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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2007)
The INDEPENDENT, March 15, 2007 Page 15 City manager search must start over, Kemper is new councilor The City of Banks is looking for a city manager, again, as the selected candidate backed out of his contract when his cur- rent employer made a last- minute better offer. Donald Whitman was to have started work March 5. Council decided at their March 13 meeting to ini- tiate a new candidate search immediately. Council considered a reso- lution on proposed changes to the city charter that was to be presented to voters at the next election. A tie vote regarding approval of the changes was broken by Mayor Teri Bran- stitre, who voted no, so the proposed changes will not go to voters in the next election. Council will look at proposed changes again next month so it can be on the ballot in Sep- tember. Three applications were re- ceived for the empty council seat, from Ron Kemper, Ryan Birr and Doug Walters. Council appointed Ron Kemper, who was sworn in and sat in on the rest of the meeting. Kemper is a long-time resident of Banks and has a work background in water services. Council had the first reading of an ordinance regarding ag- gressive panhandling. This or- dinance comes about as part of the codification process and is an example of how begging can be dealt with without com- promising freedom of speech. Council will have a second reading and vote on the ordi- nance next month. An ordinance regarding the discharge of firearms in the city was read for a second time and was approved. Council also discussed whether to adopt a policy regarding replica firearms. No decision was made and council will read Beaverton’s policy and discuss the issue again next month. Ray Deeth, president of the Banks Chamber of Commerce presented several budget vari- ations with differing contribu- tions from the city. Council will see if funding can be provided during the budget process which starts next week. Branstitre announced a con- test for students called “If I were Mayor. . .” Council decid- ed to sponsor the contest on a local level. The contest will be open to middle school, high school and high school/college students. Middle school stu- dents will create a poster ad- dressing the topic. High school students will write an essay or participate in the final category, which is a video or PowerPoint presentation. One winner from each category will advance to the state level. Top prize at the state level is a new laptop com- puter. Local level prizes will be determined. Council renewed its contract with City Attorney Jim Lucas for an additional year. Lucas con- tinues to charge the city a dis- counted rate from his private rate, although his fee will in- crease to $150 hour. Mel Clark, president of Sun- set Park Association, updated council on progress in finishing the bioswale. A contractor has been hired to place dirt, rock and mulch, and plant trees and shrubs. The park association will plant grass. Work should be completed in the next month, which meets the city’s deadline. Welcome Additions Asher David Boothe Long-time Banks resident Ron Kemper is the newest Banks city councilor. His was sworn in at the March 7 meeting. and of the Historical Society, in- formed council about changes that may be made in how monies for the promotion of tourism in Washington County are distributed. He said that Banks should receive some funds. These funds could be used to establish a visitors’ center in Log Cabin Park and to provide a display at the new Stubb Stewart State Park. Branstitre told council that 14 responses had been re- ceived from the request for pro- posals for a new city engineer. This list was narrowed to four by including only companies with appropriate experience. Councilors will hear a presenta- tion by each of the four compa- nies prior to making a decision. Christine Fore, head of the Banks Library Commission, and library director Denise Holmes spoke to council about their budget situation. Fore said that although the levy passed last fall will bring some addi- tional income starting in July, the library is still low on funds. Providing the additional hours of service that have been re- quested and that were part of the levy, will put the library in the red without city interven- tion. Fore also showed that oth- er libraries in the system re- ceive 30-90 percent of their funding from local sources. In contrast, the Banks library re- ceives less than 10 percent of their budget from the city. Fore Action Ads INEXPENSIVE – EFFECTIVE 503-429-9410 Open Everyday 6am - 8pm Main Street, Banks OR 503-324-2424 Asher David Boothe was born February 7, 2007, to David and Shelly Boothe of Banks. He weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Grandparents are Calvin and Debi Kotila of Hillsboro and Charles and Linda Woodland of Sun Valley. Great-grandparents are Tony and Jean Vandehey of Roy, Hank and Helen Koleh- mainen of Portland, Dovie Boothe of Sheffield and Hilda Woody of Decatur. Jim’s 37th Anniversary Sale! Hot Dog or Soda op .25¢ Friday & Saturday, March 16 & 17, 11am to 6pm Proceeds to benefit Bank’s Boy Scout Troop #581 Spin & Win! Play Wheel of Fortune & Win a Prize! Saturday, March 23 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Win Door Prizes! Drawings for door prizes Friday, March 23, at 6:00 p.m. $4.50 for the first 10 words, then just 10¢ for each additional word 660 So. Main, Banks • 503-324-2171