Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:15:48 -0800WeeblyTue, 22 Feb 2022 23:18:44 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-schwarzlers-work-for-city-vote-on-sports-field-study-rep-paul-evans-civics-successBy Anne Scheck

City Council Meeting Preview 
KATE SCHWARZLER EXPLAINS HER WORK FOR CITY TONIGHT
The projects of Indy Idea Hub, a partner with the city, are expected to be presented by Kate Schwarzler, executive director of the non-profit and proprietor of Indy Commons on Main Street. Schwarzler signed contractual agreements with the city during the pandemic and is expected to share her results. 

In 2019, Schwarzler agreed to provide “entrepreneurship development services” for the city through her firm “Creo Solutions,” with payment not to exceed $37,200. Last year, on behalf of Indy Idea Hub, she signed an agreement with the city titled “transit planning services” for fees not to exceed $45,000.

​Schwarzler is a member of the Independence Planning Commission and the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee. 

FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR SPORTS FIELDS  
A feasibility study also is expected to be voted on tonight for evaluating ways in which the city could develop and manage a tournament-level sports park on a north parcel of land owned by the city.  The area, currently referred to as the “ball fields,” already are used for playing baseball and soccer, among other sports, but haven’t been constructed to provide the facilities for tournaments.

The meeting is at 6:30 pm in council chambers at the Independence Civic Center.

Rep. PAUL EVANS SUCCEEDS in EXPANDING CIVICS EDUCATION
Trammart News & Publishing has begun delivering, once again, an e-newsletter on local education issues, the "Linking Loop," which largely ceased publication during the pandemic. Below is a link to the first Linking Loop of 2022, on Rep. PAUL EVANS’ legislative efforts on civics in education, which will put more class time on this topic into schools https://trammartnews.com/the-linking-loop.html​

SIGN UP TODAY: A volunteer opportunity with the Luckiamute Watershed Council for Friday, February 25! Three-to-four volunteers are needed for a road clean-up project on Tampico Road (from 99W to Wiles Road). Volunteers will need to fill out a liability release form before they begin work (https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/tampico-road-clean-up.html.). Further instructions and a volunteer liability release form will arrive by email by Wednesday.]]>Tue, 25 Jan 2022 04:40:25 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-special-analysis-when-is-it-partisan-politicsBy Anne Scheck

ANALYSIS: IS POLITICS PLAYING A  ROLE  IN CITY GOVERNMENT?
 
Preface: As the Linking Letter enters its sixth year as a publication focused almost exclusively on Independence city government, some have begun to question whether the political divide outside the Independence Civic Center is being seen in its council chambers, too. The last election saw the emergence of political action committees for non-partisan seats on the city council, which spread messages in direct mailings. At that time, in what seems to be the most popular editorial to date submitted to Trammart News, a citizen concerned about the growing divisiveness wrote an editorial, prompting wide affirmation.
 
Trammart News now is taking a look at a council vote that seems to have renewed the debate, once more. And, with the permission of the editorial writer from those many months ago, her commentary is running again (at the bottom of this news analysis).
 
No volunteer is likely to work harder than your elected city councilors, who receive no pay for the hours of work to stay abreast of matters coming before their decision-making body. Tomorrow night, at 6 pm, they will face a full agenda that will include the annual city audit, revisions to the city development code and a plan for infrastructure changes to manage wastewater. So, perhaps it is prescient to examine an event that has now been brought up several times over the course of recent council meetings – as the selection process for a new city manager gets underway.
 
INDEPENDENCE -- A city council vote that rejected an applicant for the planning commission was revisited once again at the last city council meeting by two city councilors who voiced strong criticism of the decision. It was the third time in as many months that an allegation of political partisanship has been raised.
 
Councilors Shannon Corr and Kathy Martin-Willis both said they believed the thwarted appointment of Kelie McWilliams was influenced by politics. Late last year, McWilliams had been defeated in her bid for appointment to the planning commission by a 3-2 councilor vote.
 
McWilliams also had vied for a seat on the city council during the last election. She lost to City Councilor Sarah Jobe.
 
When McWilliams’ application for the city’s planning commission came before the city council for approval, Councilor Dawn Hedrick-Roden recounted a number of campaign-finance complaints that McWilliams had filed with the state against certain local candidates, which were still pending.
 
Councilors Jobe and Tom Takacs joined her in voting against McWilliams’ appointment.  
 
At the most recent meeting, both Corr and Martin-Willis cited a letter about the issue from a former city manager David Clyne, which was read in Clyne’s absence at the city council meeting several weeks ago. He wrote, in part, that the vote on McWilliams was a political one which “has no business being part of the council’s decision-making.”
 
In statements made to Trammart News, one long-time citizen countered that the vote was a typical example of democracy in action, and “you get what you get.” Another wanted to know why Clyne’s letter had been verbally read when comments to the council generally are received and saved as written information, not read aloud, if the individual isn’t there in person.
 
Asked about his letter, Clyne responded: “It is really a shame to see two of the newest councilors using a political litmus test to determine whether someone should be able to serve as a volunteer on a city committee.”
 
So far, the video of the latest meeting has received 250 views -- opinions on the matter have ranged from disappointment over the issue to hope that the city council will continue to include diverse viewpoints and remain committed to airing disagreements.
 
At the last meeting, Mayor John McArdle seemed to counter Councilor Hedrick-Roden’s concerns about McWilliams’ post-election campaign-complaint filings. “People are entitled to, if they feel rules are not appropriate, to appeal to the regulators to evaluate those campaign finance rules,” he said.
 
Mayor McArdle also stated that he works “really hard” to find the right people for boards and commissions. When asked after the meeting if he was aware that certain residents have reported that their attempts for voluntary service never made it past the initial screening process, McArdle explained that it is his role – as spelled out by city policy – to decide who “moves forward’ for a vote.
 
Erin Hill is one of those who said she was disappointed by her inability to serve. She had submitted applications for “at least two” volunteer spots on commissions or committees but was not contacted for any of them, she said.
 
Hill, a descendant of Independence’s founder Henry Hill, added that she was never informed of the reason she was passed over to fill a vacancy. “Why? That’s what I would really like to know,” Hill said. “I love this town. I grew up here.”
 
