The INDEPENDENT, June 18, 2009
Page 13
Banks City Council hears from citizens on Gun Club and UGB
Banks City Council heard
from several citizens at their
June 9 meeting. David Duyck
spoke regarding the temporary
closure of the Sunset Park Gun
Club’s shooting range and con-
cerns about lead that is landing
in a neighboring field. Accord-
ing to Duyck, testing on lead in
the ground concluded that in
the “sweet spot” lead is about
six inches deep. Samples were
taken at three-inch increments.
The club has located a compa-
ny that will collect the lead for
scrap, at little to no cost. Duyck
said that the park needs to in-
crease in size.
Dale Evers appeared to
comment on the Urban Growth
Boundary Expansion (UGB)
project. Among several con-
cerns about expanding to the
west, were that he did not want
the expansion to disrupt or re-
duce the value of Sunset Park
and the standard of living of the
people around the park. Addi-
tionally, he said that the land
west of Hwy. 47 is a flood plain,
“the ground is wet and not de-
sirable, with springs all around.
I have got my swather stuck out
there in the middle of June.”
Evers also questioned expand-
ing to the east, and whether a
new housing development near
the already established 15
year-old development might af-
fect the value of those houses.
Another eastside concern re-
garded safe traffic access into
a new development off Main
Street, with three schools and a
park. “Get to know your devel-
oper,” Evers told Council. “The
developer who owns that land
is not a real good neighbor to
the city – he is a multi-million-
aire who the city could not af-
ford to litigate with – ask North
Plains and be smart and cau-
tious about the developer you
choose.”
Christine Fore, of Banks
Ford Family Foundation Lead-
ership, appeared to discuss the
Main Street pennant project.
Fore asked to be put on the
agenda for next month’s meet-
ing so council can make some
decisions about insurance, vol-
unteer files, scheduling of cal-
endar changes between the
city and the chamber, and to
establish the organization and
transmission of reports with up-
date maintenance for the next
five to ten years. Fore also sub-
mitted a draft time-line and
budget.
Banks is looking for a com-
pany to complete work on sig-
nage for the city, and received
signage samples and a DVD
presentation on prison pro-
grams and quality of workman-
ship from a representative for
the Oregon Corrections Enter-
prises “Inside the Wall”. The
representative was unable to
attend the city council meeting;
no decision has yet been
made.
Deputy Tran reported on law
enforcement activity in the city
for the past two months. In April
the Sheriff’s office received 33
calls for service, made three ar-
rests, initiated 35 traffic stops
and wrote 17 citations. In May,
there were 42 calls for service,
one arrest, 32 traffic stops and
19 citations.
Tran told council that he,
Deputy Woods and two re-
serves will be in the city during
the Banks BBQ. The Fourth of
July will likely be a busy time in
Banks, as well, as Banks was
reported to be the only place in
Washington County with fire-
works this year.
City Manger Jim Hough pro-
vided information on several
subjects:
– The Washington County
Reserves Coordinating Com-
mittee has endorsed scaling
down the urban reserves study
area, and is beginning to re-
view specific properties for rec-
ommendation to the Metro Re-
serves Steering Committee.
– The City of Banks was no-
tified that its application for an
ODOT Small Cities Economic
Stimulus Program Grant was
declined.
– Cameron Crop instituted
an open records request re-
garding his past water bill; his
water bill has been paid up to
date.
– The city is proceeding with
upgrades and replacement of
parking markings on the south
side of Depot Street.
– Washington County Oper-
ations and Maintenance Divi-
See Council, page 14
6-30/09
S TRASSEL ’ S A UTO R EPAIR
& H YDRAULIC H OSES
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
6/30/09
For Father’s Day
Help Dad
with the yard
Get him a
Stihl Trimmer
Prices starting at $149.95
PRECISION OUTDOOR
POWER EQUIPMENT
Banks Hardware
503-324-5221 • 150 N. Main Street, Banks
FS 55
Versatile,
straight-shaft
trimmer and
brushcutter
for consumer
or light-duy
professional use.
Mon - Fri 8am to 6pm
Saturday 8am to 5pm
Sunday 10am to 4pm