Oakridge city council meeting 11/21: A push for more CPR training and state rep Darren Harbick updates action items

By ELLIE GRAHAM/for The Herald  —  Oakridge City Council meeting brought key administrators and the public together, Thursday Nov. 21 to discuss matters ranging from health initiatives to local governance.

The 6 p.m. meeting spotlighted current affairs in the city and featured a presentation on CPR initiatives for healthy hearts and a special ceremony that recognized first responders, particularly in the volunteer-led domain. 

The Heart Safe Community program and Life-Saving Award presentations were led by a representative from the Heart Safe Community program and EMS Chief JoAnna Kamppi. Kamppi said the healthy heart initiative was employed through the lens of becoming a “heart safe community.” This was in response to cardiac arrest survival rates for the area being jarring compared to the national average in 2012. Kamppi said when considering cardiac arrest, every minute that a patient goes without compressions, they have 10% less chance of survival and even lesser chance of being neurologically intact. 

“So the heart safe community component is really about thinking about a safety net,” Kamppi said. “If we all joined together, we can create this web of safety over our community by learning hands on CPR, then we live in a safer place.” 

The average ambulance response time is 7 minutes, said Kamppi, and highlighted community safety efforts as even more essential to incidents of this nature. 

“We need more try-standers, not bystanders.” 

The efforts of Terry Ellison’s life-saving CPR was also highlighted in the presentation –- and praised. The incident led to a full neurological recovery of the impacted individual. Key stakeholders outlined there is a push for CPR training to be accepted as an essential skill with the need for mandatory CPR in schools.

“It’s neighbors helping neighbors. That’s what hands-only CPR is about,” Kamppi said.

Another new face came to town for the meeting – long-time McKenzie River resident and State Representative-elect, Darren Harbick. He was formally introduced and invited to give some remarks to those in attendance. Addressing the residents of Oakridge he said, “my door will always be open to you guys,” inviting people to stop by and visit with him in Salem. 

Harbick noted employing an open-door policy for constituents along with gratitude for local first responders in the area. 

“I see there’s a lot of first responders in the room, and I want to thank you guys for your service. It’s impressive, volunteers paid,” Harbick said.

Harbick said he is committed to engaging the Oakridge and Highway 58 communities in his district plans before legislative duties begin in January.

In the realm of the rental of city facilities waiver policy, the city council addressed the fiscal year 2024-2025 for the waivers. Clarification was provided around the interpretation of waivers. Applicants can receive up to three waivers per year, with a $1,500 maximum. Some debate took place in relation to the inclusion of additional insurance costs being covered by renters with extenuating events. Councilors identified this as an effort to keep the fee waivers for bigger events to a minimum due to a lot of work that is required, and the need for those funds to be allocated to parks.

Payroll taxes were noted as significantly exceeding budgets too with a need for a supplemental budget. Discrepancies in budgeted revenue and expenses were highlighted, particularly in the general and water funds arena. 

Chief Kevin Martin noted the police report for October, which documented a total of 212 incidents with 11 arrests and $11,583 being paid in court fines. The fire department also recently conducted live fire training, or “burn to learn” and said it is in the process of recruiting new staff. 

Some key city announcements included Oakridge being featured in Ridgeline magazine, which is distributed across Lane County. 

A $200,000 dollar allocation for road repairs was also announced to action road improvements on Jones Road and H Street. 

The council also approved the construction contract for a new pole barn at the public works facility in town and appointed Mike Leander to the Budget Committee, with the seat expiring December 2027.

A community Open House is scheduled to take place Dec. 9 to discuss updates to the city’s bridge code. The 6:30 p.m. event will include a presentation and community discussions. A Zoom option will be available for remote participation.

Ellie Graham is a master’s student in Journalism and Law & Conflict Studies at the University of Oregon. She also reports for the East Oregonian and Ethos Magazine. She hails from Liverpool, England but calls the Pacific Northwest home too. Ellie is an avid trail runner and snowboarder. Her pittie mixes keep her busy and up in the mountains. 

City Council meetings take place the first and third Thursday of each month.

Citizens have four ways of attending and commenting at a City Council meeting:

Via Zoom on your computer or smartphone at:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3664311610

Via phone by dialing: 669-900-9128, then enter Meeting ID:  366 431 1610.

3.    Send comments by email to: [email protected] by 2pm the day of the meeting.

4.    Attend in-person at Oakridge City Hall (48318 E. 1st Street).

Detailed instructions are available at City Hall, on the city website, and the city Facebook page.

Videos of all City Council meetings can be found on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@cityofoakridgecouncilcommi8088