Gary Van Horn, who served on the city’s budget committee had predicted at the time he served a few years ago that he wouldn’t be reappointed. His earnest inquiries during the budget-planning process often were seen as unwelcome, he explained.
 
A short time after making that forecast, he received a letter thanking him for his volunteer service, without renewing his position. "I think I just asked too many questions," Van Horn said.
 
Asked about these two individuals, the mayor said he didn’t recall Hill and he refrained from commenting on Van Horn.
 
PAST EDITORIAL from Ingrid Cooper 
by special request of Trammart News
 
This November, I am very glad to see a full slate of citizens willing step up and run for mayor and for council positions in our local town of Independence, where my husband and I have lived for over 40 years, as well as in Monmouth, and Independence.  Why?

A competitive race is healthy.  It brings in fresh perspectives.  It challenges the status quo.  It gives us a choice to vote for who can best serve our community:

To strengthen who we are,

To make sure we have a solid foundation for our essential services,

To make sure each and every person is respected, heard, welcomed, and treated equally at city halls and with all city services.

To broaden outreach to all citizens and community members and all neighborhoods, 

To use our funds wisely and responsibly,

To encourage and support our local businesses,

To move forward responsibly.

Local city elections are non-partisan and non-paid.  Too often, over the years, the same people are elected year after year, simply because no one else is willing to run.  In this climate, those serving for a long time, often end up with tunnel vision, thinking they know what’s best for the town.  

I celebrate the interest of many talented, qualitied people who are willing to step up and serve and ask questions and listen and dig into the issues and bring fresh ideas.  This makes our towns stronger to welcome competition and to bring in new voices to serve our community.  

And, most importantly, vote during this election and every election. Remember to vote for mayor and council members.   You can make a difference with your vote.  It is an important right.]]>Sat, 18 Dec 2021 14:53:08 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-special-city-council-meeting-tuesday-editorial-by-kelie-mcwilliamsBy Anne Scheck

SPECIAL MEETING TUESDAY, DEC 21
This coming Tuesday, the Independence City Council will hold a specially scheduled session to meet with the two search firms vying for the city’s contract in seeking a new city manager. It will be a public meeting at 6:30 pm at the Independence Civic Center.
 
Additionally, the city council is expected to approve the hiring, by contract, of Marshall Guthrie, as grants coordinator for the city. He recently served as director of the student enrichment program at Western Oregon University. The two-year contract is for slightly under $100,000 per year. More details on this position will be provided in the next Linking Letter.
 
 
EDITORIAL BY KELIE McWILLIAMS AT REQUEST OF TRAMMART NEWS
After a report in the Linking Letter on the decision by the city council this past Tuesday, in a 3-to-2 vote, to decline applicant Kelie McWilliams from a potential seat on the Independence Planning Commission, Trammart News received inquiries as to why a comment from McWilliams was not included in the brief article about it. McWilliams was contacted, informed of this, and wrote the editorial below.
 
On Tuesday, Dec. 14th, the Independence City Council voted on whether to accept my application for a place on the city planning commission. Ultimately, they rejected it, but the reasons for that rejection were startling and concerning.

First, a councilor stated that they thought I was “too busy” for the commitment. This comment was made without any communication with me about my commitments and without disclosing that they had been my opponent in the November 2020 city council election. Then, another councilor made several comments about a complaint I made to the Secretary of State regarding campaign finance violations by a local political action committee that may have broken state laws, and made characterizations about the complaint, my character, my values, and my work that were, I felt, misleading and malicious. 

I could delve into an argument of self-defense, but instead, I have two things to say about this:

First, all of us, as residents and voters in the State of Oregon, have a constitutional right to know that our elections are carried out fairly, which includes mandatory and timely reporting of campaign finance transactions. Candidates should always enter these races knowing the requirements for accurate reporting and strive to adhere to them. If they can’t do that, they are not suitable candidates for public office. If our candidates and elected leaders willfully violate campaign finance laws, what other laws will they ignore? 

Second, it is not enough to vote. Regardless of ideology, all of us should be concerned about the needs of our small communities. After I lost my bid for city council, I found other ways to stay involved, and now lead the Rural Engagement Project, which focuses on nonpartisan issues that affect all of us no matter who we vote for or how much we participate. Clean air and water, fast internet access, and safe transportation routes don’t care about your party affiliation, and neither do I. 
 
The power to make changes that better the lives of our families and neighbors starts at home, with the work we do to serve our families, schools, businesses and communities. Monmouth, Independence, and other local municipalities have applications for positions on commissions and boards, and there are sometimes appointments available for city councils and other positions. These positions work to develop local policy and ensure the safety, beauty, and resilience of our communities. They are the most direct way for you to actively participate in democracy. If there is an issue that is dear to your heart, there are ways to get involved. 

While I won’t be serving on the Independence Planning Commission, I am still actively engaged in serving rural Oregon and all of you. I invite you to get involved in local government, in your preferred party, or an organization that supports people. Even small efforts can change lives. 
--Best Regards, Kelie McWilliams ]]>Thu, 16 Dec 2021 06:05:54 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-30000-city-manager-search-planning-commission-candidate-not-okd-lwc-letter-to-the-editorBy Anne Scheck

2 SEARCH FIRMS VIE FOR CITY CONTRACT
Representatives from two search firms are expected to appear at the next city council meeting to compete for the city’s contract in seeking a new city manager.

Both firms are expected to bill the city for at least $30,000, no matter which clinches the agreement. 
The decision to invite team members from both WBCP Inc., of Gold Hill, and Jensen Strategies, of Portland, followed a discussion by Independence city councilors last night, who expressed a need for more time and information. 

Though the strengths of the two companies were debated, based on their submitted material, the councilors seemed to have more questions than answers. “I am kind of up in the air about them,” said Councilor Tom Takacs, a view echoed by others on the council. 

​The timeline for finding a new city manager is limited to only a few months, and it’s occurring during a period in which nine other cities also are searching for a city manager, noted Amanda Christensen, manager of human resources for Independence.

