THOMPSON RESIGNS POST ON RIDGEFIELD COUNCIL

Alice Perry Linker, staff reporter

Former Ridgefield mayor and current city council member Tim Thompson has resigned from the council after serving nine years.

Thompson, who submitted a letter of resignation to mayor Gladys Doriot on Jan. 13, was mayor 1998-2004.

In the letter, Thompson said he is resigning to focus on his business, Visions in Print, in Vancouver, and his family. Thompson and his wife have four children ranging in age from 18 to 3.

"I find I cannot adequately fulfill my duties," he said.

In an interview after the meeting, Thompson said the "current situation" in city hall made his decision "easier."

"We don't legislate anymore," he said about the council. "We should discuss and debate and come up with decisions. Now those decisions are made before we get there."

Thompson did not give specifics, but indicated that interim city manager George Fox and some council members discuss issues before meetings.

"It's my understanding that a couple of councilors have more access to the city manager than the mayor does," he said. "We were to have open and accessible government. It's open and accessible no longer."

Fox is a candidate for the Ridgefield city manager's position. Council member Gary Holmberg said Fox is one of the four or five candidates being considered.

Thompson believes the hiring committee will "go through the motions," but Fox will ultimately be the choice.

Holmberg said Fox did not apply for the manager's position last summer when the city first advertised.

"When we went through the candidates, he indicated he was interested, and we included him in background checks," Holmberg said.

The city will do criminal background checks on final candidates.

Thompson also criticized the salary budgeted for the new manager.

"We're going to pay the city manager $143,000, including benefits," Thompson said. "That's above any other city of our size. We should be paying in the $70s."

The operating system now in place at city hall gives the manager "power of an administrator and an elected official," he said.

Thompson also accused the current council of favoring developers over the public.

"The council has lost focus on who they're working for," he said. "They're not concerned about people, they're working for the developers."

Thompson said recent land use changes reducing setbacks for commercial buildings and extending the concept of a master business plan to include properties separated by I-5 show the city's bias toward developers.

"After this I had had enough," he said. "It was time to move on. The main reason I resigned was to spend more time with my family, but this made it easier."

Thompson was the last strong mayor elected by the people to run the city. In 1998, Ridgefield voters changed the type of city government to manager-council. There have been five city managers since that time.

The most recent manager, Randy Bombardier, is under indictment for violations of environmental laws governing lead paint removal. His trial will begin the week of Jan. 24.

Thompson believes Bombardier was overzealously pursued and should have been dismissed instead of charged with a crime.

Thompson said he will remain involved in the city.

"After I get a little rest, I may run again," he said.

LA CENTER TACKLES SEWER ISSUE

Public hearing Jan. 24 will air revenue needs

Bill Myers, staff reporter

The La Center city council received confirmation Jan. 12 from a financial consultant of the need for higher sewer rates.

Vancouver economic and financial consultant Raymond Bartlett echoed a message calling for sewer rate hikes delivered last month by officials of Clark Public Utilities.

The confirmation had city council members looking for ways to soften the blow of rate increases. Utility officials will hold a public hearing Mon., Jan. 24, on revenue needs.

Options discussed by council members included payment by the city of a $5.3 million debt and/or city ownership of a recently-constructed sewer plant.

La Center transferred water and sewer operations to the utility in 1992. The utility incurred the debt in recent years to replace and increase capacity at the wastewater treatment plant on Pacific Hwy.

Bartlett said more revenue is needed to operate the system and service construction debt.

Current debt consists of six loans and a revenue bond with terms ranging from 10-20 years with a total of almost $5.4 million. Five loans are from public works trust funds while one loan came from the utility Energy Fund.

Bartlett said $336,000 is needed to operate the system and $393,000 to service debt, for a total of $729,000.

The La Center plant serves 999 equivalent dwelling units. A current monthly rate of almost $27 generates about $324,000 yearly.

Current sewer development (hook-up) charges are $4,320 each. Fifty new hook-ups yearly will generate $216,000 more revenue.

Rates and hookup fees, with 50 connections, will generate a yearly revenue stream of $540,000, and an annual shortfall of $189,000, officials said.

Shortfalls would cause more debt, said Bartlett.

Bartlett presented a break-even scenario with hook-up charges at $5,000 (assuming 50 new connections yearly) and monthly sewer rates at $39.98.

Mirroring stated opinions of utility officials, Bartlett said he prefers higher monthly user charges "for more financial security."

Bartlett said a reserve should also be set up for future sewer plant improvements or construction.

Utility charges for plant operations appear reasonable, he said.

Utility officials keep a cash reserve on the plant of only $1,000, said Bartlett. The utility "basically operates the system hand-to-mouth."

Comic relief came from council member Dale Smith. "Hand-to-mouth is not a good analogy considering the subject," said Smith.

The utility self-insures the plant for the first $200,000, Bartlett said. If something breaks, the city would be paying for another loan to make repairs.

Council eyes options

Council member Richard Curtis said ratepayers might be better served if the city acquired and paid the debt, with repayments at a 3-plus percent interest rate currently earned on city reserves.

