By Anne Scheck

MINET has had its first year of profitability, thanks in part to company services that have been purchased by Willamette Valley Fiber (WVF), according to the telecom’s longtime auditor, who reported the gains at the last MINET board meeting. 
MINET received fees by WVF to compensate it for operating the network; MINET also provided guidance and assistance during WVF’s start-up period, noted Thomas Glogau CPA, the accountant who has been conducting MINET’s annual financial reviews for many years. 

Due to the expansion into Dallas under the name of WVF, “MINET has finally turned an annual profit and at the same time finally started reducing its debt,” stated John Cooper, director of finance for the company. “This is a huge milestone for any company, especially in the telecom industry.”
 
However, subscribers to MINET seems to have reached a plateau in Monmouth and Independence -- it appears unlikely the customer base will increase significantly in the two cities. The municipal fiberoptic’s penetration “currently hovers around 78-80% which is 20-30% above the industry standard,” according to Mr. Cooper. 
 
Subsidization by cities to MINET should decrease this year, and if the current trend continues, will diminish annually. However, it's likely to be years before the money owed to the founding cities is repaid -- the company remains under obligation to repay the borrowed sums plus interest, according to outside experts who were asked about the municipal debt. 
 
In another action at the MINET board meeting: General Manager Don Patten was given official permission by board members to “make purchases and enter into contracts and leases” that have a value greater than $75,000 but less than $125,000 in “emergency situations.”

A broadband study of rural areas by Polk County shows growing demand for internet providers outside the county’s cities. Survey respondents most often identified the company for this connectivity as CenturyLink DSL (36%), according to the results of the poll. HughesNet Satellite (7.4%) was a fairly distant second; Verizon mobile wireless (6.7%) was a close third.

Building homes that are affordable for young families and for recent college graduates should be a priority for the City of Independence, according to several attendees of the “2040 Vision Plan” meeting held Monday.

Ramon Martinez, the community engagement specialist for the city, kicked off the discussion by calling affordable housing an “important” issue for the future of Independence.  “We certainly need it,” agreed Michael Cairns, a longtime resident and retired fish biologist. To meet that need, “I would certainly encourage ‘infill’ rather than ‘sprawl,’” he added.
 
Several others who participated in the meeting said smaller homes, ranging from “tiny houses” to townhomes, could help meet the niche for lower-cost home ownership. “Some of this alternative housing could create parking challenges,” observed Independence City Councilor Tom Takacs. However, the option is worth exploring, he said.

A special meeting on Wednesday, Jan 29, at 3:30 pm. to envision the next two decades for the city will be held in the Independence Civic Center, in the event room, downstairs. 

COUNTY ADDRESSES TRANSPORTATION  
An “action idea” by the City of Independence for more regional bus and transit activity already is underway, according to recent reports at the Polk County Board of Commissioners. The topic, which was one focus of Independence’s 2040 Vision Plan meeting, was addressed at the most recent commissioners’ meeting by Roxanne Beltz, trip choice coordinator for Cherriots and by Brent DeMoe, family and community outreach director for Polk County. Ms. Beltz introduced the state’s “get there” online tool, which helps commuters by enabling people to create carpools and find riders with matching destinations; It has grown to 900 participants since its launch in July. Mr. DeMoe explained that a 15-passenger bus, with space for two wheelchairs, debuted as a new part of the county transportation system; It travels to Independence from Falls City and other cities on Wednesdays.

By Anne Scheck

The monthly cost of a residential sewer charge is increasing by about $2, from a base rate of $49.89 to $51.96 -- but it won’t take effect immediately. At its meeting a week ago, the Independence City Council decided to delay the new billing till March. 

In a separate action, the city council also added $1.35 million to the 2019-2020 budget in the following way: Building Repair-Replacement Fund; $650,000; General Fund: $400,000; Economic Development Loan Fund: $300,000. 

This supplemental budget also included receiving a community development block grant of $400,000 for affordable housing, and a grant of $300,000 for a feasibility study on a proposal for a trolley line to link Independence to Monmouth, as well as to other locations. 

The supplemental budget was needed to “provide purchase and improvements of property for relocating the museum, and for appropriating for the expenditure of unanticipated grants,” according to the report submitted to the city council.

The same amount of rebate guaranteed to the former developer of the old city hall -- $300,000 – will be passed on to the new owners of the site, which is next to the post office and across Monmouth Street from the long-unfinished Independence Station. At a work session prior to the last city council meeting, councilors agreed they would support the monetary allocation, which will include funds to re-instate sidewalks around the former city hall building. 
 
Though no formal vote was taken, the councilors concurred the money will help set refurbishment on course for the building, which currently houses a brewery not yet open to the public – a business operated by the brother-in-law of one of the new investors. The brewery, Parallel 45, was facing eviction due to the recent foreclosure proceedings against the building’s former owner. 
 
Ryan Booth, the head brewer for Parallel 45, said he was close to losing the business until the new buyers of the building – his brother-in-law Patrick Carney and Mr. Carney’s partner, Kelly McDonald – stepped forward to make the purchase. The pair’s firm, Salem-based Gomacgo LLC, also purchased Independence Station, as well as property near it. When asked about when work would commence on Independence Station, Mr. Carney said the site at the old city hall is a priority – and that it would be premature to propose any timeline beyond that. In a previous interview, Mr. McDonald said a thorough analysis is required for Independence Station, and it could take up to two years before definitive decisions can be made.

A proposed trail in the Brandy Meadows development that allegedly didn’t coincide with a map approved years ago for the “Southwest Independence Area Concept Plan” nonetheless fits the city’s intent for the area and accomplishes a number of goals for it. That seemed to be the conclusion reached by the Independence City Council, which denied the appeal. However, the councilors also adopted a condition that establishes more-precise setbacks along the banks of Ash Creek in the subdivision. Councilor Jennifer Ranstrom-Smith voted against rejecting the appeal, which was filed by Sunset Meadows resident Rich Clark. The appeal drew objections by residents from the surrounding area, including Chad Ludwig, who told the Planning Commission he believed citizen views were being disregarded. (The land-use questions that surfaced in this appeal will be covered in the February issue of The Independent).  

Wednesday, Jan 22 at 6:30 pm, the Independence-based Luckiamute Watershed Council will hold a “Sips-and-Science” session on worm-bin composting at Pressed Coffee Roasters Café in Dallas OR.

Free health screenings, pet care, a dental van and other services will be provided at the Polk County Connect and Resource Fair on Thursday, Jan 23, from 2 pm to 6pm at the “Academy Building” in Dallas, 182 SW Academy St.

Special meetings to envision the next two decades for the city will be held in the Independence City Council chambers on Monday, Jan 27, the other on Wednesday, Jan 29, both at 3:30 pm. 

City To Sell Lot #7 In a preliminary decision, local realtor Aaron Young won tentative approval to purchase lot #7 of Independence Landing from the city, a parcel across from the current construction site of Tokola’s townhome-and-apartment complex along the riverfront. Mr. Young is the owner-developer of Osprey Point, which hasn’t been built but is east of Brew Coffee & Tap House at the corner of Main and C Street. The transaction for Lot #7 is scheduled to take place at a future executive session.