By Anne Scheck
NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED IN SW INDEPENDENCE
A proposed 68-lot subdivision – which would put new homes off Talmadge Road in Southwest Independence and create a “Madrona Street East” there – is scheduled to have a public hearing this coming Monday at the Independence Planning Commission, according to a recent mailed notification.
The plan includes improvements to Talmadge Road, with sidewalks along all of the newly created streets for the proposed neighborhood, which would abut a large wetland. The planning commission meets at 7 pm at the Civic Center and can be viewed in live-stream on the city’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/c/CityofIndependenceOR
COUNCIL DELAYS VOTE PROHIBITING STREET PARKING OF RVs & TRAILERS
City councilors delayed a decision on an addition to the city’s parking code that would ban certain disconnected trailers from being parked on the street and allow recreational vehicles only to be parked there while being loaded or unloaded.
The same code change would require a city permit for rented dumpsters placed on the street, and a time limit would be put into effect on their use. Though the change was supposed to be voted on at the last city council meeting, Councilor Sarah Jobe said she suspected few people were aware of it. “They don’t even know this is coming,” she stated. She was joined by Councilor Dawn Hedrick-Roden, who said she didn’t think “this was the time” to vote on the issue.
However, Councilor Shannon Corr noted that, in her neighborhood, some parked trailers make it hard to see children in the street. “It’s a problem of safety,” she said.
The vote now is expected to occur in May. This week, Independence began posting a part-time position for a community services officer to assist with enforcement issues, including abandoned autos and other zoning ordinances.
MINET GENERAL MANAGER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Don Patten, who was named general manager of MINET at a financially troubling time for the fiberoptic company nearly seven years ago, announced his pending retirement at the company’s board of directors’ meeting last week. Under his leadership, the company met several new milestones.
With Patten at the helm, MINET substantially improved its fiscal stability, achieving the revenue this year to make its own debt payment without city subsidies.
Accolades poured in from board members after Patten said he hoped to leave by the close of 2021. “You are MINET and MINET is you,” said board chair David Ritchey. “I would like to echo that,” said Chris Lopez, a Monmouth city councilor who serves on the board.
Patten said a “great succession team” is in place. More on the changes ahead at MINET will be covered by Trammart News in the coming months.
FORMER HERITAGE MUSEUM SALE NETS $350,000 FOR CITY
The former site of the Heritage Museum, a church building on 3rd Street, sold for the asking price of $350,000 to Unfettered Renovations LLC, a firm specializing in preservation and refurbishment of historic properties. The company has announced plans to convert it to residential use.
The money will go toward the cost of relocation of the museum to a site purchased downtown on the corner of C Street, across from the post office, according to City Manager Tom Pessemier. The city purchased that site for $650,000 and has put additional money into reconstruction and upgrades since then.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT
April 27, 6:30 pm. The city is revisiting a resolution to recognize climate change—the proposal calls for partnering with Monmouth in a joint committee to help guide future planning and to educate residents about the “magnitude and effects” of global warming. (ADDED NOTE: The city audit was delivered at the last city council meeting and is posted online at the city website at this link, see it listed at the top of the supporting documents section https://www.ci.independence.or.us/finance/audits
A FINAL FYI
The Luckiamute Watershed Council is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a nature photography contest, and photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate! Submit your favorite photos of the waterways, plants, wildlife, people or landscapes you've encountered within the Luckiamute and Ash Creek watersheds by the May 31 deadline, and you just might win the grand prize of $100. You can enter your photographs in any or all of five different categories, plus there is a Youth Entries category for photographers aged 12 and under! For all contest rules and the photo submission form, head to https://www.LuckiamuteLWC.org/LWC-photo-contest.html.
NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED IN SW INDEPENDENCE
A proposed 68-lot subdivision – which would put new homes off Talmadge Road in Southwest Independence and create a “Madrona Street East” there – is scheduled to have a public hearing this coming Monday at the Independence Planning Commission, according to a recent mailed notification.
The plan includes improvements to Talmadge Road, with sidewalks along all of the newly created streets for the proposed neighborhood, which would abut a large wetland. The planning commission meets at 7 pm at the Civic Center and can be viewed in live-stream on the city’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/c/CityofIndependenceOR
COUNCIL DELAYS VOTE PROHIBITING STREET PARKING OF RVs & TRAILERS
City councilors delayed a decision on an addition to the city’s parking code that would ban certain disconnected trailers from being parked on the street and allow recreational vehicles only to be parked there while being loaded or unloaded.
The same code change would require a city permit for rented dumpsters placed on the street, and a time limit would be put into effect on their use. Though the change was supposed to be voted on at the last city council meeting, Councilor Sarah Jobe said she suspected few people were aware of it. “They don’t even know this is coming,” she stated. She was joined by Councilor Dawn Hedrick-Roden, who said she didn’t think “this was the time” to vote on the issue.
However, Councilor Shannon Corr noted that, in her neighborhood, some parked trailers make it hard to see children in the street. “It’s a problem of safety,” she said.
The vote now is expected to occur in May. This week, Independence began posting a part-time position for a community services officer to assist with enforcement issues, including abandoned autos and other zoning ordinances.
MINET GENERAL MANAGER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Don Patten, who was named general manager of MINET at a financially troubling time for the fiberoptic company nearly seven years ago, announced his pending retirement at the company’s board of directors’ meeting last week. Under his leadership, the company met several new milestones.
With Patten at the helm, MINET substantially improved its fiscal stability, achieving the revenue this year to make its own debt payment without city subsidies.
Accolades poured in from board members after Patten said he hoped to leave by the close of 2021. “You are MINET and MINET is you,” said board chair David Ritchey. “I would like to echo that,” said Chris Lopez, a Monmouth city councilor who serves on the board.
Patten said a “great succession team” is in place. More on the changes ahead at MINET will be covered by Trammart News in the coming months.
FORMER HERITAGE MUSEUM SALE NETS $350,000 FOR CITY
The former site of the Heritage Museum, a church building on 3rd Street, sold for the asking price of $350,000 to Unfettered Renovations LLC, a firm specializing in preservation and refurbishment of historic properties. The company has announced plans to convert it to residential use.
The money will go toward the cost of relocation of the museum to a site purchased downtown on the corner of C Street, across from the post office, according to City Manager Tom Pessemier. The city purchased that site for $650,000 and has put additional money into reconstruction and upgrades since then.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT
April 27, 6:30 pm. The city is revisiting a resolution to recognize climate change—the proposal calls for partnering with Monmouth in a joint committee to help guide future planning and to educate residents about the “magnitude and effects” of global warming. (ADDED NOTE: The city audit was delivered at the last city council meeting and is posted online at the city website at this link, see it listed at the top of the supporting documents section https://www.ci.independence.or.us/finance/audits
A FINAL FYI
The Luckiamute Watershed Council is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a nature photography contest, and photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate! Submit your favorite photos of the waterways, plants, wildlife, people or landscapes you've encountered within the Luckiamute and Ash Creek watersheds by the May 31 deadline, and you just might win the grand prize of $100. You can enter your photographs in any or all of five different categories, plus there is a Youth Entries category for photographers aged 12 and under! For all contest rules and the photo submission form, head to https://www.LuckiamuteLWC.org/LWC-photo-contest.html.
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