1. How should the city pay for the remaining $150,000 to $300,000 left on the bill for the fire hall? We have a great low interest loan available, but we need to find a way to make payments. Suggestions have ranged from reorganizing the ordinance enforcement department to reducing the budget of the fire department to raising fees. The city will have to decide soon.
2. There was a question about a piece of property in town that I posted here. Since that posting, I have learned that as part of my duties as councilman, I will be hearing an appeal to a planning commission decision regarding the property. To avoid any appearance of partiality, I have removed the question (which was, in any case, phrased neutrally). Thank you for respecting my neutrality on this issue.
3. Should the city change its ordinances to allow property owners to raise bees, chickens, or other livestock? Some cities allow apiaries (beehives), and small livestock to be raised in city limits. Currently our ordinances seem to prohibit this activity. It appears the council is interested in studying this issue soon.
Councilman for Cascade Locks
- Lance Masters
- This blog is intended as a way for people interested in Cascade Locks to share ideas and opinions. Posts that are interpreted as hindering the free flow of ideas and opinions may be removed. Please be encouraged to discuss ideas and opinions rather than individuals and names.
8 comments:
1. If the people had looked toward the future and passed the proposal for becoming a Fire District, this wouldn't be an issue but they didn't show the foresight of Hood River so here we are. I agree with eliminating the Ordinance position. I believe that our City workers (linemen, etc.) can be very useful in reporting various infractions or safety concerns as most are very apparent.
2. We should move forward with this development! CL desparately needs low income housing. The process has become so muddled with the complaints that I for one, have no clue what the problem is now. It used to be traffic, then it was density and now what? Money for previous owners? I think LUBA should start charging the people that complain and file baseless charges!
1. I remember when a resident tried to raise chickens to supplement his disability income and a certain citizen got up in arms about it. Truth be known, there are several people that have chickens within city limits. Everyone is desperately trying to find ways to survive. Cutting off a food supply is not the way to help your neighbor. Limit the chickens to 5 and go from there. Flies can be a huge problem for more than that and maybe hold the owners accountable for a yearly inspection from the Agriculture people for proper housing and cleanliness. We all know that coops can get very nasty and birds not treated will carry bird mites which will attach themselves to people given the opportunity. A simple cheap dusting will fix it.
Our government has been hijacked by special interests that have demonstrated they have no regard for the overall health and viability of the city. These special interests are willing to handicap or destroy any or all other services the city provides in the interest of promoting their interest/job as the most important.
It appears to me that even though we voted down a fire district as too expensive we have ended up with one anyway. All that is left to do is to modify the name of our city and change our charter to reflect the fact that the city has no money or desire to discuss or fund any other service.
The City of Cascade Locks ? No.
The Fire District of Cascade Locks ? Yes !!!!
Fancy uniforms, shiny trucks and pretentious titles are far more important than a local family's livelihood anyway, right ?
Our elected officials have abdicated their responsibility to protect the city from such groups and allowed the city to be pushed to the brink of financial disaster.
Our government hijacked? With 14 people on the Budget Committee, that's a statement I'm not sure any of them would appreciate. Sounds to me like the second "Anonymous" has a personal issue with Cascade Locks Fire Dept. that goes beyond budget. Instead of trying to get you to listen to reason regarding the safety and optimum performance of these selfless people, maybe you should visit this website to also understand the Federal laws they are required to follow. And don't forget to click on the link regarding for Operations & Tatics so you can read all about those fancy uniforms and shiny new trucks that some day may save your life. http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/index.shtm (you'll have to cut and paste"
I can't even address the pretentious title comment as it sounds like something from Jr. High or worse. Oh heck, why not..... Who's in charge? That would be the Chief, what if he's on the radio? That would be the Assistant Chief. Who's completed their training in HazMat incidents, we need them on the freeway because a portable Meth lab was just found about 500 yrds. from the side of I 84. Get a clue Anonymous, these are sophisticated times with people doing some pretty sophisticated stuff that could harm you as well as themselves and it takes the right equipment to take care of the problem. What? We should go back to wagons and bucket brigades? The uniform comment just got me. How in the heck do you tell who's in charge in the middle of an incident without being able to look up and see the right colored helmet or type of uniform? I double dog dare ya to try it sometime.
First we all love this place we call home or I am assuming we would not live here. I agree that the city does some things that seem strange but the fact remains that if the city administrator would have had a plan when we started a fire department how ever many years ago that we would not be having these issues today. But please blame it on the current Chief, council and administration. This is all there fault. NOT! We are a city that struggles because we choose to struggle. If we would all work together to truely make it a better place for all! The old, the new, the future. We need to create stable funding for the fire hall that is all there is to it. And a fee of few bucks a month on every account seems far more fair than just he property owners.
How shall we pay the final $150k to $300k for the fire hall is the question. Opponents of the fire hall forced the city to spend considerable funds to determine why the city lost a LUBA hearing related to financing the fire hall. This cost the city a lot. They even tried to derail the grant money that is paying the majority of the fire hall cost. These delays cost the city more money as the price of the fire hall went up about $150 to $300k during the wait. Ideally, the increased price should be paid by those who caused the increase. That would be only fair.
How much more money will this group cost the city in the name of saving the city money?
I would be interested in hearing what people would consider fair.
Since it appears increasing revenue will be a challenge due to the citizen passed ordinance, what is a reasonable and fair way to evaluate were spending reductions should be made.
The city administrator has suggested staff reductions. How is that done in a fair manner ?
Is it last hired, first fired regardless of job duties ?
Do all departments take an equal cut?
Do we lay-off or reduce current employees, but continue with plans to hire new employees ?
Constructive ideas will help the council make the tough decisions required of them.
The McCoy Dispute which led to the firehall dispute which led to the fire equipment disputes needs to be given a "funeral". Just pretend that you were the one that died while the fire department was off in Hood River re-filling the Oxygen tank instead of having local access when they ran out! Just one life (yours or a stranger) is worth pulling out your checkbook or using the contents of your piggy bank. We are talking life or death dollars. The Karma for those that have fought these issues is that their loved ones will most likely be the beneficiaries of any reduced social services that they have fought so hard to eliminate. Do you really have to lose your home or a life to get the importance of this picture? Just remember that "If you want to play then you have to pay" and "If you snooze you lose!"
It really hurts to hear people complain about the issues that face the fire dept. I hear comments like we don’t need a new fire engine or that we don’t need the new fire station. This is about serving this city with the best possible mean. We need equipment that will be able to not just put the fire out but not break down in the process. It is also about the safety of the volunteers! The firefighters risk their lives every time they respond to a call. They are doing a job that most would not consider doing. It is very dangerous to walk into a fire to save a child that is trapped in a fire. Don’t you think they deserved the best equipment to do that job? And guess what they are not asking for the best as they are taking the cheapest engine they can get that would do the job. They are working for free here people lets see you do there job!
Post a Comment