Some searches have had difficulty finding the right candidate. Ashland, for example, took a “time out” this summer after two different search firms – one of them was WBCP – severed relations with the city, according to Ashland Daily Tidings, the city newspaper. 

PRO & CON DIVISION OVER COMMISSION CANDIDATES
A divided city council failed to approve one applicant for a spot on the Independence Planning Commission but voted unanimously in favor of another one. The action appears be the first time in many years that a candidate was declined, leaving a remaining vacancy on the planning commission.

​The councilors all confirmed placement of Jose Alonso Oliveros Vazquez, but voted 3-to-2 against appointing Kelie McWilliams to the city’s planning commission. 

City Councilor Kathy Martin-Willis was absent and excused. Councilors Marilyn Morton and Shannon Corr voted to appoint McWilliams. The three councilors who voted against McWilliams cited differing concerns about her alleged ongoing political involvement.

Councilor Sarah Jobe said she felt that McWilliams -- executive director of the Rural Engagement Project, a political action committee aimed at fostering civic engagement and ensuring accountability of elected officials -- already has “too much on her plate”; Councilor Dawn Hedrick-Roden cited McWilliams’ campaign-related complaints against former political candidates in Polk County’s 2020 elections, which Hedrick-Roden said appear to be “open and pending” in some cases; Councilor Tom Takacs expressed misgivings about partisan advocacy when filling a non-partisan position on a city commission. 

“All right, we’ll find someone else,” said Mayor John McArdle, following the vote.
LUCKIAMUTE WATERSHED COUNCIL
--Immediate Volunteer Opportunity! This Friday, December 17, two or three volunteers are needed by the Luckiamute Watershed Council for a road clean-up project on Tampico Road (from 99W to Wiles Road).  Volunteers will need to fill out a liability release form before they begin work. If you’re interested and available that day, please sign up at: Volunteer Road Clean-up on Tampico Road. https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/tampico-road-clean-up.html Once you sign up, you’ll be given further instructions (a volunteer liability-release form was actually due today Wednesday, December 15).

--Sips 'n' Science returns after holidays:  Cozy up with your favorite “sip” and join the Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC) for a free presentation, from the comfort of your own living room. The LWC is welcoming Stephen Dow Beckham as the speaker for the first Sips 'n' Science event of 2022. He will share historic photos and first-hand experience of the fascinating history and environmental impacts of using splash dams and log drives to float large amounts of timber down rivers to mills in our region. Find details or register for this free event at:  
https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/splashdamming.html

~ LETTER TO THE EDITOR ~
Resident Thankful for Response
I have resided in Independence since June 2021 and recently attended a Independence Council meeting and chose to speak to the council during the five-minute public input, addressing parking along Osprey Lane and the safety concerns I have as a resident about two-way traffic with parking on both sides of the street.

I left the meeting and I appreciated having had an opportunity to address my concern to the Council.

A couple of weeks later I received a phone call from the Independence City Manager Tom Pessemier, and we discussed my concern, and he referred me to the interim City Manager so I could pursue my concern. 

I was really impressed that I was helped and heard.
--Pete Ferren
 ]]>Fri, 05 Nov 2021 04:28:48 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-commissioner-questions-churches-compliance-editorial-by-editor-publisher-on-the-issue-city-managers-departureBy Anne Scheck

COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS DOWNTOWN CHURCH COMPLIANCE, ‘EYES’ NOW ON IT
The Independence Planning Commission was asked Monday night by City Planner Fred Evander to keep their “eyes” on two downtown churches that are required to also operate a business on their premises, after the topic was brought forward at the meeting.
 
The new item was added to the commission agenda at the request of Commissioner Kate Schwarzler – a question about whether two downtown churches are complying with their conditional use permits.
 
Though the meeting had been announced only as a land-use training session for the commissioners, Evander stated that Schwarzler had sent him an email suggesting that this issue be addressed. “So, Kate, do you want to bring it up?” he asked.
 
Schwarzler said she wanted to know if the combined business-church building on C Street was making progress on meeting the conditions of the permit, following conditional-use permit approval several weeks ago. Also, she said she wished to inquire “in a similar vein, with The Grove and their coffee shop,” adding that she’d been told of “frustrations that it seems like they weren’t open.”
 
Evander said he had been monitoring both. In the case of The Grove, the coffee shop is largely volunteers, and sometimes it has been open and sometimes it hasn’t, he said. “If you folks want to keep an eye on it, that would be good, too,” he said.
 
Under terms of the permit, the coffee shop at The Grove is supposed to be in service five hours for five days a week. “Let’s see if they’re meeting it or not, so if folks want to keep their eyes out, that is a good start,” he said.
 
“We’ll keep our eyes open on it,” agreed Planning Commission Chair Corby Chappell. However, he pointed out that the pandemic may have had an effect on the hours of operation.
 
Previously, Schwarzler had raised concerns about parking on Sunday mornings for the church on C Street, Christ The King Christian Church, which has attendees capped at 49.
 
Asked after the meeting if she felt she needed to identify herself as a nearby business owner – conflict-of-interest issues were covered in the training session – Schwarzler said no, citing the fact that the discussion was not part of a scheduled hearing. Schwarzler’s business, Indy Commons, is housed in a building close in proximity to The Grove.
 
[NOTE: An editorial on this meeting appears at the end of this Linking Letter by the editor-publisher of Trammart News & Publishing]

INFO & UPDATES
~CITY MANAGER TO DEPART City Manager Tom Pessemier is leaving his post at the city after three years. Read about it in the Polk County Itemizer Observer at the link below. Please note: The article on the city manager’s departure was submitted as an analysis’ Also Fire Chief Ben Stange, who is quoted in it, should have had his last name spelled that way. https://www.polkio.com/news/pessemier-seeks-change-not-new-job/article_5a21640c-3cfd-11ec-913e-7f45f60f05ac.html
 
~DAY CARE SHUT DOWN Also in the Itemizer-Observer, the story of the shutdown of an Independence day care center. Public documents on the closure can be accessed at: https://oregonearlylearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Scan_EOS_CribMidgetDayCare_GilNaomi.pdf
 
Independence City Council Meeting, this coming Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Civic Center. Agenda item: Independence Police Chief Robert Mason is expected to be named interim city manager.

