The nature of the encroachment upon American constitution is such, as to grow every day more and more encroaching. Like a cancer; it eats faster and faster every hour. The revenue creates pensioners, and the pensioners urge for more revenue.The seekers more numerous and more corrupt, and every day increases the circles of their dependents and vanity, luxury, foppery, selfishness, meanness, and downright venality swallow up the whole of society.
John Adams
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011
June 27, 2011, City Council Meeting.
56 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Everything the majority of the council dreamed of is coming true right before our eyes. This has to be the most selfish, self-serving group of people to ever serve on council and the Mayor should be ashamed. Council did not even try, you had your agenda and you all worked together lying and conniving to make sure we the citizens who voted you to office lost our ability to feel safe in our own community. I am NOT a political person. I vote when I receive a ballot, I listen to National Public Radio for my news, I never talk politics. But this is about to change I will participate in a recall effort and I will put my money where my mouth is. You should all be ashamed. I cannot believe how you disrespect the very people who gave you our trust. The lie that killing the Fire Department was the only way to reconcile the budget is so obviously false. Many citizens offered ideas and asked for a town hall to share even more ideas and concerns but that was a no go. I would love to know why Kevin Benson missed such an important council meeting is he trying to distance himself from the backlash which is inevitable. I am so angry and it has been a long time since I have been so fired up and passionate about something I guess I can thank the majority of the council for waking me up!
Recall for what? He flipping quit! This council did not create these problems. This council was left with this mess. So place the blame where it belongs.
"This has to be the most selfish, self-serving group of people to ever serve on council and the Mayor should be ashamed."
Gosh, does anyone on this council have their spouse employed by the city? Has this council held special meetings to change planning codes for family members? Has anyone on this council missed their flight visiting relatives while on a junket to D.C.? Has this mayor sold any of his trinkets to the city? Has this council ignored the repeated miss-appropriation of funds by an employee? Has anyone on this council (other than Lance) used their position to try and get even with a former employer? Has this council borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars with no honest plan for repayment? I could go on and on, but I hope you get my point.
When honest people are in charge, dishonest people are exposed....or quit.
You've got to be kidding me! I am also angry. I am damned angry that anonymous bloggers continue to spread lies to the community over this blog. I am ashamed of people like anon. 8:49 for not educating yourself on the facts. The Fire Chief was killing his own department by overspending year after year. But he had the help of a city administrator, mayor and a do nothing council. I said it before and I'll say it again, the city did not cut one dollar of revenues to the fire department. They get 45% of our property taxes, all of the Multnomah County contract, all of the revenue from fire and ambulance service fees. They also get to spend every dime in their budget and then when they overspend consistently for the last four years,the rest of the city funds get to bail them out at the end of the year by bringing the fire fund to a zero beginning balance. Because we all know that you can't have a fund start out with a deficit. Do you think any of that money gets paid back? No! We have declining beginning balances in the rest of the city funds. Shame on all of you for not stepping up to the plate and getting involved to help bring this fund into compliance of Oregon budget law. Oh everyone wants to save our Chief! You should have talked to him and said "hey quit spending until you get some revenue". All you do is sit back and complain! This budget committee is trying to save the city from going bankrupt and being taken over by Hood River. Or maybe you would like HR to take over the city's business, just like you appreciate their involvement with the school. The truth is that there is a small group of people who were already RECALLED from council and the rest of them couldn't get reelected and they are vengeful. They continue to twist the truth and downright lie to the community to try to get a recall going. I dare any of you to go and get the budget, the auditor's report, letters from the Department of Revenue to the budget committee and any other budget documents that were considered in this budget process and READ THEM! Then ask yourself how can I help to create stability in our city funds? Take a look around you, Cascade Locks is not the only budget being cut. Pricher was not the only department head position that was reduced. It is my understanding that the Public Works Supervisor gets NO benefits! His position has been subcontracted and is saving the city on benefits. The chief QUIT. The fire department has not been eliminated. It is being funded by the city and will continue to be funded. This City Council has never said they did not want to continue to fund a professional fire department. Here's a thought, instead of talking behind people's back why don't you talk to their face and quit hiding behind anonymous blogs.
Darlene, we have to hide behind anonymous blogs we are to worried you will ask us to take it outside!! You get real!! He resigned because you hacked away at his budget and his salary you disrespected the volunteers and you put the community at risk. I am also tired of you the budget committee and some of the council behaving as if the rest of this community are a bunch of sheep following gossip. I have educated myself and it is you who twist the truth! Do you really think you are brighter than the rest of us just because you can yell louder? People are not upset by gossip they are hearing they are upset because they have watched the circus taking place on channel 23 Feel free to stop being so pompous, you lost your case when you REFUSED to compromise, when you screameds like a spoiled child and when you TWISTED the TRUTH. So you can now live with the consequences.
Notice that Anon 6:29 did not offer to debate or challenge any of the documents that you and the budget committee referred as they worked through the budget. Lazy? A reading comprehension problem?
Also notice how they avoided any mention of state laws that have been ignored for years.
Another childish, sore loser that thinks laws, rules and fiscal responsibility are only for the rest of the world.
Some people just can't handle the truth so it's no wonder they wish to remain anonymous.
Good riddance to the prima donna that thinks he's too good to live within his budget. And guess what? The sky is not going to fall as he exits. Just as it didn't when those two other incompetent individuals resigned.
There are lots of other hard working administrative, planning and fire professionals with moral fiber that would appreciate serving our community.
Looks to me like things are looking up for Cascade Locks. Our elected officials are actually making an honest effort to conduct city affairs within the law and their income.
So thank you and the rest of the committee for having the backbone to get Cascade Locks back on track in spite of the abuse you are getting from the disgruntled anons. amongst us.
Dear Anonymous, you are wrong, we all live with the consequences, and a lot of us are perfectly fine with that.
The Council was elected by a majority of the voters. Four of the citizens on the Budget Committee were appointed by Brad Lorang. They were all tasked with a large, often difficult project. They persevered despite inadequate information and employee foot-dragging.
I did not get up to speak because I do support what they had to do. I've seen the paperwork and realized that the Budget Committee had little choice. Oh, some sore losers got up again last night and again screamed that the Council was wrong and yet most of them do not seem to understand dedicated funds cannot be put where they want them put.
I realize the people who signed their names are scared, just like you (if you did not sign the letter, or get up and threaten the Council, yet I have a feeling that you are one of those folks.) They are scared of needing an EMT and one not being there, scared of their insurance going up, of their property values going down, scared because there once was a big fire that threatened their house, (but was not that big, look at Arizona.)
Darlene asking you to take it outside, how specious! George was gracious and polite and let every one of you speak, in turn and for 5 minutes, Brad gave us three! Rather than coming up with suggestions, you wasted it threatening. Your constant immature black-shirt thuggery, complete with gangster terminology is disgusting and why I backed out participating in town for awhile.
But because you didn't make your case and could not turn black into white or manufacture money on the spot for the fire department head (not the fire department - the fire department head) you turn vicious and personal.
You live within a democratic process that makes changes with a majority decision and the majority voted. They voted back in November and some of you just are not accepting it. Go ahead, and try to light into me personally, but have the balls to sign your name or your words and viewpoint shall be ignored as irrelevant blog static.
Amen Darlene & Gary! The way these lying, immature people carry on you would think that the City Council is making the big bucks & the budget committee members also. These are unpaid, time consuming positions that these people chose to do for love of our City. There is no personal gain here folks - unlike others in the past. Complaining about not having a town hall meeting was stupid. When were they supposed to have it? They have been in either Council meetings or Budget Committee meetings for the entire month & then some & now we are approaching a holiday. Believe it or not they also have jobs & families to care for. Give them a break & a chance. They inherited an absolute disaster in the making and as honest people are trying to straighten things out for all of the citizens not just a precious few. No one is self promoting as has been done in the past. We may not like having to tighten our belts, but people, cities, states & the nation are all having to do so. Instead of trying to make our City more of a laughing stock, step up to the plate and support your City Council & Mayor as they are working hard for all of you.
Kate and Gary, It is nice to read intelligent blogs, thanks. Keep it going. When I asked Lance to take his DISCUSSION out in the hall, I merely pictured him out there muttering to himself while the rest of us went on with the budget! Kate I am still not convinced we need to burden the tax payers with a fire district. I think we need to look at other options. I believe that another fire department could administer over our fire department. That is what a lot of smaller stations are doing. Cascade Locks would be able to keep its own identity, volunteers and equipment. Cascade Locks could still have a fire department head (Captain) to oversee the volunteers and station and that person would be under another fire department chief. There could still be the possibility for promotion in the ranks for volunteers. We could also do what West Side fire does with a volunteer retirement account. West Side puts money into the volunteer's retirement when they show up for training or a call and they are vested after 5 years. Then they have the option to draw it out. This is what Fire Chief Jim Trammell told me when I was speaking to him about our mutual aid agreement. (This is when he assured me that we would have mutual aid). This may be a better incentive plan for our volunteers. I believe we can do this with what the city already funds the fire department with and we won't have to raise taxes to the citizens. This is just a beginning I am sure there are things that I haven't thought of. But it is a start. What do you think?
