BG FLOAT EARNS HONORS

The Battle Ground entry in the 2005 Southwest Airlines Grand Floral Parade in Portland June 11 garnered the Silver Rose Award, good for second place among floats under 35 feet in length.

The Battle Ground float used the theme, "Capturing the Rose," and depicted a pirate's ship called The B.G. Rose being attacked by a giant octopus.

The ship's captain (city council member Alex Reinhold) stayed with the ship during the attack, while two more pirates walked ahead of the float in the parade route, swinging swords and responding to the cries of "Aarrg" from the crowd with their own version of the pirate's cry. Those two pirates were Rich Rubin and Don Brown.

Four young women rode the float as mermaid princesses. They were Melissa Garvin from Prairie High School, and Katie Lang, Jessica Martel and Katie Culbertson from Battle Ground High School.

The float had several moving parts, and steam emitted from a canon. Pirate music, written by Rich Rubin, emanated from the float.

The Battle Ground High School band, under the direction of Greg McKelvey, accompanied the float in the parade.

This year's float was Battle Ground 51st consecutive entry in the Portland parade, dating back to 1955. The float is constructed and decorated entirely by volunteers.

The Battle Ground Rose Float committee, headed this year by Don and Marlene Brown, is a part of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce.

Other awards

The Battle Ground High School band took second place among out-of-Oregon bands in the parade that had 99 or fewer musicians. A band from Taiwan took first place.

The Pleasant Valley Middle School band earned the sweepstakes award in the Fred Meyer Junior Parade that took place June 8. See story, Page A-16.

In the annual Festival of Bands, Battle Ground High School took third place in parade and review competition, behind Century High School of Hillsboro, OR, and Centennial High School of Gresham, OR.

The Hockinson High School band earned fourth place in the field show competition at the Festival of Bands. Sunset High School of Beaverton, OR, won this category.

LA CENTER TO FIGHT FOR COWLITZ LAND

Alice Perry Linker, staff reporter

An area west of I-5 including property owned by the Cowlitz Tribe may become a battleground between La Center and Ridgefield.

The La Center City Council agreed June 8 to ask Clark County to allow the city to add more than 850 acres, including the Cowlitz property, to its urban growth area.

The county commissioners were to hear the request on Tues., June 14.

The Ridgefield City Council previously indicated it will seek to add the Cowlitz property to Ridgefield's urban growth area.

As outlined by planner Eric Eisemann, La Center would include in the urban growth area a narrow portion from the existing city limits along La Center Road and south to NW 299th Street. The proposed urban area crosses I-5 to include acreage proposed for a tribal casino and the I-5 interchange at NE 319th Street.

Dave Bennett, a representative of the Cowlitz Tribe, said the tribe "would like to plan with La Center, at the same time respecing our Tribe's 152 acres. I'd like to go hand-in-hand with a proposal that respects the city and the Tribe."

"We have good relations with Ridgefield, Vancouver, Battle Ground. We'd like to have good relations with La Center," he said. "I get the feeling of a little turf battle with Ridgefield."

La Center Mayor Jim Irish said that he "appreciated" the offer to work with the city.

Eisemann reminded the Council that a similar plan had been prepared in 1994.

"La Center is Clark County's fastest growing city, proportionally," Eisemann said. "The residential growth rate is phenominal, but we have no ability to grow employment."

Under the plan, land immediately to the west of I-5 would be designated for industrial use. Eisemann said that use has been proposed for 10 years.

"We have to find a way to add industrial areas to the city," he said.

Land north of La Center Road and adjacent to I-5 would become a mixed use of retail-office and multi-family housing, while the acreage east of I-5 would be designated for retail commercial.

Only about 48 percent of the 850 acres proposed for the urban growth area is developable, Eisemann said. The remainder lies on steep slopes or within wetlands.

"This is in our economic plan to be a viable, stand-alone community," Irish said. "We've been pressing to get to the junction (I-5 and 319th Street)."

BG CHAMBER LOOKS TO GET OUT OF DEBT

"My goal is to be debt free within three years," said Terri Tweedell, president of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce.

Tweedell refers to the Battle Ground Chamber as "my chamber." She was hired as executive director in June 1999 and serves under an annual contract. Her title was changed to President earlier this year.

At last accounting, the Chamber has about $34,000 in long-term debt, and another $12,300 in current liabilities. The Chamber's accounting records are combined with that of the Rose Float Committee, an arm of the Chamber but with its own dedicated funding sources and accounts.

Much of the Chamber's debt is in borrowings from Columbia Credit Union, secured by Rose Float certificates of deposit.

