallons
of water wiH give satisfactory
control. If aphis are present on
the trees, 2 pounds of Malathion
per 100 gallons should be added
for their control. .
All cherry trees, including
seedings, should be sprayed, with
seedlings, should be sprayed with
weeks later..
Oregon Wheat Crop Sot
At 19,628,000 Bushels
Washington (U.R) The Agri
culture Department's June 1
forecast for Oregon's 1955 winter
wheat crop remained at 19,628,-
000 bushels Saturday same ae
the May forecast.
Last year's crop totaled 21,-
033,000 bushels.
Hungry for Somt GOOD CHOW Lately?
' Know Where to Get It?
The VETS CM
NO LESS!
Location
Gum What
Wv'r 0inf
to Serve
"The Public
(Trltf If You
Are WiHing)
it
East th St.
L
P Front Back
Intrant Entrance .
last Main St.
Salads, Lwticwoew Intro, Sandwich
... Specialising:
Steaks, ehickn, Assorted Sea Foods
OFENINO UNOEX NEW MANAGEMENT
MONDAY, JUNE 13th, 11 A.M.
- . ; Delia and Marty