The INDEPENDENT, April 21, 2011
Page 13
Banks Council hears Mayor proclaim April 22 as Banks Earth Day
by Jodi Boylan
Several ceremonial presen-
tations and proclamations start-
ed the April 12 meeting of the
Banks City Council.
Kristin Ramsted, from the
Oregon Department of Fores-
try, presented the City of Banks
with a Banner, an award, and a
Tree City USA “5th Year” stick-
er in recognition of the city’s
achievements as recipient of a
Tree City USA recertification
award. According to Ramsted,
for a city to obtain Tree City
USA status, a community must
adopt a tree ordinance, appoint
a board, department, or com-
mission to advise the city on
the tree issues, spend $2 per
capita on community forestry
activities, and hold an Arbor
Day celebration.
Mayor John Kinsky, upon re-
ceiving the award, proclaimed
Tuesday, April 26, 2011, as Ar-
bor Day in the City of Banks.
Arbor Day was first observed
with the planting of more than a
million trees in Nebraska, 139
years ago, and is now ob-
served throughout the world.
The City of Banks, Kinsky
read, is known for its numerous
and beautiful trees, and he
urged all citizens to care for
their trees, recognizing the val-
ue that trees add to our city,
state, and country. In celebra-
tion of this effort, all citizens are
invited to attend a tree-planting
discussion at the Banks Public
Library, at 7:00 p.m. on April 26,
to increase the community’s
understanding of trees and
their place in our environment.
Next, proclaiming Friday,
April 22 as Banks Earth Day,
Kinsky encouraged citizens to
support Banks Elementary
School sixth grade students in
their quest to participate in the
Green School Program. Earth
Day was first held on April 22,
1970 and has been celebrated
annually as a recommitment to
the goals of a healthy environ-
ment in a sustainable world.
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The city acknowledges the
Banks Elementary School sixth
grade students’ desire to partic-
ipate in the Green School pro-
gram by conducting recycling
training as an Earth Day cele-
bration. Kinsky presented the
Earth Day Proclamation certifi-
cate to Banks Elementary
School sixth grade teacher
Shannon Dotson.
Jeff Mathia of Metro West
presented Mayor Kinsky with a
plaque, and thanked the city for
their participation in Emergency
Medical Services. Kinsky Pro-
claimed the week of May 15-21
as Emergency Medical Ser-
vices week in the City of Banks,
noting that Emergency Medical
Services are vital to the com-
munity, and the members of
emergency medical service are
ready to provide lifesaving care
to those in need 24 hours a
day, seven days a week. This
year’s National theme, “Every-
day Heroes“ underscores the
commitment and dedication of
EMS providers.
The next proclamation, for
National Community Develop-
ment Week, April 25-30, was
for recognition of the Communi-
ty Development Block Grant
(CDBG) program, enacted into
law by President Gerald Ford
as the centerpiece of the Hous-
ing and Community Develop-
ment Act of 1974.
The City of Banks, with
$1,418,301 in CDBG funds
since 1979, has provided hous-
ing rehabilitation, neighborhood
revitalization, addition or ex-
pansion of community facilities
and shelters, and physical re-
development. The funding has
been reduced in recent years
and this reduction has had a
profound impact on the City of
Banks by eliminating improve-
ment to our roads and infra-
structure, and community build-
ings. The City of Banks encour-
ages all citizens to join in ex-
pressing support for the Com-
munity Development Block
Grant Program.
With the advice and support
of the City Council, Kinsky pro-
claimed May 1-7, as National
Drinking Water Week in the
City of Banks and called upon
the citizens of Banks to ob-
serve this important week by
renewing efforts to conserve
water, protect our water
sources from pollution and
maintain our home water sys-
tems in tip-top condition.
The final proclamation was
from the State of Oregon,
which has designated April as
Earthquake
and Tsunami
Awareness month, as scientific
evidence mounts that the state
is at risk of a large, damaging
earthquake and tsunami.
Because the City of Banks
and its residents are vulnerable
to the impacts of earthquakes,
the city offers earthquake and
general disaster preparedness
information, and encourages
citizens to be prepared, alert,
and aware of threats to com-
munity safety and security. Kin-
sky encouraged all City of
Banks residents to seriously
consider their personal pre-
paredness, strive to meet the
challenge of increasing their
self-reliance, and recognize the
need to provide provisions for
their families in case of any
emergency.
Banks School District Super-
intendent Jim Foster briefed
council on the Banks School
Bond Measure coming up in
May. According to Foster, the
funds would be used for reno-
vation of the old parts of the
Banks Jr. High School, emer-
gency access, and paving of
the parking lots. In the high
school, money would be allo-
cated to remodel one science
classroom (needed to meet
graduation requirements), a
sprinkler and heating system,
bleachers in the gymnasium,
and outside restrooms.
Deputy Pat Chertude briefed
council and the mayor on activ-
ity in March. Chertude reported
32 public service requests were
responded to, there were two
arrests, 38 traffic stops, and six
citations. Crimes in the city
were theft from vehicle, a
stolen bike, and a Minor in Pos-
session (MIP).
Two volunteer Master Stu-
dents from Portland State Uni-
versity, Jeff Aprati and David
Snider, briefed council on the
City of Banks Sidewalk Im-
provement Project Plan.
A status report from the
Greenville City Park Manage-
ment Committee was present-
ed by Rodney Jacobs, who
chairs the committee. Jacobs
was complimented by Council
for his thorough report, which
included before and after pho-
tographs of the park’s progress.
The Planning Commission
Liaison report was presented
by Raymond Deeth. Deeth re-
ported that the commission dis-
cussed the Urban Growth
Boundary, the Urban Reserves,
and their recommendation to
council that Teresa Lyda be ap-
pointed to the Banks Planning
Commission.
City Manager Jim Hough
presented his monthly report
and requested that it become
part of the minutes. The report
included the following:
• The city is in the process of
updating the video streaming
project cost estimate with iden-
tified funds to be used to oper-
ate the system. The anticipated
beginning date was June 14,
however the mayor asked to
delay the project and council
agreed.
• The city’s resolution of sup-
port for redistricting has been
forwarded to both the Senate
and the House Committees,
and has been entered into the
record of the joint committee
proceedings.
• The city has accepted a
See Banks on page 21
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