rOURTEZH MTDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Sunday, November 20, 1953
iedford Officials Study Many City Problems at Oregon League
lew Ideas, Points of View Given for Solution of Development
ieetsng;
Questions
Acquaintance With
Other City Leaders
Assists Officials
Most Municipal
Problems Talked
New idea and DOints of view
for coping with municipal prob
lems, profiting from experiences
nf nthpr pities, and learning
techniques of federal and state
agencies these are among the
maior advantages of the League
of Oregon Cities' convention
held in Portland recently.
Medford Citv Manager Robert
Duff, in a report to the council
on the city s participation at me
convention, indicated the meet
ings also helped establish per
sonal relationships with other
city officials. This promotes bet
ter cooperation between cities as
well as state and federal agen
cies, he said.
Many Subject
Meetings at the convention
covered almost every subject
concerning problems of munici
palities, ranging from water sup
plies to uniform and standard
ized construction codes to urban
and fringe area development.
Among those giving reports on
fringe area problems were Duff,
Klamath Falls Mayor Paul Lan
dry, Springfield Mayor Edward
C. Harms Jr., and Washington
County Judge Harry M. Seabold,
who suggested legislation so
, areas adjacent to cities would
be forced to annex. He noted
that some states now annex judi
cially without an election.
Subdivisiom Controlled
Mayor M. A.. Davidson of The
Dales reported that The Dalles
requires all utilities to be in
stalled in subdivisions before an
nexation, and that subdivisions
are limited by the city's water
supply. Problems in Klamath
Falls, Springfield, Medford and
other Oregon cities were similar,
and many of them were faced
with sanitation problems simi
lar to Medford's.
Mayor Landry said Klamath
Falls has neither power nor wa
ter 1o entice annexation, and at
Springfield, a high water table
and soil conditions create poor
drainage and adverse sanitary
conditions.
Subdivisions should be studied
before planning commissions ap
prove plats, Loyd T. Keefe, di
rector of Portland Planning
commission, noted. He said
among items considered are ca
pacities in streets, lack of cross
connections and land use rela
tive to proposed street system.
Street Dedication
Streets should be dedicated
with adequate width for future
arterials, Keefe said, and arterial
streets and freeways should be
fully determined before the sub
division is approved.
C. A. McClure, planning en
gineer at Salem, said maps of
the area within the Salem plan
ning commission jurisdiction
show all subdivision streets and
dedicated streets. The plat is
submitted to the post office for
approval prior to the planning
commission's approval he said.
McClure pointed out that Sa
lem also requires park areas in
new subdivisions, and in some
cases subdividers are required to
deposit funds to be used for
purchase of parks. The amount
is based on the number of acres
in the subdivision.
Package Deals
Ray N. Cruden, Oswego city
engineer, said subdividers there
receive permits for "package
deals" including all improve
ments and pay the city 6 per
cent for engineering costs, ine
Eueene Dublic works director
said nublic utility easements
should be required in subdivi
sions before the development is
completed.
A committee has been formed
to study standards for subdivi
sions. J. W. Barney, Hillsboro
city manager and chairman of
the committee, reported. He said
the committee, which has held
only one meeting, . will consider
street patterns, drainage, traffic
circulation, lot areas and sani
tary requirements, pattern of
utility extensions and land uses,
in determining possible
standards.
State Standards
Barney said subdividers would
cooperate if the subdivider
knew what statewide standards
he had to maintain. He pointed
out that master plan for subdi
vision standards should be used
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1002 W. 4th, Medford-Phone 2-2857
Phone
EARLY MEDFORD Main st. in Medford,
looking west from near Riverside ave., is
shown above in the picture from Ben Trow
bridge's collection. The picture was taken
more than 50 years ago, but resemblances to
only as a guide, noting that diffi
culty arises in enforcing strict
plans which cannot be changed.
The convention passed a reso
lution urging Oregon cities to
cooperate with the state interim
committee on local government
and urban area problems in pre
senting views and problems.
The resolution said the solution
of many problems may require
an evaluation of "new concepts"
of annexation and other fringe
area and urban problems.
Standards for improvements
in new housing developments
also were discussed at the con
vention. Ronald C. McReary of
Commerce Investment, Inc., said
developers should have stand
ards which may be followed
with reasonable cost. The de
veloper, he pointed out, wants
the city to accept the develop
ment upon completion.