Tweedell said no one thing has put the Chamber in debt, but rather the debt grew as budgeted income failed to meet expenses year after year.

The Chamber's 1999 balance sheet shows the Chamber to be debt free and with about $4,400 in the bank, not counting Rose Float money and funds earmarked for restoration of a steam railroad engine.

Liabilities were shown in 1999 as zero.

Tweedell said that 1999 balance sheet was somewhat misleading because the Chamber had used reserves to break even at mid-year and had been losing money.

Chamber records show losses in 2000 of $7,768 and in 2001 of about $14,000, not counting the Rose Float funds. More severe financial problems arose in 2002 when the Chamber suffered a loss of about $26,400. About $8,400 of that loss, said Tweedell, was due to the failed sales of specialty calendars.

The Chamber came ahead by about $2,000 in 2003 about by about $7,500 in 2004.

An audit of the Chamber's financial records is currently being conducted by two Chamber members with financial backgrounds. Results of that work are due in the next week or two.

Dues pay much of expenses

Tweedell said membership dues account for more than $40,000 of the Chamber's annual budget or about 50 percent of its 2004 general expense budget. Dues represent about 40 percent of general expenses as budgeted for 2005.

Tweedell said dues should cover 50-60 percent of general expenses.

The Chamber currently has 245 members who pay from $102 to $815 in annual dues depending on number of employees.

Tweedell suggested that adjustments are due in the dues structure.

The Chamber's other sources of income are: Business Directory ($15,000), rental of the building ($3,000), interest and advertising ($2,700), retail sales ($450), and events, including Harvest Days ($18,000), golf tournament ($2,300), Halloween Fun Fest ($800), Casino Night, and raffles.

Rent may go up

To make matters worse, the Chamber may face higher rent in the future.

The Chamber occupies a building at 912 E Main St. in Fairgrounds Park, owned by the city of Battle Ground.

In 2004, the Chamber paid rent of $4,200 to the city, offset by a payment of $3,150 from the city to the Chamber. That resulted in a net monthly rent of $87.50.

The city's annual payment to the Chamber is in recognition for the work the Chamber does in business development, tourism and relocations.

The Chamber recently entered into a new, one-year lease with the city at $640 a month which could again be offset by city payments to the Chamber of an as-yet undetermined amount.

Tweedell said the Chamber's goal has been to assume more of the actual fair-market rent, and to eventually move to a more visible location

Tweedell said the current Chamber building may one day be demolished.

Rose float money encumbered

The Chamber has maintained operations despite running deficits by borrowing money.

One source of collateral has been the Rose Float Committee which has developed a fund surplus in recent years.

Rose Float treasurer Bill Tucker said the Rose Float project presently has about $50,000 in the bank, and has run surpluses through the sale of fireworks and other fundraising efforts.

Some $30,000 of the Rose Float's money is presently encumbered as collateral for loans to the Chamber's general fund.

Tucker said the Chamber is six payments behind on one Rose Float-guaranteed debt.

Tucker wants clarity on whose money belongs to whom.

Tucker expressed pride in the successes the Rose Float group has had in paying its own way. "Why should we support an organization that isn't successful," questioned Tucker.

"We're very successful," countered Tweedell. "We helped them when they needed it. Now we're hurting."

Tweedell complained that not all Rose Float funds have been reported to the Chamber, which Tucker confirmed. Money from the sale of fireworks in 2004 went directly to a certificate of deposit, not the Rose Float checking account, said Tucker.

The Rose Float Committee is to report to the Chamber annually, added Tucker.

Payroll not always timely

As a result of its financial condition, the Chamber has not always been able to pay Tweedells' salary.

In her first year, Tweedell went without pay in October, and over her 6 years has missed getting paid several times, she said, once for a stretch of five weeks.

But the Chamber has always paid past due amounts.

"It's absolutely hell to know that your paycheck depends on a fundraising event," said Tweedell, who chairs the annual Harvest Days celebration, and oversees other events designed to stabilize the Chamber's budget. Those events include a golf tournament, raffles and a casino night.

Tweedell said she spends about 35 percent of her time managing fundraising projects, time she could spend on the mission of the Chamber.

Tweedell is paid about $34,500 in wages, plus health and retirement benefits.

KITTEN TAKES RIDE, IS REUNITED WITH OWNER

Cooper, a three-month old barn cat, sent her owners into a frenzy June 7 when she hitched a ride in the undercarriage of a passing truck and rode 6 miles before being discovered.

With the help of the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, Cooper was reunited with her family and now enjoys life inside the home.

It all started about 8:15 a.m. when Jodi Tappan drove out of her 72nd Ave. driveway June 7 and headed off to work. In the process, she accidentally struck and killed Boots, one of three, 3-month old kittens the Tappan family was raising.

