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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2008)
The INDEPENDENT, June 5, 2008 Page 17 Banks Council agrees with Planning Comm. on Sellers Rd. change A public hearing was held before council at the May 13 Banks City Council meeting. The hearing was held to hear an appeal of the Banks Plan- ning Commission’s decision on March 4, 2008, to approve a proposed realignment of NW Sellers Road on property at 42425 NW Banks Road in the General Industrial Zone. Shell M. Sheldon, of Shel- don Oil Company, who was ap- pealing the decision, was rep- resented by attorney Dean Al- terman. Washington County, which proposed the alignment, was represented by County Counsel Lorrie Skurdahl, Pro- ject Planner Matt Meier, and Rob Saxton, County Survey- ing/Engineer Design. In addition to oral arguments and exhibits, citizen testimony was offered. Matt Pihl, who owns and operates Pihl Exca- vating, commended Wash- ington County for making ac- commodations to the realign- ment project after he brought some concerns to them. Pihl, “[I] don’t see our vehicles being able to use Sheldon Fuel Sta- tion,” Pihl testified, because the low-boy truck cannot make the sharp turn without the extra ac- cess point that is available at the Shell station on NW Banks Road. Tom Maller, truck driver for Pihl Excavating, added that the current outlet is tight with a dump truck. Sheldon commented that commercial use averages 48 accounts daily for log trucks, agricultural trucks, dump trucks, etc. Sheldon said his concerns are twofold – safety for truck drivers making sharp turns and that, without the ac- cess onto NW Banks Road, the loss of commercial accounts to his station. Marion Stinebach, a long time resident of Banks, who said she observes many large vehicles using the filling station during her night-time walks, noted that citizens complain about how horrible the intersec- tion is at NW Banks Road/Sell- ers Road and Hwy 47 but, ex- cluding the one recent acci- dent, there have not been acci- dents at that “horrible intersec- tion; I can’t imagine what it will be like with the realignment.” Depending on the city’s deci- sion, said Joe Younkins, Wash- ington County Project Delivery, if the access management plan is not upheld and ODOT takes over, the city and Washington County will lose all control. Al- ternatively, council can uphold the Planning Commission’s de- cision and Washington County will work with the city to devel- op workable ideas. At the conclusion of the hearing, the packed city hall room remained quiet as the au- dience listened and waited pa- tiently for council to carefully deliberate all aspects of “public convenience and safety.” After much consideration, Council President Pete Edison moved to uphold the Planning Com- mission’s decision with a strong recommendation that ODOT consider using lights for the railroad crossing, instead of in- stalling gates. The motion car- ried, with Councilor Craig Stew- art in opposition. Deborah Deegan was sworn in as a city councilor. City Recorder Jolynn Becker admin- istered the oath. Mayor Teri Branstitre pro- claimed the week of May 18-24 as Emergency Medical Ser- vices Week. Branstitre encour- aged the community to recog- nize those who provide lifesav- ing care and medical services to those in need 24 hours a day – seven days a week. She not- ed that quality emergency care improves the survival and re- covery rate of those who expe- rience sudden illness or injury. and spoke of the thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education of physicians, emergency nurses, technicians, paramedics, fire- fighters, educators, administra- tors, and others involved in emergency medical care. JD Fuiten, General Manager of Metro West Ambulance and Metro West Paramedic Spencer Oliver presented a certificate of appreciation to Mayor Branstitre for the City of Banks. Deputy Tran reported that Washington County received 31 calls for service in Banks, there were four arrests and 36 traffic stops resulted in 12 cita- tions. Tran commented that crime in the city seems to occur between 12:00 midnight and 4:00 a.m. so he will be adjust- ing his schedule in an effort to provide wider coverage. Tran said that three burgla- ries are under investigation. Two of them, he believes, are youth related (stolen X-Box 360 and Lap Top Computer in one of them; a break-in and theft of $850 worth of pop and candy in the other); the third burglary in- volved theft of power tools. He added that detectives have some leads. Other incidents included dis- tribution of controlled sub- stances, an assault at Banks High School, graffiti at the Shell Station, and shoplifting at Jim’s Thriftway. Banks Administrative Assis- tant Angie Lanter outlined work on a plan to improve parking, distributed a packet of photos with information on signage and painting, and recommen- dations for council considera- tion. Lanter has been working on the project with Fred Evers of Banks Public Works and has been using the project as a “community awareness” issue with residents. City Manager Jim Hough commented to council that “we want to show you how proud we are – are we heading in the right direction?” Edison cau- tioned to “not be overzealous but I charge you to enhance community and not take away.” Council expressed approval with the work Lanters and Evers have done so far. Former city councilor Jason Short was appointed to the Greenville City Park Manage- ment Committee. The next council meeting will be June 10 at 7:30 p.m. Deborah Deegan took the oath of office to become a Banks City Councilor at the May 13 council meeting. June 15 will be the last day this year for backyard burning in Banks. Public notice will be given when burning can be re- sumed, sometime in the fall. Get Dad Some Power For Father’s Day! Just the finest in collision repair No Custom Work CHERRY PRODUCTS Auto Body & Paint 1875 E. Baseline Cornelius 503-359- 5993 PRECISION OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT Banks Hardware 503-324-5221 • 150 N. 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