Museum-library consolidation likely to address part of city's $776,000 shortfall

(Pictured: A recent work session on the challenges of a looming shortfall and decreasing city funds)

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, March 28, 2025 

A plan hatched by the Heritage Museum curator and the Independence Library director to combine the two departments in order to save them both appeared to receive the city council's blessing at a work session this week, though no formal action was taken.

The consensus came as councilors grappled with city finances. The total deficit for the city this fiscal year is predicted to be $776,000, putting city coffers under substantial strain before the first budget committee meeting in a few weeks time. 

City Councilor Marilyn Morton praised Library Director Patrick Bodily and Heritage Museum Curator Amy Christensen for coming up with a workable proposal to move the museum into library space, hopefully on a temporary basis. Mayor Kate Schwarzler agreed that it seemed the most "fiscally responsible" alternative at hand. 

Selling the museum building could net about $300,000, perhaps more, and the sale would put it back on the property tax rolls. "Hopefully we could get that building sold in the fiscal year," said City Manager Kenna West. 

Under the current $85,000-a-year mortgage for the museum building plus other expenses, the annual savings would be substantial, according to the council discussion. 

The concept was consistent with city-wide survey results, which showed low support for the museum. Of the 228 respondents to a survey of Independence residents, the most important departments were the library (53%), parks (42%), trailed by the museum at 6%. A large majority, 66%, favored reducing the museum department to cut costs, over parks and library. 

Another annual saving will be through job attrition – the city's downtown manager has announced a departure this summer, after Independence Days, and her salary and benefits are about $100,000, annually. She won't be replaced by another paid employee taking the spot, West said. 

The central question at the work session appeared to be how to maintain services at the museum, parks, library and planning and building inspections while closing the financial gap? 

West said staff has been cut "to the bone." However, raises have been reported for personnel, no reductions in business travel have been announced, and staff was increased –  a licensed engineer was added to public works, for example. 

Also at the work-session meeting was a proposal to improve and upgrade the event center – with an estimated total ranging from $77,522 to $123,022. The event center, on the lower level of the Independence Civic Center, was reported at a previous city meeting as failing to generate any significant income for the city as a venue. (The proposal received no public discussion but was was printed in a handout at the meeting.)

Requests from Trammart News for clarification on raises, travel and personnel additions were made to Communications Director Emmanuel Goicochea but no response was received. In fact, one survey respondent appeared to identify Goicochea's position as unnecessary, stating that the closed municipal pool and other services are important but "we don't need high-quality videos for marketing on social media." 

The budget sessions arrive as other sources of funding are diminished. Gone are covid "rescue" funds that infused Independence with a significant amount of extra money. Property taxes can no longer pay for city expenses, as personnel and material costs crept higher, and inter-fund transfers have been eliminated. 

Other city revenue, such as charges to developers, has dried up, too. The city council nearly doubled those developer fees, pushing them past $50,000 per home-unit. Three of the builders told Trammart News they are no longer constructing houses in Independence as a result of the hikes, with no plans for returning. 

Since then, City Manager West and City Public Works Director Gerald Fisher pushed forward a proposal for a new water-treatment plant – with an estimated cost of $44 million. 

Two first steps toward the plan appear to be costing more than anticipated: The attempt to secure the land south of town for the plant by eminent domain led to legal wrangling and the sale of the parcel to another party; A $7.5 million loan that was initially announced as being sought from the state on low-interest terms was instead taken out as a line of credit through Umpqua Bank, more than doubling the interest rate typically available under the state's "revolving fund." 

Additionally, sign-ons with other water districts as hoped-for partners across the county, including the nearby Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative, never took place – though Monmouth inked an intergovernmental agreement related to the project, according to those familiar with the document. 

Now federal funding for the new treatment plant – once stated as a likely source of significant revenue – seems more questionable under the current presidential administration. ▪

Why the budget committee needs a current city audit

(Pictured: An array of documents on city finances that don't yet include the annual city audit)

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, March 28, 2025 

A municipal audit by an outside accounting firm is required by the state – and due on the first day of the calendar year to the Oregon Secretary of State. 

