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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 23, 1955)
'Pressure' Disclaimed On City's Annexation Proposal; 'No Malice' The city of Medford "is not trying to high pressure anyone" in the July 5 annexation elec tion. Mayor Earl Miller declared yesterday in a talk to Medford Kiwanians at Rogue Valley Country club. "There ia no Idea of malice or forcing anyone to do any thing not for his own benefit," Miller said. Residents in a huge area east, south and west of Medford will ballot on the pro posal to bring their properties within the city limits. SOC President Announces List Of Consultants Ashland Dr. Elmo N. Steven ion, president of Southern Ore gon college, has announced the names of members of the SOC faculty who will be available during the school year 1955-56 to act as consultants for clemen--tary school inservice workshops throughout southern Oregon. They include: Arithmetic Dr. Bill A. Samp son, associate professor of edu cation, and Miss Bertha Ste phens, assistant professor of edu cation. Child Growth and Develop ment Dr. Phyllis Plichta, pro fessor of education. Finance and Administration Dr. Sampson. , Intermediate methods Clar ence Diebel, associate professor of science; David F. Hill, assist ant professor of education; Rich ard Leigh, instructor in educa tion; Miss Gladys Owen, assist ant professor of education; and Arthur Phillips, assistant pro fessor of education, t Language arts reading Dr. Plichta. Methods of learning Dr. Loren Messenger, professor of psychology. Primary methods Dorothea Bushnell, assistant professor of education; Dawn Gwaltney, in structor in education; Dorothy Masters, instructor in education; and Kathryn Smith, assistant professor of education. Science Dr. Stevenson and Diebel. Social sciences Florence Al len, assistant professor: of edu cation; Dr. Alva Graham, pro fessor of education; and Dr. John McAulay, director of teacher education and professor of edu cation. ' Spelling Miss Stephens. Thursday, Jun 23. 1955 MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUHT-If OH Water District Spokesman Argues Against Annexation COPTERS ORDERED Paris (U.R) France has or dered eight Sikorsky helicopters from the United States to help combat the rebel "Army of Al lah" in North Africa, author ized sources said today. WEATHER By United Prcu Northern California: Mostly fair through Friday but thun dershowers likely extreme northern mountains today. Miller listed annexation of ad jacent areas as the most pressing of four major problems facing the city. The others are traffic. an off-street parking system, and financing. The election will let the peo ple in the areas involved decide for themselves on the annexa tion matter, the mayor brought out. But he stressed that the city has a lot to gain and that the election vitally concerns the economy of Medford. Unless the land is annexed and subdivided under proper city standards, "we'll have a hodgepodge we'll not be able to unravel or control for years to come," Miller as serted. Outlines Growth The mayor outlined the growth of the city to a communi ty of some 20,800 inhabitants and of the county to a popula tion of around 70,800 people. All first class sites within the city limits have been built upon, he reported. He spoke of the growth and development in the urban districts around Medford and stressed the health hazard arizing from drainage and septic tank problems in those sections "It is our problem as well as the people's in the urban districts," Miller stated. Other factors involved, Mil ler said, are armory construc tion, the proposed large hospi tal and projected shopping cent ers. These will need sewer and water, and unless the areas are annexed sanitary and water dis tricts must be formed. He ex-'i pressed the opinion that dis tricts are not the answer, and he ventured the belief that over lapping districts are paying a lot more now for services and utilities than they would if they were inside the city. He also pointed out that improvements in a section of town are not made unless residents of the area peti tion them. Unexpected Opposition jvinier reported that the an nexation proposal has met with more opposition than had been anticipated. He said the reason, primarily, is that people do not understand the proper facts of taxation and zoning. The area has been divided in to three precincts, Miller said. If the election for the whole area does not carry, but is approved in a particular precinct, the pro posal can be brought before that precinct alone in a later elec tion, the mayor indicated. Mayor Miller also discussed the proposal to exceed the 6 per cent limit by $68,510 in the next city, budget, and he urged Med ford residents to go to the polls on July 5 to cast their vote one way "or the other on the finance issue. He described the amount as small per capita and said that the surplus carried over from the war years is now down to $23,000 "which is not enough'." Kiwanians