Taking over operation of the plant is another option, said Curtis.

"We need to make it clear that the utility served us well," Curtis said. "If we decide to take it over, they need to know that."

Public works director Jeff Sarvis said the city would not save from taking over plant operation. The utility operates the plant at a reasonable cost, he said.

Mayor Jim Irish asked Bartlett to study the problem and outline various options for the city by Feb. 9.

Irish said utility commissioners will probably raise sewer rates soon after the Jan. 24 public hearing. The hearing is scheduled in the La Center Community Center, 1000 E 4th St., at 6 p.m.

"When we get final numbers from the utility, we'll make a decision and hold more public hearings if necessary," said Irish.

WOODLAND ANGLER DIES ON NORTH FORK

A Woodland angler died Jan. 11 in a drift boat on the North Fork of the Lewis River near the Island Boat Landing east of Woodland.

Ronald Lee Biggs, 72, 711 2nd St., Woodland, suffered a fatal heart attack at about 3 p.m. after exertion to remove his boat from a shallow gravel bar, said a Cowlitz County Coroner's Office report.

Other anglers who helped move Biggs' boat had started to drift away. They looked back and noticed that Biggs was not sitting in his boat. They returned and found the victim laying in his boat, a spokesperson from the Coroner's office said.

FORMER RIDGEFIELD MANAGER'S TRIAL TO BEGIN

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Randy Bombardier, former Ridgefield city manager, will face a Clark County Superior Court jury beginning the week of Jan. 24.

The state Attorney general charged Bombardier with official misconduct for his alleged role in authorizing the removal of lead-based paint from Ridgefield city hall in June 2002 and endangering public health and safety.

The charge is a gross misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of one year in jail and/or $5,000 fine.

Gross misconduct is defined as intentionally committing an unauthorized act under color of law, or intentionally refraining from performing a duty imposed by law.

Bombardier was suspended from his office of city manager in March 2004 and then fired in April for "just cause."

An outside investigating agency reported that Bombardier interfered with the state Department of Ecology and federal Environmental Protection Agency's investigation into the alleged improper removal of the paint.

In April, the city settled with Bombardier for $85,000, six months pay, accrued and unpaid vacation time and some legal fees.

In return, Bombardier held the city harmless from any and all claims and avoided a public hearing about his alleged misdeeds.

State files trial brief

Assistant Attorney General Timothy Crandall of the Criminal Litigation Unit and Clark County prosecutor Art Curtis filed the State's trial brief on Dec. 30 which states Bombardier must be brought to trial before Jan. 31.

Bombardier was arraigned and pleaded not guilty on July 9 last year. On Sept. 14, he requested a continuance of the trial date, which was re-set to Jan. 3 this year, and then postponed to Jan. 24.

Bombardier is represented by attorney Jon McMullen.

Prosecutors allege that that Bombardier met with two contractors to re-paint city hall and "failed to mention there was lead-based paint on the building."

The contract signed with co-defendant, Eben V. Drake of Drake's Quality Painting, "called for scraping off the peeling paint and the sanding of paint on the pillars on either side of the main entrance to city hall," the brief states.

The city council had set aside $20,000 for abatement to re-do the exterior of city hall. However, Drake's work cost $5,017.35, because it did not include the proper removal of the paint, prosecutors said.

State and federal guidelines contend that lead paint must be removed under negative air enclosure and performed by Certified Abatement workers in accordance with federal, state and local regulations.

The State plans to prove Bombardier stated to witnesses that he would use the remaining balance that had been budgeted for abatement to hire an administrative assistant, the document states.

VEHICLE THEFT ENDS WITH K-9 CAPTURE IN BG

Crystal Springs residents told to stay indoors

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Larry Joe Bohn, 21, a transient from Vancouver, was arrested about 12:15 a.m. Jan. 11 after an hour-long pursuit and search just outside the Battle Ground city limits.

Bohn was booked into the Clark County jail on charges of first degree theft and attempting to elude a police officer.

At about 10:45 p.m. Jan. 10, Battle Ground police officer Keith Thompson saw a 1985 dark blue Toyota pickup southbound on N Parkway that had been reported stolen earlier in the day from the Hazel Dell area, according to police reports.

The driver of the vehicle was also wanted on suspicion of stealing gas that day at the Fargher Lake store.

Bohn reportedly sped through Battle Ground at speeds of 35-50 miles per hour after Thompson activated his emergency lights, then drove the truck into a field near 23701 NE 142nd Ave. and fled on foot.

Clark County Sheriff's deputies and more Battle Ground squads surrounded an area about 1 square mile, encompassing NE 244th St., NE 242nd Ave., Heisson Rd., and NE Grace Ave.

Molly Hess and her family live in the Crystal Springs subdivision near NE Grace Ave. on NE 16th Loop, in the area the "net" was set up.

Hess said she and her husband, Cory, were awakened about 11:30 p.m. by their labrador retriever dog, Maddie, barking. As Hess woke up, she heard a voice on loudspeaker telling residents to stay inside their homes.