So far, there isn't a fiscal 2024 report on file for Independence; and no explanation from the city for the absence.

Why should a missing city audit cause concern? Here's an editorial analysis of the reasons for worry. 

Financial transparency suffers without a timely municipal audit. An outside expert review is needed to confirm the financial status of the city. Depending on city officials to interpret finances may prove less reliable. 

That's the unsurprising conclusion – that politicians aren't always the best assessors of city financial health – from a 2024 study on fiscal monitoring of municipalities across the United States, according to the Journal of the American Accounting Association. 

One example in Independence: City administrators have, at times, been unclear in representing some of the tax-generated funds; A nearly $3.9 million loan of unknown cause was officially approved by the city council without clear explanation for how it was created because, as City Manager Kenna West explained, staff was too overloaded to track it down. 

So the city council was asked to okay what was essentially an expenditure of unknown origin – which they did with two councilors opposing. Who identified the source of the loan last year? The outside auditor. 

It was listed in the city's audit as payable to the city, a $3,867,234 sum. It was for additional costs of construction of the Independence Civic Center, which previously had been listed as costing about $10 million. Trammart News informed the city that, with the additional sums disclosed by the municipal audit, the price of the ICC – the city hall plus the lower-level event center – would be about $14 million. The new figure went unchallenged by the city finance director, Rob Moody. 

Budget lapses may go unreported without a timely municipal audit. Accurate and timely audits are essential, according to the League of Oregon Cities, which weighed in about a decade ago on this finding with an analysis by lawyer Sean O'Day. 

Oversight of what transpires following the budget is one reason city audits are important. There is a $776,000 shortfall this year in Independence, which appears to lack an explanation of precisely why.

Last year, then-city councilor Kate Schwarzler, who is now the mayor of Independence, called for sending an unfinished city budget back to city staff for preparation – taking it out of the hands of the budget committee, which, in addition to city councilors, is half-staffed by citizen volunteers. Her motion passed, with some committee members objecting. 

That city budget committee had a relatively long list of cost-trimming proposals last year, many of which weren't publicly addressed. Observing this low-probing discussions in past years, a city administrator from another town said that perhaps this shouldn't have been surprising – the Independence City Council hasn't been functioning as a watchdog, he said.

This year the challenge to the city councilors is to "really do our  homework so that when we get to the first budget committee meeting we  have some actual ideas," Mayor Kate Schwarzler said at a recent work session on city finances. 

Budget-balancing approaches may go unrecognized without a timely municipal audit. Without the required annual audit, strategies may escape notice or flaws may not be spotted early enough to take corrective action. 

For example, in Monmouth – Independence's nearest city neighbor – the city audit this year included the recommendation for improving grant-tracking by doing it in real time, as grant spending actually occurs. Will that be included in the Monmouth budget, as a special task or for specific allocation of resources? It's a possibility. 

The Monmouth city audit also shows successful use of inter-fund loans – in this case from the Sanitary Sewer Fund and the Power and Light Fund.

The Monmouth Sanitary Sewer Fund loan was for $500,000, signed in 2019, with an annual interest of 2.75% and was paid off in June 2024; The Monmouth Power and Light Fund loan was for $500,000, signed in 2016, with an annual interest of 2.54% and is scheduled to be paid off in July 2025. ▪

Dandelions: should they stay...or...should they go?

(Pictured: A yard with encroachment by dandelions that may or may not be able to remain)By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, March 28, 2025 
 They're bright yellow flowers and they're blooming all over. But they're not daffodils – and every year when they start appearing a certain minor battle begins. 
They're dandelions and they unfailingly ignite the same springtime debate. They're weeds! No, they're essential pollinator plants! You need to get rid of them! No, you need to enable them to feed those bees! 

This year, the dandelion divide line seems a little different than the last one, when gender seemed to play no role whatsoever. In 2025, it's been men on one side, women on the other.

