• Home
  • About
  • Current Indy Online Weekly Posts
  • The Independent
  • The Linking Letter
  • Public Health Reports
  • TRAMMART BLOG
  • Trammart News Archives
TRAMMART NEWS

LINKING LETTER: New Park / MINET Bonuses/ Vinyl Fence Ban To Be Lifted

1/28/2019

1 Comment

 

MINET EMPLOYEE BONUSES ANNOUNCED 

Bonuses ranging from 5% to 10%, depending on employee position, have been granted to the staff and management of MINET. The decision, made by the MINET board, comes after a year in which MINET made gains in profitability and laid plans to expand to Dallas in partnership with American Fiber Optics LLC. The bonus awards were confirmed by City Councilor Michael Hicks, the liaison to the MINET board, at the city council meeting.

FORMAL RECOMMENDATION To ABOLISH VINYL FENCE BAN

The ban on vinyl fencing is expected to be officially abolished at the next city council meeting, as part of a proposed package of updates to the development code, which was presented to city councilors this past Tuesday. The revisions, which arrived in a list that would fill a large phone book, was sent forward by the planning commission. The list will be presented for final adoption in February.
 
City councilors approved the changes, but it went back to city staff for final touches. The changes are part of an effort to bring the code up-to-date and make it consistent throughout its publication, according to Zach Pelz, the city's contracted planner. [The Independent will take a more in-depth look at the new codes this spring].

SUNSET MEADOWS PARK: NATURE PLAY AREA FAVORED

A traditional jungle-gym area went down to defeat in favor of a section that offers small boulders and other kid-friendly surfaces when about 40 residents of Sunset Meadows showed up for an open house to view prospective features for Sunset Meadows Park. The park will be located near the new development past 7th Street on the south side of Monmouth Avenue. 
 
"It was a surprise," commented Shawn Irvine, economic development director for the City of Independence. Most attendees placed "yes" stickers on a design for a natural play setting, and "no" tabs on a playground with swings. The open house was held at Mt. Fir Park, in the main building of Inspiration Garden, near F Street Bridge.

OTHER NEWS

A WINNER!: Ama Mykyta, a student at Central High School, was pronounced the winning entrant to the American Legion Post 33 oratorical competition, and she has since gone on to the district competition. Though she lost at that level, Ms. Mykata will be awarded a $100 check from a fund established by Trammart Inc., which has set up a donation fund for local schools. Trammart publishes The Independent, The Linking Letter and The Linking Loop. 
 
Ms. Mykata's speech and other details will be featured in The Linking Loop, which covers school-related topics of Central School District 13J. Independence resident Billy Whisenant, of American Legion Post 33, organized the contest, which was held at the Independence Library this month. Congratulations to both Ms. Mykyta and Mr. Whisenant for inaugurating what promises to be a memorable annual event. 
 
COMING UP: Two new inserts will debut in the February issue of The Independent, which will take a look at water-sewer issues and at MINET. The first insert -- in the February issue of The Independent -- is The Police Box, which will examine the combined use of alcohol and marijuana, and the challenge it presents to local law enforcement. The second one, The Green Bee, covers a presentation on local-dwelling lampreys, which was sponsored by the Luckiamute Watershed Council in early January. 
1 Comment

January 10, 2019 LINKING LETTER: Tonight's City Council Meeting Preview

1/10/2019

0 Comments

 

WATER-SEWER BILL TO INCREASE avg $2.50 

Water-and-sewer fee increases were passed by the Independence City Council – but they will be less than predicted, thanks to gains made by MINET in paying down debt owed on the municipal fiber optic. The water rate increase will be $0.51 to the average residential base. For sewer customers, the increase is $1.99. That’s one percent below the rate hike recommended this past year by an outside consultant. 

LACK OF QUORUMS STALLING DECISIONS  

A long-sought change to remove the ban on vinyl fencing has stalled due to absenteeism in the planning commission. Commissioners had voted in favor to abolish the current prohibition on vinyl fencing, but public hearings had to be delayed twice due lack of a quorum. However, the last time the planning commission met, one of the commissioners was able to participate remotely, fulfilling the need for a quorum. 

 At its first scheduled meeting this month, the Planning Commission again was cancelled. As of this writing, the ordinance – which would undo the ban on vinyl fencing -- seems likely to come up for adoption in February, according to the general timeline established by the city.

COMING UP:

Two new inserts will debut in the next issue of The Independent, which is the annual “Utility Issue,” and will take a look at water-sewer issues and at MINET. The first insert in the February issue of The Independent, The Police Box, will examine the growing, combined use of alcohol and marijuana -- and the challenge it presents to local law enforcement. The second one, The Green Bee, will cover community environmental and science topics, beginning with a presentation on local-dwelling lampreys, which is being sponsored by the Luckiamute Watershed Council Wed, Jan. 9. 

 The Police Box is an effort to get safety information, including community trends and statistics, into a hopefully easy-to-read format. The first Police Box will cover the “saturation patrol” and related activity by the Independence Police Department on New Year’s Eve. On Dec 31, the local police department hosted law enforcement representatives from agencies across Polk County, to raise awareness of drugged-and-drunk driving. 

Led by Lt. Michael Iwai, of the Oregon State Police, the event was held in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and convened in the Civic Center by Independence Police Chief Robert Mason. Also in attendance was Officer Pete Roy, who shared his knowledge of the increasingly common combination of liquor and marijuana by users of both. The Police Box will provide more coverage.

NOTE: 
A generous scholarship program that awards winners of oratorical essays on the US Constitution is being held by The American Legion Post 33, with a mid-January deadline. Look for more information in the next few days, to be carried in The Linking Letter follow-up of tonight’s city council meeting.

FINAL NOTE: Congratulations to new City Councilor Shannon Cockayne, who is scheduled to be sworn in tonight. However, the city council now has a vacant seat -- the result of resignation by Odi Campos-Santos, who is moving out of Independence.
0 Comments

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017

    Categories

    All
    The Linking Letter

    RSS Feed