The INDEPENDENT, July 3, 2003
Page 11
Duckworth appointed to council; police levy will go to voters again
In addition to discussion of
the Parks Maintenance Agree
ment, as reported in the June
19 issue of The INDEPEN
DENT, Banks City Council con
ducted other business at their
meeting June 17. The council is
now back to full strength, with
the appointment of Heidi Duck
worth to fill the council position
vacated by Brock Banks (who
moved to Idaho).
Mayor Bob Orlowski report
ed that W ashington County
Sheriff
Ron
Gordon
ap
proached him last month about
the prospect of Banks and
North Plains sharing a Wash
ington County deputy as police
chief for both cities. Gordon’s
proposal required both cities to
participate because each would
pay half of the salary. Accord
ing to Orlowski, North Plains
declined to participate, citing
reasons of local control and the
importance of the chief’s day-
to-day presence. Banks council
members expressed sim ilar
concerns. Since North Plains
had already declined to partici
pate, no action was needed
from Banks.
Council discussed the failure
of the police levy, which re
ceived a majority of “yes" votes,
■■■■■■■■■■■■■
M ain S treet A ppliances
Sales & Service Guaranteed
S toves • W ashers • D ryers
R efrigerators • F reeiers
BRING IN THIS AD FOR 10% OFF
Possible Pickup & Delivery
Discount Prices in Banks
180 S. M ain S treet * B anks
503-324-0997
S trassei ' s A uto R epair
& H ydraulic H oses
2-4-6 S piral W ire
F lange H ead • S uction H oses
A daptors - 3/16” to 2”
B ulk O il P roducts
276 S unset , B anks
503 324 9808
SUNSET
LA U N D R Y
W ash...$ 1 .0 0
D ry...250
180 S. M ain St.
B a rk s , Oregon
but lost because only 42.8 per
cent of registered voters cast
ballots. To pass, the levy need
ed a “double majority,” with at
least 50 percent of registered
voters casting at least 50 per
cent of their ballots in favor of
the measure.
Orlowski told council that
there is a definite reduction in
police service, though officers
are trying to meet the city’s
needs. In addition, city recorder
Debbie Deegan is taking care
of much of the paperwork.
While going door-to-door before
the election, Orlowski told the
council, he found that most
people believed the levy was
for an increase in police fund
ing, although it would only con
tinue funding at the current lev
el. Council voted to place the
levy on the September ballot.
Councilor Ryan Birr reported
that the allocation of the next
three years of federal discre
tionary money is being dis
cussed by the W ashington
County Coordinating Commit
tee (WCCC). According to Birr,
the smaller cities will receive lit
tle of these funds, with the bulk
of the dollars going to support
large projects in the metropoli
tan area.
After considerable reword
ing, council accepted an ordi
nance requiring their approval
for the maximum number of
hours an employee may work
and the benefits package they
may receive. During the 2002-
2003 fiscal year two library em-
¿joy Jim's
11 AM - 6 PM
ployees reached the threshold
for participation in the Public
Employees Retirement System
(PERS). Orlowski proposed the
ordinance as a way to limit “un
expected and uncontrollable
expenses.” Councilor Kirk An
drews urged the council to
meet with all current employ
ees to discuss compensation
packages. Future employees
will be informed of limitations at
the time of employment.
Council member Teri Brand-
stitre told council that, after
evaluating different insurance
plans, the amount budgeted
appears to be sufficient to offer
a modest increase in employee
health benefits. Brandstitre and
Orlowski will meet with the
city’s insurance broker. A deci
sion on coverage will be made
next month.
In other business, council:
• Took no action on a request
for funds from Little Guy Foot
ball.
• Approved hiring Debby
Brown as Water Clerk.
• Approved the sale of a
1993 Ford Crown Victoria and
a 32” TV stand as surplus
equipment.
• Approved a request to hire
two on-call library clerks.
• Reappointed Ed Ohlman to
the Library Commission.
Approved a 5 percent salary
increase for the city recorder.
• Continued an abatement
determination until a police offi
cer could inform council about
compliance.
• Approved application for a
special city allotment grant for
resurfacing Oak Way.
• Approved a resolution to
adopt the budget, make appro
priations, and levy taxes for the
2003-2004 fiscal year.
Leadership training program is opportunity for Banks
The Ford Family Institute for
Community Building has se
lected Banks as a recipient for
their “Ford Community Leader
ship Program” (FCLP). FCLP
is an intensive training that will
be conducted over four two-day
sessions in Banks, plus a two-
day Conference of Communi
ties, which will be held in Cen
tral Oregon.
Starting this fall, this will be a
wonderful
opportunity
for
around 20 community mem
bers, ages 14-74, to increase
their skills in communication,
conflict management, project
management, resource devel
opment, volunteer recruitment
and more. The training session
will be facilitated by Rural De
velopment Initiatives (RDI),
which recently co-facilitated the
Banks Strategic Planning pro-
B-B-Q
E very F riday a S aturday
lf2 Chicken
or Beef Rib
Dinner
$C 5O • , „
□
...includes
Potato Salad, BBQ Beans £r Dinner Roll
Sentry
■■■suPMMMKnaHr
...and see us for
all o f your
Summer •*>
Picnic Essentials Jji
660 So. M ain , B anks • 503-324-2171
cess with Laurel Schweitzer,
Banks’ R.A.R.E. member.
In addition to an estimated
$5000 worth of free training,
Banks will also have the oppor
tunity to apply for a grant of up
to $10,000 from the Ford Fam
ily Foundation, for a community
project.
An Advisory Committee,
consisting of representatives
from the Banks City Council,
Planning Commission, Cham
ber of Commerce and School
District, is currently forming to
nominate emerging community
leaders. Once they have been
invited to apply, the chosen
community members will send
their applications to the Ford
Family Institute, where the final
decision will be made on who
will be involved. Training will
begin in September.
The timing of the leadership
training couldn’t be more per
fect, as a group of about 20
community members just com
pleted a Community Strategic
Plan in late June. With goals
such as “Obtain economic
growth through environmental
ly clean industry” and “Enhance
lifelong learning opportunities
in the Banks Community", the
plan also lays out strategies
and detailed action plans to
reach the goals. Armed with
leadership training skills, many
of these emerging leaders will
be better prepared to carry out
the actions in the Plan.
Musicians invited
to join new band
The W estern W ashington
County Com m unity Band is
starting up in the fall. Weekly
rehearsals will be on Monday
evenings, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., in
the Banks High School band
room. The first rehearsal will be
Monday, September 22. High
school age and older are wel
come.
For more information, call
Mariana Peters at 503-324-
2021 or <tmpeters<® teleport
com> by July 1.
□ s
■ L
-I
BANKS
' M IN I STORAGE
Ask about our
Clock Er Lock Giveaway!"
Pay 3 months and get 4th month FREE!
Ask about our Long Term Lease rates
Specials available for a limited time
We can honestly say...
"We have the lowest rates in town!"
Gates Operate Daily 7 AM - 9 AM
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9 AM-6 PM, Sat 8 AM-Noon
140 NW O ak
W a y B anks
• 503-324-0552