The recent opinions were drawn from a sample size of about 10 – evenly split male-to-female, five to five – and findings from this random investigation are incredibly, even pathetically, non-scientific. 
However, the viewpoints do provide some insight. Where are dandelions welcome little occupants of the yard versus places where they're yanked out of lawns like alien invaders? As stereotypic as it sounds, males seem more prone to possess that killer instinct.

"I take pride in my yard," explained Independence resident Mike Connor, who believes strongly in eradication. 

No one seems to know why dandelions are appearing in late March when they usually make an appearance later in spring. However, one sign of early spring this year, according to folklore, was a total lunar eclipse around the time of the "worm moon," which occurred in mid-March. 

Worms and grubs started being sighted, sometimes in droves; The Farmer's Almanac considers these wrigglers an indication of seasonal change. 

When the dandelions started popping up, many people start popping into local nurseries. 

That was the case this week at Rocky Mountain Nursery just outside of town on Corvallis Road. Kyle Paratore, who is part of the family that owns and runs the business, said he isn't really worried about the dandelion population for bees. Paratore is the nursery's propagation specialist.

However, he said this could be because the nursery grounds are filled with them buzzing around, he conceded. 

Still, "there's enough pollen providers that dandelions probably don't make a difference," he reasoned.

Customer Marian LaBounty explained that you can, in fact, have it both ways. She "sequesters" a part of her yard for dandelion proliferation and keeps the rest of the grass free of the yellow-headed growth. 

Dave and Sharon Cutz, also on a visit to the nursery, were representative of the great dandelion divide. She professed love for pollinators. He confessed to constant weed-pulling. 

They have a solution for those worried about dandelion destruction. By planting some floral sources for bees, they can be nourished, and the yard can remain grassy without interference. Just put in "intentional flowers," Sharon Cutz advised. ▪

Indy's new council rules unconstitutional, say several attorneys
​
Editorial analysis by Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 31, 2025 

New city council rules that ban “grandstanding” in council meetings and limit expressions of opinion in certain circumstances were presented to the city council by City Manager Kenna West Tuesday night. However, several legal authorities said portions of these rules, if acted on, violate free speech – potentially creating liability for the city. 

The city council – with the exception of City Councilor Dawn Roden – voted to adopt the new rules. In voting no, Roden said she believes such restrictions on council member communications are aimed at silencing a minority view – she often takes a more fiscally conservative stance on the council. 

Attorneys contacted by Trammart News, as well as findings from a legal opinion by Oregon Legislative Counsel Dexter A. Johnson and an Oregon staff attorney, Geoff Briggs, say some of the new rules appear to be unconstitutional. 

Roden apparently sent an inquiry about the proposed rules to State Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, who represents District 15; Legislative Counsel Johnson responded to Boshart Davis, singling out sections 11.3 and 11.4 of the proposed rules, which cover speech and opinion by council members. 

West said the new rules had been carefully reviewed by the city’s contracted attorney. However, she suggested to the city councilors that they could put those sections aside, for future discussion, when passing the new council rules. 

Councilor Shannon Corr declined to withdraw her motion for adopting the rules so that these two sections could be excluded. Along with Corr, councilors Marilyn Morton, Kathy Martin-Willis and Bill Boisvert voted for the new rules.  

When Roden asked West what the term “grandstanding” meant, conduct that is now prohibited, West consulted her phone to locate a definition – a description was missing from the text that she presented to the council.  

Trammart News had asked several attorneys – including the California-based First Amendment Coalition – about the feasibility of using the term "grandstand" to characterize behavior or speech, following a work session on the new council-conduct rules last summer. 

It’s vague and ambiguous and "an invitation to potential abuse," according to David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition. The terminology is open to personal interpretation, Loy explained. 

Elected officials, including city council members, retain certain rights to freedom of speech even when there is heavy reliance on Robert's Rules of Order. "They cannot be silenced or censored because of their opinions or viewpoints," Loy said.

