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
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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.
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