City Supervision
Utility installation in new de
velopments, McReary suggested,
should be under contract with
city supervision. The developer,
he said, could contract for util
ity work, and pay the city for
supervisions and inspections.
He also suggested relocation of
water and sewer lines to between
the curb and sidewalk, and sug
gested that asphaltic concrete
streets be specified instead of oil
mat to eliminate some mainten
ance work and expense.
From the investment point of
view, McReary said, the devel
oper improves the area and scale
of living, and wants a reason
able return on the investment.
Parks and other recreation fa
cilities in new areas also were
discussed. Mrs. Edith Eden, Med
ford planning commission mem
ber, said she noted a trend in
other cities to plan parks near or
adjacent to schools, so both the
city and school may benefit. Eu
gene, she said, coordinates use
of a swimming pool between the
city and schools. i
Before Prices Rise
Among other items discussed
concerning parks, was the im
portance of obtaining facilities
in newly developing areas be
fore purchasing prices increase
to a point where the city is
burdened.
Swimming pool temperatures,
lessons for adults and children
within and outside the city, and
wading pools being used at cer
tain hours for handicapped
children, also were discussed, as
was the possible use of bath
houses for teen-age club houses
during winter months.
The league adopted a resolu
tion recognizing the importance
of parks and recreation pro
grams, and urged Oregon cities
to develop programs consistent
with their financial ability to
provide necessary facilities and
personnel.
Traffic problems, including
freeways, were discussed by W
C. Williams of the states high
way department. Medford Public
Works Director Vernon Thorpe
outlined the cost to the public of
traffic congestion.
Cost of Congestion
He pointed out that the truck
ing industry estimates that con
gestion costs truckers between
S5.000 and $6,000 per year per
vehicle, and that the highway
research board has estimated a
cost of about $10,000 per year
for delay in new traffic signals.
Freeways, it was pointed out
at the convention, are planned
to funnel traffic safely and
quickly through congested areas,
Mayor Landry of Klamath Falls
said freeway routes should be
determined early so investments
might be made wisely.
Freeways should be construct
ed in conjunction with a city's
over-all street system, and an
arterial plan should be extended
into the future so right-of-way
may be obtained in advance of
needs.
Williams outlined activities of
the National Urban Transporta
tion committee which is working
on an overall plan for standard
ization of inventories and reports
for needs on arterial systems.
Landry reported on Klamath
Falls' arterial street program,
pointing out that before final
plans were adopted, cross town
traffic and a traffic pattern had
to be determined.
Ask Share of Money
The convention voted to reaf
firm its 1954 request that laws
be passed to provide an equit
able distribution of county road
funds to cities. The resolution
last year asked for the ' propor
tionate distribution to cities of
any county market road levies
made in lieu of general road
taxes.
Among other topics discussed
at meetings attended by Medford
city officials were personnel
problems, city finances, uni
form construction specifications,
PAST PRESIDENT Diamond
L. Flynn, former Medford may
or, is retiring president of the
League of Oregon Cities. He
was succeeded by Astoria Mayor
Peter G. Cosovich, who was
elected at the League's annual
convention recently. Flynn was
elected to the board of directors.
Another Medford man Charles
Champlin, chief of police was
elected president of the Oregon
Association of Chiefs of Police
at the convention.
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3310 NORTH PACIFIC. . . PHONE 3-1678
OPEN: 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M. EVERY DAY
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SPECIAL THANKSGIVING
With all the trimmings
present buildings (see picture at right) can be
distinguished, as Hubbard Brothers store and
the building just west of it. Part of the second
bay window at center of above picture still
may be seen at Swem's.
air pollution, aerial mapping,
water supply, and street number
ing. Herman Kehrli, director of the
bureau of municipal research
and service and executive secre
tary of the League, said police
officers and other city employees
often have employment on a
part-time basis in addition to reg
ular employment. He said re
cruitment of competent em
ployees, especially in police and
fire departments, was one of the
major problems facing commun
ities. Recruits Needed
Clyde A. Warren, Salem po
lice chief, said his department
was operating with several va
cancies, and there was no one
on the eligible list. The panel dis
cussion revealed that several
cities in Oregon, including Med
ford, are operating with below
complement police departments,
and getting suitable recruits for
career work is one of the major
problems.