I like that, I like that a lot. I believe the consultants suggested that the trend now is to team up with a large dept. I like that the money we just spent for the building and equipment stays with us and that the volunteers get an incentive.
I wasn't here during the vote for a fire district. Why did it fail? Were there inherent flaws?
Darlene He resigned because that is what quitters do. A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits. I was taught that the world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going. Yet the words my ears heard were excuses and the actions I saw were uttered with disrespect. Not once was a solution to the problems brought up by the chief with the exception of one. Of which was the paid on call paramedic position. Yet all credibility was lost when it was testified to by our very chief, that our former city administrator and the chief himself, conspired together by changed billing dates to achieve their personal objectives above the cities. Which once I learned of this, it just made me wonder, just how far did these 2 city employees go concerning the books, to get what they wanted at the risk of our city? To be followed by the budget in which the auditor’s report along with the letter from the Department of Revenue proved previous malfeasance of office to the committee, yet none of the objectors to what was really going on brought that up. No they wanted that swept under the carpet and not to be mentioned. Yet who was leading the charge of this group? Former city officials are leading the charge. Former city officials mind you, whom created this financial nightmare to begin with and to grow further beyond its means. Oh these former officials have a stake if this department fails and do not think they don’t. Each of them has a financial and public exposure liability, if this issue gets put under the microscope and actions of their own doing are exposed. These previous officials would like nothing better than to get this council to break the law so the corruption does not end with them. But it did end here and they do not like it. The real tragedy here is we lost a chief. Not just this chief, as in the professional world there is always someone better than the last, just around the corner. That is a fact of life. Another fact is, it was the previous lack of leadership above the chief who cost the chief his job. They made a paramedic a chief and molded him to what they wanted him to be. Then they started his career off with more debt than that department could absorb therefore cutting off the chief legs. Oh they molded a bobble head to have agreed to violate the law and change billing records for them. That they did accomplish. But they will not tell citizens this. No they use scare tactics to cover up their own guilt. Then they get the un-informed to feed off of that terror they are planting. Yet I have heard nothing legal coming from the mouths of these former officials on how to fix the problems they created. The facts are all on the record. So instead of bringing a squirt gun to a gun fight, I suggest that they get some facts together and soon as it is going to come down to what created this financial meltdown to begin with. The facts are not on their side on this and they are scared right now, because they no longer have control of the facts. Therefore you are going to see a recall and then the facts will fly. I wonder how they will respond, when the facts clearly show that they were guilty of malfeasance of office which led to all of this. It is just too bad that some people have never learned to leave a dying dog alone. As if you mess with it you will get bitten.
I like that you are putting options on the table and going beyond the “RECALL” threats and blackmail being used. I would think by now that the Deputy State Fire Marshall, Ted Megart, is fully aware of what is going on. I also believe that he may have a role in this sudden resignation for reasons of my own in keeping Mr. Megart and the State informed of all the facts. So I myself think that this council needs to grant the State all enforcement powers concerning the State fire code on a temporary basis. I think the council needs to bring this issue to the table and start with the intergovernmental contracts and insure that when we provide emergency services to other governmental agencies that we recover all expenses allowed under the state fire code. At this time we have the Department of Forestry, attempting to impose a tax on us for fire protection in our city limits we already pay for. Yet I can read our ordinance 1000, section 2, “Response Outside the City Limits”, paragraph 7 and see where contract provisions determine if the Department of Forestry can be billed for protecting their jurisdiction lands. Yet I read in the fire code they can be billed for all of our costs. So lets take that money back as it is in our city limits should they pass this tax on to us and it is us that protects them until they finally arrive on site at the emergency. Then I look at the fire code and there are things I do not think we may be billing for emergency services under a Columbia Gorge act along with a law for cities that respond outside of the city limits. I think we need to start from the ground up and get it right this time. We need to start at the fund and legislate it from the creation, to all administration and policies from the ground up. Keep in mind all our powers were repealed except for what the state allows. This needs to occur before we enter into any intergovernmental agreement, with another agency, without the protection stated in legislation to protect not only our investment but our city as a whole. Because if we do not we could lose it all. Looking at this on a business side, we do have a net worth of this company which is greater than the debt it carries. We just need to find ways to make that debt work for us and not against us. The old fire hall would make a great library for example. Not that it would have paid off a ten year debt when what the library paid would have taken 30 years to break even, but every little bit helps at this point. Yet I have seen that property value be deflated beyond any hope of recovering that mistake when it occurred. So now it is time to get creative here and make that loss start paying for itself. Then that will free up the general fund which is what this is all about now anyway, as all other funds are shut down by law.
In closing for the day, I also wish to make it clear, that the billing issue delays which were a problem for so long, which the chief stated, he did not have time was not an option the chief had. This ordinance 1000 made it clear that; “Section 3, paragraph 1 states; “Within five (5) business days following a response to any fire, rescue or public safety incident, either within the City limits or outside the City limits, the Fire Chief shall provide the fully completed run sheets to the Billing Clerk at the City Hall Offices.” Excuses are like assholes, everyone has one and our chief had a responsibility and a duty to uphold here. Not his lame excuses for failing to do his lawful duty for the office he held. 5 days does not mean 3 months. Now that is known as a fact and you cannot change a fact. I have many more facts just like this. This is how it will work. So just how far do you want me to go? Are you certain you want to follow through on this recall? Or do you want to help fix the problems? It is your call.
Sandra K. did an excellent job of presenting the reasons for voting no when the fire district was put on the ballot.
First of all we would have had to form another elected board to run the district. With this small community already having a city council and a port commission, the last thing we need is another elected body to govern us.
Secondly, these elected officials would then have the right to borrow money and incur debt without bringing it to the voters. The repayment of the debt would be guaranteed by our homes and property values. If there was a default on debt repayment on the part of the fire district then property owners would be assessed whatever amount needed to cover the debt repayment.
Thirdly, since the district would not encompass any more than the city limits, what was the point? A fire district works well where an incorporated city is surrounded by unincorporated areas in which there are homes, farms and businesses that need fire protection, but are outside the city's taxing authority. So they form a fire district to combine the unincorporated property with the city property and assess a tax rate for all. In our situation there is no (or almost none) surrounding unincorporated area with private property so there would be no increased income to the fire department.
Kate, Here is the reason I voted no on the fire district. Jeff Pricher had an article in the Hood River News about the new proposed fire district. Raelyn Ricarte interviewed Pricher and asked him if $1.00 per thousand was enough funds to cover the fire department costs? Pricher replied "I don't know, I didn't do a study on that". That pretty much made up my mind to vote no. If you are worried about your fire insurance going up. Think about what would happen if that fire district had been passed and what we would be paying now for fire protection if the same people were in charge of the spending. Who would be on that fire district board? Great comments Gary, Kate and Cody. Cody, I agree we start from ground up and rebuild.
It seems as if our City holds privacy powers I never knew existed concerning your medical records. How do you like knowing that your medical records can be used against you to collect a bill you owe to emergency services? This is scary knowing that a doctor cannot do most any of this under the law regardless. Read it for yourselves. In counting my inbox contacts over the past 3 months, I would say I have the 120 number beat if all these are registered voters and that is not counting those signers, I have spoken with personally and factually changed their minds. Keep it coming citizens even though I am flooded right now. I will go through it all and make it all known.
If anybody looks at the strategic plan (http://www.cascadelocksfire.com/mission_statement.htm ) that the council talked about on monday night on page 17 in talking about the tax base necessary to fund the fire district it says "A realistic number would be more like $2.75 per thousand" our general fund tax rate is only $2.7050 per thousand so our tax rate would more than double our taxes. I am glad that the fire district did not pass look at all of the debt that has occurred since then it would have been much worse if the citizens had not said no, because certainly the last council and administrator couldn't say it.
One of the hardest things for small departments to get a hold on is documentation. Emergency Reporting enables small departments to produce data and records akin to our larger big-city neighbors through a documentation format that is intuitive and easy to use.
With Emergency Reporting, I am allowed the flexibility to make sound management decisions and better forecast budgets and operations for the future. Thank you for making my job easier!