This view was affirmed by another state attorney who practices in Oregon, outside of Polk County, who didn’t wish to be identified by name. The move by Independence could leave the city vulnerable to a lawsuit, if challenged, he said.

Several of the attorneys referred to “Article I, section 8,” of the Oregon Constitution, which states: “No law shall be passed restraining the free expression of opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print freely on any subject whatever; but every person shall be responsible for the abuse of this right.”

The move by West to change the rules of conduct arrived only days after the city of Corvallis was found by a federal judge to have violated a city councilor’s free speech by moving to expel her from the council because she pressured the city manager to fill a city job. 

Though the Corvallis city councilor apparently acted outside her authority in making the request, the action taken toward her was ruled as retaliatory – and a clear violation of the First Amendment. 

Residents of Corvallis have posted comments on social media criticizing city officials for the time and cost of the case, Ellis v. City of Corvallis. 

Independence communications director, Emmanuel Goicochea, did not respond to numerous requests from Trammart News about either the allegedly problematic use of the term grandstanding or the outcome of the recent lawsuit in Corvallis. 

City Manager Kenna West had referred to the rules – including the ban on “grandstanding” – as representative of those of other cities. Trammart News notified West at the close of the council meeting that no other city could be found that used the term “grandstand.” 

West explained that the term was used to reflect “intent.”

The city council meeting also seemed to depart from tradition in protocol: Mayor Kate Schwarzler – at her first full meeting as mayor – injected questions and observations in a way not included among the recommendations for carrying out mayoral duties in either the Oregon Revised Statutes or the Oregon Mayors Association handbook, among other references. 

The Independence City Charter spells out duties of the mayor in this way: As the presiding officer of the council and as the authority for preserving order, enforcing the rules of the council, and determining the order of business under the rules of the council.

Those who viewed the meeting seemed affected, as well. One referred to Schwarzler’s inquiry of Roden about why she hadn’t contacted State Rep. Paul Evans, rather than State Rep. Boshart Davis, as out of line. “This was just very disappointing,” said one community member, who didn’t wish to be named. “It was unnecessary – she (the mayor) was more interested in challenging her (Roden) than in the information provided,” he added. 

At one point, Schwarzler also suggested that Roden’s questions might have resulted from the fact that she was the only councilor to miss a training session about laws on ethics and public meetings, which was held the previous weekend at the Independence Civic Center. However, Trammart News has attended OGEC training sessions on the same topics in past months – they seemed to have little to do with the constitutional questions raised at the recent city council meeting. Rather, Schwarzler’s statement appeared to imply a reprimand for Roden’s absence.

As a result, Trammart News approached Schwarzler to ask about her commentary, noting that it could be seen as inappropriate, given her position as official meeting presider. Schwarzler declined to comment and referred all questions to City Manager West. 

Also included in the newly-adopted council rules is a reduction in time allotted for individual public comments at council meetings from 5 min to 3 min, which is a more common allotment time found among Willamette Valley cities.

The last time the city council rules were revised was in 2017. ▪

 (Trammart News has contacted a legal scholar to fully research free-speech implications of the new council rules. TN editorials on this issue or  others are encouraged and accepted by this news outlet.)  

Meet Marc Miller, who's seeking the newly-vacated city council seatMarc Miller, a former Monmouth city councilor, legislative aide & Independence businessman is seeking the vacant seat on Indy’s City Council

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 31, 2025 

A familiar expression says if you want something done, ask a busy person. From the content of his resume to a visit to his thriving business, Marc Miller looks like someone who perfectly fits that time-honored quote. 

Miller has applied to fill the vacant Independence City Council seat, with a resume of political experience and community volunteerism over the past two decades that ranges from special assistant to the Oregon Secretary of State Executive Office to a member of the Monmouth City Council. Currently, he is a member of the Independence MINET budget committee and has served on several boards, including formally on the Monmouth-Independence YMCA board.  

He and his wife, Jessica, own Financial Peace Bookkeeping in the Little Mall on Main and they live near John Pfaff Park. Park access and availability is important to Miller. He is anxious to find a way to fund the parks and library, which currently seem imperiled by an anticipated budget shortfall. 