Discussions on financial 'prob
lems and procedures and city
recording departments were at
tended by Miss Neva Samuels
and Darell Huson. Among speak
ers were Max Manchester, exec
utive secretary of the Public Em
ployees Retirement board, who
spoke on retirement systems;
John W. Schuler, bonding at
torney for the state, who dis
cussed municipal bonds; and
Robert K. Wood, chief of the ac
cpunting systems section of the
state department of finance and
administration.
Schuler listed procedures to
avoid difficulty in selling mu
nicipal bonds, and Wood reporte
ed on services evailable to local
governments, including services
obtainable on a rental basis.
Revisions Said Needed
V. L. Goodnight, Corvallis city
engineer, said there was a need
for revising specifications and
standardizing them so contrac
tors could bid on a municipal
project anywhere in the state
without difficulty. He pointed
out such standardization of spe
cifications would help smaller
communities.
The standard specifications
are being prepared by the
League's committee on standard
ization of construction specifica
tions, and is patterned after the
American Public Works specifi
cations. Among the problems in
developing the program, charters
in various cities. must be con
sulted for specifications before
standards are adopted.
Air pollution was discussed by
A. M. Westling' of the League,
who noted that methods have
been devised to measure fall
outs from sawmill waste burners.
He said where cities adopt air
pollution codes, the state .air
pollution board handles fringe
area pollution.
Aerial Mapping
Coos Bay City Manager Bob
Kyle reported on the Coos Bay
area' aerial mapping project,
which cost about $5,000 with
DINNERS
$1.50
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It Jrf
TODAY'S MEDFORD Main st. in Medford,
looking west from near Riverside ave., is
shown in the Brainerd photo above. The pic
ture, with several others, was part of Med
ford's exhibit at the recent League of Ore-
the cooperation of North Bend
and the Coos Bay Water board.
Such maps are used in zoning,
planning, street construction,
sewer construction and other
problems. Kyle, pointed out that
the method of mapping was con
siderably cheaper than if sur
vey crews mapped the area.
Mayor Richard W. Long of
Oregon City reported on prob
lems in water supply, and O. J.
Fett Jr., of the Roseburg plan
ning commission, reported on
street renumbering.
Seek Better Relations
Other resolutions adopted et
the convention included one for
better intergovernmental rela
tions, and supporting decentral
ization of government with more
responsibilities for local units;
supporting a program to require
federal agencies pay special local
improvement assessments; and
supporting a program in which
the federal and state match local
Home Superintendent
Talks With Physicians
Dr. Irvin Hill, superintendent
of . Fairview home, Salem, dur
ing his recent visit to Jackson
county, discussed the home with
a number of local doctors.
While Fairview is a home for
children of low. mentality as
well as for older inmates, he
stressed that the primary role
of the state institution is for re
habilitation of the children, en
abling them to return to their
local communities as soon as
they have' been trained to care
for themselves.
He said he plans to. publish a
mimeographed form in the near
future giving details of the steps
necessary for children to be. ad
mitted to Fairview. Copies will
be made available to all doctors
in the county, he stated.
Man Bound Over In
District Court Friday
Bob Orville Barton, 34, of
132V6 Almond st., Medford,
waived preliminary . hearing in
district court Friday on charges
of .obtaining money by false pre
tenses and was bound over to
grand jury. Bail was set at $1,
500. The . case involved a $10
check.
Also in district court, Jimmie
Mack White, 23, of . 49 Pines
Trailer court, Gold Hill, was ar
raigned. The case was continued
until Monday on charges of con
tributing to the delinquence of
a minor. Bail was set at $1,500.
Y.M.OA
SWIMMING CLASS
for Boys and Girls
Ages 3-4-5-6
Starting
Tuesday, November 22
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
CLASS WILL MEET ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS
Mothers must be in the water with the child
REGISTER NOW PHONE YMCA 2-6295
INSTRUCTOR WILL BE DON DAY
"''v-;
funds for purchasing civil de
fense equipment.
A resolution also requested the
interim tax committee to study
and analyze financial needs of
RESERVOIR DIKE. Shown above standing on top of the soil
conservation district dam, completed last week at the Vic Skou
ranch in the Upper Table Rock area, are, left to right, A. M.
Petska, soil conservation service engineer who. designed the dam,
Skou, and Lester Adams, contractor. The 1,300-foot long dam
will back up some 130 acre-feet of water for use in irrigation.