-Sips 'n' Science: Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 6:30 - 8 pm. Science-focused talk by Jennifer Beathe, forester and outreach manager at Starker Forests. An overview of Starker Forests, with an explanation of the research there. Details and registration for this FREE event are at https://www.luckiamutelwc.org/sips-n-science-starker-forests.html
 
Editorial Commentary
by Anne Scheck
Editor-publisher, Trammart News & Publishing
My deeply held view is that editorials should be a rarity when news coverage is done by the same person writing them. However, I consider Monday night’s meeting of the Planning Commission just such an exception. I would also welcome a guest editorial on this matter.
 
To twist a great phrase from America’s revolutionary war patriot, Thomas Paine, this is a time that tries my soul – if I actually have one. As a longtime Unitarian Universalist, I am perhaps the least equipped defender of religion to express support for our downtown churches. But I am doing so anyway, on principle.
        I don’t have much familiarity with either church, actually. I’ve bought a great cup of coffee in one, The Grove on Main Street, and cheerily conversed in the other with the building’s new proprietor, a man in move-in mode at the C Street location when I caught up with him.
       Human connections seem so well-served by churches, and we seem to have needed them so much during the coronavirus crisis. Gone were the after-service gatherings for cookies and conversation, the in-person worship times with their meet-and-greets – those traditions that seem to bind so many, warding off loneliness and fostering a sense of belonging. It seemed to me that local churches tried hard to continue that outreach, under very difficult circumstances.
        This is why my time as the publisher of the world’s smallest newspaper, The Independent, reached its nadir this past Monday night. At the meeting of the Independence Planning Commission, which was announced only as a training session, these two downtown churches were singled out for an effort to put the “eyes” of commissioners on them, in a quest to confirm that both are living up to their conditional use permits.
         This agenda item, if you can call it that, was not on the agenda. It was placed there by the city planner, seemingly at the last minute, after more than an hour in which the city attorney had instructed the commission on land-use decision-making – a training session that was the only named task listed on the agenda.
Immediately after the city attorney’s exit, City Planner Fred Evander said he’d received an email from a commissioner about adding an item, then turned the floor over to her.
         I was stunned by what transpired next: a recounting by this commissioner of alleged “frustrations” over alleged closures during posted hours of coffee-shop operation at one church, The Grove. And an inquiry about whether the newcomer, Christ The King Christian Church, was making progress toward meeting the terms of its conditional use permit.
Keep an eye on these two sites, Evander urged the commissioners.
I felt myself wishing for somebody to say something about the turn this meeting was taking.
           No one did.
So, I did. After the meeting. To City Planner Evander, in a most fervent way.
It turns out I am wrong, I am told. Discussions like this can be placed on the agenda just like they were, upon request, at the meeting.
So, let me correct myself right here and now. I was mistaken to think an item like this should have been given public notice. Or that the majority of our planning commissioners – who strike me as excellently attuned to their roles, particularly chair Corby Chappell, who has helmed this board for years – were put in an awkward position by a request to be a gaggle of “eyes” to help ensure compliance.
           Allow me to apologize.
Yes, these two churches are under an obligation to meet their other public-facing services, like coffee sales. Yes, they should live up to such requirements.
           However, we’re just coming out of a pandemic and sudden closures at retail stores along Main Street have occurred with regularity, even without mandated shutdowns, as merchants struggled to stay open – and now are currently suffering a labor shortage.
I suppose I was responding to all those recent months of covid, during which our US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy MD, called upon us to build a more connected future – a future he cited as “an urgent mission that we can and must tackle together.”
              I learned a lot this past Monday night at the Independence Planning Commission and, sadly to me, not all of those lessons came from the presentation by the city attorney.

REMINDER: The Ella Curran Food Bank wants to make sure everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Do you need turkey or chicken and fixings for Thanksgiving dinner? Sign up through the Ella Curran Food Bank for a box of those items. Call: 503 838 6687.
]]>Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:47:24 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-downtown-info-city-council-tomorrow-david-clyne-editorialBy Anne Scheck

DOWNTOWN INFO & BUSINESS UPDATES
Tax calculations are in. With a tax rate percentage of 18.4275, Independence holds the dubious title this year of having a tax figure that tops any other city in Polk County. 

West Salem actually edged it out, with a tax rate percentage of 18.8017, but that part of Salem reflects the larger metropolitan outside Polk County – West Salem isn’t a distinct city. Good news: Independence shows a downward trend in its tax rate percentage, but the uptick in property values is affecting taxation, as it also is in other cities this year.

Every year, the Independence City Council passes the maximum allowable tax, called the “ad valorem,” which was set years ago. For Independence it is nearly 4.6% (4.5897). Then “real market value” and “maximum assessed value” are calculated annually by the county assessor for all individual properties; Homeowners pay their taxes on the lowest determined value.  (Tax roll information courtesy of Polk County Assessor Valerie Patoine.) 

Outside growth at Brew & Tap. Mitch and Cathy Teal, co-owners of "Brew Coffee and Tap House" at the corner of C Street and Main, have been approved for expansion of their outdoor area – by transporting the patio structure from their West Salem location to the one in Independence. 

With some tweaks to ensure the extension will retain a rustic look, the building’s owner, Bruce Tuma, and builder Scott Anderson got permission to proceed by the Historic Preservation Commission last week. 

Where are the new restaurants? Efforts to reach Brooks Pickering have failed – so far. Pickering has been identified by others involved in local development as the force behind signs downtown for five new restaurants, ranging from a new diner called “Cowbell Café” to the planned pizzeria “Independence Pies.” Residents anxious to know how soon these eateries will open are advised that email and other means of communication have been attempted, but follow-up is underway. 

Pop-up Job Center: A Job Fair -- held earlier this month by the City of Independence – drew representatives from about a dozen companies ranging from Cabinetworks to Circle K.  The Community Services Consortium(CSC)/Polk in Independence is still seeking someone with strong interpersonal skills for a full-time principal youth advisor position. Those interested in applying are encouraged to view the link:  https://cmmunityservices.us/. If you'd like to read more about the people involved in CSC/Polk, follow the link provided here to a Trammart News article in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer:
https://www.polkio.com/news/you-reap-what-you-sow/article_aae60df4-9cb0-11eb-a5e0-3fa3b0299c67.html

Monthly veteran honors. After months of a pandemic-related hiatus, the Veteran-of-the-Month ceremony has been reinstated by American Legion Post 33 and the Independence Heritage Museum. To learn about this month’s recipient, Larry Miller, you can visit the display at the corner on C and Main Streets in Riverview Park. To read about how you can nominate someone for this honor, visit this link: https://independence33.wixsite.com/americanlegionpost33/about
 
Independence City Council Meeting, Tomorrow, Tuesday, 10/26/21, 6:30 pm, Civic Center. Two agenda items below: 

•   $90,000 MINET subsidy. Included with the financial report is the MINET debt service forecast for this December. The estimated amount the City of Independence will need to cover is $89,960.83 -- approximately $67,753 less than last December. (Trammart News plans to attend the MINET board meeting this week.)
•   Federal funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for local businesses. A presentation on ARP’s intended use by Shawn Irvine, Independence economic development director, and City Manager Tom Pessemier. (Trammart News, at the request of several residents, will be following the disbursement of ARP funds; Citizens have expressed concern over the unavailability of yellow curb paint due to budget constraints during the prior influx of federal dollars -- attempts will be made to differentiate ARP spending).  

An Editorial 
  
      by David Clyne

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about the role of Senators Manchin and Sinema blocking passage of the social infrastructure bill. What we haven’t heard much about is the role of our very own U.S. Representative Kurt Schrader. Whether that is intentional or not is a question for him. 

What is not a question is the outsized role that he and his “Problem Solver” caucus (a handful of centrist Democrats and Republicans) have played in the House of Representatives also blocking passage of the bill. I have written to the Congressman asking for an explanation but have yet to receive a response. 

So what is in the Social Infrastructure bill that is so objectionable? We are only just learning but at a minimum it includes an expansion of Medicare dental and vision benefits, spending for students from pre-kindergarten to two free years of community college, child care support extending the current benefit and help for seniors. 

Even more importantly in my mind is a truly meaningful effort to confront the existential disaster of our time, man-made climate change! Is there anyone left who can in good conscience argue against the notion that we, as a species, are largely responsible and need to act now to reverse it. 

Why is the Congressman opposing the vast majority of Democrats in his caucus and the heavy majority of public opinion on all these matters? If it’s cost, it’s been made very clear that reversing Trump-era tax cuts for the rich should pay for this. If it’s something else, please tell us. 

Please reach out to our Representative and let him know we want the changes and hope this social infrastructure bill will bring.    
                                                        
NOTE: The Ella Curran Food Bank wants to make sure everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Do you need turkey or chicken and fixings for Thanksgiving dinner? Sign up through the Ella Curran Food Bank for a box of those items. Call: 503 838 6687. 
 
TRAMMART NEWS WON’T BE AT RIVERVIEW FARMERS’ MARKET AGAIN TILL NEXT YEAR. Thanks!]]>Tue, 28 Sep 2021 07:56:00 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-youth-sports-conundrum-minets-search-for-new-gm-city-council-tonightBy Anne Scheck
SCHOOL DISTRICT CHANGE; SPORTS FIELDS SUPPORTED
A renewed call for the development of sports fields on city-owned land was issued by parents at the last city council meeting, following a decision by Central School District 13J to suspend most sports activities until vaccination status can be confirmed among participants.    
“Alarm bells are ringing” about the need for youth sports, said Abby Fitts, who stood with her son and several other children to address the councilors. After seeing sports seasons “go by the wayside“ due to covid, she called on the city to help provide a place for youth sports competitions. “In our community we feel wracked with concern,” she said.          
“We have the space down there,” Fitts said, referring to the fields north of the end of the concrete path in Riverview Park. Two other speakers echoed the same message, and all three said they expected local businesses to benefit. 

“I am here to help start the ball rolling for desperately needed change,” said Monica Hecket, who urged that federal money allocated to the city in the American Rescue Plan be used to help fund sports fields. Shannon Ball, who also spoke, added that a sports park would “bring hundreds of people to our town.” 

City Manager Tom Pessemier said a city-funded feasibility study will be conducted but it requires selecting an appropriate consultant. Funds for the study were approved by the council in its last annual budget, he noted.  

Councilor Dawn Hedrick-Roden, who had received calls from parents after sports activities were cancelled, testified at the school board meeting the day before the city council met -- about the need for sports among youth. At the school board, she identified herself as an Independence City Councilor and as a concerned community member. Her own children don’t attend school within the district, she later explained. 

“I went there to represent the people who contacted me,” she said in a brief interview following the meeting. “I wanted to know what I could do.” Residents had told her “they felt the rug got pulled out from under them,” she said. 

A notice on the school district’s Facebook page explained: “We had to pause the process for facility use to figure out how to administer this new process. We have been in contact with youth partners, the Monmouth-Independence Y, and Central Youth Sports, to let them know we will have a path to opening for activities by October 4th.” 

The ”process” appears to refer to a new Oregon Administrative Rule that requires proof of vaccination after October 18 for teachers, volunteers, school-based program staff and others who work on school grounds unless they have medical or religious exemptions. [Trammart News & Publishing, which produces The Linking Letter, watched the proceedings of the September school board meeting. However, the video wasn’t available later this month for viewing. The school district’s communications officer said resolution would be sought.]
MINET BOARD SELECTS SEARCH FIRM FOR GM    
The recommendation for the new general manager of MINET will be made by the same firm that chose Don Patten to head the municipal fiberoptic company eight years ago, the company’s board of directors decided at their meeting last week. 

Two consultants had responded to the “request for proposal” by MINET for a firm to help select the next person to helm MINET, which was co-founded by the cities of Monmouth and Independence. The lower-priced bid came from Doug Dawson, of CCG consulting. 

Dawson has a years-long history with MINET, from a project that evaluated the company after its first few years of operation to being part of the team that helped secure funding for Willamette Valley Fiber (WVF), of Dallas OR, where MINET serves as WVF’s operator.

Asked after the meeting if Dawson had a financial interest in WVF, MINET’s attorney, Chad Stokes, said the inquiry wasn’t an appropriate one to ask; It was posed to executives of MINET who had remained after other board members had departed. An email with this question was then sent to Dawson, who hasn’t yet responded. 
CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT 
6:30 pm, Independence Civic Center at 555 South Main ST. 

TRAMMART NEWS WILL BE BACK AT RIVERVIEW FARMER’S MARKET THIS SATURDAY, STOP BY!
]]>Wed, 15 Sep 2021 00:55:52 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-churchoffice-downtown-plans-for-henry-hill-neighborhood-a-timely-editorial-by-dr-laura-archerBy Anne Scheck 

DOWNTOWN CHURCH + OFFICE  OK by PLANNING COMMISSION 
A downtown building planned for a combined use – as an office for a business aimed at helping disabled individuals during the week and as a space for a small Christian church on Sundays – was approved last night by the Independence Planning Commission. 
 
The property, at 155 C Street, received a unanimous yes-vote following a discussion that ranged from the possible parking “stresses” on the street to the need for retail options in the area – observations offered by Kate Schwarzler, the owner of Indy Commons, who also heads the Independence Downtown Association. Schwarzler disclosed those affiliations before raising concerns about the plan for the combined church-and-office, noting that there is declining retail availability downtown.
 
In addition, there already are “stresses on parking on Sunday morning,” she said, adding that The Grove Church on Main Street meets on Sunday, and that breakfast often is served on weekends at the nearby Arena Sports Bar & Grill. She also inquired about who will monitor utilization of the building, if the combined use goes forward. ‘We monitor conditions,” responded City Planner Fred Evander. The Grove Church, with a coffee shop, functions under similar “mixed-use” criteria, he said.  
 
The applicant, Bob Fraley, pointed out that it “doesn’t do any good to have buildings closed.” Improvements are planned at the site and “the first thing we did was to make the building look better,” he said. Attendance for church will be capped at less than 50 people, according to the application. 
 
The motion for the project passed following comments by Fraley. No commissioners have business interests in the downtown area, apart from Schwarzler, according to an inquiry of the commissioners at the conclusion of the meeting.

PROPOSED MAKEOVER FOR HENRY HILL PARK
Diagrams drawn up by a rental tenant of Indy Commons after Planning Commissioners toured the Henry Hill Park neighborhood suggest revamping 5th Street and possibly repurposing the basketball courts there, among other changes, according to City Planner Fred Evander. 
 
The concept doesn’t include refurbishment of the pool structures, such as the adjoining reception area and restroom facilities, he said. 
 
Identified only as “Alexis from Istanbul,” Evander explained that a municipal planner with international experience came up with some “sweet ideas” for making 5th Street far more bike-friendly while “we were hanging out at Kate’s,” an apparent reference to meet-ups held at the shared workspace downtown that is owned by Planning Commissioner Kate Schwarzler, Indy Commons. 
 
The drawings, which were displayed for the commission at last night’s meeting, drew some questions, particularly from Commissioner Rebecca Jay, who said a survey showing the level of use of the recreational facilities, and other parts of the property, was needed “before we start changing this around.” 
 
Evander explained that a city-staff intern had spent time there, recording usage. “Yes, but different seasons of the year can mean different uses,” Jay said, noting that it would be good to contact both the YMCA and Central School District 13J. Planning Commissioners had convened earlier this summer at Henry Hill Park, where they walked around the pool, community garden, basketball and tennis courts as well as homes in the area.  
 
The renderings shown to the commissioners are far from final – a group from Portland State University is supposed to delve into the issue soon for the city, Evander explained. 
_______
Trammart News deeply regrets that a surge in covid prevents publication and distribution of this month’s Independent. However, two features in it – the coverage of the Transportation System Plan (TSP) and an excellent essay by Laura Archer DVM can be seen below. The TSP is at the link below, with thanks to the Polk County Itemizer-Observer – and please note the information in the cutline under the photo is incorrect. Main Street was identified in the newspaper’s caption as east-west, but it is a north-south street, as indicated in the text of the article: https://www.polkio.com/news/independence-s-transportation-plan-kicks-into-high-gear/article_cac71da8-0b90-11ec-96f2-970114263272.html
 
AND TONIGHT at 6:30 pm for the Independence City Council Meeting, where plans for federal pandemic relief money will be unveiled. Link to the agenda, here: 
 
https://ciindependenceor.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=556
 
A Timely Editorial Laura Archer DVM
Laura Archer DVM has lived in Independence since 1987 with her husband and veterinary clinic partner, Bob Archer DVM (Ash Creek Animal Clinic on Main Street). She is a graduate of Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Willamette University. This editorial also appeared in an earlier e-newsletter, Public Health Points.
 
By now, probably everyone knows that the Covid Delta variant is surging all over the US, including here in Oregon.
 
Not too long ago, new Covid cases in Oregon were regularly below 200 per day, and we were looking forward to the end of this long nightmare. As I write this, daily cases have just reached 2300. Hospitalizations have  surpassed their pandemic peak, and hospitals across the state are warning about the real risk of running out of beds in a couple of weeks.
 
The Delta variant is much more transmissible than earlier variants, and is attacking more younger people and children. This is not because Delta prefers to attack the young, but because the more at-risk elderly have been protected by vaccination (around 90% of those over 65 are fully vaccinated, both in Oregon and the country as a whole). 
With so many new infections, the numbers of those who become severely ill are also increasing (and Delta may be more likely to cause more severe illness, as well). 
Delta is also affecting the vaccinated, as breakthrough infections are more common with this variant.
 
Even though breakthrough infections are increasing due to Delta, most vaccinated people (60-80%, according to current data) will still be protected from any infection. Those who do have a breakthrough case will almost certainly have an illness resembling a cold or mild flu, and be able to recover easily at home in just a few days.
 
The vaccine is working excellently, preventing severe infections and hospitalization/death in nearly all cases. 
 