Tappan had traveled about 200 feet when she saw Boots in her rear view mirror and cars attempting to avoid hitting the kitten. Tappan returned to the scene. In the hubbub that followed, Cooper disappeared.

Tappan organized a search of nearby bushes. She went to the Humane Society and filled out forms. She picked up her son Josh from school. And she obtain poster board and pens and began making signs.

Then about 2 p.m. the phone rang. Cooper had been found.

Walt and Marlene Morey, who work for American Windows and Doors in Woodland, were driving a work truck and had witnessed Boots' demise and saw Cooper run, confused onto NE 72nd Ave. They slowed and stopped their truck to avoid hitting Cooper, then proceeded to a construction site about 6 miles away in Mt. Vista.

When the Moreys got out of their truck, there was Cooper crawling from the undercarriage, covered in road grime and soaking wet. Somehow Cooper had jumped into the undercarriage and hung on for the entire ride.

The Moreys took Cooper into the home where homeowner Sherry Calhoon cleaned her up. Calhoon called the Humane Society and the puzzle pieces fitted together.

"As bad as losing Boots was," said Tappan, "it was such a blessing to be able to bring Cooper home, all thanks to the kindness of the contractor (Walt and Marlene Morey) and the woman (Sherry Calhoon) who called" the Humane Society.

Tappan's two former barn kitties now live inside the Tappan home with the Rod and Jodi Tappan, their sons Josh and Ryan, and one dog.

MEETING WILL UPDATE RIDGEFIELD CITIZENS

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Clark County commissioner Betty Sue Morris and Ridgefield officials will talk about growth at a meeting on Mon., June 20, in Ridgefield.

Hosted by the Ridgefield Neighborhood Association, the meeting starts at 7 p.m. and will take place in the Dollar Tree Distribution Warehouse, 7509 S 5th Ave.

Morris will discuss the county's update of its growth management plan. City growth plans will be presented by city manager George Fox, public works director Justin Clary and community development director Kevin Snyder.

Ridgefield school superintendent Mary Vagner will update citizens on school property and financing needs.

Ridgefield citizen Allene Wodaege will discuss the Lewis and Clark celebration.

Association president Lee Wells said doors open at 6:30 p.m. and everyone is welcome. Information numbers are 887-8505 and 887-4582.

THIRD PARTY PROBE FINDS PROBLEMS IN BG

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Long-awaited results of a third party review into Battle Ground Police Department allegations of heavy-handed management and low officer morale was turned in on May 27.

City manager Eric Holmes ordered the investigation by Sound Solutions Inc., of Mukilteo after council concerns and investigations by this newspaper in December 2004. The probe began in January.

The unflattering report is the result of two investigators with decades of experience in law enforcement who interviewed past and former police personnel and council members.

One investigator, Janice Corbin, told council members at a June 6 meeting that she found Internal Affair (IA) investigation procedures "very disconcerting," "not managed well," and that they had "all sorts of problems."

In the report, Corbin also noted problems with communication, gossip from administrators, lax policies and procedures, confidentiality, Lt. Roy Butler's demeanor with officers, and a lack of supervisory credibility with Sgt. Carl Mullen.

According to Holmes, the results forces the Department to install newer, up-to-date policies and procedures, rather than continue to function in hit and miss fashion--common in small departments, but ineffective in Battle Ground's increasing growth, he said.

Council member Bill Ganley said he found the report to be clear and objective, and a solid base to build on as the city grows.

Council member Alex Reinhold believes the report is "perfect" in timing, and that the Department now has a blank page on which to "make right problems and difficulties."

Report slams IA procedures

The report said officers "provided information on very legitimate issues of concern, and provided suggestions on how to make improvements."

One major issue was officers' perception that IAs are misused to target individual officers who may be out of favor with Department administration, the report said. They used the phrase "your turn in the barrel" to describe what they saw as unfair scrutiny.

Corbin and Janet May found lack of consistent policies, procedures, and no clarity with IAs which gave the impression that the probes were intentionally unfair.

In some cases, officers were never told the conclusion of the matter. In others, they found out through gossip and rumor that a "full-scale" IA had been started on an incident they thought had already been handled, the report said.

Corbin and May found that some factors taken into consideration were how angry the citizen was and how prominent in the community rather than whether the complaint was serious--such as an officer unintentionally littering when a few candy wrappers fell out of his pocket.

Butler, and former chief Ron Johnson who retired last month, were not always clear about whether someone was under investigation or not, the report said. Record keeping and confidentiality were also issues.

Corbin and May found there is no consistent method for retaining or maintaining files or tracking the whereabouts of such files.

