Viki Burns will meet with the Bridge Lighting committee to discuss her volunteer help at Bridge Lighting. She has served on this committee previously, and will have lots of good input for the new committee members.
Councilor Kelly voiced his concern about a Code Enforcement Citation where a fine that was levied in 2018 was not paid. He feels that code enforcement fines should be paid and that the City should possibly levy a charge for late payment.
Volunteer fire department update
Fire Department report by Gunny Mc Kee: Gunny is formulating a Volunteer Application. Chief Hollett, in Oakridge, will have a Fire Academy that some of Westfir’s volunteers may be able to attend. Gunny will help volunteers fill out their applications for State Certifications for the Fire Department. Volunteers are needed in every age bracket. Gunny is acquiring more gear. Also, he will order totes for the equipment. McKee has contacts in Portland who will find serviceable gloves, which are very expensive.
Lane Electric has donated $500.00 to the Fire Department. An 80 pages long FEMA grant will be applied for. However, the Council will consider hiring a company to help write the grant. There is also talk about a GOFUNDME page, which must be applied for by an individual. The city is exploring a 501c(3) for a non-profit organization to work through. Gunny is hoping for grants totaling $250,000.
Public works receives engineer’s report
Public works Director, Robert Archer, reported on his meeting with the City Engineer. The system is running clean and the engineer has blueprints of the system to study. Every system is currently in good repair and running very well. When the engineer is through getting familiar with the system, he will proceed to check the lines throughout the City for possible leaks. A new facility was installed and checked by the City Engineer. It is up to code and a good job of installation.
Increase in compensation for City employees was voted at a previous meeting and motion was made to approve the resolutions to do so, which was approved.
Additional Portal charges under discussion
Portal Rentals charges are currently for the entire Portal. A cleaning deposits is also required on it as well. Occasionally, an application is received for the shelter only, and Council is debating whether to establish a charge for that specific use as well. Currently, a $25.00 charge plus a cleaning deposit for the large shelter.
Other than the cleaning deposit, the smaller shelters can be reserved at no charge. Cleaning deposits are refunded if the cleaning is done. They will check with other cities charges to decide if they are in sync or if it should be raised. The intent is to still kept it reasonably affordable.
City Recorder, Nicole Tritten, reported that applications to OLCC for liquor serving at events are changed. The applicants will now have to get a nod from the City prior to application to the County.
July 2023’s Council meeting will take place on the 10th of the month at 5:30.
September’s meeting will take place on the 11th of the month at 5:30.
The next Town Hall Meeting will take place at the end of March at 7-8:30. Place and date to be determined.
Council will have the Portal and tables painted prior to Spring Break.
City of Westfir’s annual audit was filed timely and the City has a financial statement for Councilors. The Council will review all. The Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) for City will be reviewed as well.
The IRS has increased mileage allowance to .655 per mile. Westfir Council will raise their gas allowance to that amount from the current allowance of .625.
Mixed citizen input
A citizen inquired about the job description for maintaining the Portal. He reported that the Portal is not being maintained. He believes the City should find better use of resources than to pour so much money into Disc Golf. The person
complained that a meeting place and time was changed without notice. He drove five hours to attend the meeting that did not take place.
Rick Watson, local resident, called in to let council know that he believes that Council is making remarkable progress, are focused as a group and he just wanted to share those thoughts with the Council. The Council thanked Rick for volunteering to help with Bridge Lighting.
Councilor Johnstone learned that a resident of Westfir, known as the “Cat” lady, who works for the Lowell School Department, is an excellent Grant Writer. He will invite her to a Council meeting to discuss grant writing possibilities.
Messaging among Councilors can be exported and stored on a web page and can maintain documentation of conversations between Councilors in case those conversations come into question.
Councilor Packard would like to chat about changing the speed limit.
The City received information from the Grand Ronde Tribe. The City will postpone the grant request and will apply to the Marine Board for a boat ramp, kiosk, and parking lot.
City Council will have a work session on Monday, January 23rd, 5:30-7:30.
All Council meetings are open to the public. They take place at Westfir City Hall on the first Monday of each month at 5:30PM. There is a sign up sheet at the door for pubic comment.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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