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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 1958)
2 MAIL TRIBUNE. M.dford, Orgft, Sundiy, Ocfebar 26, 1938 Charter Amendment Would Permit Ordering Sidewalk Construction The city charter amend ment appearing on Medford's ballot Nov. 4 would permit the city to order construction of paved sidewalks and to as sess abutting property owners for the cost. At the present time, as- Medford's four wardi r d.fin.d by thir rl lion to Main it. and lh Southern Pacific railroad Iracks. Ward I ii north of Main and ait of lh traclci. Ward II it south of Main and wtst of the tracks. Ward III is north of Main and west of the tracks. Ward IV Is south of Main and east of the tracks. Election officials in the county clerk's office have given the following figures for registered voters in the four wards: Ward I. 4.239; Ward II. 4.185; Ward III. 2.385; Ward IV. 2.241. sessments for paving, includ ing both streets and side walks, can be levied by the city only upon receiving a pe tition requesting the improve ment. Such a. petition must be signed by abutting property owner who together own a majority of the lineal front age where the improvement would be made. Would Exempt Sidewalks . The proposed charter amendment would exempt sidewalks only from this pe tition requirement. . The city could order con struction of sidewalks and assess abutting property pwn ers regardless of whether those owning a majority of the lineal frontage asked for, or approved it. . This amendment was placed on the city council's agenda Aug. 21 at the request of Robert Van Sickle, council man from Ward III. The coun cil at that meeting approved its appearance on the ballot. The amendment would serve two primary purposes. It would provide safe routes for school children as well as older people who otherwise often walk out in the street. And it would increase beautification and conveni ence by assuring that side walks could run the whole leneth of a block instead of just in front of the properties of those who want them. Remove Protection On the other hand, the amendment would take away from property owners the Drotection afforded by the petition requirement. The discretion of the city council, rather than the wish- en of individuals, would de termine whether a sidewalk should be constructed. A survey of several inter ested citizens puts the issue in sharper focus. Sidewalks are needed, some say, along streets adja cent to schools, Hedrick and Roosevelt schools on the east side have been mentioned in particular. Create Traffic Hasard Children are forced to walk to and from school either in the street, creating a traffic hazard, or on front lawns. These lawns, it is pointed out, are muddy in bad weather. Medford's school board re portedly approached the city council last year, requesting that the city take whatever steps it could "within its au thority" to provide sidewalks for school children where the need was justified. Some principals and Parent Teacher association officers are strong advocates of more sidewalks. In at least one case, an in terested group following the present requirement report- edly circulatfd a petition among property owners near w M n is behind Doctor Durno? A. You ... the voting pecelc ef Jackson County are his am paign committee. Q. WHO will dictate his policies if he is elected? A Ysu . . . the people ef Jaeksoa County. Your Intereits will al ways come first. Q. WHO financed his. political campaign? A Dr. Dume and his many friends in Jackson County. They feel that a man of his calibre and training would e valuable to all ef the people. LISTEN KBES-TV 10 P.M., Oct. 30th 1:10 P.M., Nov. 2nd If you don't know Edwin Durno - ask a friend . . THEN VOTE DURNO FOR SENATOR NOV. 4 an east side scnooi irymg xo get enough signatures to make a formal request for a sidewalk. They failed. Recommend Change A Medford Safety Council official said yesterday he cer tainly "would recommend" the proposed change "from a safety angle." But so far, few if any school, PTA and safety group officials favoring more side walks say they have studied the terms and implications of the measure appearing on the ballot. A second purpose of the amendment can be illustrat ed by the situation on one side street west of the down town area. All the properties along this street have sidewalks in front with two exceptions, one at each end. The owners of properties with sidewalks reportedly have tried unsuc cessfully to persuade the two without them to conform. Powerless to. Petition Since the sidewalks desired here are each but one piece of property in length, each having but one abutting prop erty owner, the other resi dents, whose property does not abut, are powerless to petition. The only recourse at pres ent would seem to be for them to petition for a new sidewalk overlapping the '"withouts" and enough of the "withs" to insure the neces sary majority of lineal front age. In this case, of course, the "withs" would have to pay their share. Under the amendment, the city, acting in the "public in terest" of the majority could order in sidewalks on the "withouts' " property and assess just them for it. In this particular situation, it so happens, the two "with outs" who have no sidewalk on the side street, do have sidewalks on the streets at each end, the streets on which their houses actually face. Considerable Disadvantage Such corner lots are at a considerable disadvantage, since abutting on two streets they have a much greater lin eal frontage so far as side walk assessments are con cerned. According to Medford City Attorney E. Roy Bashaw, the present petition