The INDEPENDENT, December 21, 2006
Page 15
City manager hiring committee makes recommendation to council
After spending two Satur-
days interviewing potential city
managers, the hiring committee
made its recommendation to
the Banks City council at their
December 12 meeting. Council
agreed with the recommenda-
tion and asked Mayor Mike
Lyda to extend an offer to Don
Whitman, pending background
and reference checks. The
salary to be offered is $54,000.
Whitman has been a city man-
ager for about 15 years and
currently lives in Kansas.
Four candidates were inter-
viewed by panelists from the
council and the community. The
questions were scored by each
panelist and the scores aver-
aged. Whitman was clearly the
strongest candidate based on
his scores.
Council looked at possible
budget scenarios created by
City Recorder Jolynn Becker
that showed how police servic-
es could be funded at different
levels before the end of the fis-
cal year. By drawing from the
contingency fund and reallocat-
ing monies that were not going
to be expended this year, police
services can be paid for until
the levy becomes effective.
Council voted to fund police
services for 50 hours per week.
Councilor Teri Branstitre, who is
also the police commissioner,
will contact Washington County
Sheriff’s Department and start
a contract with them as soon as
possible.
Last month, council looked
at adopting a single resolution
to handle hiring contractors in
emergency situations and for
jobs under $5000. Council de-
cided this month to make two
separate resolutions, both of
which passed as written.
Councilor Jason Short told
council that parks committee
president Christy Greagor had
met with the Banks Community
Foundation and that they are
pursuing fundraising to install a
play structure in Greenville
Park. It is not yet determined
how bidding and construction
will be handled. Maintenance of
the structure and how to trans-
fer ownership of the project to
the city are also being looked
at. Councilor Pete Edison pro-
posed that it was time for the
city to take over the park from
the Arbor Village Homeowner’s
Association. This option will be
looked at again.
Fred Evers received an eval-
uation and council voted to in-
crease his pay. His job descrip-
tion is being revised to reflect
Washington County takes debris
From page 14
Storm debris is still impacting
some rural roads. High water
remains on some county road-
ways. Fog and icy conditions
have challenged travelers in
Washington County recently.
Roadway users are advised to
proceed with extreme caution.
Updated road and lane clo-
sures are posted on the Wash-
ington County Roads Web site:
www.wc-roads.com.
his increased responsibilities.
He has become certified in Wa-
ter Distribution 2 and can now
oversee the whole of the water
system for the city.
Council also voted to in-
crease Becker’s pay.
Interior repairs and painting
at the library have been com-
pleted, the council was told.
Some of the roof repairs have
been made and some of the ex-
terior painting has been done.
Contractors are waiting for an-
other significant dry spell to
complete the work.
Council reviewed a chronol-
ogy and plan of action from the
planning commission regarding
the Maddie Kay Café. The Café
continues to keep its garbage
dumpster in a location that
does not comply with what the
planning commission had ap-
proved. The Café has also
failed to screen equipment on
the roof, as required by the
commission. The planning
commission intends to institute
legal proceedings to enforce
compliance, including legal ac-
tion. Once the city has police
services again, the citations
can be filed.
Council approved a liquor li-
cense application from the
OLCC made by Oriental Gar-
den Inc. The restaurant will be
located in the shopping center
and is asking for a full on-prem-
ises sales license. James
Kwong, the restaurant owner,
will meet with the planning
commission next month. The
restaurant is scheduled to open
in February.
Water rights lawyer Colm
Moore updated council on
progress made on the city’s
water rights. He recommends
that the city hire a licensed hy-
drologist to look at ground wa-
ter levels because the state
previously rejected a ground-
water application from the city
due to declining ground water
levels.
The city should receive a
certificate for their water right to
the springs in the next few
weeks. This will replace the
current permit and make the
water right permanent.
Another scene that was replayed all around the area after the
recent storm is this one of linemen working on downed wires.
HAVE A
HOLIDAY
Wishing you a Wondrous Holiday Season
and a Happy New Year
SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 66 YEARS
Forest Grove Honda
3619 Pacific Ave. Forest Grove
(877) 500-7300 or ( 503) 357-7300
2008 Main Street • Forest Grove • 503-357-6011
M-F 8:30-5:30 • Sat 8:30-5:00 • Closed Sunday