In addition, officers allege that Butler and Mullen share information about ongoing investigations with people who don't need to know, the report said.

"Officers were able to provide concrete examples, including recent examples, of where this had occurred," the report said.

Butler denied he shared information directly with officers, but admitted he had with Mullen, the report said. Butler also said Mullen is acting administrative sergeant, and is the one who must have shared the information with others.

However, Corbin and May fond situations where officers have corroborated that they received information directly from Butler.

Regarding Mullen's position of administrative sergeant, such a position does not exist, according to Johnson in the report. However, the perception among officers and Mullen himself is that he serves in that capacity, and his duties reflect that, the report said.

At the council meeting, however, Holmes said such a position is by council action only, and had not been done.

Interim chief Larry Dickerson said Mullen is not the administrative sergeant, and that shift changes, including Mullen's, are pending.

Supervision, sergeant credibility questioned

The report said officers, most notably night shift, are in the dark about Department goals, objectives and changes in policies and procedures. Corbin said she was dismayed to learn much communication was done via e-mail.

For day shift meetings, attendance of administration was "hit and miss," the report said, and non-existent for night shift briefings. Johnson and Butler's communication with these officers were informal hallway chats.

Another officer concern is the installation of hidden cameras that they only became aware of when a technician came to work on one, the report said. Officers felt they were being spied upon. Johnson and Butler said the officers overreacted, according to the report.

Communication between Johnson and Butler was also perceived to undermine each other when they did not agree on how issues should be handled, the report said.

Officers reported that Butler would tell them to do things Johnson's way for now until he forgot about it in a few weeks and then they'd go back to doing things Butler's way.

Officers also alleged Johnson made comments such as, "I can't control the lieutenant," and, "the lieutenant is trying to stress me out so much that he'll give me another heart attack."

Officers also said Butler continually made disparaging comments about officers' weight and age. Corbin noted in her report that Butler made an age-related comment "right after he got out of [Sound Solution-sponsored] training, then made fun of the fact that the consultants had urged caution about such jokes during class."

Butler is also noted as saying, "If you don't like it here, you can go drive a truck," and admitted it to Corbin and May.

The report also notes that Mullen has lost credibility with officers due to a series of incidents in which he was found to be untruthful or engaged in getting even with an officer to the point of a near fist-fight.

"What is clear is that there has been no attempt to try and repair any of the damaged relationships by any administrative personnel," Corbin wrote.

Mullen's credibility is significantly impaired, the report said, with some officers having "extremely hard feelings" toward him. Mullen will need to take significant steps to restore trust, Corbin noted.

At the council meeting, council member Lisa Walters, who originally brought concerns forward last year, asked Dickerson what could be done about that.

"Obviously we will do everything we can," Dickerson said. "But it may not happen."

Next steps

Holmes said the lack of consistency, closure and criteria in the Department has created anxiety, and that cultural shift changes will take some time.

Council member Mike Ciraulo asked Holmes what could be done in the future, especially with hiring a new chief, "to prevent this situation from happening again."

"I have pretty inflexible criteria to correct problems and keep this from happening again," Holmes said. "If he doesn't meet those, then he will not be my chief. The hiring process will be precise." "Let the past be the past, let's look to the horizon and move on," Holmes said. "A lot of people have said they can't wait for this to be over. But this is not the ending. This is the beginning of an upward trend."

MEMBER SOUGHT FOR WOODLAND SCHOOL BOARD

Applications are now being accepted to fill a vacancy on the Woodland school board created by the resignation of Karen Benjamin.

Benjamin had represented director district 3 which includes the I-5 corridor, most of the east side residential land inside the city limits between I-5 and Robinson Creek, and some lands between Dike Road and W Scott Ave on the west side of I-5.

A map and description of director district 3 are available at the school district office, 800 Third St., Woodland.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. Fri., June 24, with interviews to be conduct in early July.

Information, 225-9451.

MISSED VOTES EXPLAINED

State Rep. Richard Curtis (R-La Center) missed 96 votes during the last session of the state legislature, due primarily to his mother's illness, he said.

Curtis said his mother suffered a heart attack and he left immediately to be with her in New Mexico. He was gone about a week.

"Family has to come first," said Curtis in explaining his voting record.

State Sen. Joe Zarelli (R-Ridgefield) missed 46 votes during the session, according to the online website

Washingtonvotes.org

Zarelli said state senators must be in the senate chamber to vote as all votes are taken by voice count.

As a senator in a leadership role, Zarelli is often elsewhere in the capitol working on legislation or negotiating budget matters, he said, and cannot always be present to vote.

Zarelli said some votes are less important than others.