Jeff Pricher, Fire Chief / Fire Marshal Cascade Locks Fire & EMS Cascade Locks, Oregon
I read this in the Wed. paper, Notice of public hearing-Hood River County Forestland Classification Legal Notice. Public hearing to receive from any interested persons suggestions, advice, objections or remonstrance's to the proposed changes to the forestland classes within Hood River County. A hearing will be held on Wed. July 13th at 6pm at the Pine Grove Fire Station, 2995 Van Horn Drive, Hood River, Or. Copies of the tentative land class changes may be inspected at The Dalles Field Office, 3701 W 13th Street, The Dalles, Or.
This may create a fee to your property. If you do not want your land reclassified as forestland you may want to attend this meeting.
Cody, You are right about making the most of the city's old fire station. What about leasing it to Multnomah County or the Forest Service to have their own Fire Station? They would be able to have a better response time for the Interstate. If they manned the old station we could have that support in town. For only $20,000. a year compensation the city and it's equipment are in a liability on the Interstate and our community is left protected by our mutual aid partners while Cascade Locks responds to the I-84 calls. We would get revenue from the building and more protection for town and save our equipment from the use on the interstate. Any other suggestions out there?
Heck, since all the volunteers are going to quit, we will need people at the new station. How about we provide the building and equipment, they provide the staffing?
Darlene The old fire station has depreciated so much beyond that inflated value set to get the loan that it is just sitting and deteriorating away. We need to get that property to at least generate revenue to ease what the general fund has been forced to cover. We also need to get that property on the tax rolls to generate more revenue. Commercial taxes generate more than residential and my using the library as an example would not bring that income in as a bonus. The forest service or Multnomah County to use the old fire hall would be a hard sale as it is so small for all the equipment they would need to store as well as staff needed to oversee it. Besides I do not think that would pencil out as we have too much overhead now to lose the county. I think we need to form a district to cover properties we already cover outside our city limits. That would give us jurisdiction under ORS 478.315 to recover funds for emergency services under the Gorge Act. Then these rescues would have a source of revenue and not be provided for free at our expense. Then we also have a provision under ORS 478.310 as well as recovering funds needed to protect state forest land under ORS chapter 477. I think if we are smart about this, we can turn this department from a loss to at least stability, enough to support itself on its own including a paid fire chief without any general fund help. The problem in this town is the lack of understanding the law. I can use tourism for example. Everyone wants to have tourism support this department above the 70% the city already gets. If these people would read the act that made that 70% provisions the law and understands the intent. Then follow up and research all the good this act has accomplished since the enactment they would understand why it is the law. We could have a convention center, an amphitheatre and the like built with this money. If people understood how much revenue and jobs creation can be done with TRT fund as well as bringing in a solid tourism base could be accomplished with these TRT funds, they would not want to pillage the TRT fund. The problem is they have no understanding of business and how to generate revenue, but they know how to create a debt and violate the law’s intent. Now we just need to start from scratch and build it all back up. This includes ensuring that every intergovernmental agreement we have entered into, that we are paid 100% for every call including paid and volunteer time to pay for training up to a salary. If we are not paid for 30% of the billable services we provided, then that contract goes up 30%. The fact is we cannot afford to cover losses for other jurisdictions and we need to make these agreements work for us not against us. And there is no reason it has been allowed to go on to the point of bankruptcy.
If the volunteers quit because the chief quit then we can do without the quitters. I know I do not want quitters on my emergency services team. An emergency service is a team. Right now that team has a quarterback that keeps fumbling the ball. Every fumble the other team scored touchdowns. Well the score before the end of the game was out of reach and embarrassing for the quarterback. Well that quarterback is the chief and instead of his embarrassment from not getting cut he quit the team. So what these volunteers need to realize is that sometimes all it takes is one team player, to make a losing team. Well this team is not determined on the scoreboard. This team is determined on lives and property saved and there is no room for a weak player at the quarterback position. Because if the team collapses, then lives and property are lost. What these volunteers need to do that you keep bringing up, is realize that their chief has some serious baggage he is carrying around. The chief sure slanted his position in the paper to feed his agenda, but there is more going on than the chief wanted disclosed. What I suggest these volunteers do is contact Ted Megart, the Deputy State Fire Marshall, who is fully aware of the chiefs baggage and ask him for guidance. Because he is the power above our chief, as well as the council, since he was appointed this position. All I can say further is the chief walked out on the team. So is anyone strong enough to step up to the plate and take over until this is all worked out. Or are they going to quit and walk away from all the good the chief has done for the volunteers. As that will only tarnish the chief more, than he is tarnished now. I can only say it is not my consciousness I will have to live with for that decision, if property or lives are lost because of it. It is theirs and theirs alone.
As I read ORS 478.310 we do not need to form any new district to qualify for getting paid for calls anywhere outside our city limits as long as our fire department was asked to respond.If called we have the right to bill whoever called us.
ORS 478.315 refers only to incidents on state property that is within the Scenic Area. Once again the state has to ask for assistance for us to be eligible for payment.
Amateur lawyers are reading the law and bickering over the meaning. It would be funny to watch you guys go into a courtroom and cite the law to a judge.
Thank you Gary. This is how we address the problems. It is too bad previous councils let us down. Yes 310 does state we get reimbursed for all assistance calls we are requested to respond to. So does that mean we bill 911 for requesting us and let them deal with getting paid?
But 315 would allow us to collect a tax for property owners we now serve along the old highway anyway including those who do not pay for the service today and for rescues and all emergency services on state lands. Also because I/84 is in this federally protected Gorge that would include this freeway. The feds pay ODOT to maintain it and that makes it state jurisdictional land covered under this act.
Then we have the railroad as well. We have fought fires they caused on their lands so do we have a right to bring them to the table?
Also if you read 477 we need to hit the State Department of Forestry. Start by reading the act. Right now they are trying to impose a fire service tax on my property. So I am going to be double taxed for a service my property taxes already pay for. That said we need to go over our agreement with that state department and not have an ordinance 1000, which says they will be billed at the discretion of the city. We need to ensure that if we respond to a call on any other jurisdictional land that we get paid for it 100%. We also need to ensure that if they pass this new tax, that if our city responds to calls on these properties in our city limits, that that department pays those expenses in full. The way I read chapter 477 they can only bill the county these fees and only if the county does not meet the provisions of those laws. So do we take this back on the county for failing in their duties or go after the state for jurisdiction they may not hold any powers to impose a tax on in our city limits?
I just bring this all up to discuss it, as I am just trying to find solutions to the shortfall of revenue we so desperately need to cover all this debt. I am just trying to cover all bases. Right now we need an accountant to break down the expenses for calls and then ensure that we are getting every allowable charge under the state guidelines, then an attorney to see if these contracts cover all our costs and we are getting all 100% of the revenue we are entitled to. This is the very thing the paid emergency services consultant we hired mentioned in his speech to the council off of his PowerPoint presentation. But his advice was to get the book work in order so you could prove your costs to the other agencies. Because without that proof we would not get anywhere beyond what we now receive. So we are back to what record keeping should have started over 3 years since that presentation, which led me to these laws he referred to considering a fire district. It is possible that our chief has implemented some form of record keeping on these calls since that presentation. But at the time we hired this consultant there was none and what there was left him guessing on everything. He made that perfectly clear when he spoke. I do not know if the city has the PowerPoint presentation but we should have the minutes of him addressing council.
I just think nothing is off of the table for discussion at this point as we need to ensure we are paid for all time and expenses outside of our city limits to support these services for other jurisdictions as well as property owners we provide this service to.
Since Cascade Locks is situated in a rather unique spot we might have to come up with a unique solution to the problem of providing emergency services for this area of the gorge.
The property owners of just Cascade Locks can't possibly come up with enough money to fund all of the equipment needed to provide emergency services for the huge, unpopulated area outside of our city limits. Increasing traffic on I-84 along with more and more people hiking, biking, boating, etc. all around us means that the call level will only increase.
So maybe it's time to bring all the players together and find an equitable solution with adequate funds from all of them being put in the pot.
Absolutely correct. Bring them to the table. Tell them what it is going to cost within the law. If they disagree they can provide their own services. Then they can deal with the losses of revenue, paying wages, buying insurance, purchasing equipment and replacing that same equipment that wears out running up and down the gorge. It is as simple as that. This is too large of an unprotected area, with too much going on just as you said. We do not get revenue from taxes or businesses for anyone to expect our little town to be able to afford supporting others like this any longer. We are out of gas and they need to step up to the plate.
Another pet peeve I have is our very port. They own the best property in town. The purpose of a port is to create jobs with these lands. They have failed us miserably over the years. We need that property on the taxpaying roles. So why is it that our tax dollars are paying to protect their properties and we the taxpayers paying for this, have to pay to drive across their bridge? It is time for them to step up to the plate or be brought to the table. Then if they do not like it the same goes for them. Get their own police and emergency services department to protect their interests. But stop expecting their burdens to become the city’s burdens. Trust me the port is fully aware I have been looking into this matter long before this all happened.
