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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2012)
Page 10 The INDEPENDENT, January 18, 2012 Banks Council told Wash. Co. has given part of Banks Rd. to city by Jodi Boylan At the January 10 Banks City Council Meeting, Mayor John Kinsky announced that it is “actually fun to be mayor when I get to award people or host people who award things.” He then turned to Ray Deeth and President Lori Godfrey, of the Banks Chamber of Com- merce, who announced the winners of the 2011 Banks Chamber Holiday Lighting Contest. Eight contestants entered the contest. The $100 First Place award was presented to Lee Becker, Second Place went to Jean Forrest with $75, Tim O’Connor also received $75 for Third Place. The five additional contestants each re- ceived a letter from Godfrey with a gift of $10 for participat- ing in the contest. The Cham- ber thanked Banks Hardware and Outdoor, Jim’s Thriftway, Krissy’s Café, Banks Trail Café, Banks Pharmacy, Banks Subway, Alley Way Photogra- phy, Banks Curves, Chinese Garden, and Duncan Auto Re- pair and Service for being Chamber members - the con- testants will be spending the awards at their businesses. Deeth and Godfrey also called Kinsky forward to pres- ent him with a Certificate of Ap- preciation in recognition for making the first Banks Commu- nity Christmas Tree lighting in Greenville City Park a success- ful event in 2011. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office/City of Banks monthly police report for De- cember was presented by the city’s contract officer, Deputy Todd Hanlon. Hanlon reported that there were a total of 86 in- cidents, 24 were by public de- mand, three arrests, 22 traffic stops which resulted in seven citations, and 15 written re- ports. Incidents included the theft of a leaf blower/compres- sor taken from a driveway; tak- ing an informational report on a disturbance/fight at Banks High School between two females that resulted in minor scratch- es; criminal mischief at the Bus Barn parking lot where the bars on the gate were bent, but nothing appeared to be miss- ing; a couple of welfare checks, theft of a wallet at Banks High School; a runaway and return of a female juvenile; harass- ment/fight between an intoxi- cated adult female attacked by two unknown females; a verbal PRECISION OUTD OOR POWER EQUIPMENT Banks Hardware 503-324-5221 • 150 N. Main St., Banks disturbance; theft of prescrip- tion medications; hit and run to a vehicle on N Main by the Shell station. An arrest was made in a theft from a vehicle at Jim’s Thriftway parking lot, where a window was smashed, and a purse taken from the seat. An adult male was arrest- ed after many other county- wide crimes were committed. The suspect was identified af- ter reviewing the parking lot surveillance footage. City Manager Jim Hough noted the “exceptionally good police work”, and not only does the city receive local support from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, it receives county wide support. Kinsky commented that the report was “very informative… probably the most informative we’ve ever received.” Planning Commission Liai- son Ray Deeth reported that the commission reviewed the Urban Growth Boundary status and talked about the Semi-An- nual Joint City Council/Plan- ning Commission Work Ses- sion that will be held on Janu- ary 31 at 6:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers. City Manager Jim Hough’s Monthly Report included: • Mon - Fri 8am to 6pm • Saturday 8am to 5pm • Sunday 10am to 4pm • Reminder that Leslie Sipp is still collecting reusable bags for the Sonrise Food Pantry. The reusable bags can be dropped off at the fire station. • The Washington County Board of Commissioners has approved and ordered the transfer of a small portion of Banks Road to the city of Banks for maintenance and op- eration. • The city is working with the Oregon Department of Trans- portation (ODOT) to install park directional signage on Main Street. • The signage at the exit/en- trance to Stubb Stewart State Park has been changed. The City of Banks is now identified on the sign. • A noble fir tree has been donated to the City of Banks for planting in Greenville City Park. The Park Management Com- mittee has recommended that the tree be planted in the re- cently established Educational Arbor on the Southwesterly corner of the Arbor. The city is working with the Park Manage- ment Committee and Tree Board to plant the tree with a ceremony. The city intends to publish a press release about the Educational Arbor and the newest addition. • As part of the Water Utility security upgrade, the city is conducting an audit of the lock system throughout the city. • The city replaced two inop- erative fire hydrants (Wilkes Street and Banks Road) and restored service. Some addi- tional hydrants are being over- hauled, work that is anticipated to be finished in early April. • The city is proceeding with the Traffic and Street Sign Re- placement and Upgrade Pro- ject that was first mentioned in 2008. The city hopes to have approximately 1/3 of the sig- nage replaced and upgraded in March. The city will hold off on upgrading signage in old town, pending a response from ODOT regarding Main Street, and the addressing project that the city planner is conducting. • The Court Clerk has signed an agreement with a person who recently damaged a stop sign on Trellis Way. The person made full restitution and the City has agreed to not pursue the case in court. Council approved an amendment to the Water Im- provement Project memoran- dum dated July 6, 2010. The City Engineer has advised that the costs have been greater than anticipated and that a por- tion of the project budget needs to be adjusted accordingly; at the same time Kennedy-Jenks has conducted a thorough on- going value-engineering review of the projects, and has also advised that there have been significant cost savings. Council adopted a Resolu- tion approving the addition of the City of West Linn as a new member of the Metropolitan Area Communications Com- mission (MACC). West Linn application for membership co- ordinates with the upcoming re- newal of the MACC/Comcast cable franchise. Council President Pete Edi- son was congratulated after Council voted to re-elect him Council President for 2012. A credit card vendor was ap- proved for the City of Banks. The city hopes to have it up and running in about three months. Council tabled discussion on the purchase and installation of a new telephone local ex- change system to a future meeting. Council adopted a Fleet Safety Program policy in an on- going effort to enhance the safety of city staff. The city has worked with City County Insur- ance Services to develop a fleet safety program policy, which will now be included in a new section of the Banks Safe- ty Manual, then provided to city staff. The next city council meet- ing will be held on Tuesday, February 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers.