February 2007 newsletter

The Polk County Democrat

News. Views and Events: the monthly newsletter of the Polk County, Oregon Democrats

Polk Commissioners Delay Ending Advisory Committees

PCD Hand-delivered Letter, Testimony Has Impact

Polk County Commissioners, after receiving a plethora of input from many sides,
decided on advice of counsel to delay de-activating all current Area Advisory
Committees until at least March 7 pending an assessment. At the Commission’s
Feb. 14 meeting Polk County Democrats (PCD) past chair, Karen Green (picture
right) testified,
hand-delivering a letter to Commission Chair Tom Ritchey from PCD Chair, Alan
Holland, stating the group’s unanimous opposition to the plan, and requesting a
decision delay and review.

"Citizen involvement is Oregon Planning Goal #1," the letter said in part.
"The
Polk County Comprehensive Plan includes a provision for the establishment and
maintenance of these committees. Any action to re-vamp, much less de-activate
these committees requires a Comprehensive Plan amendment which includes
two public hearings and forty-five (45) days notice to the Oregon Department of
Land Conservation and Development." Even if this policy is followed, AAC duties
should be reassigned to another citizen advisory group.

Green and others testified in favor of retaining the AACs, supporting potential
alternatives provided by current AAC members and others to date. Pat Wheeler
testified on January 31 on behalf of the local chapter of 1,000 Friends of Oregon,
Friends of Polk County, which monitors Measure 37 claims for subdivisions in the
Exclusive Farm Zone and on Timber Conservation land.

PCDCC Feb. 8 Meeting Highlights

* The PCDCC amended and adopted the 2007 Budget which focuses on
fundraising for the next election cycle, volunteer recruitment and training,
inclusiveness and by-laws maintenance. Vice Chair Suzi Price sought input
to achieve key Strategic Plan goals: becoming more inclusive, attracting
young families and new PCP’s.

* Citizen input into land use decisions is about to end, warned Pat Wheeler in
her Measure 37 update. Wheeler, pictured right, said Polk County Commissioners plan to de-
activate all current Area Advisory Committees. The CC authorized a letter
from the group be sent to Commission Chair, Tom Ritchey voicing unanimous
opposition, asking for a delay pending more input and review. Plans were
made to hand-deliver the letter to Ritchey at a future Commission meeting
(see update).

* The CC also agreed to send a letter to Gov. Kulongoski supporting SB 505,
the Measure 37 “time out” bill before the Joint Committee on Land Use
Fairness (see related article).

* Polk County elections observer, Dennis McCaffrey’s report on the 2006
General Election highlighted areas the vote-by-mail system needs
improvement to insure greater reliability. CC Chair Alan Holland urged him to
pass on his findings and recommendations to Polk County Elections chief, Val
Unger and the Elections Committee. He suggested the CC make its own
recommendations in a further report, the CC agreeing Polk County
Republicans should be involved in the effort.

A Lamp, A Lawmaker ... What Am I Bid?

Polk Dems Boost Sales at Marion County Annual Auction & Dinner

Would you pay $1,500 dollars to have a meal with Congresswoman Darlene
Hooley, followed by a tour of Washington D.C.? Someone bid that and won. And
that doesn’t even include airfare. Such was the action at the wildly successful
Marion County Annual Auction and Dinner, Feb. 13 at Salem’s Grand Ballroom
as people bid on everything from antique lamps to lunch with lawmakers. Polk
County Democrats filled two tables and along with 160 others enjoyed a gourmet
meal and tried outbidding others for the dozens of items on auction. A Silent
Auction included even more items, from wines to gift baskets to beautifully
carved wooden birds.

At night’s end the affair netted over $9,400 dollars, almost twice as much as last
year. "And last year was the best-ever auction," said Marion County Democrats
chair, Wayne Baum. "I think the Polk County Democrats helped make it a big
success and I appreciated their participation."