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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2001)
The INDEPENDENT, January 17, 2001 Page 9 anks Council seats new members, considers budget problems The City of Banks again has a full staff to work on problems facing the city. Two of the most serious of these problems - the city’s financial deficit and the dangerous conditions at the in tersection of Oak Way and Highway 47 - were discussed extensively at the council meeting January 9. Newly elected councilors Ryan Birr, Kathleen (Katie) Murdoch and Teri Branstitre were sworn in and seated after brief statements from departing councilors Norma Stewart and Dana Campbell. Also sworn in was reserve police officer Jack Stone. The council then reap pointed Brian Biehl and Kirk Andrews to the Planning Com mission. Council also appoint ed Rhett Preston to the Plan ning Commission and Heidi Goff to the Parks Committee. Mayor Bob Orlowski told the council that the city had started the 1999-2000 fiscal year with a deficit of $25 thousand and the 2000-2001 year with a deficit of $139,000. The large deficit resulted partly from the purchase of property at 140 Market Street for $79,000 and partly from the expenditure of funds that were budgeted but did not materialize. The proper ty, originally intended for the Banks Police department but not needed when the Oregon State Police office moved to Hillsboro, has been sold on a three-year contract for $70,000, an 11 percent loss. According to Orlowski, the city has received only $2300, thus far, on the real estate contract. Additional deficits resulted N ow ... Pellet Stoves In Stock! \N qqó Pellets Open 7 Days 8 a -6p Linn Oil Co. - Texaco 182 N Main St., Banks 503-324-2622 from expenses incurred in an ticipation of grant funds which were applied for but not re ceived. Mayor Orlowski antici pates the recovery of $15-16 thousand of the deficit this year through careful administration of city funds. Orlowski somewhat reluc tantly explained that the coun cil has the option of putting a one-year levy on the ballot to pay all of the debt in one year. If that option were exercised, such a levy would increase the property tax for the city’s gen eral fund from $1.96 to $4.27 per $1,000 of assessed value. This would increase the city tax on a $100,000 home from $196 to $427. The police department is funded by a separate operat ing levy of $1.80 per thousand. The issue will be revisited at the February 13 council meet ing. Councilor Murdoch, who just completed a term on the plan- ning commission, provided background on efforts to place a signal at the intersection of Oak Way and Highway 47. West Hills Development Cor poration accepted the cost of intersection improvements, in cluding a traffic signal, as a condition of the final plat grant ed for Arbor Village. The inter section improvements were to be triggered when an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) study indicated that a signal was necessary. West Hills, ODOT and the city have been negotiating since Novem ber 1999 when the completed study indicated the time had ar rived. The city has yet to see a fi nal, approved design plan or a time-line for completion. Coun cil directed the planning com mission to take action to en force the conditions of the final plat, impose a time-line for completion of the project and report monthly on the progress of the intersection improve ment project. Council unanimously ap proved an ordinance that es tablishes procedures to be used in the event of a Measure 7 claim against the city. Mod eled on an ordinance from the City of Troutdale, it is designed to be fair to all parties by not placing egregious conditions on the applicant and allows the city to establish the application fee at a future date. Under the ordinance the city may release a property owner from compli ance with regulations to the ex tent required to avoid paying compensation. Several Mea sure 7 ordinances passed by Oregon cities are being chal lenged in court on the basis that they waive Oregon’s land use regulations. Troutdale’s or dinance, with the release from compliance, has not been chal lenged, according to City Attor- ney Jim Lucas, who also ex plained that there is no guaran tee that ordinances of this type will not be challenged in the fu ture. Lucas went on to say that he could not recall any zoning changes made by the city in the last six years which could subject the city to a Measure 7 claim. In other business council: • Approved purchase of car peting and additional lighting for the Scout Cabin from re maining grant funds. • Approved initiating a search for a superintendent of public works. • Received a report from Or lowski that the city will issue ci tations to property owners who have not agreed to comply with fencing regulations by January 19. • Tabled discussion of in cluding the cost of testing backflow devices in city water bills. CPOs 8 and 14 schedule well water testing and water workshops Who is responsible for your well water? You are! Rural res idents are usually responsible for their own drinking water and waste water disposal sys tems. OSU Extension Service in Washington County is offer ing a well water testing oppor tunity and educational program to assist well and septic tank owners in protecting their fami ly’s health, homestead invest ment and community’s water resource with proper care and maintenance. Free workshops are hosted by CPO 8 and CPO 14, on Monday, Feburary 12. One will be at the North Plains Commu nity Center from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and the other at Banks High School from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Well water tests for coliform will be offered by AM Test Labs of Tigard at a reduced price. Water for these tests must be collected in sterile jars provid ed for that purpose, and re turned to designated collection sites throughout Washington have considered. She will help County, on either Monday, Jan well owners who have had uary 22 or Wednesday, Janu tests done decipher their re ary 24, by 10:00 a.m. The bot sults. You do not have to have tles will be available at the col well testing to attend the edu lection sites listed below for cational program. It is open to two weeks before the drop-off everyone. dates. Instructions will accom Free, confidential screen pany the bottles. Water must ings of well water samples for be tested the day it is collected nitrates, acidity (pH), and dis for accurate results. Cost is solved solids will be offered to $17.00 for each test. Results those attending. Nitrate is the will be returned to the OSU Ex most common contaminant tension Service for distribution. found in well water in Oregon. On February 12, OSU Ex Collect a sample of your well tension Water Quality Educa water in a clean glass contain tor, Gail Glick Andrews, will dis er and bring it to the program. cuss simple things you can do The tests require less than a to protect your well water and cup of water. septic system and point out Drop off sites are as follows: risky behaviors you may not ACE Hardware, Forest Grove; Top Notch Feed, Hillsboro; OSU Extension Service, Wash Never be afraid to try ington County (185th & Walker, something new. Beaverton, Capital Center en trance D-1); Jim’s Supermar Remember, amateurs ket, Banks; North Plains Hard built the ark. Professionals ware; Skyline Ridge Neighbors (15000 W Skyline Blvd). built the Titanic. For more information, con- tact your local OSU Extension Service, Washington County office at 503-724-2300. Spaghetti dinner to benefit Washington, D.C. trip for students A spaghetti feed and auc tion will be held Friday, Janu ary 19, at the Harris Center of Visitation School in Verboort, to help raise funds for a trip to Washington, D.C., by sixth and seventh grade students from Visitation School in Verboort. The auction preview will be gin at 6:00 p.m., with the spaghetti dinner scheduled for 6:30 p.m. A silent auction will be held at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for children ages 4 to 10. Children under four are free. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. For further information, call David Heesacker at 503-357-9086. r B T IH L FC 75 Edger Q U A L IT Y $ STARTS A T 1599 BR400 Backpack Blower BG55 Handheld Blower ’315“ • 25.4 cc engine • 12.8 lbs. Your Banks-Manning Merchants - Specialists in Quality Service! • Dependability from turf to treetop • Depth adjustment wheel makes for easy cutting • Designed with the professional landscaper in mind s299” 036 PRO 3.75 cu. in.; 12.5 lb powerhead Easy-access air filter INTELLICARB'“ allows engine to operate longer before air filter cleaning is required Automatic oil pump with adjustable oil flow View-through gas tank B A N K S AUTO PA R TS 1 O 1 N . M A IN STREET - 5 0 3 - 3 2 4 - 1 0 6 0 Saw Shop Open M-F 8 am - 6 pm Closed Sat. 'p
