City views used truck; might change meeting schedule to Wednesdays
From our weekly issue dated November 28, 2007
Odds and ends were the order of business for the Cave Junction City Council during a 25-minute meeting in city hall Monday night, Nov. 26.
What would likely have taken a considerable amount of time, a hearing regarding the Redwood Hwy. Local Improvement District at the north end of the city, was postponed at the request of the petitioners.
City Recorder Jim Polk said that the petitioners plan to submit an amended petition with different boundaries than originally proposed.
The council, with member Don Moore absent, voted 4-0 to allow Mayor Tony Paulson to spend up to $20,000 of budgeted, reserved funds on a used truck and a new snow plow. Paulson said that he and a public works employee will go to Medford to check the truck.
The snow plow, listed at a “discount price” of $3,999, would come from Northern Tool + Equipment in Minnesota, the mayor said.
The rig being considered is a 2001 Ford F-350 at Valley Auto & Truck Brokers. The 4x4 vehicle has a V-10 engine, automatic transmission, air conditioner, and cruise control. It is listed as a Stahl Grand Challenger utility with “low miles” and “like new.”
The mayor said that it has 94,000 miles on the odometer. He said that the city prefers it to a 3/4-ton Dodge with 85,000 miles on it, and a manual transmission.
Audience member Sally Palmer asked, “Do we have to buy it if it’s a piece of crap?”
The mayor said that the city is not obligated to buy anything that’s “a piece of junk.” He indicated that the city likely will have the Ford’s mechanical condition checked before agreement.
Paulson said that the vehicle would replace a 1987 Chevrolet that is costing approximately $1,000 per month in maintenance.
Also during the meeting, Kerby resident John Bowler said that the council “should seriously think about the nonattendance” of Moore, who was appointed to fill the vacancy caused when Councilman Russell Ehrman moved from the city.
Bowler criticized Moore for having missed two of the last three meetings, including the one Monday night. He said that Moore, a member of the county planning commission attending a hearing in Grants Pass, apparently cannot juggle his schedule sufficiently to serve on the council.
The mayor said that Moore missed his first meeting because he had just undergone surgery. “God forbid that he attend the meeting and die,” said Paulson.
The mayor said that Moore’s two absences both have been excused, as he gave advance notice and good reasons. In answer to Palmer’s query about when a councilman can be removed for missing meetings, the mayor said that there must be three consecutive, unexcused absences.
“I like Mr. Moore,” said Palmer, “but there were others who applied for the job, and if his other responsibilities are too large …”
In other matters:
*Paulson said that the city is considering expenditure of some $9,800 in designated reserve funds for a new, fully wireless sound system in the council chamber to replace the current one that doesn’t work well. Bowler said he could offer advice on such a unit.
*Polk said that Portland State University’s Population Research Center reported that the city population as of July 1 was estimated at 1,685.
*Heard a request from Councilman Lynne Atteberry that there be consideration for meeting Wednesdays instead of Mondays. “There are so many Monday holidays,” she said. Paulson added that the change would allow time for council members to review meeting packets and ask questions. No action was taken on the request.
*The council tacitly OK’d a request from Atteberry that a letter be written to the Illinois Valley High School football team congratulating its members on being Skyline Conference champions. “They are fine examples, and they brought the community together,” she said. “They did a great job.”
*The council also agreed to cancel its Dec. 24 meeting. It will meet next on Dec. 10.
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