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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 1956)
Annexation Elections In Two Areas Tomorrow Second Election in Expanding Section Called Within Year Officials See Need For City Facilities Residents in two areas south southeast of Medlord will de cide tomorrow whether or not . they will become part of the city. Elections will be held in an "island" of three and a half blocks in Siskiyou Heights ex tension, and an area of close to 1,200 acres extending south around Barneburg hill. The city council called elec tions in both areas after peti tions with a majority of resi dents' signatures were submit ted, asking annexation. The council then held a public hear ing for residents of the city to express opinions before setting the election date. Second Tim This is the second time within a year that residents in the area have been asked to cast .ballots in a special annexation election. Last summer, residents in more than 3,000 acres surrounding Medford on the east, south and west rejected an annexation pro-, posal. Since that time, however, sev eral individual pieces of prop erty have been annexed by pe tition, including several acres south of Stewart ave. between extensions of Oakdale ave. and Holly st. The annexed property included the new Jefferson grade school, and several subdi vision developments. ' The county "island" in the Sis kiyou Heights extension is the result of annexation by petition of several pieces of property. Most these were done -late last year just prior to submission of petitions from the present pro posed annexation areas. Population of 447 According to city officials, the larger area includes about 125 residences, with a population of approximately 447. There are 'jthree stores, four farm barns, one crematorium, ' two mauso leums, and one radio station, a golf course, two churches" and both the IOOF cemetery and Sis kiyou Memorial park. City Manager Robert Duff es timated the assessed valuation of both areas about $370,400. The large area has an assessed valu ation of about $343,260, and the Siskiyou Heights extension area about $27,140, he said. If the area is annexed, resi dents will pay a net increase of 14.9 mills for city police protec tion, additional fire protection, tventual street lighting, and the ' protection of zoning and build ing codes. It also will be an area t which city sewer and water services may be extended upon submission or petitions by resi dents. The net increase in millaga rate is determined by subtract ing the rural fire protection dis trict's 4 mill levy from the city's 18.9 mill levy. The 14.9 mill in crease is added to present levies in the areas. Present levies de pend on location, because some of the area is included in the Phoenix school district, while part is in the Medford school district. Wafer Raioi City officials pointed out that water rates will be lower should residents favor annexation. On a basis of a minimum charge on a -inch meter, the rate after annexation would be $1.65 per month for the first 5,000 gallons, compared to a rate of $2.90 per month for 5,000 gallons now, Duff said. On a graduated scale, the next 1,000 gallons of water would cost 9 cents In the city, compared to 25 cents outside the city. Many city services are tenta tively planned for later this year in the annexation areas, should residents vote to be annexed. One of the major services would be a trunk line sewer along Barnett rd. Duff said ten tative plans call for construction to be started by June. The trunk line sewer will cost an estimated S78.090, Duff said, and will ex tend from about the hospital site westward to Bear creek and north along the east side of the creek. Area Development Supporters of Rogue Valley Memorial hospital, construction and equipping of which is esti mated to cost about $1,900,000, pointed out that a commitment for sewer facilities must be made, and construction of the hospital started, in June if the organization is to receive federal Hill-Burton funds. An application for $563,960 received preliminary approval by the federal Health, Education and Welfare department Friday. Final approval will come after plans and specifications have been submitted. Earlier the Ore gon state board of health rec ommended approval of the funds. A Barnett rd. trunk line sewer also would serve residents of Verde Hills subdivision, just south of the Siskiyou Heights ex tension "island." Financing installation of a trunk line sewer would be as sessed against the property served by the trunk line. Duff pointed out that if residents do not request sewer facilities and conditions become so adverse as to affect public health, the coun cil has authority to order instal lation of sewers as a matter of public safety. Residents still would be subject to assessment for their proportionate share of the sewer, Duff said. Trunk Line Service . A Barnett rd. trunk line sewer also would serve an extensive subdivision development, esti mated to cost close to $10,000, 000 eventually, on Barneburg bill, by the Rogue Valley Land company. The Medford planning commission has given tentative approval to the Mont Crest sub division plat, subject to sanitary facilities being available. Also planned for Barneburg hill is construction of Rogue Valley M a n or , a retirement home, estimated to cost about $2,500,000. Water facilities also will be started this year if the area is annexed. Duff said estimated costs of installing a 10 or 12 inch water main along Barnett rd. to Murphy rd. would be about $42,- 000, and that it will have to be installed almost immediately. He noted that some of the cost will be assessed against property served, but added that the city water department will finance much of the installation. Water Maim in Area Depending on development in the area, Duff said, the water department has estimated that about $96,000 will be expended for mains in the area within the next two or three years. The ex penditure Includes installation of a 24-inch trunk water main be tween Capitol hill and the res ervoir site on Barneburg hill. Duff said construction of a res ervoir on Barneburg hill is in long-range plans for municipal development. -He noted, howev er, that if development demands, it would be constructel sooner. Annexation of the area also will provide residents, business es and iarming areas with pro tection under municipal zoning ordinances. Residential District Duff pointed out that the area, if annexed, will be brought into the city as a residential district. However, the council recently directed the planning commis sion to study possible zones in the area, so that, once annexed, it may be zoned as quickly as possible to fit present uses and future development. He said the planning commis sion has plans to have