Here's something to ponder. We (the citizens) are the Port of Cascade Locks just the same as we are the City of Cascade Locks. Having the Port "help" with the costs associated with city services doesn't make those services any less expensive because it still our money being spent, our resources being depleted. Splitting things up between to entities that serve the same population simply gives the appearance that things are less expensive than they really are. It doesn't make them any cheaper and leads to inefficiency and waste. It's kinda the same as creating a fire district within the city's boundaries, it accomplishes nothing. Don't confuse this as a commentary on how the Port is operated or the benefits we do or don't get because it exists, that's an entirely different discussion. If we don't need the Port or aren't getting enough benefit from it to justify its existence, make it perform or do away with it. Adding the responsibility of providing resources to the city would weaken them both.
The way the port and city really could help each other is through consolidation of staff. If we can't afford emergency services can we really afford the front office duplication these two governments have? Could one clerk answer the phone and operate the front desk for both? Could a $100,000 accounting program possibly work for both? How about $30,000 a year for computers and tech? Could one administrator possibly administer something that big? The port and the city together barely add up to a small business, let alone something that needs 2 full time administrators. Chances of this happening, zero. It would be too difficult to even consider. Inefficiency and waste are the path of least resistance and that's the path we like. And the waste gives us the opportunity to cry about how we don't have enough. I can't think of another town of our size that has as much as we have, but still manages to get so little out of it. What does that really say about us?
I can't remember anyone ever asking the port to step up to the plate. Maybe I am being optimistic but I believe that with this new city council and new port commission things are going to change. The city and the port have not always been big fans of one another, and who could blame the port for not wanting to work with the past city administration. But there is a change on the horizon. We have a good group of elected officials that are intelligent and use common sense. I honestly think that these people can sit down with each other and work through these issues that are not city issues and port issues, but issues that affect all of us and our future generations. These are people that can have different opinions on issues but still respect each other. There have been many good suggestions lately on this blog. It would be nice to see a round table meeting of the city and port. If we share expenses and pool our resources we can accomplish a lot of good. I haven't read the ORS's on fire department issues, I agree with the thought that we need to bring all of the players to the table. Everyone is short of funds, sharing administration costs whether it be with the port and city or with another fire department administration is something to be investigated. I feel that a huge weight has been lifted off of this town and things are looking up.
To date there has been too much conflict between these agencies to co-exist together. In my mind the port is a joke and should be the city. Because we do have the potential to be great and the port holding all this property and doing nothing with it is stagnating any positive growth we have had a chance to have. What I think it says is we need to look at what good it has done for us to have this port and consider making a change in the way it has been.
I see you feel as I do about paying to cross that bridge. I have been here since childhood and a permanent resident for almost 3 decades. We have been supporting them as long as I can remember.
How about bypassing the board and taking it to the ballot box giving it all to the city?
I do not see how they can change fast enough Darlene. We do not have at least 10 more years for the economy to come back enough for the port to step up to the plate and make up for all the time they wasted to do what they were intended to do under the law to get title to all this property in my mind. You know the old saying you snooze you lose? That is where I am at with this agency and I am far from alone on this subject. To me it is past the time to share resources. It is about job creation and positive growth for our city. I hope this new port commission understands this. The intent of the law is not in their favor right now. It is in each and every citizen’s favor at the ballot box. I think a few huge weights have been lifted off of this city. And as bad as it may look it can only get better. Oh how right you were on that as well as other issues on this blog.
If the port leases property to a private company, they pay property taxes on that property. If the port rents a tent or rv spot at the marina, they pay trt tax on that rental.
The thing is, more money is going to help the city like more whiskey will help a drunk. If we took all of the port income and gave it to the city what would the city accomplish that it isn't doing already? How long would it be before that money was used up and the city was out looking for more?
Our city has the money. It has more money per resident than most.
What we don't have is the population to be able to afford $2M fire stations and full time EMS staff on our own. Big surprise, nobody our size can! The all or nothing argument has to be put to rest. If we want higher levels if service, we have to partner with other agencies. The EMS debt and expenses use ALL of the property taxes the city collects and that's still not enough. Everything else is being paid for in one way or another as part of your utility bill. Which hurts our tax base because it's hard to attract business when the utilities are 30-50% less across the river, which hurts our population, which hurts our tax base, on and on and on.
You can't always control what you make, but you can control what you spend.
Before we worry about new revenue let's get some idea of what we have already and what we need in order to accomplish the city's mission. What is really disheartening is that even with all of the focus on spending and declining balances, specific direction from the budget committee to change a specific budget amount was manipulated away into nothing. How can we ever expect to get control of our spending? Are we going to have to wait until the city employees think it's a good idea? Wow, maybe that's how we got here in the first place?
Gees, Cody, don't hold back on how you feel towards the Port. I'm pretty sure there have been businesses that were seriously interested in the industrial sites but couldn't get financing. You say the previous commissions are a joke. If so, its not the only joke in town. The new commission has three members with spouses employed by the Port, hopefully with no personal agendas. The two members with board experience collude with one of the groups in town; maybe you're in that group so its okay with you.
The Port and the City worked under one manager years ago, so legally I suppose it complies. I can see how the City would want to be part of the Port to share in bridge revenue; then the toll would probably be okay with those complaining now. The Port and the City have to work together, especially the managers. I think there is a Port/City meeting scheduled in August. Do you know if the Mayor included the Port manager on the interview panel for a new city manager? Someone said he wasn't. So much for cooperation if thats true.
One place for agency heads to meet regarding the fire dept could be at an Action Committee meeting. Oftentimes agency heads attend the meetings, so Jim Hulbert could put that meeting together right now.
Its good to see ideas coming to the table, hopefully from folks with open minds. Its good to ask ourselves "What if I'm wrong? Should I point my finger at them? Am I part of the problem?"
Chief Pricher appointed himself, in his letter of resignation, as Assistant Chief; seems, this is the prerogative, of whoever is appointed by the city manager.
The Hood River News, along with 9 other papers in Oregon, 4 in Washington and 1 in Idaho is Eagle Newspapers. Its Chairman of the board is Denny Smith, a long time Republican Politician. Smith ran for Governor in 94 and lost out to John Kitzhaber. Some say Smith lost because he was associated with several failed savings and loans. Go figure
Ummm, maybe I'm missing something. Well anyway, can we discuss Hood River taking over our fire department? Pros and cons? What does it mean for our citizens?
The point merging with Hood River was not a take over. It was to create an independent fire district with its own tax base and an independent, depoliticized board. Imagine that. At least that was the message that was to have been delivered to the volunteer association. That and the fact that their association funding would be restored in the process. But no cares about facts.
56 comments:
Everything the majority of the council dreamed of is coming true right before our eyes. This has to be the most selfish, self-serving group of people to ever serve on council and the Mayor should be ashamed. Council did not even try, you had your agenda and you all worked together lying and conniving to make sure we the citizens who voted you to office lost our ability to feel safe in our own community. I am NOT a political person. I vote when I receive a ballot, I listen to National Public Radio for my news, I never talk politics. But this is about to change I will participate in a recall effort and I will put my money where my mouth is. You should all be ashamed. I cannot believe how you disrespect the very people who gave you our trust. The lie that killing the Fire Department was the only way to reconcile the budget is so obviously false. Many citizens offered ideas and asked for a town hall to share even more ideas and concerns but that was a no go. I would love to know why Kevin Benson missed such an important council meeting is he trying to distance himself from the backlash which is inevitable. I am so angry and it has been a long time since I have been so fired up and passionate about something I guess I can thank the majority of the council for waking me up!
Recall for what?
He flipping quit!
This council did not create these problems.
This council was left with this mess.
So place the blame where it belongs.
Get real
amen
"This has to be the most selfish, self-serving group of people to ever serve on council and the Mayor should be ashamed."
Gosh, does anyone on this council have their spouse employed by the city?
Has this council held special meetings to change planning codes for family members?
Has anyone on this council missed their flight visiting relatives while on a junket to D.C.?
Has this mayor sold any of his trinkets to the city?
Has this council ignored the repeated miss-appropriation of funds by an employee?
Has anyone on this council (other than Lance) used their position to try and get even with a former employer?
Has this council borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars with no honest plan for repayment?
I could go on and on, but I hope you get my point.
When honest people are in charge, dishonest people are exposed....or quit.
