The INDEPENDENT, February 5, 2004
Page 13
Slim likelihood of improvements to deteriorating Hwy. 47 in Banks
At the request of the Banks
City Council, Ron Kroop, who is
Manning District Manager for
the Oregon Department of
Transportation, explained at
the January 13 meeting how
his department operates and
discussed the possibility of
resurfacing Highway 47 in
Banks.
The Manning region con-
tains about 470 miles of urban,
suburban and rural highways
and, according to Kroop,
Highway 47 in Banks has not
had a “contract scope” project
in approximately 40 years. In
Washington County, funding for
this type of project usually goes
through the county coordinat-
ing committee, and it is not
scheduled until 2009.
However, Kroop told the
council, during the last legisla-
tive session, an unfunded job-
creation initiative was passed
that looks at highway mainte-
nance as a way to create jobs.
Kroop explained that the
legislative emergency board,
which allocates funds when the
legislature is not in session,
might provide some funding for
the program. If funded, it could
include
resurfacing
the
highway in Banks and begin as
early as summer 2004.
Vehicle miles traveled in
Oregon have grown dramatical-
ly and funding for maintenance
and repair of the system has
been out of balance, Kroop told
the council, until the recent
passage of a $50 million per
Public hearings scheduled on
Disability, Aging, Vet Services
The Washington County
Disability, Aging and Veteran
Services Advisory Councils will
conduct two public hearings on
the 2004 – 2005 Area Plan
Amendment to allow communi-
ty input in planning services for
people with disabilities, se-
niors, and veterans in Washing-
ton County. The Department
will receive comments from the
public on advocacy, administra-
tion, coordination, outreach
activities, as well as Medicaid
and non-Medicaid services for
transportation, congregate and
home delivered meals, in-home
services, abuse investigation,
and protective services.
Both meetings will be held
February 18; the first will be 10
to 11:30 a.m. in the Beaverton
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City Hall Council Chambers at
4755 SW Griffith Drive. The
second meeting will be 2:00 to
3:30 p.m. in the Linda Earle
Room at the Forest Grove Se-
nior Center, 2037 Douglas St.
A synopsis of the Area Plan
Amendment will be available at
the hearings. It may be
obtained at the Beaverton,
Hillsboro and Tigard offices of
the Disability, Aging and Veter-
an Services, or at the depart-
ment’s administration office at
133 SE Second Avenue, Hills-
boro, or by phoning Sue
Becraft at 503-615-4653.
Written testimony will be
accepted.
For special accommodation
needs, call Ms. Becraft or TTY,
call 503-640-3489 and ask for
Ms. Becraft.
year bond for road improve-
ment. He concluded by saying
that most of the system was
designed and built in the 1950s
and ‘60s and that bridges, in
particular, were not designed to
handle the present capacity.
Audit
Dennis Conner gave the city
a glowing audit report for the
2002-2003 fiscal year, telling
the council that he was gratified
to see the progress that has
been made in the last several
years to achieve $254,000
general fund balance. Conner
complimented the public works
department for being careful
with their fund and reported no
problems with the U.S.D.A.
report required for the federal
loan used for water system
improvements. According to
Conner, the general fund, traffic
impact fund and system devel-
opment fund had more money
at the end of the fiscal year
than anticipated, though the
water fund was slightly short.
Mayor Robert Orlowski said
that he and public works direc-
tor Tim Grossnickle were
working to resolve the issue.
Orlowski also said that the
police fund was just short of
being self-sustaining, with only
25 percent of the department’s
budget provided from the
general fund.
Library Bond
Harry Bodine, a retired
Oregonian editor, gave a brief
presentation for People for
Libraries. Bodine is organizing
support for a library bond that
will appear on the May ballot.
Passage of the bond would
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increase revenue for the Banks
library by about $19,000. The
committee is looking for six
volunteers to assist in efforts to
pass the bond, Bodine said,
and reminded everyone that
donations of up to $50 per
person ($100 if filing jointly) to
this type of political action
committee are eligible for a
state income tax credit.
City Trees
Following up on concerns
about the condition and care of
trees in the city, and after
reviewing several arborists and
talking to other cities, Councilor
Katie Murdoch recommended
that the city contract with David
Hunter. Murdoch said she was
impressed with Hunter because
of his conservative and
thoughtful approach to meeting
the city’s goals within the avail-
able budget.
Hunter told the council that
the mature stand of oak trees
around the scout cabin has a
minimal number of dead limbs
large enough to cause dam-
age. According to Hunter, a
mature stand probably does
have disease but acts as a unit
to prevent the failure of individ-
ual trees. He recommended
pruning in high-use areas and
removing wood chip mulch
from the base of the trees to
allow them to dry out, stopping
insect damage and potential
access for disease. He will
examine the trees while pru-
ning and inform council of any
I S YOUR
WORK
WEAR
MADE
IN THE
U.S.A.?
WN DERBY
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Est. 1935
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Rest aurant
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Fri-Sat 4 :3 0 P.M. - 10 P.M.
findings. Hunter recommended
regular maintenance, at least
every two years, and watching
for tree failure, but said he saw
no need for an injection or root
disease treatment. He esti-
mates the age of the scout
cabin trees from 95 to 175
years old. Additional work
needed, Hunter explained, is
pruning the trees along the
highway for proper street and
sidewalk clearance, safety and
appearance. One tree near the
scout cabin needs to be re-
moved and another may need
removal if pruning cannot
improve its appearance.
Orlowski told the council that
state law allows the city to
award contracts without a bid
process if they are under
$5,000. He also assured
council members that he and
Murdoch had looked at several
contractors
and
checked
Hunter’s references. Council
awarded a $1,125.00 contract
to Hunter.
Liquor license renewals
were approved for Banks
Billiards, Brown Derby, Main
Street Pizza and Jim’s Market.
Alcohol related problems at
Sunset Park were discussed
but no decisions were made.
Council met briefly January
21 in executive session to
consult with their attorney
concerning potential litigation.
They also approved initiation of
eminent domain proceedings to
acquire an easement for the
city’s water system.
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