He is a graduate of Western Oregon University and, despite a career that included years of serving as a legislative staffer in the statehouse, never left the area to reside closer to the state capital. In fact, the only time he lived elsewhere was in Bend, from 2009 to 2016.  

Miller shared his love of public service – calling his time on the Monmouth City Council “the best job I ever had” – and his vision for the future with Trammart News. The questions below indicate his priorities, his commitment and the reasons he very much wants to become an Independence city councilor. 

TN. From your time on the Monmouth City Council, you know how much time it takes to be a member of a city council, which I would estimate is about 30 hours a week during some of the time for dedicated councilors. Would you agree? 

 Miller. Yes. When I served as a City Councilor in Monmouth the time commitment was nearly equivalent to a full-time job. 

TN. What would your priorities be for Independence?

Miller. I believe my vision is the same as any other citizen: a small, safe community where there is ample affordable housing, low office space rent to help attract and retain business and where essential services such as a library and parks are provided. 

TN. For someone with such a calm demeanor – the term “laid-back” springs to mind, you seem like a person in a hurry, at least when it comes to city government. Have I got that right? 

Miller. Yes. The City cannot adequately fund essential services such as public safety, library and parks and recreation. The time to implement decisions that will alter this course is short. Difficult decisions will need to be made between now and June to either fund these essential services or create a plan to limit or discontinue them.

TN. Are there ways to address that? We are now in the second month of 2025 and I haven’t heard it mentioned at length in any of the city council meetings so far this year. What are your thoughts?  

Miller. I think that rather than waiting for the city staff to provide options I think the city council should prioritize which services they believe are essential to the viability of the community. I would argue that the museum is not essential.

TN. Is there anything else you consider to be of pressing importance?

Miller. The City of Independence is in critical condition. Residential development has all but stopped because of exceedingly high system development charges. 

TN. That’s true. This week the Independence Planning Commission is expected to approve a year-long extension for Dalke Construction on Brandy Meadows, a subdivision in Southwest Independence that stopped after system development charges of more than $50,000 per housing unit were approved. So, you want to tackle problems like that right away? 

Miller. Absolutely. This should be the second priority for the city behind the water treatment plant.

The city council needs its next councilor to be someone who has prior local government experience so that they can hit the ground running with out-of-the-box ideas to create solutions for these issues. 

TN. Trammart News has been covering the city since 2016 and out-of-the-box ideas seem to have contributed to the development of some of the city’s prized assets – like the riverfront development – but also may be part of the reason there are budget shortfalls …. 

Miller. The key (issue) is can the city afford the out-of-the-box ideas? The city is over $1.5 million of its debt limit. The councilors have a hard time saying no. My motto always is, “yes, if, you increase income or decrease expenses.” 

I have both the experience and the track record of providing out-of-the-box ideas to create solutions. For example, I served as an intern for City Manager Greg Ellis to create an Urban Renewal District for the City of Independence. I then took that idea and, as a city councilor, championed the effort to create an Urban Renewal District in Monmouth. 

TN. That sounds impressive. Independence has a presentation on Urban Renewal Districts coming up, and my understanding is that it will be given by County Assessor Valerie Patoine, who is going to try to boil down the complexity  into a simple PowerPoint – a good way to take such concepts to the public. Do you have any similar ideas for helping residents understand issues? 

Miller. As I stated in my application, I continued the “Coffee and Community” idea that former Monmouth Mayor Paul Evans had. I plan to implement that avenue of communication again, if accepted on the council. 

TN. Anything else? 

Miller. Another thing I plan to do is be very present on social media (Facebook). There will be videos where I try to summarize a complex issue or a controversial one. Most importantly, I will ask for citizens’ feedback. I will then present that feedback to the council. 

When I was a city councilor in Monmouth, I hustled. I will be present at as many community gatherings as possible. I already participate in the Chamber’s Greeters Program. Financial Peace Bookkeeping is a member. 

