The INDEPENDENT, February 19, 2009
Page 13
Banks City Council told about changes to Hwy. 47 speed zones
Virginia Peterson was sworn
in as Banks Municipal Court
Judge at the February 10
Banks City Council meeting.
Peterson’s family attended the
swearing-in ceremony. Accord-
ing to Peterson, she has been
meeting with the city’s staff in
an effort to streamline the
process when Banks Municipal
Court holds its first court ses-
sion on March 18. Upon leaving
she thanked the city for this op-
portunity.
Deputy Jim Rue presented
the police activity report, which
included three arrests, 27 calls
for service, 45 traffic stops and
11 citations in January.
Sgt. Bob Ray reported on
the pipe bomb threat that oc-
curred prior to school starting
on February 6 at Banks Junior
High School. According to Ray,
a juvenile appears to be re-
sponsible. The bomb threat call
came from the pay phone at
Jim’s Thriftway, Ray said, and
images from a security camera
are being looked at. Additional-
ly, fingerprints were obtained
from the payphone and inter-
views are underway. The sher-
iff’s office followed their bomb
threat protocol, which includes
assistance of the Oregon State
Police and Portland Bomb
Squad. Highway 47 and the
junior high were closed for
about two hours while the area
was searched.
City Manager Jim Hough
presented the following infor-
mation:
• The joint City Council/Plan-
ning Commission work session
in January went well; there will
be a future meeting on March
30. The first community review
meeting will be held in the
Banks Elementary Cafeteria on
April 8.
• The first year of the in-
dexed annual water rate adjust-
ment showed that the 1.1 per-
cent increase raised customers
bills was a couple of cents.
• Clean Water Services
(CWS) requested a letter of
support from the City of Banks
for the Tualatin Basin Water
Supply Project and the Tualatin
Project Title Transfer Project.
CWS will be sending the letters
of support to the entire con-
gressional delegation. Hough
presented a draft letter for
council’s review.
• The Oregon Department of
Environment Quality (DEQ) has
asked the city to comment on
the soon-to-be-adopted Re-
gional Solid Waste Manage-
ment Plan. Rich Weitzel from
SWATCO suggested that the
city provide comments. Hough
had a draft letter for council re-
view.
• Mayor John Kinsky gave a
few highlights about Mayors
Day in Salem, including that
“…we have very knowledge-
able representation at the state
level. (Rep.) Deborah Boone
knows the area; she could ac-
tually point out streets and ad-
dresses. She is very informed
on Banks issues.”
• Hough commented that
“the stimulus package discus-
sions are moving quickly at the
County, Metro, and state levels;
it remains to be seen if any of
the stimulus gets to Banks.”
• The Declaration of Aspira-
tions that council adopted has
been well received by most, if
not all, of the people who have
reviewed it.
• Hough expects that a deci-
sion will be made in April on the
Reserves Coordinating Com-
mittee in identifying a potential
S TRASSEL ’ S A UTO R EPAIR
& H YDRAULIC H OSES
Custom Hand Crafted
Yard Ornaments,
Fences & Decks
2-4-6 S PIRAL W IRE
S UCTION H OSES
A DAPTORS - 3/16” TO 2”
A MERICAN & M ETRIC F ITTINGS
B ULK O IL P RODUCTS
276 S UNSET , B ANKS
503-324-9808
Kustom
rd Klutte
a
Y WAI Inc. r
Judge Virginia Peterson is shown during her swearing-in ceremony at the Banks City Coun-
cil meeting. The first day of court will be March 18.
candidate for the urban re-
serves, and a potential candi-
date for the rural reserves. The
committee is working vigorous-
ly on identifying the potential
candidates.
• Portland General Electric
(PGE) will begin installing re-
mote reading meters in Banks
around April. The company
hopes to complete the project
by November.
• The speed zones on High-
way 47 have been revised. The
changes will be as follows: 500
feet north of Banks Road to 250
feet north of Oak Way will be
designated as 25 mph exclud-
ing school zones, which will re-
main at 20 mph. From 250 feet
Just the finest in
collision repair
north of Oak Way to 100 feet
south of Wilkesboro Road will
be posted at 40 mph; from 100
feet south of Wilkesboro Road
to one-tenth of a mile south of
Dierickx Road will have a 50
mph designation.
After asking council to take
note of the interior of city hall,
Hough said that the rain dam-
age to city hall was bad news.
The good news was that insur-
ance covered the entire claim,
with the city paying only its
$500 deductible. The work in-
cluded roof repair, new insula-
tion, paint, and lowering the
ceiling panels. Hough credited
City Recorder Jolynn Becker
for cautioning the city not to
redo anything before talking to
the insurance company.
Ray Deeth, of the Banks
Chamber of Commerce, read a
proclamation that designated
March 2009 as American Le-
gion Month. The American Le-
Please see page 14
Why Did We Remodel
Our Produce Department?
Because when it comes to fruits and
vegetables Big Al is always looking for ways
to improve your shopping experience.
With our newly remodeled produce
department you’ll find an even better
selection of fresh, quality produce.
One thing hasn’t changed, if you don’t see
what you’re looking for just ask Big Al.
Mark Hamm
503-324-7317
or 503-319-5228
330A S Main St.,Banks
CCB#164221
No Custom Work
CHERRY
PRODUCTS
Auto Body & Paint
1875 E. Baseline
Cornelius
503-359- 5993
660 So. Main, Banks • 503-324-2171