"It was really scary," Hess said. "All the dogs in the neighborhood were barking, police cars were circling and telling us to stay inside. I thought a crazy man with a gun was on the loose."

Throughout the next hour at least, Hess and her husband heard sirens chirping periodically from all directions, and saw officers in cars searching yards with spotlights throughout the neighborhood.

The couple made sure their two children, ages 7 and 5, were sleeping, locked all the doors, and peered through blinds at their neighborhood. A large, forested field behind their home was a concern, she said.

"We were afraid whoever they were looking for would hop our fence," Hess said. "It would be an easy place to hide. We were so nervous at every thump."

Although the neighborhood with newer homes is tucked into the northeast corner of Battle Ground close to a suburban area, Crystal Springs has seen it's share of trouble, Hess said.

Car prowls and vandalism crimes have risen in the last few years, she said, so she is used to seeing police presence in the neighborhood.

"But this was definitely scary," Hess said. "We've never been told to stay in our homes before."

Bohn was captured in that field behind Hess' house by a County K-9 and suffered minor dog bite wounds, a police report said. He refused treatment and was booked at the Clark County jail.

COUNTY SALUTES LA CENTER OFFICERS

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Two La Center police officers were recognized in December by law enforcement officials with the Clark County DUI and Traffic Safety Task Force for outstanding work in traffic safety.

For the second consecutive year, officer Rowdy Berry was named Volunteer of the Year among small city police departments in Clark County and Woodland.

A rotating plaque recognizes the top volunteer among small city police departments each year.

In 2004, Berry spoke on traffic safety at driver education classes, held workshops on pedestrian and bicycle safety, and conducted realistic DUI simulations to deter young drivers from drinking and driving. He also secured traffic safety grants for La Center.

Berry and fellow-officer Craig Wattson were each presented with plaques for their commitments to traffic safety excellence in Clark County.

Berry was honored for his traffic safety volunteer work. Wattson was recognized for leading the La Center Police Department in traffic safety statistics with more than 700 traffic stops, including 7 DUI arrests.

Both officers are 3-year veterans with the La Center Police Department.

RIDGEFIELD TO GO GREEK FOR A DAY

Professional chef to provide authentic meals

Alice Perry Linker, staff reporter

The flavor and sounds of Greece will drift into Ridgefield with a special dinner and dance lessons on Sat., Jan. 22.

Chef Chris Huff will serve a four-course Greek dinner at the Pioneer Street Cafe, 5-8 p.m.

After dinner, a Portland teacher will offer Greek folk dance lessons at Patricia's Dance Studio across the street from the cafe, 7-10 p.m.

Patricia Thompson, owner of Patricia's Dance Studio, said the lessons are a cooperative effort between her and Barb Blystone, owner of the Dancing Rabbit specialty gift store.

The folk dance is a drop-in event and no reservations are necessary. A $5 donation is requested.

However, reservations are needed for the Greek dinner at Pioneer Street Cafe, said Ellis Dunn, cafe owner. Call 887-8001 to reserve a table.

The dinner will feature two entrees: spice-seared jumbo shrimp for $37.95 and cardamon yogurt-scented rack of lamb for $34.95.

The evening of Greek food and folk dance has been a community effort, Dunn said. Blystone and Thompson have volunteered to "dress up" the restaurant tables, he said.

Huff, a chef who has been associated with restaurants throughout the U.S., has lived in Ridgefield for about a year. He has been a guest chef at the cafe several times.

Most recently, Huff prepared a special Spanish dinner.

"He's an amazing chef," Dunn said. "He's been invited to cook at the James Beard House in New York."

Huff, a graduate of the University of Washington, said he decided to move to Ridgefield to be near his mother, Trudy Huff.

A native of Germany, Huff, with his family, moved to the U.S. so that he could serve in the Army and follow in his Dad's footsteps, he said.

Huff's mother wanted him to study at culinary schools in France, but "I wasn't interested," he said.

Huff majored in international relations at the University of Washington.

"This business (cooking) picked me," he said. "I've always done this part time, and when I left the Army, I fell into lucky circumstances."

The "circumstances" have taken him to Houston and Dallas, TX, and Washington, D.C., where he was executive chef for EatZi's Market and Bakery, a gourmet market, bakery and French patisserie.

"I supervised 125 chefs," he said.

Huff has also been an executive chef for Palomino's, and he opened a Palomino's in Charlotte, NC.

Now he'd like to become an executive chef at a northwest resort, but "I can't find anything yet, but I'll continue looking," he said.

While he's looking, he's been the guest chef for Pioneer Street Cafe, occasionally filling in for an absent cook.

Recently, he taught a class at the cafe on Asian cooking, a craft he learned while serving with the Army in Hawaii.

"This was hands-on teaching," he said. "I plan to do more."

Huff has also started a business offering in-home catering, in-home meal preparation, personal chef and personal shopper.

Huff extends his teaching skills to volunteer work with Share Our Strength, an organization that teaches basic cooking skills to low-income people.

Huff has enjoyed his year in Ridgefield.

"I love it," he said. "It's a quaint town, and it's got its artsy side--I like that. The community cooperation is really great."

