The INDEPENDENT, November 16, 2011
Page 11
Citizen asks Banks City Council to support funding efforts for schools
At the November 8 Banks
City Council meeting, Bobbie
Gregg, an interested citizen,
requested support from council
and the citizens of Banks re-
garding the funding situation at
Banks School District #13.
Gregg highlighted some major
reductions that the school dis-
trict has made and drastic cuts
and major reductions that will
be going in to effect next school
year.
According to Gregg, the re-
ductions include the elimination
of physical education and mu-
sic programs at the elementary
school, elimination of all sports
funding at the junior high
school, elimination of ten con-
tract days for the 2010-2011
school year, elimination of full-
time counseling services for
the elementary school, reduc-
tion of certified staff by 12%
and classified staff by 9%, and
no funds for curriculum to let
teachers comply with the new
math standards at the elemen-
tary school.
Gregg also addressed budg-
et shortfalls, class sizes, and
the inadequacy of buildings
due to age. A petition was dis-
tributed for concerned citizens
and parents to sign, which will
be forwarded to Senator Betsy
Johnson and Representative
Deborah Boone.
Mayor John Kinsky present-
ed the Proclamation of Human
Rights Day – December 10 to
Selma Ahmad. Ahmad in-
formed council that this year’s
motto is “My rights start with
me”. On December 10, 1948,
the member States of the Unit-
ed Nations signed the Univer-
sal Declaration of Human
Rights, and countries of differ-
ent political, economic and so-
cial systems unanimously
agreed on the fundamental
rights that all people share
solely on the basis of their
common humanity. The mayor
and council encourage all City
of Banks citizens to study and
promote the ideas contained in
the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights to the end that
freedom, justice and equality
will flourish and be made avail-
able to all.
Washington County Deputy
Todd Hanlon, the city’s contract
police officer, briefed council on
the October police report,
which included 29 incidents re-
ported by the public, three ar-
rests were made, nine written
reports, 40 traffic stops and five
citations issued. Hanlon has re-
ceived several calls regarding
high school students smoking
in the wetland area near the
walkway. Hanlon reports that
he has been walking down the
trail during those times and re-
ceived a few surprised looks.
Councilor Pete Edison com-
mented that he has been get-
ting good community feedback
regarding the after-football
game traffic control service that
the Sheriff’s Office has been
providing.
City Manager Jim Hough re-
ported the following:
• Leslie Sipp from the Fami-
ly Resource Center is working
with the Banks Chamber of
Commerce to collect extra
reusable bags for donation to
the Sonrise Food Pantry at the
fire station.
• November 9, at 11:00 a.m.,
there was a nationwide Emer-
gency Announcing System
(EAS) drill on all radios and tel-
evisions. The drill lasted about
30 seconds.
• The city sent letters to
property owners regarding tree
pruning safety discrepancies. A
number of responses have
been received and the city is
working with each property
owner to effect this improve-
ment for safety.
• A section of the Banks Mu-
nicipal Code (92.09(C)) pro-
vides the following, “It is unlaw-
ful to operate a skateboard,
skates, roller blades, bicycle, or
scooter in or on any structure
(i.e. gazebo and the like).”
Hough is proposing that signs
be posted at either end of the
gazebo.
• The meter replacement
program is continuing, with 240
of the 675 meters having been
replaced.
• City planner K.J. Won, has
presented a draft ordinance re-
garding uniform addressing in
the City of Banks.
Council unanimously adopt-
ed an Ordinance Amending the
Public Works Water Code re-
garding Bulk Water Sales and
services. They also approved a
motion to amend the City of
Banks Financial Management
Policies and Procedures.
The board and committee
members whose terms will be-
come vacant on December 31,
2011, were reappointed by
council.
Following a goal set at a re-
cent retreat, Council unani-
mously approved a motion to
establish a semipermanent
Christmas tree in Greenville
City Park.
The Banks City Council will
meet next on Tuesday, Decem-
ber 13, at 7:00 p.m. in council
chambers, 120 South Main
Street.
Banks voters say “Yes” to 34-194
With a voter turnout in of
41.03 percent for the 1st Dis-
trict Congressional primary
election, Washington County
voters selected Democrat
Suzanne Bonamici by 64.89
percent, similar to her state-
wide results of 65.26 percent.
Republican voters cast 72.87
percent of the county vote for
Rob Cornilles, again similar to
the 72.70 percent for Cornilles
the statewide vote.
The statewide voter turnout
was 44.17 percent.
Bonamici and Cornilles will
face off in a Special General
Election to be held January 31,
2012. Ballots will be mailed
January 13-17. The winner will
replace Congressman David
Wu, who resigned earlier this
year.
The City of Banks Levy, 34-
194, was approved by 53.18
percent of the votes cast (167
votes). The No votes equalled
46.82 percent (147 votes). The
levy will be used to continue
police and administrative serv-
ices in Banks.
Winter property protection tips
From page 10
sideration in these areas. A se-
rious condition can be created
when a taller building or a taller
addition is built adjacent to
shorter, existing building. Un-
less the shorter building is
strengthened in the area next
to the taller building or addition,
snow accumulation on the low-
er roof near the step could pro-
duce much higher loads than
those considered by the origi-
nal designer for the existing
building.
The best source for deter-
mining how much snow load a
building can handle is the orig-
inal design plan. Most roof de-
signs can support at least 20
pounds per square foot. How-
ever, design loads can range
from 10 pounds to 20 pounds
per square foot in Mid-Atlantic
states, and between 40 pounds
See Tips on page 14
From all of us at Jim’ s
Happy Thanksgiving!
W E WILL BE OPEN T HANKSGIVING DAY
FOR YOUR LAST MINUTE NEEDS .
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
660 So. Main, Banks • 503-324-2171