also heard reports from Greg Milpes, Rodney Ol son, Dick Guches and Jim Plet sch on this year's Beaver Boys State. NOW!... GIANT ON ALL Coronado Appliances! L Regularly $279.95 $409.95 $309.85 $174.95 $199.95 $299.95 $154.95 Hen. ft. Refrigerator mftii 1 1 Fully Automatic Gil. II.Refrigerator 9 cu. ft. Refrigerator RANGES- Apartmeist Size 40 inch Size Automatic 30 inch Gas NOW! $199.95 $389.95 $279.95 $129.95 $149.95 $249.95 $ 1 1 9.95 $199.95 $169.95 TELEVISION 21" Table Model 21" Table Model $149.95 $139.95 WESTERN AUTO 101 S. Riverside Phone 2-6882 By GUY CORLISS Chairman, CharlotU Ann Waiar District The city of Medford's so call ed "invitation for annexation" of an area south of Medford on close analysis looks more like an attempt to "strong arm" it into the city. It is interesting to note that the first publication stating ex actly which area was to be "in vited" didn't appear until the first of June with the election scheduled for the 5th of July, barely giving time for the four required weekly publications re quired by law before an elec tion to annex an area. Could this by any chance mean that they are afraid the voters won't ac cept their kind "invitation" if they are given time to ponder the matter, or that they don't want any unregistered voters in the area to have a chance to register 30 days before the elec tion as they would have to in order to vote? Vote on Measur Now we know that Medford needs additional tax money, for on the same day of the proposed annexation vote the city is vot ing on a measure to exceed the 6 per cent limitation and broaden their tax base. This attempt to force an area of farms, orchards and outlying in dustries into the city to grab their tax money seems not only unfair but borders on the ridi culous. There are one or two thickly settled areas near Medford which have small enough lots of land that they could afford to pay additional taxes to the city and who also need water and sewer facilities. Apparently it is these small thickly settled areas which the city is depending on to vote in the areas of larger farms, areas which have already made provision for water, sewer facilities and fire protection, and which will still be obligated to pay for them even though the city would succeed to owner ship of all water mains, meters, services and fire hydrants in the annexed area, except operations of the remainder of those facili ties necessary for the operation of the district. Sees 'Discrepancies' There seem to be several dis crepancies in the facts and fig ures presented by city officials in the June 12 article in the Medford Mail Tribune. It quotes an average of $16.25 paid for fire insurance by residents with in 500 feet of a fire hydrant. Upon checking, I find the rate to be $4.80 a thousand for three years insurance for a block or brick building with composition roof or $5.20 a thousand for three years insurance for a wood frame house. This area falls in to the same insurance rate zone that Medford had. prior to the construction of their new fire station and the rate is still very little more than the rate apply ing to residents of Medford. As an example of the so-called small differences in taxes be tween rural areas and the city of Medford, the county tax levy consists of 5.9 mills whereas the city levy is 22.8 mills as of this year. However if the people of Medford approve the measure to exceed the 6 per cent limitation and broaden their tax base the Medford levy will increase to approimately 25.8 mills. Examples Cited The following are'some typical examples of the differences be tween levies paid in the area proposed for annexation at the present tune and the approxi mate amount that would be paid in case of annexation. The only levy 4hat will be .removed in case of annexation is the 5.2 levy in effect for the rural fire dis trict. Example 1 one-half acre rural. Present Millage Levy. Code 49-9 Mills School No. 9 - 39.5 County - 5.9 Charlotte Ann Water - 4.1 S. Bear Cr. Sanitary 4.9 Medford Fire 5.2 Total 59.6 Levy After Annexation Mills School No. 49 39.5 County 5.9 Charlotte Ann Water .. 4.1 S. Bear Cr. Sanitary - 4.9 City of Medford 22.8 Total 77.2 Increase after annexation . . . 17.6 mills. Example 2 20 acre farm Present Millage Levy Cod 4-6 Mills Rural School School No. 4 .... County Medford Fire Charlotte Ann Water S. Bear Cr. Sanitary 51.4 13.2 5.9 5.2 4.1 4.9 84.7 Total Levy After Annexation Mills Rural School 51.4 School No. 4 13.2 County ; 5.9 Charlotte Ann Water 4.1 S. Bear Cr. Sanitary .. 4.9 City of Medford ' 22.8 Total 102.3 Increase after annexation . . . 