You've got to be kidding me! I am also angry. I am damned angry that anonymous bloggers continue to spread lies to the community over this blog. I am ashamed of people like anon. 8:49 for not educating yourself on the facts. The Fire Chief was killing his own department by overspending year after year. But he had the help of a city administrator, mayor and a do nothing council. I said it before and I'll say it again, the city did not cut one dollar of revenues to the fire department. They get 45% of our property taxes, all of the Multnomah County contract, all of the revenue from fire and ambulance service fees. They also get to spend every dime in their budget and then when they overspend consistently for the last four years,the rest of the city funds get to bail them out at the end of the year by bringing the fire fund to a zero beginning balance. Because we all know that you can't have a fund start out with a deficit. Do you think any of that money gets paid back? No! We have declining beginning balances in the rest of the city funds. Shame on all of you for not stepping up to the plate and getting involved to help bring this fund into compliance of Oregon budget law. Oh everyone wants to save our Chief! You should have talked to him and said "hey quit spending until you get some revenue". All you do is sit back and complain! This budget committee is trying to save the city from going bankrupt and being taken over by Hood River. Or maybe you would like HR to take over the city's business, just like you appreciate their involvement with the school. The truth is that there is a small group of people who were already RECALLED from council and the rest of them couldn't get reelected and they are vengeful. They continue to twist the truth and downright lie to the community to try to get a recall going. I dare any of you to go and get the budget, the auditor's report, letters from the Department of Revenue to the budget committee and any other budget documents that were considered in this budget process and READ THEM! Then ask yourself how can I help to create stability in our city funds? Take a look around you, Cascade Locks is not the only budget being cut. Pricher was not the only department head position that was reduced. It is my understanding that the Public Works Supervisor gets NO benefits! His position has been subcontracted and is saving the city on benefits. The chief QUIT. The fire department has not been eliminated. It is being funded by the city and will continue to be funded. This City
Council has never said they did not want to continue to fund a professional fire department. Here's a thought, instead of talking behind people's back why don't you talk to their face and quit hiding behind anonymous blogs.
Darlene Sullenger
Darlene, we have to hide behind anonymous blogs we are to worried you will ask us to take it outside!! You get real!! He resigned because you hacked away at his budget and his salary you disrespected the volunteers and you put the community at risk. I am also tired of you the budget committee and some of the council behaving as if the rest of this community are a bunch of sheep following gossip. I have educated myself and it is you who twist the truth! Do you really think you are brighter than the rest of us just because you can yell louder? People are not upset by gossip they are hearing they are upset because they have watched the circus taking place on channel 23
Feel free to stop being so pompous, you lost your case when you REFUSED to compromise, when you screameds like a spoiled child and when you TWISTED the TRUTH. So you can now live with the consequences.
Darlene,
Notice that Anon 6:29 did not offer to debate or challenge any of the documents that you and the budget committee referred as they worked through the budget. Lazy? A reading comprehension problem?
Also notice how they avoided any mention of state laws that have been ignored for years.
Another childish, sore loser that thinks laws, rules and fiscal responsibility are only for the rest of the world.
Some people just can't handle the truth so it's no wonder they wish to remain anonymous.
Good riddance to the prima donna that thinks he's too good to live within his budget. And guess what? The sky is not going to fall as he exits. Just as it didn't when those two other incompetent individuals resigned.
There are lots of other hard working administrative, planning and fire professionals with moral fiber that would appreciate serving our community.
Looks to me like things are looking up for Cascade Locks. Our elected officials are actually making an honest effort to conduct city affairs within the law and their income.
So thank you and the rest of the committee for having the backbone to get Cascade Locks back on track in spite of the abuse you are getting from the disgruntled anons. amongst us.
Dear Anonymous, you are wrong, we all live with the consequences, and a lot of us are perfectly fine with that.
The Council was elected by a majority of the voters. Four of the citizens on the Budget Committee were appointed by Brad Lorang. They were all tasked with a large, often difficult project. They persevered despite inadequate information and employee foot-dragging.
I did not get up to speak because I do support what they had to do. I've seen the paperwork and realized that the Budget Committee had little choice. Oh, some sore losers got up again last night and again screamed that the Council was wrong and yet most of them do not seem to understand dedicated funds cannot be put where they want them put.
I realize the people who signed their names are scared, just like you (if you did not sign the letter, or get up and threaten the Council, yet I have a feeling that you are one of those folks.) They are scared of needing an EMT and one not being there, scared of their insurance going up, of their property values going down, scared because there once was a big fire that threatened their house, (but was not that big, look at Arizona.)
Darlene asking you to take it outside, how specious! George was gracious and polite and let every one of you speak, in turn and for 5 minutes, Brad gave us three! Rather than coming up with suggestions, you wasted it threatening. Your constant immature black-shirt thuggery, complete with gangster terminology is disgusting and why I backed out participating in town for awhile.
But because you didn't make your case and could not turn black into white or manufacture money on the spot for the fire department head (not the fire department - the fire department head) you turn vicious and personal.
You live within a democratic process that makes changes with a majority decision and the majority voted. They voted back in November and some of you just are not accepting it. Go ahead, and try to light into me personally, but have the balls to sign your name or your words and viewpoint shall be ignored as irrelevant blog static.
Now, let's discuss creating a fire district.
Amen Darlene & Gary! The way these lying, immature people carry on you would think that the City Council is making the big bucks & the budget committee members also. These are unpaid, time consuming positions that these people chose to do for love of our City. There is no personal gain here folks - unlike others in the past. Complaining about not having a town hall meeting was stupid. When were they supposed to have it? They have been in either Council meetings or Budget Committee meetings for the entire month & then some & now we are approaching a holiday. Believe it or not they also have jobs & families to care for. Give them a break & a chance. They inherited an absolute disaster in the making and as honest people are trying to straighten things out for all of the citizens not just a precious few. No one is self promoting as has been done in the past. We may not like having to tighten our belts, but people, cities, states & the nation are all having to do so. Instead of trying to make our City more of a laughing stock, step up to the plate and support your City Council & Mayor as they are working hard for all of you.
Kate and Gary, It is nice to read intelligent blogs, thanks. Keep it going. When I asked Lance to take his DISCUSSION out in the hall, I merely pictured him out there muttering to himself while the rest of us went on with the budget! Kate I am still not convinced we need to burden the tax payers with a fire district. I think we need to look at other options. I believe that another fire department could administer over our fire department. That is what a lot of smaller stations are doing. Cascade Locks would be able to keep its own identity, volunteers and equipment.
Cascade Locks could still have a fire department head (Captain) to oversee the volunteers and station and that person would be under another fire department chief. There could still be the possibility for promotion in the ranks for volunteers. We could also do what West Side fire does with a volunteer retirement account. West Side puts money into the volunteer's retirement when they show up for training or a call and they are vested after 5 years. Then they have the option to draw it out. This is what Fire Chief Jim Trammell told me when I was speaking to him about our mutual aid agreement. (This is when he assured me that we would have mutual aid). This may be a better incentive plan for our volunteers. I believe we can do this with what the city already funds the fire department with and we won't have to raise taxes to the citizens. This is just a beginning I am sure there are things that I haven't thought of. But it is a start. What do you think?
Darlene Sullenger
I like that, I like that a lot. I believe the consultants suggested that the trend now is to team up with a large dept. I like that the money we just spent for the building and equipment stays with us and that the volunteers get an incentive.
I wasn't here during the vote for a fire district. Why did it fail? Were there inherent flaws?
Darlene
He resigned because that is what quitters do.
A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits.
I was taught that the world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going.
Yet the words my ears heard were excuses and the actions I saw were uttered with disrespect.
Not once was a solution to the problems brought up by the chief with the exception of one.
Of which was the paid on call paramedic position.
Yet all credibility was lost when it was testified to by our very chief, that our former city administrator and the chief himself, conspired together by changed billing dates to achieve their personal objectives above the cities.
Which once I learned of this, it just made me wonder, just how far did these 2 city employees go concerning the books, to get what they wanted at the risk of our city?
To be followed by the budget in which the auditor’s report along with the letter from the Department of Revenue proved previous malfeasance of office to the committee, yet none of the objectors to what was really going on brought that up.
No they wanted that swept under the carpet and not to be mentioned.
Yet who was leading the charge of this group?
Former city officials are leading the charge.
Former city officials mind you, whom created this financial nightmare to begin with and to grow further beyond its means.
Oh these former officials have a stake if this department fails and do not think they don’t.
Each of them has a financial and public exposure liability, if this issue gets put under the microscope and actions of their own doing are exposed.
These previous officials would like nothing better than to get this council to break the law so the corruption does not end with them.
But it did end here and they do not like it.
The real tragedy here is we lost a chief.
Not just this chief, as in the professional world there is always someone better than the last, just around the corner. That is a fact of life.
Another fact is, it was the previous lack of leadership above the chief who cost the chief his job.
They made a paramedic a chief and molded him to what they wanted him to be.
Then they started his career off with more debt than that department could absorb therefore cutting off the chief legs.
