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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 2003)
The INDEPENDENT, December 4, 2003 Page 13 Special meeting of Banks City Council on Sellers Road, police levy, and city manager Mayor Bob Orlowski opened the special meeting of the Banks City Council, November 25, with the good news that de- sign for the Sellers Road re- alignment project would begin shortly. The city did not receive grant funding for the project, but the Oregon Department of Transportation has budgeted $200,000 to start the work. Ad- ditional funding will come from ODOT and the Port of Tillam- ook. Councilor Katie Murdock re- ported that many of the trees surrounding the Scout cabin have dead limbs that could pose a danger and are in need of professional attention. Mur- dock has been researching ar- borists to prune trees on Main Street and to assess the health and condition of the oaks in Boy Scout Park, and said she would bring additional informa- tion to the next meeting. She also stressed that, if the city is going to purchase and plant trees, they must provide for continued maintenance. Much of the meeting was used to discuss ideas for the maintenance and use of the Scout cabin and park. Ray Deeth, speaking as a represen- tative of three organizations – Banks Chamber of Commerce, Banks Community Foundation and the Banks Historical Soci- ety – told the council that both the historical society and the community foundation have ap- plied for status as tax-exempt organizations. He praised three young people active in the community foundation but also noted that there are many citi- zens who love their town and are willing to work for improve- ments. A town hall meeting was suggested, where all groups working on community projects could exchange ideas and in- formation, providing an oppor- tunity for everyone to learn about the activities of these or- ganizations. Deeth told council about plans for decorating the cabin and park for Christmas, including a possible visit from Santa. Kathy Jackson, histori- cal society genealogist, told council that the history of Banks belongs to the communi- ty and holds the context of the present and future. Orlowski noted that Norma Stewart and Ione Pilate, repre- senting the historical society, appeared before council earlier in the month, with an offer to manage activities in the cabin. According to Orlowski, the city does not have any formal guidelines for management of the park and budgets only a nominal amount for mainte- nance. Councilors Pete Edison and Kirk Andrews suggested that all activities in the park should be reviewed by a committee that could make recommendations for park use, maintenance, funding and long range plans. As suggested, the committee would be parallel to the Greenville Park Committee. Council agreed that, should a parks levy pass in the future, the two committees would merge, creating a single panel that would allow a broad range of community participation. Pilate and Stewart said they were interested only in the ac- tivities focused on the cabin. They would like to become a “Friends” organization, similar to the Friends of the Library, and not be required to adminis- ter all activities in the park. Or- lowski said that an organization like that could be part of a parks committee and that Pilate and Stewart would have the oppor- tunity to participate on the com- mittee. Stewart declined, say- ing that “…would not work” and left the meeting with Pilate. Council will continue the dis- cussion next month. Police levy considered Returning to ongoing council discussions of police depart- ment funding, Orlowski said that placement of a statewide tax initiative on the March ballot might draw enough local voters to meet the 50 percent-plus- one needed to pass a levy for Banks police funding. As city leaders, Orlowski said, the council needs to keep this is- sue in front of voters. He said that voters are confused about whether the levy passed, and that continued efforts are need- ed about the reason for the levy. Orlowski said that the levy, which received a high percent- age of favorable votes in both previous attempts, was 60 vot- ers short of the double majority on the first attempt and 28 vot- ers short on the second. Council President Teri Branstitre said that her initial response to the failure of the levy was a fear that voters would get “burned out” if the levy was proposed again in March. She had revised that opinion, however, and agreed that the levy may take several efforts to pass and should be kept on the ballot. A majority of people voted in favor of the levy, Edison said, and the council would be “letting those voters down” if they did not fol- low-up. Council voted, unanimously, to put the measure on the March ballot, this time as a four-year levy so future re- newals would coincide with presidential elections, when the double majority is not required. City manager studied Council appointed to a com- mittee to study the feasibility of hiring a city manager. The com- mittee, composed of Mark Ward and Wes Wingship, Councilors Pete Edison and Ryan Birr, and public works su- perintendent Tim Grossnickle, will begin meeting next week. F OR A LL Y OUR H OLIDAY N EEDS Candies • Cookies • Cards Baked Goods • Holiday Videos Holiday Decorations • Tinsel Ornaments • Lights • Candles Stocking Stuffers and More! Santa is Coming! Saturday Dec. 20th 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PRECISION UTDOOR Power Equipment H E Y K I D S ! E N T E R J I M ’ S C H R I S T M A S C O L O R I N G C O N T E S T ! ! 42425 N.W. Banks Road, Banks 660 S O . M AIN , B ANKS • 503-324-2171 Mon-Fri 8 am-6 pm 503-324-5221 Saturday 9 am-2 pm