NEW SITE EARMARKED FOR BG LIBRARY

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

A 20-year push to create a new, larger building for the Battle Ground Community Library has taken an epic leap forward, say library supporters.

Fort Vancouver Regional Library District trustees voted unanimously Jan. 10 to enter into final negotiations for a new library site with developers of the Battle Ground Center, a proposed 108-acre, multi-use site located in south-east Battle Ground.

Developer Dennis Pavlina of the Gold Medal Group, LLC, owns the land where the new library would likely sit.

The library would be located on the southeast corner of SE Rasmussen Blvd. and SE Grace Ave., taking a portion of the Center's wedge-shaped development bordered by NE 199th St. to the south, NE Commerce Ave. to the east, and the formerly named Lewis and Clark Railroad to the west.

New homes, offices, retail space and light industrial work places are set to be built around the proposed library. Other structures will be built in stages within about 10 years, Pavlina said.

About 20 acres of the site are devoted to housing and have been sold to New Tradition Homes. Some 174 residences are expected.

Details of the library negotiations have not yet been released, said District executive director Bruce Ziegman, but the plan may entail the District purchasing the property with the Friends of the Battle Ground Library who are raising funds for the building. Other options for payment are being discussed as well.

Ziegman said the Battle Ground Center was chosen rather than two other options because the Battle Ground Center, in part, "offered the lowest cost option."

The Center location also offers better access, parking options and availability for future expansion, Ziegman said.

Library officials also considered the offer of an upper level space in one of the buildings at Prestige Development's new Gardner Center on the corner of SR-503 and NE 199th St. Expanded at the library's current location at N Parkway Ave. and W Main St. was also considered.

Ziegman believes the deal for the Battle Ground Center will be wrapped up by Mon., Feb. 14 at the next meeting of the trustees, set for 6 p.m. at Hearthwood Elementary School, 801 NE Hearthwood Blvd., in Cascade Park.

No quick decisions

The trustee's vote Jan. 10 brought cheers from about 20 audience members from Battle Ground who came to the meeting in Washougal to support plans to move ahead with a new library.

Battle Ground resident Anna Cross, a retiree, joked that she "had brown hair and no wrinkles" when the process first began in 1984.

"This is it," Cross said. "This is the last really good chance we have of getting a decent-sized library within the city."

Driving the need for a new library is the size of the current building which some patrons describe as woeful. Parking and accessibility have also been problems.

Built in the 1960s, the current library's 3,800 square-foot building served 140,000 patrons in 2004, said Battle Ground librarian Jackie Spurlock. The library has witnessed an increase of more than 10,000 visits in each of the past two years.

Prior attempts at getting a larger library have failed.

The District purchased a church building at NE First St. and NE Clark Ave. and attempted bond measures in 1999 and 2000 to renovate the it into a larger library.

Both efforts failed, receiving 51 and 56 percent yes votes respectively. A 60 percent approval margin was needed for passage.

Ziegman said the time is right to pursue the Battle Ground Center option because library supporters believe funds can be raised without public debt.

The size of the library at the Center would be 13,000-17,000 square feet, Ziegman said. In comparison, the Three Creeks Community Library in Salmon Creek is 13,000 square feet. Three Creeks opened in 2002 and cost about $3 million to build.

Spurlock described the proposed size of the new library building as one that can accommodate the services a city the size of Battle Ground needs.

Battle Ground mayor John Idsinga said the Center site will be good for the library. He said he had hoped a deal could have been reached for the building to expand at its current location.

Idsinga would like to see a community center on the Parkway and Main site someday, perhaps with a small stage and lighted Christmas tree in season. He hoped the library would be part of that, but acknowledged the community center could still happen without the library's presence.

Next steps

Opening the doors to a new library building in Battle Ground could be a reality in as few as three years, Ziegman said, but much work is still to be done.

The First and Clark building is now for sale with an asking price of $599,000, Ziegman said.

Plans to sell the current library building are still in flux, Ziegman added, with a possible purchase by the city as part of a transaction that includes swapping the city's Remy property on SW 20th Ave. with property owned by the Battle Ground School District. The School District owns the property surrounding the library.

Jane Higgins, who is co-chairing a capital campaign committee for the library with her husband, Don, said once a deal to purchase land is hammered out, the next step is to begin fundraising efforts in earnest.

Higgins said she would soon begin presentations to community and business groups, set up donation and pledge cards in the current library, and host various public meetings to raise awareness for the project and gain input as to what the new library should look like.

"It's really important for the community to have a voice in this," Higgins said. "It needs to be their library."

Library Friends group president Alex Mintz said he was "very excited" by the trustee's vote.

Mintz said multiple fundraising options could include pursuing grants, corporate sponsorships and donations of time and talent.

"This is the best chance Battle Ground has had in years for a new library," Mintz said. "The Battle Ground community has put a volunteer-built and community-funded float in the Portland Grand Floral Parade every year for the past 50 years. If we can build a float, we can build a library."

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WELCOMES INTERIM PRIEST

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

The Church of the Holy Spirit Episcopal in Battle Ground has a new interim priest.

