The INDEPENDENT, January 20, 2011
Page 13
Edison, Fowler and Gregg sworn-in for new city council terms
Banks City Council hosted
the Banks Chamber of Com-
merce Holiday Lighting Contest
Awards, at their January 11
meeting. The awards were pre-
sented by Chamber Executive
Director Ray Deeth. Thirteen
applications were received for
this year’s contest, and Deeth
noted that more people are par-
ticipating each year; this is the
third year for the lighting con-
test. The business award for
first place went to the Banks
Trail Café, which received a
$50 gift certificate to Jim’s
Thriftway. The Bolle and Copp
Families each received a cre-
ativity award, and each re-
ceived a $50 gift certificate to
Jim’s Thriftway. The third place
award of $100 in gift certificates
to local businesses, was pre-
sented to the Renne Family.
The Forrest Family and the Wa-
ters Family tied for first place;
with each family receiving $125
in gift certificates to local busi-
nesses.
Fran Todd, who was unable
to attend the meeting due to liv-
ing in a snow-bound area, re-
quested that City Manager Jim
Hough receive, on her behalf,
the certificate of appreciation
for her service on the Banks
Tree Advisory Board. Hough
commented that it was a “privi-
lege” as he accepted the certifi-
cate from the mayor.
A swearing-in presentation
was held for re-elected Coun-
cilors Pete Edison, Rob Fowler
and Mark Gregg. Edison was
unanimously selected to again
serve as Council President.
Deputy Pat Chertude pre-
sented the December police re-
port showing 33 calls for serv-
ice. Reported crimes in the city
included a theft, a warrant ar-
rest, and an Identity theft.
There were 27 traffic stops with
one citation written.
Hough presented his report,
which included the following:
• The American Water Works
Association issued a public af-
fairs advisory regarding the re-
cent recommendation by the
U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services to reduce the
standard for fluoridation levels
in community drinking water
systems. Banks does not use
fluoride in their water system,
but the city will conducting a
one-time check for naturally oc-
curring fluoride and chromium
6. The city does not anticipate
finding either element in the
water system.
• The city is preparing to
draft its first-ever Water Utility
Operations & Maintenance
Manual. Bobby Edwards has
been sent to train and gather
information, with the assistance
of our “circuit rider” from the
Oregon Association of Water
Utilities (OAWU). Banks is a
member of OAWU. The city an-
ticipates finishing the project
next fall with some assistance
from Don Cushing Engineering.
• Hough attended webinar
training, along with one of the
city’s interns, on the Americans
with Disabilities Act project
Civic Access. The project is a
follow up with municipalities on
compliance with the ADA. The
intern will be preparing docu-
mentation for the city. The train-
ing was conducted by the US
Department of Justice (US-
DOJ).
• Because the city needs a
more efficient emergency notifi-
cation program, Councilor
Gregg requested that the city
meet with Larry Hatch at WCC-
CA to discuss the new system
they are in the process of pur-
chasing. The city has ex-
pressed a desire to participate
and will continue working with
Hatch as the county moves to-
ward implementation in March.
At this time there is no plan to
charge member cities for the
use of the system. The city
would need to update phone
and email data for all of its wa-
ter customers, which is a big
task, but hopes to be able to
participate sometime in the
spring.
• The city received an inter-
esting article from the New
Yorker magazine regarding en-
ergy efficiency and the dilemma
it presents. The city has incor-
porated the concept into the
Banks Sustainability Strategy
(BSS) that will be presented to
council for adoption at the Feb-
ruary 8 Banks City Council
Meeting.
• The city is working with oth-
er members of the PSWCC Op-
erations Team regarding a re-
cent Oregonian article about in-
dividual residential solar power.
This information will also be in-
corporated into the BSS.
• The second evidentiary
hearing on the UGB Expansion
will be at the next regularly
scheduled council meeting.
• The city is working with the
League of Oregon Cities to
bring Planning Commission
training to Banks as part of their
“Training to Go” program. It is
hoped that other cities in need
of Planning Commission train-
ing will join in so the training
can be conducted at a lower
cost.
• The city is working with two
interns on the Sidewalk Inven-
tory and Improvement Plan.
Council will be provided with a
briefing at their next meeting.
Citizens are being notified of
problem areas.
• The city has completed the
transfer of its Option B street-
lights to PGE under Option A.
The funds received have been
placed into Capital Reserve
Fund #13 for future capital ex-
penditures.
• The city has an opening on
the Banks Budget Committee,
which will convene on March
15.
• Tom Tuski started as the
Public Works Supervisor on De-
cember 21. Tuski will replace
Fred Evers, who is retiring.
• Senator Jeff Merkley will
hold his next Washington Coun-
ty Town Hall meeting in Banks
on Friday, January 21, at 1:00
p.m. in the Banks Fire District
#13 Training Room. Mayor John
Kinsky will host the senator.
In other business, Council:
√ Adopted an ordinance re-
vising the Banks Municipal
Code, adding food waste to the
Solid Waste Collection Fran-
chise with SWATCO. The mo-
tion carried by a 5-1 vote.
√ Unanimously adopted the
draft City of Banks Council
Guidelines and Rules 2010
document
√ Reviewed the council
committee assignments. With
one modification, council de-
clined to change assignments.
At the December 14 Council
Work Session, city staff pro-
posed purchasing a 1985 truck
with a Vactor System to share
with Cornelius. At this meeting,
council authorized city staff to
draft an IGA with Cornelius for
the purchase and maintenance
of the Vactor-truck, and to pres-
ent the draft to council at its
February 8 meeting.
The next City of Banks
Council Meeting will be held on
February 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the
Banks School District School
Board meeting room, located at
420 South Main.
www.jimsthriftway.com
At our new website you can;
View our weekly specials
Texas Rio Star
Grapefruit
• See what's on sale each week
• Get meal ideas for sale items
• Get your circular delivered in email
Create Personal Shopping lists
• Add a recipe's ingredients to your list
• Add Weekly Specials items to your list
• Email your shopping list to a friend
or family member
Browse Thousands of Recipes
• Print your favorite recipes
• Email recipes to friends & family
• See ingredients on sale with links
to Weekly Specials
4 /$1
Friday, Saturday
and Sunday Only,
1/21/11 - 1/23/11.
www.jimsthriftway.com
660 So. Main, Banks • 503-324-2171