The real risk with the Delta variant is to the unvaccinated in the community, including children under 12, for whom no vaccine is available. Because Delta is so contagious, it is practically impossible to avoid exposure during a surge like the one we are currently experiencing. It will continue to spread rapidly until everyone has been either infected or vaccinated.  This will continue to stress our healthcare system, resulting in poorer care for everyone, including those with non-Covid illness. With rampant spread of the virus, we also increase the risk that even more dangerous variants will develop.
 
It’s important to consider that vaccination is not only of benefit to the individual, but it is also part of the shared care we owe our community. My vaccination and mask-wearing are not only to protect me and my family, but also to protect the people I see at work, church, and community events, including all the children too young for a vaccine. 
Covid will always be with us. The small chance we had of eradicating this virus was missed long ago, if it ever even existed. Covid can hide out in multiple species and will continue to emerge to infect anyone susceptible.
 
But we can eventually come to live with it. Once everyone has been either vaccinated or infected, we will all have at least partial immunity and Covid will dwindle to something like seasonal influenza. We may need periodic booster vaccinations, but there will not be enough susceptible people left to sustain a pandemic, and most cases will be as mild as the current breakthrough infections. 
 
The decision that faces us now is whether we want to achieve this state of tolerance with vaccination, which is free and safe (serious side effects are extremely rare), or with illness (very costly if severe enough for hospitalization, about 10% risk of long-term disability, and a death rate of 1-2 per hundred.) It shouldn’t be a very difficult decision. 
 
 
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]]>Wed, 21 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-message-to-readers-resident-editorial-on-museumBy Anne Scheck

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
It’s only a month until autumn officially begins, and this fall will bring more than a seasonal change to Trammart News. The Independent will return to several downtown stores and restaurants in September, in the same display holders that have been missing for more than a year. 
 
That first delivery also will celebrate another publication, The Polk County Itemizer-Observer, which survived a near-death experience more than a year ago when it was threatened with closure, then rescued, and stayed the course through the long, hard pandemic. A brief front-page article will explain why the I-O, as it is fondly abbreviated, is more than the sum of its parts. 
 
And, as the next school year begins, Trammart News will drop school board attendance in The Linking Loop, focusing instead on education metrics -- and occasional features.  
 
The five-year tradition of Trammart News has been to stay on this side of the S Curve – out of Monmouth – but that dividing line became blurred during the period of covid. Some outside residents took concerns about their own city government to someone who couldn’t and wouldn’t cover that city; It's time to return to inside the boundary of that river city known by the nickname Indy. Public Health Points will expand to include environmental challenges, from the walkability of sidewalks to an examination of the water supply.
 
Also, look for a series of profiles on those who are making a difference here, like Katie Schaub, the owner of the Ovenbird Bakery, who celebrated her 10th anniversary this summer. She has agreed to sit down to discuss a decade of creating a place on Main Street that keeps bringing us all back for more.  
 
Finally, Trammart News plans to spend more time in professional circles this year, to ensure coverage improves and increases along with the growth in sign-ups for The Linking Letter. One recent lesson already putting a new notch in the learning curve: Steve Scheck, spouse of the editor-publisher, really shouldn’t be serving on any city-related boards while tied to someone who may write articles about them.  He currently is on the library board, and he has declined to step down – so there will be disclosure of this marital relationship every time the library is the focus of an article that goes beyond a "brief" or a photo. 
 
Thank you everyone for helping Trammart News grow a little, even during the worst time in recent memory, as we all plowed through a year that I hope we can put behind us in the most positive way possible.  
 
EDITORIAL:  BENEFITS OF NEW MUSEUM SITE
 
As the Heritage Museum relocates to a recently refurbished space across from the Post Office in downtown Independence, some have expressed reservations about the investment the city made – and the move from the previous location in a historic church a few blocks away. An editorial by a longtime volunteer for the Heritage Museum offers an explanation of the advantages of the move.  --AS


By Vickie McCubbin
Heritage Museum Advisory Board - Chair 
 
If you haven’t visited the Independence Heritage Museum lately or have never been, you are in for a big treat when the doors open in the new location at 281 2nd Street in September. Moving an entire museum is a big job and Curator Amy Christensen and the City are geared up and moving! Since the museum first opened on July 4 of 1976, it has been the mission of the City to preserve the heritage, culture, and historic artifacts and stories of Independence and the surrounding area. Two obstacles to the sharing of that story have been accessibility and visibility. Tucked away on 3rd St. in the historic Baptist Church with its many stairs, the museum has not been able to meet its full potential in fulfilling its mission. The move to downtown Independence will change that.  
 
As Chair of the Independence Heritage Museum Advisory Board and volunteer for five years, I would like to offer some insight into what the future of the museum holds and how the move and upgrade will benefit the community and its visitors. 
 
The challenge of making the museum accessible has been on the radar of the city since the 1980s and part of the Independence 2020 Vision plan. The most recent strategic plan for the museum included the goal of moving to a new location. Because the building is an historic property, making structural changes to the building become problematic. Cost estimates for making the current location accessible and remedying other condition problems have also been cost prohibitive. When the building on 2nd street became available, the City carefully studied the building as a potential resolution to the current issues, taking into account upgrades, remodeling, and selling the church building. An eager buyer has purchased the building for the asking price of $350,000, defraying a large amount of the cost of the new building.  Additionally, the Heritage Museum Society, which has been working for years to raise money for upgrades, has donated $20,000 to help defray costs of the move. The Society will continue to fundraise and has plans for making more contributions.
 
The strategic plan for the museum also included goals for greater outreach by engaging more youth and young adults and reaching out to the Latinx community. The museum will soon be able to better connect with the numerous downtown events and can better extend its outreach to those communities. The annual Independence Birthday Party Celebration will be easier for people to attend since building clues will be nearby. The new location is within easy walking distance for visitors at the Independence Hotel. The gift shop will have space for local artisans to sell their products. Its boardroom can potentially be available to other community groups for gatherings and also be a welcoming space for classes hosted by the museum and be a quiet space for researchers.
 
