RESTAURANTS, MERCHANTS  GET GRANTS FROM COUNTY
The Independence Hotel appears to be the biggest recipient of a county grant program that dispensed money to businesses across Polk County recently – but relatively small amounts were available for funding any of the applicants.   
 
The Independence Hotel, which received a combined $27,500 for its lodging and restaurant business, was followed by Gilgamesh – Gilgamesh West Inc. and Gilgamesh The River Inc., when combined, received $25,000.  
 
Most of the merchants in Independence who received awards got sums ranging from $4,000 to $12,500. The grants came from state allocations of about $1.24 million that arrived at the county from the state near the end of 2020 – and decisions on the applications had to be made within only few weeks’ time. “Overall, Polk County believes the process used to distribute these funds was very good, especially with the short turnaround we were given by the state to distribute these funds,” said Greg Hansen, Polk County administrator, who helped oversee the process.
 
The Independence Hotel is considered an important part of the city’s redevelopment effort. The hotel restaurant, The Territory, closed weeks ago. Asked when it will re-open, Tokola Vice President Jeff Edinger said he wasn’t certain. In the current economy, “day to day things change,” he observed. Asked about a long-term outlook, he said: “We are exploring every opportunity.” 
 
Earnings from the hospitality industry have plunged in the pandemic. Other restaurants downtown, such as Breakfast & Burgers, also have been shuttered during COVID-19 restrictions. All merchants along Main Street who were asked about the cash infusion from the county said they were grateful for the monetary relief, and two said it made a huge difference in their immediate outlook. The city also imparted grant money in much the same way, but specific amounts haven't been made available. 
 
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR GONE, CITY MANAGER STEPS INTO ROLE
City Manager Tom Pessemier is stepping into the role of acting public works director for Independence now that Kie Cottam has departed, he confirmed recently. Cottam, who was hired more than three years ago to be in charge of the city’s public works department, today remained listed on the city website as director of public works. 
 
The change occurs at a time when the challenge to meet regulations for permissible waste-water discharge continues to confront the city. This past fall, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a civil penalty of $4,650 to Independence – after several reprimands over the past few years that sewage-water from the city was released into the Willamette River.  
 
However, the most recent alleged infraction apparently happened in 2019 – before the city installed piping to a farm field north of town to help take care of the wastewater excess by recycling it for agricultural use. 
 
At a city council meeting after notification of the fine was received, Pessemier said the penalty fee would be paid in full, rather than appealing the decision. For years, city staff have acknowledged that wastewater lagoons don’t have the necessary storage capacity during part of the year. 
 
In his letter to the city, Kieran O’Donnell, the DEQ’s manager of compliance and enforcement, stated that “Independence is not authorized to discharge effluent to the Middle Fork Willamette for the period of June 1 to October 31 of each year because the flows in the river at the time are too low and the city’s discharge will adversely affect water quality.” 

STORY BRIEFS    
  
INDEPENDENCE BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM INDY IDEA HUB
A non-profit founded by Kate Schwarzler, proprietor of Indy Commons on Main Street, called Indy Idea Hub, was charged with helping the city in a technical-assistance program for businesses. Board members of Indy Idea Hub include Independence city employees Shawn Irvine, Independence economic development director and Carly Annable, Independence Heritage Museum director. CARES Act money was used in the program to connect many merchants in downtown and in central Independence with needed expertise, particularly web-related assistance. Schwarzler was paid to help conduct the project. She reported that most businesses wanted help with improving their online presence, such as web design, branding or adding to existing websites.     
 
SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM INVOLVES YOUTH TRAINING
Smooth walkways and youth education were all part of a training project that ended with new stretches of sidewalk in Independence, said Mona K-Hinds, area coordinator for Workforce and Education at Polk County’s Community Services Consortium. K-Hinds, who is based where School District 13J is housed at the Henry Hill building, enlisted a cement company, Allied Drilling and Concrete, along with the City of Independence and Willamette Workforce Partners to conduct a pilot project in which adolescents learned the art of expert paving. The results were presented at the last city council meeting. “She is a phenomenon,” commented Polk County Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst, who attended the meeting. Without K-Hinds, the project wouldn’t have been able to make it off the ground, he said. Or, in this case, into the ground.
 
NEW AWARD WILL HONOR HISTORIC HOMES
The Historic Planning Commission (HPC) approved a new way to honor homes in the historic district at its last meeting – with an annual award. The precise criteria haven’t been decided, but in general the award is slated to go to homes that have made strides to refurbish and restore their original craftsmanship. The title – The Weaver-Cairns HPC Award – is named for Dan Weaver, a deceased antique dealer whose statue is on Main Street, and Michael Cairns, who served the city for many years on the commission. Both were long-time volunteers at the city, according to HPC’s Curtis Tidmore. 
 
HIGHWAY PROJECTS UPDATE
The turn from – and onto – Highway 51 from Highway 22 is one of the most dangerous ones in the state, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). County Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst, who has been working with ODOT, said it’s one of the county’s priority areas. Mayor John McArdle said he’s been meeting with state and federal officials about it. “We are happy that the mayor is bringing awareness and support to this,” Mordhorst said. In other news, Mordhorst confirmed that a roundabout on Highway 99 at Clow Corner has now been delayed till 2023. It was scheduled to begin construction this past summer. 
 
MINET ON TRACK TO MAKE ITS OWN DEBT PAYMENT, LOSES CITY COUNCILOR MARILYN MORTON
Marilyn Morton announced her pending retirement from MINET at the last city council meeting, a position she has occupied almost since the inception of the municipal fiberoptic company. She expects to remain in limited hours on a consulting basis – and announced that MINET is doing so well that it will require no city subsidy this year to make its debt payment.