Don Greenwood, 65, will lead the congregation for the next year.

Church members have been without a priest since founding pastor Elise Astleford retired two years ago. Astleford led the church for about 18 years. Since her retirement, Sunday services have been performed by visiting clergy.

In form and function, Episcopal churches tend to find a middle ground between Protestant and Catholic, Greenwood said. The Church of the Holy Spirit has a more contemporary music program than most Episcopal churches.

Greenwood was born and raised in Orange County, CA. He attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and was in the Army for two years afterward. There he met his wife, Anna, a neurological nurse.

Around this time, Greenwood became interested in the Christian faith for the first time, he said.

Greenwood pursued advanced religious studies at the University of the South in Tennessee and became ordained.

Greenwood ministered in the southeastern United States for 21 years, northeastern states for seven years and in Columbus, OH, for the past 12 years before retiring.

Greenwood received an endorsement from the national Episcopal denomination to lead churches in an interim function. He has had four interim pastorates in his career.

The challenges of being a pastor for a short time are different than long-term, Greenwood said. An interim pastor mostly performs regular pastoral functions while helping a congregation prepare for a full-time leader.

"I consider myself a motivational consultant and mentor," Greenwood said. "I'm here to help people see what they need to do."

Greenwood will work up to 19 hours weekly in his role because of insurance limitations on full-time work. He wants parishioners to know he will do less visitation than a full-time pastor would, but is always on-call in case of an emergency.

Greenwood is active in mental health advocacy. He teaches free classes in the Clark County chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. He also takes a keen interest in area politics and writes fiction books and stories for fun.

Greenwood and his wife have three grown sons and four grandsons. They are expecting their first granddaughter in May.

The Church of the Holy Spirit is located at 2400 NW 9th Ave., in Battle Ground and has one Sunday service at 10 a.m. All are welcome.

Contact Greenwood at 687-3301 or 571-5871.

INSTITUTION HEADS DELIBERATE FUTURE OF HIGHER ED

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

Universities and colleges are vital to any community's success. But the availability and accessibility of such institutions in southwest Washington is below state averages.

So said leaders from both Clark College and Washington State University during a forum last week in Vancouver. Dr. Wayne Branch, president of Clark College, and Dr. Harold Dengerink, chancellor of Washington State University-Vancouver, met Jan. 7 at a luncheon sponsored by the Vancouver Chamber to discuss the state of post K-12 education in the region.

Several hundred people attended the event, including representatives Jim Dunn (R-17), Deb Wallace (D-17), Jim Moeller (D-49) and Al Bauer (D-49), and senator Joe Zarelli (R-18).

The event was held at the Heathman Hotel in Vancouver and co-sponsored by the two colleges with the Columbia River Economic Development Council and Identity Clark County--the latter an area leadership and economic "think tank." Chamber president John McKibbin moderated the forum.

Branch noted recent statistics that show a disparity of people who attend public university or college in the area compared to state averages.

Statewide, one person in 71 is enrolled as a full-time student at a public university or college.

However for the Columbia River Region, which encompasses southwest Washington, the ratio falls to one in 484, Branch said. The best percentage is found in eastern Washington where the ratio is 1 to 36.

Branch encouraged audience members not to sugar-coat facts and to develop a sense of urgency about the future of higher education in the region.

"The stakes are high for our community," Branch said. "Prosperity and higher education go hand in hand."

Branch noted other statistics showing how three-quarters of all jobs today require some sort of education beyond high school.

The ability for job-seekers to compete in a global economy is another reason for boosting higher education, he said, as well as the correlation between higher education and a greater quality of life for communities as a whole.

Branch said one continual goal of southwest Washington's economic community must be to successfully recruit and retain talent.

To this end, Clark College has recently developed several programs in its goal to boost classes offered. The college has expanded distance learning programs, increased its technology offerings, developed an east county site, and improved health care and nursing programs.

Dengerink agreed with Branch's themes by noting statistics that show the percentage of people across the region who hold bachelor's degrees.

The state average is 28 percent with bachelor's degrees. Seattle is 48 percent. But Clark County is 20 percent.

Dengerink blamed a lack of access to higher education programs, limited education alternatives, limited degree offerings and the absence of a four-year university in southwest Washington as reasons for low statistics.

Students seeking a four-year degree from a public institution in the area may attend two years at Clark and transfer to WSU-Vancouver for their final two years.

Some good news, Dengerink said, is a four-year university in southwest Washington may soon be a reality.

A recent survey of about 4,000 area residents showed 70 percent approval to expand WSU-Vancouver to include a four-year program.

Pending approval by the WSU Board of Regents, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the state legislature, WSU-Vancouver could admit freshman students as early as fall 2006.

Dengerink also said plans are in the works for the university's upper division transfer and graduate track programs to grow at about 100 students annually.

Other plans include expanding offerings in high-demand areas, Dengerink said, such as science and liberal arts, health and human services, high-tech and information sciences, and education and business programs.

Dengerink said there are no plans to change the name of WSU-Vancouver, as had once been proposed, if the school expands to a four-year university.