a commit tee of land owners and residents of the area work with the com mission to determine which zone would best fit particular areas. Officials pointed out that farming is permitted under sin gle family residence zone. The area would be annexed as single family residence. The Medford planning commission will hold a hearing Feb. 13, on a proposed agricultural zone. Duff stressed that residents within the proposed annexation area will have a voice in deter mining change of zones. Police Protection In addition to zoning protec tion, residents will be provided with city police protection and fire protection. Residents pres ently are protected through the Medford Rural Fire Protection district, but city officials point ed out that only one pumper truck is required to answer calls News About Books From the Library By MISS HELEN WEBSTER Medford Librarian Floods, slides, icy roads, washed-out bridges may make our highways hard to travel, but they needn't prevent our enjoy ment of some good exciting armchair adventure. You can go non-stop to the fabulous South Seas with Fan ny and Robert Louis Stevenson . . A J 4 II in uur- aamoan Aaveniure. This, Fanny's three-year-diary, reveals the last years of the Stevensons' life together and tells an interesting story of a witty and valiant lady's strug gle with an alien environment. Amateur Journey For an amateur journey from Sweden across Russia and Tur kestan to Canada to join the free Norwegian forces of World War II, read Wilfred- Skrede's "Across the Roof of the World." This is no ordinary travelogue; it is a strange, heroic story, often very funny, and frequent ly breathtaking, the story of a very modest and likeable travel companion. Of all the books by wander ers in the jungle heart of South America "Expedition T u m u c Humac," by Francis Maziere, is one of the most sensitive, au thentic, and appealing. The au thor and two companions, one "a woman, traveled from French Guiana through the South American jungles and across the Tumuc-Humac mountains to the borders of Brazil. Tickets to Adventure A recent trip to British Gui ana in quest of specimens of live animals is the subject of "Three Tickets to Adventure," by Ger ald Durrell. The book draws a clear picture of the region," its curious beasts and engaging people. Other animal-collecting adventures of the author are re lated in "The Overloaded Ark and "The Bafut Beagles." Not only a travel adventure but a survey of what is happen ing in all of Africa is Stuart Cloete's "The African Giant. The author and his wife travel ed from Kimberley to Rhodesia, to French Equatorial Africa, Ni geria, the Gold Coast, Liberia, the Belgian Congo, and Cape Town. Stuart Cloete was born in Africa. Sahara Journey A welcome antidote for those who have been thinking of Af rica only in terms of rioting and social problems is the warmth and humanity of Rene Gardi's "Blue Veils, Red Tents; the Story of a Journey Across the Sahara." The author, a Swiss journalist, has a sharp eye for the characteristics and customs of the desert people, but what interests him even more is the desert itself. Any of the books mentioned above may be obtained from the Medford Public library or any of its Jackson county branches. Farmers Reminded Of Social Security Many farmers have social se curity responsibilities for the first time this year, according to W. V. Nusbaum, district man ager of the Medford social se curity office. Farm and ranch operators who paid $100 or more cash wages to an agricultural em ployee In 1955 are required to report all cash wages paid to that employee up to $4,200. At the same time, the operator must forward four per cent so cial security taxes on those wag es, Nusbaum said. Law provides, he said, for the employers sharing the tax with the employee. However, he pointed out it is the employer's responsibility to forward the tax along with a wage statement to the district director of internal revenue. Deadline for filing the report is Jan. 31. Nusbaum said correct forms for reporting wages and paying social security tax are available at the internal revenue district office. He added that "cash wag es the operator is required to re port on form 943 are credited to his workers' individual social security accounts." ' Nusbaum also reminded farm and ranch operators that reports and social security tax payments on their own net earnings must be filed by April 15, when In come tax forms are due. Use Tribune Want Ads Annual Fruit Grower's League Meeting FRIDAY, JANUARY 20 1:3(0 p. mm. AILIL MEMBEK ABM wjslgjem to ..Attend FRUIT GROWER'S LEAGUE OF JACKSON COUNTY, Inc. in the rural district. If needed, all city equipment responds to a call anywhere within the city. Supporters of Rogue Valley Memorial hospital and subdivis ion developments have noted a necessity to have all fire equip ment available for extensive de velopments. Additional police protection would consist of resident's re quests to watch vacant houses during vacations, to check prow ler calls, and other disturbances in the area. Many of. the services are available through state po lice or the sheriff's office, but because of limited pexsonnel in each organization, city officials believe residents will be better protected if the area is annexed. Street Construction Street construction within the area will be done when resi dents submit petitions for street improvements. Improvements include curbs and gutters in ad dition, to improve street surfac es. Maintenance would be simi lar to that provided within the city at the present time, Duff said. School district boundaries would not be changed automati cally should the area be annex ed, Duff pointed out. Much of the area is in the Phoenix school district, and would re main in that district unless changed by the county school board. Several residents have expressed a desire to send chil dren to Medford schools, Duff said. Sunday, January 15, 1958 MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUHB SEVEN Hardy's Paintings On Display at SOC Ashland Watercolors and lithographs by artist Tom Har dy of Eugene will be on exhibit Monday through Friday in Chap man hall, Miss Merion Ady, as sociate professor of art at South ern Oregon college has announc ed. Time and Life magazines have featured Hardy's metal sculp ture. Current exhibit selections are representative of his paint ing technique since he started painting in 1953. PICTURE TUBES REJUVENATED Is your picture tube dull and weak? Most picture tubes can be restored to original brightness at only a fraction of the cost of replacement. For further information CALL Electronic Service 18 N. GRAPE PH. 3-1971 1 1 Gpg Fr YOMI" OLD W-SHER jj! s I DeLuxe-Newest Model I & Model I ' 4! f& F701P fa LOOK at These Features . . 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