requirement was instituted by a charter amendment in 1918. Prior to that, he said, the city ordered in so many street and sidewalk paving projects and assessed so many property owners that the amendment was passed to protect the hard-pressed citi zens. The "minimum and only requirement" in general law, he explained, is that people whose property is going to be assessed are entitled to notice and a hearing. . The petition requirement, generously protecting the property owners, exists in "a minority of cities," he con tinued. Intermediate Restriction But cities lacking this re quirement, Bashaw said, us ually have, as a matter of "common practice," an inter mediate restriction. This restriction, while less protective than the petition requirement, does offer the property owner a concrete means of self-protection. As contained in the "model city charter" developed by the Bureau of Municipal Re- Lively To Slay With Commission Salem -4DPD- Springfield at torney Jack B. Lively has agreed to continue as a mem ber of the Oregon Centennial commission, Gov. Robert D. Holmes announced Friday. Lively, one of the original members of the commission, had resigned last week to take a parttime pay position with the staff of the commis sion. But the Governor asked him to reconsider and con tinue his services as a com missioner instead. The Governor said he was "pleased" with Lively's ser vices and his response to the appeal to continue. Paid Pol. Adv., Durno for Senator Committee, Mrs. Justin Smith, 21 Geneva St., Chairman HERTZ TRUCK RENTAL Available at HOPKINS RICHFIELD SERVICE McAndrewt at Court SP 3-9068 search and Service in Eugene, this restriction provides: That if two-thirds of the abutting property owners who would be assessed for a proposed paving project re monstrate against it, the city must suspend action on the matter for six months. This, of course, could lead w - iiiujBua '"P-H second annual United Na- peanng on ine council agen da indefinitely, or until less than two-thirds protest. But while it could become a nui sance to the city, it would protect the citizens. The proposed amendment would, in effect, take away a specific protection from the property owner without sub stituting a lesser specific protection. If it passed, the property owner would be entitled to notice and a hearing if the city planned a sidewalk along his property. But the city council would be free to de cide whether the project was in the public interest. Governor Urges U. N. Machinery As 'Best Vehicle' Salem tUPD The need for encouraging the U.S. to use the machinery of the United Nations and resist unlitateral action that - "unnerves our friends and confuses free people everywhere" was voiced Friday by Gov. Robert D. Holmes in a talk to the tions Day reception here. The Governor termed the UN the best vehicle for pre venting major world conflicts and for paving the way for permanent peace. About 300 persons attended the reception held in the Gov ernor's office. Among those present were consular officers of several foreign nations. Also speak ing was Karlin Capper-Johnson, president of the Oregon United Nations association. The day marked the 13th anniversary of the acceptance of the United Nations charter. Use Tribune Want Ads Grange News Bellview Grange Illustrating her trip to Eu-' rope with c olored slides Mrs. William . Walters spoke to members of the Bellview Grange at a regular session Oct. 21. Mrs. Walter's interest in fine arts and structural ar chitecture was noted as she showed slides of buildings in many parts of England, cas tles and bridges along the Rhine river in Germany and many other points of inter est in Belgium and Switzer land. At the conclusion of Mrs. Walter's remarks the regular business meeting was held with Master Frank Malin pre siding. Final plans were made for the annual baazar and food sale to be held Oct. 26 in the Lithia hotel building. Legislative chairman, Mrs. Ralph Jennings, explained in detail the 13 bills which will appear on the Nov. 4 election and stressed to members the duty and privilege of all citi zens to vote at that time. As chairman of the dance committee, Frank Malin re ported on the success of the semi-monthly square dances and the beginning of a new square dance class, Nev. 7, open to all who wish to par ticipate. Election of officers for 1959 will take place at the next WDHCD?'- Worked against the 20 Income Tax Reduction and now campaigns as if he supported it? Pd. Adv., Jacksen Ce. Republican Central Com., Medford. Den Srathoi, Chmn., 1 835 Sundial Rd. regular meeting of the Bell view Grange on Nov. 4 and all members are urged to at tend this important meeting. During the social hour at the close of the meeting re freshments were served by Mr. and Mrs. George Nichols, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Osborne, Mr. and and Mrs. Edwin Dunn Blanche Murphy. May F. Malin, Reporter. The Sphinx which looks out over the Valley of the Nile in Egypt, is 240 feet long and 68 feet high. MAKE? Homt of SILVER DOLLAR STAMPS OPEN 8:00 A.M. UNTIL MIDNIGHT ' DAYS A WEEK EASY PARKING EASY SHOPPING 1202 NORTH RIVERSIDE AVENUE Mdle Dn Our BOG FALL Be Wise - Lay-away How for Good Christinas Giving! Every model now greatly reduced in price to Clear Out during our BIG FALL CLEARANCE SALE! Now is the time for you to get your LAUNDROMAT and DRYER that you need at lowest prices ever! There's Westinghouse Washer and Dryer to suit every budget and need see them NOW. Custom . Imperial Models D-110 and L-110 Laundromat Was 339.95 Dryer Was 259.95 Mod!s N LAUNDROMAT UQ.VW.2S and DRYER ' . . V ." 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