The larger and more open location will allow the museum to host the speakers and presentations that have been housed in the Civic Center due to space limitations. Students and staff from Independence Elementary will also enjoy the open space. Instead of dividing the classes into small groups students, parents, and staff will be able to tour as a group and participate in interactive displays.
 
Expect to see changes in the displays at the new museum. Research shows that visitors who find stories in a museum enjoy their time spent much more. Jake Barton, designer and founder of the museum consulting firm Local Projects feel that if museums are boring “it’s because the museum has failed to capture humans’ deep-seated love of storytelling. It hasn’t made the exhibit, artwork, or artifact relatable.” Independence City Councilor Shannon Corr would agree, “When someone pulls an exhibit together and can share their inspiration and the road to getting there, it really brings it to life for me.” she said. Ms. Christensen feels, “the best museums are the ones that offer an exhibit with multiple styles of connection available.” She feels telling engaging stories of the area are important and her plans for the August opening will include an agricultural exhibit with tools that are labeled, informational panels, a video display, and more. There will be a focus on the Independence heydays as the Hop Capital of the World with displays and photos that will “pull the viewer into a story.”  The exhibit will time well with the annual Hop & Heritage Block Party in downtown Independence. The Independence Downtown Association, host of the block party, has had requests for more of an emphasis on the heritage and history of hops in the area and the museum will be able to accommodate that request. 
 
The new Heritage Museum represents an opportunity for creating community involvement, education, partnership with downtown businesses, and a welcoming spot for all.  To read more about how museums benefit communities check out these helpful links:
 
https://www.colleendilen.com/2009/07/31/10-reasons-to-visit-a-museum/
 
http://museums-now.blogspot.com/2012/10/place-based-learning-in-museums.html
 
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-awesome-museums-are-still-boring-2015-11
 
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]]>Tue, 22 Jun 2021 20:51:13 GMThttp://trammartnews.com/the-linking-letter/linking-letter-county-reaches-low-risk-18-million-traffic-plan-museum-director-departure-city-council-tonightBy Anne Scheck

Breaking News: Polk County has reached the state metric of 65% covid vaccination rate for the 16+ population. It is now in the lower risk category, effective immediately, according to county public health authorities
 
TRANSPORTATION PLAN: Update and Analysis
A proposed transportation system plan that includes projects totaling $64.7 million has been brought down to an initial cost of $18.3 million – and dubbed the “budget constraint” version. However, it includes a new street, not previously listed as a high priority, that may be nearly half of the pared-down price tag, if the cost estimate of $9 million remains in place.  
 
Called “the southern arterial,” the new street would add an east-west extension to Mt. Fir Drive. The street, which has been described by the mayor as a necessity, could have some expense off-set by developers seeking to subdivide the area for housing. However, unlike Monmouth and Main streets, funding probably would be less readily available through the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). 
 
Both Main and Monmouth streets are considered part of the state highway system and, because they are technically State Highway 51, these roadways qualify for significant revenue that wouldn’t need to be repaid if made according to ODOT-sanctioned changes. In contrast, the new “southern arterial” thoroughfare would require outside funding sources, though one of them could be ODOT, which makes grants and issues loans. 
 
Under the plan, E Street would be expanded into a parallel route, and a bridge would be added for travel over Ash Creek, with special aspects for bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways, according to Kittelson & Associates, the consulting firm on the plan. 
 
The “budget constraint” plan would improve intersections, possibly by installing traffic lights, at Polk and Main Street, Gun Club and Monmouth Street and River Road and Main Street. The latter drew public criticism from former city manager David Clyne at the city council meeting, who praised the traffic system plan during public testimony, but called the River Road-Main Street site “one of the worst-performing intersections in the community.” 
 
Noting that there could be more provisions for bike and pedestrian features at what he described as “one of the gateways to Independence,” he added that he viewed that portion of the plan “as somewhat of a missed opportunity.” 
 
The draft plan was approved by the Independence Planning Commission at its last meeting; It is expected to go before the city council later this summer, though the hearing hasn’t yet been scheduled. 
 
MUSEUM LOSES DIRECTOR: Update and Commentary
[] Carly Annable resigned from her job as director of the Heritage Museum. Two people who have served it over the past years – Councilor Shannon Corr, who once worked for the museum, and volunteer Vickie McCubbin, who helms a board for it – reflected on Annable’s departure, as the day nears for the official ribbon-cutting on the museum’s relocation to a downtown building across from the post office. 
 
Carly Annable's arrival in Independence served to give the Heritage Museum a dedicated voice on the city staff and in our community. She was instrumental in helping justify the move from the old museum location to the new. While some members of the community disagree with the cost associated with that, I personally don't believe you can put a price on preserving history, heritage, and culture. 
 
I am thankful for Carly's work to help move the museum to a more accessible and flexible space. And while I'm disappointed at the timing of her departure, I look forward to seeing the hard work Curator Amy Christensen has been doing while the museum has been closed during the pandemic. Amy's passion for telling our community's stories is infectious and I'm sure the "new" museum's exhibits will be informative, fun, and artfully designed. – Shannon Corr
 
As museum director, Carly brought fresh ideas to the Heritage Museum. She secured grant funds for the Interpretive Walking Tour Panels now in place along the river. Her cheery smile and leadership will be missed, but we are grateful for the other half of the museum staff continuing to bring the museum forward to its new location. – Vickie McCubbin
 
CITY BUDGET at COUNCIL TONIGHT
A budget of $33 million is expected to be adopted tonight at the City Council meeting. Live streamed at: http://www.youtube.com/c/CityofIndependenceOR
 
COUNTY BUDGET at BOARD of COMMISSIONERS this week
The Polk County Board of Commissioners is expected to have a final presentation of the county budget this week – a budget that grew 13%, in large part due to federal and state money from the pandemic-related “American Rescue Plan.” Two-thirds of the county's general fund is allocated to public safety. 
 
Property tax and the public safety levy now make up half of the general fund revenue and 12.5% of the county's total budget, according to Greg Hansen, Polk County Administrator. He announced recently that the county will allocate nearly $670,000 to small or local businesses received through CARES Act funding. Applications are available and the decision for distribution needs to be made by the end of the year, he noted. 

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