Oh they molded a bobble head to have agreed to violate the law and change billing records for them.
That they did accomplish.
But they will not tell citizens this.
No they use scare tactics to cover up their own guilt.
Then they get the un-informed to feed off of that terror they are planting.
Yet I have heard nothing legal coming from the mouths of these former officials on how to fix the problems they created.
The facts are all on the record.
So instead of bringing a squirt gun to a gun fight, I suggest that they get some facts together and soon as it is going to come down to what created this financial meltdown to begin with.
The facts are not on their side on this and they are scared right now, because they no longer have control of the facts.
Therefore you are going to see a recall and then the facts will fly.
I wonder how they will respond, when the facts clearly show that they were guilty of malfeasance of office which led to all of this.
It is just too bad that some people have never learned to leave a dying dog alone.
As if you mess with it you will get bitten.
Cody
Kate, Gary and Darlene.
I like that you are putting options on the table and going beyond the “RECALL” threats and blackmail being used.
I would think by now that the Deputy State Fire Marshall, Ted Megart, is fully aware of what is going on.
I also believe that he may have a role in this sudden resignation for reasons of my own in keeping Mr. Megart and the State informed of all the facts.
So I myself think that this council needs to grant the State all enforcement powers concerning the State fire code on a temporary basis.
I think the council needs to bring this issue to the table and start with the intergovernmental contracts and insure that when we provide emergency services to other governmental agencies that we recover all expenses allowed under the state fire code.
At this time we have the Department of Forestry, attempting to impose a tax on us for fire protection in our city limits we already pay for.
Yet I can read our ordinance 1000, section 2, “Response Outside the City Limits”, paragraph 7 and see where contract provisions determine if the Department of Forestry can be billed for protecting their jurisdiction lands.
Yet I read in the fire code they can be billed for all of our costs.
So lets take that money back as it is in our city limits should they pass this tax on to us and it is us that protects them until they finally arrive on site at the emergency.
Then I look at the fire code and there are things I do not think we may be billing for emergency services under a Columbia Gorge act along with a law for cities that respond outside of the city limits.
I think we need to start from the ground up and get it right this time.
We need to start at the fund and legislate it from the creation, to all administration and policies from the ground up.
Keep in mind all our powers were repealed except for what the state allows.
This needs to occur before we enter into any intergovernmental agreement, with another agency, without the protection stated in legislation to protect not only our investment but our city as a whole.
Because if we do not we could lose it all.
Looking at this on a business side, we do have a net worth of this company which is greater than the debt it carries.
We just need to find ways to make that debt work for us and not against us.
The old fire hall would make a great library for example. Not that it would have paid off a ten year debt when what the library paid would have taken 30 years to break even, but every little bit helps at this point.
Yet I have seen that property value be deflated beyond any hope of recovering that mistake when it occurred. So now it is time to get creative here and make that loss start paying for itself.
Then that will free up the general fund which is what this is all about now anyway, as all other funds are shut down by law.
Cody
In closing for the day, I also wish to make it clear, that the billing issue delays which were a problem for so long, which the chief stated, he did not have time was not an option the chief had.
This ordinance 1000 made it clear that; “Section 3, paragraph 1 states; “Within five (5) business days following a response to any fire, rescue or public safety incident, either within the City limits or outside the City limits, the Fire Chief shall provide the fully completed run sheets to the Billing Clerk at the City Hall Offices.”
Excuses are like assholes, everyone has one and our chief had a responsibility and a duty to uphold here. Not his lame excuses for failing to do his lawful duty for the office he held.
5 days does not mean 3 months.
Now that is known as a fact and you cannot change a fact.
I have many more facts just like this.
This is how it will work.
So just how far do you want me to go?
Are you certain you want to follow through on this recall?
Or do you want to help fix the problems?
It is your call.
Cody
Kate,
Sandra K. did an excellent job of presenting the reasons for voting no when the fire district was put on the ballot.
First of all we would have had to form another elected board to run the district. With this small community already having a city council and a port commission, the last thing we need is another elected body to govern us.
Secondly, these elected officials would then have the right to borrow money and incur debt without bringing it to the voters. The repayment of the debt would be guaranteed by our homes and property values. If there was a default on debt repayment on the part of the fire district then property owners would be assessed whatever amount needed to cover the debt repayment.
Thirdly, since the district would not encompass any more than the city limits, what was the point? A fire district works well where an incorporated city is surrounded by unincorporated areas in which there are homes, farms and businesses that need fire protection, but are outside the city's taxing authority. So they form a fire district to combine the unincorporated property with the city property and assess a tax rate for all.
In our situation there is no (or almost none) surrounding unincorporated area with private property so there would be no increased income to the fire department.
Kate, Here is the reason I voted no on the fire district. Jeff Pricher had an article in the Hood River News about the new proposed fire district. Raelyn Ricarte interviewed Pricher and asked him if $1.00 per thousand was enough funds to cover the fire department costs? Pricher replied "I don't know, I didn't do a study on that". That pretty much made up my mind to vote no. If you are worried about your fire insurance going up. Think about what would happen if that fire district had been passed and what we would be paying now for fire protection if the same people were in charge of the spending. Who would be on that fire district board? Great comments Gary, Kate and Cody. Cody, I agree we start from ground up and rebuild.
Darlene Sullenger
I thought I was done for the day but my inbox keeps getting full of things I never knew existed.
Right out of the gate is this.
http://www.cascadelocksfire.com/
documents/Privacy%20Pratices.pdf
It seems as if our City holds privacy powers I never knew existed concerning your medical records.
How do you like knowing that your medical records can be used against you to collect a bill you owe to emergency services?
This is scary knowing that a doctor cannot do most any of this under the law regardless.
Read it for yourselves.
In counting my inbox contacts over the past 3 months, I would say I have the 120 number beat if all these are registered voters and that is not counting those signers, I have spoken with personally and factually changed their minds.
Keep it coming citizens even though I am flooded right now.
I will go through it all and make it all known.
Cody
If anybody looks at the strategic plan (http://www.cascadelocksfire.com/mission_statement.htm ) that the council talked about on monday night on page 17 in talking about the tax base necessary to fund the fire district it says "A realistic number would be more like $2.75 per thousand" our general fund tax rate is only $2.7050 per thousand so our tax rate would more than double our taxes. I am glad that the fire district did not pass look at all of the debt that has occurred since then it would have been much worse if the citizens had not said no, because certainly the last council and administrator couldn't say it.
HR News:
Pricher submitted the letter via email at 11 p.m. Monday.
A real adult to the end.
This was sent to me today.
http://gregoryjanderson.auto.
officelive.com/aboutus.aspx
Maybe it was a software flaw?
Cody
One of the hardest things for small departments to get a hold on is documentation. Emergency Reporting enables small departments to produce data and records akin to our larger big-city neighbors through a documentation format that is intuitive and easy to use.
With Emergency Reporting, I am allowed the flexibility to make sound management decisions and better forecast budgets and operations for the future. Thank you for making my job easier!
Jeff Pricher, Fire Chief / Fire Marshal
Cascade Locks Fire & EMS
Cascade Locks, Oregon
The last post anon. 8:22 was taken directly from this web site.
http://gregoryjanderson.auto.
officelive.com/aboutus.aspx
A spokesman for sound management decisions, documentation, data, records and budgeting........My first choice for sure.
I read this in the Wed. paper, Notice of public hearing-Hood River County Forestland Classification Legal Notice. Public hearing to receive from any interested persons suggestions, advice, objections or remonstrance's to the proposed changes to the forestland classes within Hood River County. A hearing will be held on Wed. July 13th at 6pm at the Pine Grove Fire Station, 2995 Van Horn Drive, Hood River, Or. Copies of the tentative land class changes may be inspected at The Dalles Field Office, 3701 W 13th Street, The Dalles, Or.
This may create a fee to your property. If you do not want your land reclassified as forestland you may want to attend this meeting.
Darlene Sullenger
Cody, You are right about making the most of the city's old fire station. What about leasing it to Multnomah County or the Forest Service to have their own Fire Station? They would be able to have a better response time for the Interstate. If they manned the old station we could have that support in town. For only $20,000. a year compensation the city and it's equipment are in a liability on the Interstate and our community is left protected by our mutual aid partners while Cascade Locks responds to the I-84 calls. We would get revenue from the building and more protection for town and save our equipment from the use on the interstate. Any other suggestions out there?
Darlene
Heck, since all the volunteers are going to quit, we will need people at the new station.
How about we provide the building and equipment, they provide the staffing?
Darlene
The old fire station has depreciated so much beyond that inflated value set to get the loan that it is just sitting and deteriorating away.
We need to get that property to at least generate revenue to ease what the general fund has been forced to cover.