Average folks don’t often have time to attend council meetings or office hours. That’s why I will be where the people are so as to offer as much interaction as possible. ▪

Ethics: City councilor accusation; city councilor apology

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 31, 2025 
  
At the Independence City Council meeting Tuesday night, Councilor Dawn Roden issued a public apology for filing a financial statement – required by Oregon of all elected officials – that didn’t include her veteran disability benefits or child support payments as earned income. 

She explained that a complaint – filed by Shannon Corr, a fellow city council member – alleged she hadn’t included them on her annual “Statement of Economic Interest.”  Roden misunderstood that they should have been listed; Since she didn’t need to include either form of compensation on her personal taxes, she hadn’t done so on the state document, she acknowledged.

“I made an error and I have since rectified it,” Roden confirmed, asking to be forgiven for the mistake. “I felt terrible and promptly amended my filing.” 

And she added that, throughout the process, “I learned a great deal.” Those who were involved in handling the complaint against her at the state level “were kind, patient, and effective,” Roden said. 

Councilor Corr made no comment on the matter at the meeting following Roden’s apology, nor in a follow-up inquiry from Trammart News seeking a response.

Earlier in the week, at a hearing by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, commissioners had voted 6-0 to pursue resolving Roden’s case. The commission chair, David Fiskum, said the likely result would be “a letter of education.” 

Prior to the vote, OGEC Director Susan Myers observed that Roden was “perfectly willing to correct it and get educated on it.” 

The statement-of-economic-interest filings are a monetary declaration, a public listing that can be used to assess sources of potential conflicts of interest in voting on government actions. 

The complaint regarding Roden isn’t the only one against a member of the Independence City Council that’s moving toward resolution by OGEC. The investigation of Mayor Kate Schwarzler is pending, with a decision expected in March. 

The complaint against Schwarzler was filed by a resident who alleged money her business received from the city for goods or services she provided to it over the years was a violation of her elected office. OGEC is specifically examining whether the city’s purchase of gift baskets constitutes such an infraction. 

Trammart News first reported on the contractual arrangements between the city and Schwarzler’s company a few years ago. In 2019, Schwarzler agreed to provide “entrepreneurship development services” for the city through her firm, Creo Solutions, with payment not to exceed $37,200. Later, on behalf of her non-profit, Indy Idea Hub, she signed an agreement with the city titled “transit planning services” for fees not to exceed $45,000. 

Schwarzler has declined to comment on the OGEC complaint to Trammart News. ▪

CSD 13J internet shutdown causes loss of learning in January, and a big worry to parents

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 24, 2025 
  
After three days of sudden shutdown this month due to an internet failure, students at Central School District 13J now are destined to spend just as much time out of their classrooms in January as they do in them. 

The count includes a nine-day total of “forced absenteeism” – as one parent put it – stemming from a computer-server failure, days off due to winter break, time allotted for teacher development and the Martin Luther King holiday. 

Parents contacted Trammart News with concern over what they suspect may be a trend. The district approach is “we have to do what we have to do, so just accept it,” said one, who didn’t want to be named. Asked why families weren’t calling or emailing district officials with questions about how such closures could be avoided in the future, several said such challenges could be seen as airing “gripes” rather than sharing worries. 

Some parents wondered about why classes couldn’t continue – personal cell phone usage for staying connected was one line of inquiry, a temporary return to pencil-and-paper instruction was another. “The network is important to the safety and security of our students because, without internet, our phone system doesn’t work,” according to Emily Mentzer, communications coordinator for the district. “We need to ensure we can call families or emergency services in the case of an emergency,” she added.

A grant application is underway for money to fix the fragile system – switches and servers have been found to be “antiquated” – but the incident happened before the grant-proposal process was completed, Mentzer said. 

The three-day closure, which also was reported by The Oregonian, comes at a time when CSD 13J is battling relatively high absenteeism, in part by using an approach called “Every Day Matters.” 

