By Anne Scheck
M-I-JOINT SESSION
The best practices for reducing chronic homelessness, including how cities can work together to provide effective support services, is one of the issues slated for a joint meeting of the Independence and Monmouth city councils, Tuesday. The presentation “Continuum of Care,” which is being held as a “work session,” will be given by staff of the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments.
The meeting will be held at 5:30 pm in the conference room of Polk County Fire District One, 1800 Monmouth St. The Independence City Council meeting will follow, at its usual time of 6:30 pm.
The meeting will be held at 5:30 pm in the conference room of Polk County Fire District One, 1800 Monmouth St. The Independence City Council meeting will follow, at its usual time of 6:30 pm.
UPDATE: MINET MATERIAL SHORTAGE
A bank line-of-credit sought by MINET was denied, but that isn’t the reason for delay in some upgrades to the system, according to MINET’s chief executive. "While it is true that MINET did not receive approval for a recent commercial credit application, it is due to a world-wide hardware shortage of the required equipment that forced our 'escalated' GPON equipment purchases into our (MINET's) new fiscal year,” explained Don Patten, general manager of MINET.
“As such, our not having commercial credit resources available to us neither factored into our current upgrade timeline nor is it playing a consequential factor in our cities’ debt support forecasting,” he added. (Below, see brief editorial related to this issue, “Taking the Reins.”)
“As such, our not having commercial credit resources available to us neither factored into our current upgrade timeline nor is it playing a consequential factor in our cities’ debt support forecasting,” he added. (Below, see brief editorial related to this issue, “Taking the Reins.”)
COMING UP
A federal grant submitted to help Independence become a designated Agricultural-Technology hub will be reported in the May issue of The Independent. A grant for $650,000 has been submitted, and it requires matching funds by the city, in cash or in-kind services. But most of those matching funds are pledged to come from about a dozen “partner organizations,” explained Shawn Irvine, the city’s economic development director. “The project is to create a three-year program of pilot projects, entrepreneurship and innovation events and workforce development programs,” he explained. The goal: To build local tech-oriented businesses and remote work opportunities.
TAKING THE REINS – Editorial by Anne Scheck
This past week, when it was reported that MINET had been denied a line of credit by a bank, it seemed obvious news. Anyone who carefully follows the actions of the homegrown municipal broadband could have learned of it. However, because this was attributed to Independence City Manager Tom Pessemier in The Linking Letter, it seemed surprising to some. But why? Perhaps it’s a signal such clarity is worthy of attention.
To reiterate what has been reported before: Independence has a debt approaching $37 million with a population of around 10,000. Any development related to the city’s co-owned broadband company – whether it’s a bank-declined line of credit or a shortage of technology – should be public knowledge. So, as Mr. Pessemier takes the reins of our city, I hope he’ll keep riding as a straight-shooter on what is sure to be a rough mount. It’s an aim from which we all can benefit.
To reiterate what has been reported before: Independence has a debt approaching $37 million with a population of around 10,000. Any development related to the city’s co-owned broadband company – whether it’s a bank-declined line of credit or a shortage of technology – should be public knowledge. So, as Mr. Pessemier takes the reins of our city, I hope he’ll keep riding as a straight-shooter on what is sure to be a rough mount. It’s an aim from which we all can benefit.
FINAL NOTE
New water rights were purchased this spring by Independence – and apart from the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars -- there are some looming regulatory issues ahead, according to Oregon experts who spoke recently at a regional meeting on the topic. The July issue of The Independent will take a look at the possible ramifications of new policies relating to water use in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
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