BG BOARD CONSIDERS RESCINDING BOND CONTINGENCY

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

Battle Ground School Board members voted 3-1 with one member abstaining Jan. 11, to not lift a contingency clause on the upcoming bond measure to build new schools.

The bond, set to be decided by voters March 8, is being presented in two parts, with the second part passing only if the first part does.

Part A is for a $63 million package of construction and renovation projects similar in scope to a $54.9 million proposal that narrowly failed last May.

Part B asks area voters for $19.5 million to build a high school in the north end of the District near Yacolt or Amboy. The contingency clause means a north county high school will be built only if the rest of the package is approved.

If voters vote only for the new north county high school but not for the rest of the package, both parts fail.

Three patrons--Russ Wadleigh, Lou Maurina and Leslie Jones--asked Board members at the meeting to lift the clause.

Wadleigh and Maurina were on the 26-member citizen's committee that formulated a single bond.

But the duo separated from the group at the end to offer a minority recommendation to the Board.

The rest of the committee did not want a north county high school placed on this bond, whereas Maurina and Wadleigh did.

Jones has been active in several District-related activities, including an unsuccessful campaign for school board against Karen Lehman about one year ago, and a failed sexual-harassment lawsuit against the District that is now inactive.

Wadleigh, Maurina and Jones believe the contingency clause dooms the north county high school because voters in the south and central portions of the District will not support it.

They also believe the majority of north county voters will support the high school but not the rest of the bond package.

Board member David Sonntag made the motion to reexamine lifting the contingency clause. He supported it in an ensuing vote which was made about 10:30 p.m.

Board members Sam Kim, Mark Pelletier and Fred Striker voted against the motion. Lehman abstained, saying the time is not right to consider the idea.

Sonntag said he is not particularly a staunch supporter of removing the contingency clause, but brought the motion forward because he thinks it should be reconsidered.

Sonntag believes that both parts of the bond have the strength to stand on their own, and if either part passed and the other didn't, the District would still be farther ahead than if both halves failed.

"I can live with the bond as it is," Sonntag said. "The bottom line is that the community sees the need for more schools. I think people do see this, and both halves will pass."

Reasons for contingency

Kim said one difficulty with removing the clause is that Part A provides for the cost of buying land and permits for a new north county high school, whereas Part B provides money for building the school.

If B passed and A did not, then the District would have money to build a building, but no funds to purchase land, Kim said.

Maurina does not agree with this.

Part A of the bond earmarks a $3 million lump sum toward the purchase of land for a new high school, all costs associated for land prep and "land purchases for future school sites."

Maurina believes enough buildable acreage for a high school--an estimated 40-60 acres--could be purchased in Amboy or Yacolt for perhaps one-third of that amount or less.

Maurina said that even if Part A does not pass, the District could still use money from its current reserves or sell some of its existing lands to buy property for a high school site.

But Striker, who represents the Yacolt/Amboy area, said Maurina's plan is short-sighted and potentially detrimental to the District as a whole.

Striker said if the contingency were lifted and Part B passed but Part A did not, a new high school perhaps could be built, but it would be "an extremely small school."

"We believe south and central voters will support the north county high school," Striker said. "There are thousands of people who support the District as a whole. If there is a new high school in the north, that will relieve pressure on other high schools, and everyone will benefit."

The high school hinge

Striker noted that issues surrounding creating a north county high school have been highly debated over the past year or so.

The majority of committee members did not recommend putting it on a bond proposal this time. Instead, they advocated waiting several years until better state matching funds are available.

Striker said the majority of Board members, however, support a north county high school, and that's why it was put on the March proposal as a Part B bond.

Striker said the purchase of other properties are included in a lump sum in Part A of the bond because the District needs to secure land for future growth.

The location and configuration of the other schools is not stipulated yet, Striker said, because exact growth numbers and locations are not yet known.

Striker believes a school will likely be needed in the future on the east side of the District near the Lewisville and Maple Grove schools, and also likely in the northeast side of the District, near the proposed Tuxedo Junction subdivision area near NE Grace Ave. and Heisson Rd.

"As a Board we have to look at growth over the long range," Striker said.

Striker also voted against rescinding the contingency clause because there are problems tinkering with a bond once it has been registered at the Clark County elections office, he said.

Wadleigh said that because the contingency was not lifted, he is urging voters to support part B but not part A, a move which would fail both measures but "send a message to Board members."

If the March bond fails, it could feasibly be run again on May 17, said county elections supervisor Tim Likeness.

Every election of this size costs taxpayers about $35,000, Likeness added.

STRIKER NAMED AS NEW BOARD CHAIR

Frederick Striker, 72, was named chairman of the Battle Ground School District Board of Directors Jan. 11, following a year of leadership by Sam Kim.

Kim stepped down as chairman due to other responsibilities, he said.

Kim is pursuing a master's degree program in addition to his full-time employment with Hewlett-Packard. He is still on the school board.

Board members elect the chairman position annually. The vote to elect Striker as chairman was unanimous. Striker has been on the Board since 1997 and held the chairman position 2001-2003. His board seat is up for re-election in November 2005.