Every day does matter, according to a Canadian team that has studied the concept of “mattering.” In-person learning seems to help convey to students that they matter – and “mattering” is now being recognized as a possible key indicator for student success, according to the researchers at the University of Ottawa. 

"For me, it wouldn’t have been very much trouble to shift to running our classroom without the internet,” said Nathan Muti, who teaches at Ash Creek Elementary School. “All of the really good learning is done offline anyway,” he said.

“I mostly use internet resources to help track student’s progress, and to help with diversifying our accommodations for students,” Muti said.  

Several other teachers echoed that sentiment, including one at Central High School who noted that, when the internet went out in the afternoon, the jump was made to a short lecture followed by a question-and-answer session that led to a fairly long discussion. ▪

These Panthers aren't just horsin' around

By Lance Masterson
For Trammart News Service, January 24, 2025


Abigail Steckel has been riding horses for five years. But a passion for the animal has been with her even longer.

“I liked horses since I was little. Always been my favorite animal. Always been intrigued by them,” she said. “I just finally got the opportunity to ride. I took it, and this is where it’s gotten me.”

Where it’s gotten Steckel this night is the 9D Ranch. She is practicing with the other four members of the Central High School equestrian team. This is the senior captain’s second year in the program. She joined the team because she wanted to get better.

“I was really looking forward to being coached.… I’ve learned so many things,” she said of the experience. “You learn so much from the other riders. You also learn to rely on them.”

This partnership between Steckel and steed (Truman) was all of two days old when interviewed. With the first meet a few weeks away, the immediate goal is to concentrate on basics.

“I just hope to ride him and get him used to doing patterns,” she said. Steckel plans to attend Oregon State University and major in veterinary sciences. Truman is a part of those plans.

“He’s my college horse,” she said.

A second captain, Rebecca Duluk, and her horse Pixie have known each other a bit longer. They’ve been a couple since August.

“She’s still pretty new … there’s still a long way to go,” Duluk said in providing a status report. “A lot of it has just been going slow and getting to know her.” Pixie is 11 years old and comfortable in her former routine. But unlike dogs, as the saying goes, you can apparently teach an older horse new tricks.

“She wasn’t trained in the type of stuff I do, so I’ve been slowly introducing her to that. I don’t overwhelm her,” Duluk said. “She’s pretty stubborn and she’s pretty smart. If I ask her to do something she doesn’t want to do, she’ll try to find a way out of it.”

Jacque Dodson knows her way around an arena as well.

“I grew up with horses,” she said. “But they were mainly pasture ponies.” Her relationship with the four-legged wonders grew stronger over the years. This bond strengthened even more after she married Dave Dodson, an avid rider, and the couple ventured beyond arenas and other urban venues. According to Jacque, “We did trail riding. We did back country horsemen. Packing horses into the wilderness,” she said. “We did the Polk County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse. Search and Rescue. That kind of stuff.”

There was less time for horse-related activities while the Dodsons raised their family. “Our kids were not horse kids. They just weren’t interested,” Dodson said. “Our kids all went different directions.”

So Jacque found other kids; kids headed in her direction. Which helps explain why she is in her sixth year as coach of the Central High School equestrian team.

“Well, the other coach decided to resign (after two years), and the kids… asked if I would consider being the coach. So I talked to the athletic director and took all the training that was necessary, and I became a coach for the first time ever,” she said of her recruitment. “To have a group of kids who want to learn, it’s been a big blessing to Dave and me.”

The Panthers squad competes at meets sanctioned by Oregon High School Equestrian Teams. Captains Duluk and Steckel head a roster that includes Madelyn Nieves, Madalyn Chase and Audrey Pelky.

Tabatha Bielemeier is in her third year as co-coach. Dave helps as needed, as do parents.

Equestrian is a club sport at Central. Though it has to be approved by high school administration and its coaches certified by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), it receives no funding from the school, Jacque said.

“The first couple years parents had to pay for everything. And the last couple years, we’ve started collecting scholarships, where the kids go out into the community and ask for donations and things,” Dodson said. “But if the kids don’t go out and gather funding, parents have to pay for it themselves.” Central is one of 13 schools in the Willamette District. Statewide, there are eight districts and 800 riders.

