By 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:
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!
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!
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