After spending 20 years in the Marine Corps, Striker was a manager in an electronics security company, then worked as a library technician and computer specialist with the Battle Ground School District 1990-1996 before retiring.

Board member Dr. Mark Pelletier was named vice-chairman.

PORT, CITY EYE BROAD CHANGE FOR JUNCTION ACCESS

Alice Perry Linker, staff reporter

The ink is barely dry on a short-term plan for the I-5 interchange at Ridgefield, but City and Port of Ridgefield officials are already beginning to talk about long-range plans.

The officials, including city council members, have begun looking at a design that will change the way traffic enters and exits I-5 to Pioneer St. Representatives from the Port and city met Jan. 11 to discuss Junction issues.

City public works director Justin Clary said he would like work to begin by the end of 2006.

A proposed schedule calls for environmental assessments to take place as early as this year, should funding become available.

A number of hurdles must be cleared before any design is drawn because the cost of the interchange will reach into the millions of dollars.

Officials of the planning firm of Parsons Brinkerhoff Quade and Douglas Inc. estimate the work would cost as much as $30 million. The firm was hired by city officials to prepare a preliminary plan.

No funding has been identified for the project. City and Port officials have indicated area financial support for the project. But Port of Ridgefield spokesperson Allison Shultz said the Port has "no existing funds" for interchange construction.

Neither the state nor U.S. Department of Transportation has designated any funds for the development of the new interchange. Shultz said Port representatives will meet with the Regional Transportation Council and the state Department of Transportation.

Interim Ridgefield city manager George Fox said he expects a team made up of city and Port officials, community leaders and others, to begin presenting funding requests to federal, state and area public and private entities.

The appeal will not begin until Parsons Brinkerhoff has prepared a final marketing brochure explaining the plan.

"This will be a grassroots effort," Fox said. "We're trying to think three to five years down the road to fix this interchange. I'd love to have it done in five years if it's possible."

Federal funds will be sought as well. Mark Brown, a transportation lobbyist, told officials at the meeting that special funding for the project could be sought through the office of congressman Brian Baird.

Representatives from the planning firm outlined construction possibilities during the meeting.

Under the preliminary plan, the Pioneer St. bridge crossing the interstate would be moved to the south and realigned to extend into the Union Ridge Industrial Park.

The existing Pioneer St. would become the south entrance to the Port's future Discovery Point Business Park.

Pioneer St. would be widened at the Junction. Plans do not call for widening Pioneer westerly into downtown Ridgefield.

Port officials have expressed concern that transportation issues need to be addressed soon as the area is expected to develop commercially during the next few years.

Fox stressed that the plans presented by Parsons Brinkerhoff are only a draft and could be changed.

Port commissioner Roy Randel called transportation the "single most important issue for Ridgefield and Clark County to address long-term economic health."

RIDGEFIELD QUICKENS PACE FOR CITY MANAGER

Alice Perry Linker, staff reporter

Ridgefield's interim city manager George Fox is among the candidates being considered for the permanent, full-time position which he has held since last March.

City council member Gary Holmberg said that Fox is one of the four or five candidates whose names have been submitted to Police chief Bruce Hall for a preliminary background check.

Fox was hired for the interim position after city manager Randy Bombardier was put on paid suspension in March.

Bombardier was terminated in April for alleged misconduct regarding alleged improper removal of lead based paint from city hall in 2002.

Bombardier awaits trial beginning Jan. 24 on those charges filed by the state Attorney General.

Fox, who is also deputy director and chief financial officer for the Port of Ridgefield, works about two days a week for the city.

Holmberg said the city manager's position will be full-time.

The city's 2005 budget calls for a base salary of $120,000 for the city manager.

The city received applications last summer for the position but decided to delay hiring a new top administrative official.

All the candidates have been notified that a background check is being made, Holmberg said.

Fox did not apply last summer for the position, Holmberg said.

"When we went through the candidates, he indicated that he was interested, and we included him in the background checks," he said.

Holmberg and mayor Gladys Doriot have been reviewing candidates. Originally about 30 candidates applied, Holmberg said, but some names were eliminated previously.

"We'll be very meticulous this time," Holmberg said.

After the preliminary background check, candidates who remain will be interviewed and a thorough criminal background check will be completed, he said.

City council members and Ridgefield citizens will be involved in some of the interviews, Holmberg said.

BG SWITCHES TO NOSTALGIC BLACK- AND-WHITE

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

An older generation may remember the hit television series Adam 12 which ran from 1968-1975.

The show, starring dashing Kevin Milner and Kent McCord, focused on a day in the life of "Los Angeles police officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed" who cruised streets in a heavy duty black-and-white patrol car--a Plymouth Belvedere.

Nostalgia seems to be spurring a national comeback of the older markings at least, if not the actual make and model.

Battle Ground has joined the trend. The city is one of the latest municipalities from New Jersey to California and Fond du Lac, WI that have chosen a return to old fashioned black-and-white patrol cars.

The change is partly for an enhanced professional image and better visibility, said Battle Ground police chief Ron Johnson.