17.6 mills. According to these figures I think we can safely assume that cur taxes would increase at least one third even before paying for additional improvements. Take Over Facilities The city of Medford suddenly appears to be greatly concerned over health hazards in this area. Now that much of the area has obligated itself to a bonded in debtednes for water and sewer lines the city would gladly take over these facilities however residents of the area should not expect extensive improvements immediately as it will require some time to provide adequate service to the area, according to Mayor Miller. He stated that water main in stallations and street improve ments in the area would be done when petitions signed by proper ty owners desiring improve ments are submitted to the city council. If the property owners suc ceeded in getting any of these improvements I suppose they would be paid for on the front foot basis, making it rather ex pensive for people owning large acreages of land. I understand that the city requires payments to be completed within a short time limit, whereas if the same improvements are made by peo ple residing in a rural water or sanitation district the payments are spread over a 20 years per iod with the bonded indebted ness being paid from 3 sources: (1) taxes, (2) connect fees, (3) income. Asked to Pay In the case of the Charlotte Ann Water District and Bear Creek Sanitary District the city proposes to take over the largest part of our water and sanitary districts for which the property owners are bonded to the ex tent of $158,000. In return they ask us to pay off the bonded in debtedness while they take over all connect fees, profits from sale of water and taxes on in creased valuation of district. Were they to take over the complete water and sanitary dis tricts state laws says they would have to assume the indebtedness, but they also know the law and have carefully excluded a small part. I have no objections to some areas in the proposed annexa tion being voted into the city if they so desire, but I do ob ject to the gerrymandering which will force other areas in at the same time. Why Not Other Areas The city officials have assured us that the proposed annexation is not just for the benefit of the city but for the good of the peo ple in the area to be annexed to protect our health by giving us pure water and adequate sewage disposal facilities and to give us better streets, roads, po lice and fire protection. In view of this I wonder why some areas closely adjacent to Medford such as Berrydale, which is badly in need of sewage disposal facili ties, are left out of the plans, while other areas such as the Charlotte Ann District, which has already made its own ar rangements for sewage disposal and fire protection, are to be taken in. Were it not for the fact that I know these city officials to be honorable men I would almost suspect that they were more in terested in the tax money from rapidly developing industrial areas than in our health and welfare. State Police Available As for police protection I think most of us can feel com paratively safe with just the protection we get from the State Police and the County Sheriff. Mayor Miller stated that one of their objectives in taking h the proposed area was to lay cut uniform streets before there is too much growth in the out lying areas. If streets are laid out uni formly and of a 60 foot width according to city standards, they would cut through some homes already built in this area. Sup pose one of these streets should go through your property and 50 per cent of the people should ask for paving. On an acre of ground at $8 a front foot for each half it would amount to $16 a front foot times approxi mately 200 feet frontage or a total of $3,200. On a five acre place at $16 a front foot for approximately 1000 feet it would cost the property owner $16,000. There are many homes in Medford proper at the present time who are still depending on Septic tanks for sewage disposal. There are also rough streets and streets having no sidewalks. What Assurance? People have asked me what HQ TO RUSSIA Tokyo (U.R) Ho Chi Minn, Moscow-trained leader of Com munist Viet Minh, arrived in Communist China today on the first leg of a tour that will take him to Soviet Russia Peiping Radio reported. assurance we would have of getting such improvements as good streets, .water, sewage lines and sidewalks if we were taken into the city when they haven't yet secured them for all people in the present city limits. To this I can only answer, "I don't know." it seems the only way we can be assured of these improve ments is to form our own dis tricts outside the city over which we can maintain control and see to it that we get the desired improvements, rather than turning all authority over to the city and hoping they will give them to us. As long as we are outside the city ' the new State Municipal Sanitary District Law would pro tect our interests in getting sani tary facilities, but once within the city we have no recourse but to sit and wait, hoping the city council will .some day get around to seeing that we have these improvements. You Can Afford Steak Every light at Luman's Low Prices DESGAFE BaOBTODS: SALT Mill RldG SIRLOIN STEAK, every man's delight. . . T-BONE STEAK, fine for broiling . . . . . RIB STEAK, a good grill steak ..... . . 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