Practice begins in November, with district meets set for February, March and April at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany. Riders compete in up to five individual events and as many team events as can be fielded.

“They can compete in cow events, like daubing and sorting. Then there’s the gaming events, which are barrels, poles, figure eights, flags and several others,” Jacque said. “There’s English events and Western events that they can compete in. So, it caters to (everyone).”

This year’s state finals are Thursday through Sunday, May 8-11.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to Jacque’s coaching style.

“I think the most important thing is realizing that everybody rides at a different level, and that everybody’s goals are a little different,” she said. “You can’t teach all kids the same way. You have to teach them as individuals.”

Riders determine what success means to them.

“What makes for a successful season is our kids competing at the level that their goals are set,” Jacque added. “We have them set goals before each meet of what they’d like to accomplish. Some of these kids have been riding for a long period of time. Some of them … just got their horse the day before yesterday.”

Together, coach and rider assess whether a goal was achieved. “If they accomplished their goal, then we’re satisfied,” Jacque said.

The Dodsons have owned the 9D Ranch for 35 years. It’s the property north of Independence with the large red barn on Rogers Road.

The ranch is a landmark for members of the saddle set, as 4-Hers, team ropers and Polk County Posse members practice there. Something they’ve been doing for years.

Jacque has lived in Polk County for some 50 years, and is a former resident of Valsetz, the former timber town. Dave is a CHS alumni and worked for the school district for 30 years. ▪

Sen. Deb Patterson practices proactive ethics to push for an environmental bill

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 24, 2025 
  
This feature, “IN ACTUALITY,” appears periodically  – to inform residents about matters that may impact them at some point, but which are part of a developing story. Microfibers in public water are beginning to undergo scientific scrutiny. State Sen Deb Patterson, who has been a member of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, has advocated for more studies. Independence is one of the few systems in Oregon where they’ve been reported as detected. Sen. Patterson has called for an addition to home filtration where microfibers are likely to turn up -- in wastewater from the laundry, specifically washing machines. A few facts about her bill regarding the proposed filter system. 

IN ACTUALITY
An editorial column to assist public knowledge & discourse on recent events. 

WHO: State Sen. Deb Patterson, who represents Independence, Monmouth and South Salem and who began the 2025 state legislative session this week. 

WHAT: A bill sponsored by Patterson, SB 526, calls for a new law to require equipping laundry-washing appliances with a special system that would catch and retain “microfibers,” tiny particles of plastic and other materials that are shed from some clothing, blankets and other items during laundering with water and detergent. The law wouldn’t go into enforcement effect until 2030. 

WHERE: The filter unit, made by Filtrol, was proposed to assist Sen. Patterson as a visual aid to demonstrate how the device works. The company requested that, in return for donating the special filter, it would receive a “shout-out” on social media. 

WHEN: The Filtrol filter is planned for use during the process of introducing the bill. 

WHY: Current scientific research suggests that exposure to certain micro-contaminants, including those known as PFAs, may lead to adverse health effects. However, levels of risk are largely unknown, and research is ongoing. The filtering helps keep them out of wastewater discharges from household washing, which could reduce these tiny fibers from entering local water supplies. 

HOW: When a public official like Patterson is offered something of value – the Filtrol unit is estimated to cost $159 – a state agency, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, can help interpret whether an infraction is likely to occur under the Oregon Revised Statutes, which define what constitutes a gift to a public official. “In this situation, it appears that Filtriol’s Filer Unit is a gift to Senator Patterson’s Office rather than a gift to Patterson herself,” wrote OGEC director Susan Myers, who added that the gift clause only applies to gifts given to public officials and not public bodies. 
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OUTCOME: It remains to be seen whether the bill will pass into law. However, Patterson’s proactive inquiry – by her chief of staff, Megan Wai – is expected to allow use of the filter unit to proceed for demonstration purposes without any ethics challenge. ▪