"There is a growing trend," he said. [Black-and-white] is recognized by citizens, it's professional and classic, and gives us our very unique identity [as law enforcement]."

Johnson laughed and added, "At our department meeting in December, I told everybody `We ain't leavin' `till we come up with a design everybody likes.'"

Another reason for the change of fleet is that current cars which sport blue striping are outdated, older and have escalating mileage.

Officers wanted an upgrade to modern technology with newer Ford Crown Victoria models, but with that classic black-and-white look, Johnson said.

Council members also have mentioned over the last few years they'd like to see a return to the traditional looking patrol cars, Johnson said. Initially, Johnson looked into just replacing markings on currently owned vehicles, but "didn't see anything" that appealed to him or the officers, he said.

When the city council approved a new car for traffic control last year, Johnson ordered one that had a "garish" yellow and greenish stripe that stated "Traffic" on both sides.

"It looked better in the catalog than it did when it got here," Johnson said. So he took it to Tukwila to be painted and striped with the new, council-approved, black-and-white scheme.

Only the roof and doors are white, Johnson said. Officers chose "silverish" lettering that will read "Police" in big letters on both sides. "Battle Ground" is printed in bold, black letters outlined in orange above and to the left of the insignia.

The traffic vehicle, with identifying orange lettering on the rear panels, was unveiled during an open house before the Jan. 20 state of the city speech at city hall.

Officer Joe Yeska is the designated traffic control officer who will drive the vehicle. A new sergeant tactical vehicle, a Chevy Tahoe, has been ordered in the black-and-white scheme and will arrive in the early part of this year, Johnson said.

It will take three-five years to phase out the older, blue and white patrol cars, Johnson said, if council continues to approve purchasing one or two cars per year.

"The fleet is getting pretty old," Johnson said. "We haven't replaced them every two years as we should have. But it all depends on the budget."

Will citizens be confused as to who is pulling them over or responding to calls?

"I don't think so," Johnson said. "These cars have a good identity [as police]. When we've done task forces with other agencies in Battle Ground or we go to other cities, no one really seems to notice who you are or which agency you're from. A cop's a cop when you need one."

Battle Ground's past was hodge-podge

The city of Battle Ground never did have black-and-white patrol cars, Johnson said. When he begin in the department 30 years ago, the handful of officers drove a white car and two blue AMC Matadors, a version of the Rambler, Johnson said. New, the cars cost about $1,500, Johnson guessed.

As the department grew, cars were purchased used from the state Patrol. Some were white, some blue, some green, Johnson said.

Eventually, the city started buying cars off the state bid list and had white cars with the Battle Ground seal on the door.

"We decided uniformity is good," Johnson said with a chuckle. "We added the blue stripe about 10-12 years ago."

"It's gotten pretty dated," he said of Battle Ground's fleet. "Things have changed, it's time for a facelift. The general consensus is that this is the way to go."

CLARK UTILITY HIKES WATER RATES

Water prices to some 27,000 homes and businesses in Clark County will go up Feb. 1 following actions taken last week by the commissioners of Clark Public Utilities.

The average residential user will see an increase of about $2.40 per month, said utility spokesman Mick Shutt.

Under the new rates, customers will pay a basic charge of $6 per month, plus $1.25 per hundred cubic feet of water used. Current rates are $4.80 per month and $1.15 per hundred cubic feet of water.

In addition, hookup fees for new customers connecting to the system will increase from $1,194 to $1,500 for a 3/4 inch meter.

Shutt said the utility lost about $461,000 in water system operations in 2004, and had projected a $600,000 loss in 2005 if rates were not increased.

The utility would have realized about $792,000 in added revenues had the new rates been in effect during 2004, said Shutt.

Shutt said the new rates are expected to generate about $899,000 in added revenue in 2005.

The utility's water operations budget shows about $4.8 million for operations and maintenance, and $3.6 million in debt payments.

Shutt said the water system is currently paying for six bonds, including a bond issues in 2003 for $8.5 million.

A bond issued in 1995 is scheduled to be paid off in 2014, said Shutt, the first of the six bonds slated for closure.

The utility raised rates for water use five cents in 1988, five cents in 1995, 13 cents in 1999 and 11 cents in 2002.

The number of utility water customers increased about 50 percent over the last 10 years, from about 18,000 customers in 1994 to about 27,000 customers today.

MORRIS INVITES SUGGESTIONS FOR SPEECH

Clark County commissioner Betty Sue Morris will deliver the annual State of the County address Fri., Feb. 4, at Red Lion Inn at the Quay, 100 Columbia St., Vancouver.

Morris has invited county residents to send her any "big-picture" questions about the county that they would like her to focus on during her speech. Morris said suggestions should be topics of interest to the general public.

"We want to make sure that issues of primary interest to county citizens are included as we provide perspective on the upcoming year," said Morris.

Residents can send their questions or suggested issues to county officials by Wed., Jan. 26 by email to

pio@clark.wa.gov or by phone to 397-6012, ext. 1.

The annual event is also used to honor volunteers to the county.

The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the event which will begin at 11:45 a.m. and conclude at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $30. For reservations call 694-2588.

OBITS