The ranch reservoir was constructed in cooperation with : the
Sams Valley-Beagle Soil Conservation district. (SCS photo)
Complete New Earth Dam;
45 Acres To Be Irrigated
An earth dam completed last
week on the Viggo Skou ranth,
north of Upper Table Rock and
south of Highway 234, will pro
vide irrigation water for" 45
acres of previously dry land.
The Skou ranch is located in
the Sams Valley-Beagle Soil
Conservation district and techni
cal assistance for construction of
the dam was provided . by Bill
Cox, conservationist; Albert!
Petska, engineer; and M. B. i
Lamp, conservation aide. It was .
built by Lester Adams, Medford j
contractor. . j
The earth dam, which is 1,300 ;
feet long and 18 feet high at the
highest point in the fill, ,will be
stocked with .trout to provide
recreation for the Skou family.
It will hold 130 acre-feet of
water.
Skou has owned and operated
the 200 acre dry land ranch for
the past two years. He plans to
plant hay and pasture crops on
the new tract of irrigated land.
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gon Cities convention in Portland. The "ex
hibit showed progress of Medford since about
the turn of the century. It was one of the most
popular exhibits at the convention, according
to city officials who participated.
cities and consider methods and
sources of supplementing city
revenues in order that 'the obli
gations of local government may
be discharged properly.
MON
Wishes
Your Special Thanksgiving
DINNER
$3.00
Salad Assorted Relishes
Soup du Jour
Turkey de Luxe Dinner
Dressing,, Baked Yams, Pickled Pears, Vegetable
Virginia Spiced Baked Ham
wifh Fruit Sauce, Baked Yams, Pickled Pears end Vegetable
DELICIOUS
Prime Ribs of Beef Au Juis
Baked Yams and Vegetable
Thanksgiving Basket of Assorted Fruits
SPECIAL DESSERT
Tea or Coffee
OPEN AT 3:00 P.M.
For Reservations Phone NO. 4-2513
Awards Presented
io orniin ueeK,
SW Medford Clubs
Pins and card awards were
presented to members of Griffin
Creek and Southwest Medford
4-H clubs at achievement day
ceremonies at Grirtin creeK
Grange Friday night.
Gene McCurley, agricultural
field representative of the First
National Bank of Portland, Med
ford branch, presented the
awards. Included in the program
were demonstrations on how to
prepare a cow for milking, se
lecting aprdns, and the seven bas
ic foods. Vocal numbers were
sung by Beverly Nelson and
Bruce Boldenow.
Pin Awards Presented
Pins and card award were
presented to: First year pins
Sidney Bates, Carleen Black,
Bonnie Brantley, Carol Depner,
Judith Foreman, Mary Kay Har
ris, Charlene Muir, Candace
Newland, Carole Newland, Ron
Perry, Nat Rode, Heather Rode,
and Donald W. Smith.
Second year cards James
Albright, ElizabettPClark, Diane
Evernham, Bonnie Goehring,
Lynda Knips, Judy Maxson, Kar-
lene Neill, Constance Patterson,
and Barbara Walker.
Third year pins Robert Al
len, Ann Dariand, Elise Eskew.
Harold Knips, Dolores Meyer,
Raymond Nouguier, Jeannette
Nouguier, Norman Renner, Jean
nette F.obertson, Charles Show
Keith Smith and Diane Walker.
Fourth year cards Bruce
Boldenow, - Sheila1 Couey and
Mavis Strom.
Fifth year pins Carolee
Brantley, Judy Nelson, Donald
Smith and Stephen Smith.
Sixth year cards Dee Ann
Clark.
Ninth year card Beverly Nel
son. Achievement Program
At Sams Valley Monday
The Evans Valley 4-H club
achievement program will be
held at the Wimer Grange start
ing at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Achievement pins will be pre
sented by representatives from
the First National Bank of
Portland, Medford branch. A
potluck supper will be served
at 7:30 p.m.
McLaughlin Students
Give Hedrick JH $323
A gift of $323.60 was pre
sented to Hedrick Junior High
school student body by Mc
Laughlin Junior High school stu
dents at an assembly at HedriclF
last week. The amount was part
of McLaughlin's $743.75, and
was presented as friendship ges
ture to start Hedrick's treasury.
DE'SIR
You a Happy