We also need to get that property on the tax rolls to generate more revenue.
Commercial taxes generate more than residential and my using the library as an example would not bring that income in as a bonus.
The forest service or Multnomah County to use the old fire hall would be a hard sale as it is so small for all the equipment they would need to store as well as staff needed to oversee it.
Besides I do not think that would pencil out as we have too much overhead now to lose the county.
I think we need to form a district to cover properties we already cover outside our city limits.
That would give us jurisdiction under ORS 478.315 to recover funds for emergency services under the Gorge Act.
Then these rescues would have a source of revenue and not be provided for free at our expense.
Then we also have a provision under ORS 478.310 as well as recovering funds needed to protect state forest land under ORS chapter 477.
I think if we are smart about this, we can turn this department from a loss to at least stability, enough to support itself on its own including a paid fire chief without any general fund help.
The problem in this town is the lack of understanding the law.
I can use tourism for example.
Everyone wants to have tourism support this department above the 70% the city already gets.
If these people would read the act that made that 70% provisions the law and understands the intent.
Then follow up and research all the good this act has accomplished since the enactment they would understand why it is the law.
We could have a convention center, an amphitheatre and the like built with this money.
If people understood how much revenue and jobs creation can be done with TRT fund as well as bringing in a solid tourism base could be accomplished with these TRT funds, they would not want to pillage the TRT fund.
The problem is they have no understanding of business and how to generate revenue, but they know how to create a debt and violate the law’s intent.
Now we just need to start from scratch and build it all back up.
This includes ensuring that every intergovernmental agreement we have entered into, that we are paid 100% for every call including paid and volunteer time to pay for training up to a salary.
If we are not paid for 30% of the billable services we provided, then that contract goes up 30%.
The fact is we cannot afford to cover losses for other jurisdictions and we need to make these agreements work for us not against us.
And there is no reason it has been allowed to go on to the point of bankruptcy.
Cody
If the volunteers quit because the chief quit then we can do without the quitters.
I know I do not want quitters on my emergency services team.
An emergency service is a team.
Right now that team has a quarterback that keeps fumbling the ball.
Every fumble the other team scored touchdowns.
Well the score before the end of the game was out of reach and embarrassing for the quarterback.
Well that quarterback is the chief and instead of his embarrassment from not getting cut he quit the team.
So what these volunteers need to realize is that sometimes all it takes is one team player, to make a losing team.
Well this team is not determined on the scoreboard.
This team is determined on lives and property saved and there is no room for a weak player at the quarterback position.
Because if the team collapses, then lives and property are lost.
What these volunteers need to do that you keep bringing up, is realize that their chief has some serious baggage he is carrying around.
The chief sure slanted his position in the paper to feed his agenda, but there is more going on than the chief wanted disclosed.
What I suggest these volunteers do is contact Ted Megart, the Deputy State Fire Marshall, who is fully aware of the chiefs baggage and ask him for guidance.
Because he is the power above our chief, as well as the council, since he was appointed this position.
All I can say further is the chief walked out on the team.
So is anyone strong enough to step up to the plate and take over until this is all worked out.
Or are they going to quit and walk away from all the good the chief has done for the volunteers.
As that will only tarnish the chief more, than he is tarnished now.
I can only say it is not my consciousness I will have to live with for that decision, if property or lives are lost because of it.
It is theirs and theirs alone.
Cody
Cody,
As I read ORS 478.310 we do not need to form any new district to qualify for getting paid for calls anywhere outside our city limits as long as our fire department was asked to respond.If called we have the right to bill whoever called us.
ORS 478.315 refers only to incidents on state property that is within the Scenic Area. Once again the state has to ask for assistance for us to be eligible for payment.
Appears to me that 310 trumps 315.
Amateur lawyers are reading the law and bickering over the meaning. It would be funny to watch you guys go into a courtroom and cite the law to a judge.
Been there. Done that.
Thank you Gary.
This is how we address the problems.
It is too bad previous councils let us down.
Yes 310 does state we get reimbursed for all assistance calls we are requested to respond to.
So does that mean we bill 911 for requesting us and let them deal with getting paid?
But 315 would allow us to collect a tax for property owners we now serve along the old highway anyway including those who do not pay for the service today and for rescues and all emergency services on state lands.
Also because I/84 is in this federally protected Gorge that would include this freeway.
The feds pay ODOT to maintain it and that makes it state jurisdictional land covered under this act.
Then we have the railroad as well. We have fought fires they caused on their lands so do we have a right to bring them to the table?
Also if you read 477 we need to hit the State Department of Forestry.
Start by reading the act.
Right now they are trying to impose a fire service tax on my property.
So I am going to be double taxed for a service my property taxes already pay for.
That said we need to go over our agreement with that state department and not have an ordinance 1000, which says they will be billed at the discretion of the city.
We need to ensure that if we respond to a call on any other jurisdictional land that we get paid for it 100%.
We also need to ensure that if they pass this new tax, that if our city responds to calls on these properties in our city limits, that that department pays those expenses in full.
The way I read chapter 477 they can only bill the county these fees and only if the county does not meet the provisions of those laws.
So do we take this back on the county for failing in their duties or go after the state for jurisdiction they may not hold any powers to impose a tax on in our city limits?
I just bring this all up to discuss it, as I am just trying to find solutions to the shortfall of revenue we so desperately need to cover all this debt.
I am just trying to cover all bases.
Right now we need an accountant to break down the expenses for calls and then ensure that we are getting every allowable charge under the state guidelines, then an attorney to see if these contracts cover all our costs and we are getting all 100% of the revenue we are entitled to.
This is the very thing the paid emergency services consultant we hired mentioned in his speech to the council off of his PowerPoint presentation.
But his advice was to get the book work in order so you could prove your costs to the other agencies.
Because without that proof we would not get anywhere beyond what we now receive.
So we are back to what record keeping should have started over 3 years since that presentation, which led me to these laws he referred to considering a fire district.
It is possible that our chief has implemented some form of record keeping on these calls since that presentation.
But at the time we hired this consultant there was none and what there was left him guessing on everything.
He made that perfectly clear when he spoke.
I do not know if the city has the PowerPoint presentation but we should have the minutes of him addressing council.
I just think nothing is off of the table for discussion at this point as we need to ensure we are paid for all time and expenses outside of our city limits to support these services for other jurisdictions as well as property owners we provide this service to.
Cody
Anonomous
Been there done that and with great success mind you.
Have impressed more than a few judges along the way.
Cody
Cody,
Since Cascade Locks is situated in a rather unique spot we might have to come up with a unique solution to the problem of providing emergency services for this area of the gorge.
The property owners of just Cascade Locks can't possibly come up with enough money to fund all of the equipment needed to provide emergency services for the huge, unpopulated area outside of our city limits. Increasing traffic on I-84 along with more and more people hiking, biking, boating, etc. all around us means that the call level will only increase.
So maybe it's time to bring all the players together and find an equitable solution with adequate funds from all of them being put in the pot.
Gary
Absolutely correct.
Bring them to the table.
Tell them what it is going to cost within the law.
If they disagree they can provide their own services.
Then they can deal with the losses of revenue, paying wages, buying insurance, purchasing equipment and replacing that same equipment that wears out running up and down the gorge.
It is as simple as that.
This is too large of an unprotected area, with too much going on just as you said.
We do not get revenue from taxes or businesses for anyone to expect our little town to be able to afford supporting others like this any longer.
We are out of gas and they need to step up to the plate.
Another pet peeve I have is our very port.
They own the best property in town.
The purpose of a port is to create jobs with these lands.
They have failed us miserably over the years.
We need that property on the taxpaying roles.
So why is it that our tax dollars are paying to protect their properties and we the taxpayers paying for this, have to pay to drive across their bridge?
It is time for them to step up to the plate or be brought to the table.
Then if they do not like it the same goes for them.
Get their own police and emergency services department to protect their interests.
But stop expecting their burdens to become the city’s burdens.
Trust me the port is fully aware I have been looking into this matter long before this all happened.
Cody
Make the Port pay their share.
Here's something to ponder.
We (the citizens) are the Port of Cascade Locks just the same as we are the City of Cascade Locks. Having the Port "help" with the costs associated with city services doesn't make those services any less expensive because it still our money being spent, our resources being depleted. Splitting things up between to entities that serve the same population simply gives the appearance that things are less expensive than they really are. It doesn't make them any cheaper and leads to inefficiency and waste.
It's kinda the same as creating a fire district within the city's boundaries, it accomplishes nothing.
Don't confuse this as a commentary on how the Port is operated or the benefits we do or don't get because it exists, that's an entirely different discussion. If we don't need the Port or aren't getting enough benefit from it to justify its existence, make it perform or do away with it. Adding the responsibility of providing resources to the city would weaken them both.
The way the port and city really could help each other is through consolidation of staff.
If we can't afford emergency services can we really afford the front office duplication these two governments have?
Could one clerk answer the phone and operate the front desk for both?
Could a $100,000 accounting program possibly work for both?
How about $30,000 a year for computers and tech?
Could one administrator possibly administer something that big? The port and the city together barely add up to a small business, let alone something that needs 2 full time administrators.
Chances of this happening, zero. It would be too difficult to even consider. Inefficiency and waste are the path of least resistance and that's the path we like. And the waste gives us the opportunity to cry about how we don't have enough.
I can't think of another town of our size that has as much as we have, but still manages to get so little out of it. What does that really say about us?
As long as I as a citizen, have to pay to drive across a bridge I supposedly own, they are emphatically NOT the same as us.
As long as the property sits there off of the tax roles, providing neither tax revenue nor jobs for the past decade, I am supporting their asses.
So elect a board that will sell the property and provide a "bridge pass" to all citizens of their district.
I can't remember anyone ever asking the port to step up to the plate. Maybe I am being optimistic but I believe that with this new city council and new port commission things are going to change. The city and the port have not always been big fans of one another, and who could blame the port for not wanting to work with the past city administration. But there is a change on the horizon. We have a good group of elected officials that are intelligent and use common sense. I honestly think that these people can sit down with each other and work through these issues that are not city issues and port issues, but issues that affect all of us and our future generations. These are people that can have different opinions on issues but still respect each other. There have been many good suggestions lately on this blog. It would be nice to see a round table meeting of the city and port. If we share expenses and pool our resources we can accomplish a lot of good. I haven't read the ORS's on fire department issues, I agree with the thought that we need to bring all of the players to the table. Everyone is short of funds, sharing administration costs whether it be with the port and city or with another fire department administration is something to be investigated. I feel that a huge weight has been lifted off of this town and things are looking up.
Darlene Sullenger
Now this is what I like to see.
We are now talking about the issues.
My first comment is the ports money does not come from us.
It comes from Port revenue, the State, the lottery in some cases and in some other instances the Marine Navigation Improvement Fund.
I think you need to read ORS 777.065, ORS 777.250, ORS 777.258 and ORS 777.755
In a nutshell it is all about job creation and can you tell me with all of this choice land they hold how many jobs have they created?
How much of this land is on the city tax rolls?
You want to lease the sternwheeler and a building for a café, who gets paid the city or the port?
You want to camp at the park, who gets paid the city or the port?
You want to rent a slip for your boat, who gets paid the city or the port?
You want to rent the pavilion, who gets paid the city or the port?
You want to set up a booth and sale your goods at sternwheeler, who gets paid the city or the port?
You want to lease property to run a lumber mill, who gets paid the city or the port?
You want to cross the bridge, who gets paid the city or the port?
So if the police or emergency services are required at any of these port properties that the port gets paid for who pays for those services, the city or the port?
The fact of the matter is we the people pay to use it and protect it with no benefit and they for sure suck at job creation and the intent of the law for being a port.
So you are right that we the people are the Port and it can be we the people to disband it and turn that power over to the city if need be.
Then the city would have additional revenue as well as a past the port has wasted away and kept our town in the financial depression it has been forced to live in.
That port is not a port that is just a name.
How many boats off load or load cargo do you see in terminals the port has build?
All they have is a little bitsy pleasure boat marina that one of those boats could not fit in or get to.
So how many truly care if this port has to pay for services we pay for and lose services to support them?
How many would like to see all the wasted property they do nothing with go to the city and on to the tax and job creation rolls?
So now that everyone has read these laws how many think this port is living up to the intent of the law?
Cody
To date there has been too much conflict between these agencies to co-exist together.
In my mind the port is a joke and should be the city.
Because we do have the potential to be great and the port holding all this property and doing nothing with it is stagnating any positive growth we have had a chance to have.
What I think it says is we need to look at what good it has done for us to have this port and consider making a change in the way it has been.
I see you feel as I do about paying to cross that bridge.
I have been here since childhood and a permanent resident for almost 3 decades. We have been supporting them as long as I can remember.
How about bypassing the board and taking it to the ballot box giving it all to the city?
I do not see how they can change fast enough Darlene.
We do not have at least 10 more years for the economy to come back enough for the port to step up to the plate and make up for all the time they wasted to do what they were intended to do under the law to get title to all this property in my mind.
You know the old saying you snooze you lose? That is where I am at with this agency and I am far from alone on this subject.
To me it is past the time to share resources. It is about job creation and positive growth for our city.
I hope this new port commission understands this.
The intent of the law is not in their favor right now. It is in each and every citizen’s favor at the ballot box.
I think a few huge weights have been lifted off of this city.
And as bad as it may look it can only get better.
Oh how right you were on that as well as other issues on this blog.
Cody
If the port leases property to a private company, they pay property taxes on that property.
If the port rents a tent or rv spot at the marina, they pay trt tax on that rental.
The thing is, more money is going to help the city like more whiskey will help a drunk.
If we took all of the port income and gave it to the city what would the city accomplish that it isn't doing already? How long would it be before that money was used up and the city was out looking for more?
Our city has the money. It has more money per resident than most.
What we don't have is the population to be able to afford $2M fire stations and full time EMS staff on our own. Big surprise, nobody our size can! The all or nothing argument has to be put to rest. If we want higher levels if service, we have to partner with other agencies. The EMS debt and expenses use ALL of the property taxes the city collects and that's still not enough. Everything else is being paid for in one way or another as part of your utility bill. Which hurts our tax base because it's hard to attract business when the utilities are 30-50% less across the river, which hurts our population, which hurts our tax base, on and on and on.
You can't always control what you make, but you can control what you spend.
Before we worry about new revenue let's get some idea of what we have already and what we need in order to accomplish the city's mission.
What is really disheartening is that even with all of the focus on spending and declining balances, specific direction from the budget committee to change a specific budget amount was manipulated away into nothing. How can we ever expect to get control of our spending? Are we going to have to wait until the city employees think it's a good idea? Wow, maybe that's how we got here in the first place?
Gees, Cody, don't hold back on how you feel towards the Port. I'm pretty sure there have been businesses that were seriously interested in the industrial sites but couldn't get financing. You say the previous commissions are a joke. If so, its not the only joke in town. The new commission has three members with spouses employed by the Port, hopefully with no personal agendas. The two members with board experience collude with one of the groups in town; maybe you're in that group so its okay with you.
The Port and the City worked under one manager years ago, so legally I suppose it complies. I can see how the City would want to be part of the Port to share in bridge revenue; then the toll would probably be okay with those complaining now. The Port and the City have to work together, especially the managers. I think there is a Port/City meeting scheduled in August. Do you know if the Mayor included the Port manager on the interview panel for a new city manager? Someone said he wasn't. So much for cooperation if thats true.
One place for agency heads to meet regarding the fire dept could be at an Action Committee meeting. Oftentimes agency heads attend the meetings, so Jim Hulbert could put that meeting together right now.
Its good to see ideas coming to the table, hopefully from folks with open minds. Its good to ask ourselves "What if I'm wrong? Should I point my finger at them? Am I part of the problem?"
Collude, really, collude?
Don't hold back on how you feel. Talk about finger pointing. I think accusations like that are a big part of the problem.
So how many recall votes has that $1500.00 raised so far?
What a bunch of impotent old farts.
Hey, Brad and Lance aren't that old.....
Ya know what, I like NPR too. Click and Clack the tappet brothers, ohhh I'm scared.
What a Jack A$$
Chief Pricher appointed himself, in his letter of resignation, as Assistant Chief; seems, this is the prerogative, of whoever is appointed by the city manager.
Anyone notice something odd here:
The City has a surplus fire engine for sale... This 1973 Ford Western States Front Mount Pump blasts out 1,250 gpm from a 1,000 gallon tank.
How long until the tank is empty?
Happy 4th of July everybody!
I begin to think that when I do meet the owner of the Hood River News I will know him because he is so tight his ass will squeak.
The Hood River News, along with 9 other papers in Oregon, 4 in Washington and 1 in Idaho is Eagle Newspapers. Its Chairman of the board is Denny Smith, a long time Republican Politician. Smith ran for Governor in 94 and lost out to John Kitzhaber. Some say Smith lost because he was associated with several failed savings and loans. Go figure
Ummm, maybe I'm missing something. Well anyway, can we discuss Hood River taking over our fire department? Pros and cons? What does it mean for our citizens?
The point merging with Hood River was not a take over. It was to create an independent fire district with its own tax base and an independent, depoliticized board. Imagine that. At least that was the message that was to have been delivered to the volunteer association. That and the fact that their association funding would be restored in the process. But no cares about facts.
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