Brandy Slagle
Staff reporter
Leann Thacker knew something was wrong the second she entered her stable.
When she realized that it was because three of her horses were missing their tails, her jaw dropped wide open, she said.
Thacker, and her husband Bill, called the police right away. The next big surprise, she said, was when the sheriff’s deputy appeared at their home with neighbor Ben Hannan.
Hannan, who owns Our Round Corral, had also been hit the night of Oct. 11.
The four missing tails had one thing in common- they were all black.
Thacker said she has since been notified by a friend that another neighbor up the road had horses missing their long, back tails and there was another incident spotted from the road between La Center and Woodland.
“I think this is more common than people think,” she said. “I think it is happening a lot.”
Aside from feeling violated, the horse owners say they are outraged.
“I hope that the tail grows back long enough so that my horse can swat flies this summer,” he said. “That’s just cruel to do this to a horse. They communicate to each other with their tails too, and someone has taken that away. It’s just low.”
Clark County Sheriff’s sergeant Tim Bieber said several suspicious cars were spotted driving slowly by the homes before the tails were cut. Suspicious vehicles include a teal, mid-1980s Ford Ranger, a white pickup with white stickers in the rear window, and a dark mid-1970s Chevy truck. No description was given of the drivers.
The deputy who responded to the call “went above and beyond duty” in handling the case, said Bieber.
A rubber band was found on the crime scene that did not belong to the owners. The deputy took it for testing in the crime lab where investigators attempted to lift prints from the rubber band using a special powder and florescent lighting. The tests were not conclusive, said Bieber.
Hannan and Thacker both said that the tails can be sold for wigs, tail extensions for show horses and other items crafted with horse hair such as jewelry and accessories.
Then again, said Thacker, there is also talk that the black tail being used for cult ceremonies. With Halloween approaching, Thacker said it might be a good idea to make sure horses are locked up in barns overnight.
Bieber said it is impossible to assume what the motives were for the crime.
“You can’t jump to any conclusions,” he said. “I have learned that by now. Some guy might have decided he needed dental floss. There is no way to tell.”
Still, Bieber said that it is likely the tails will be sold, seeing how the cuts were clean.
The exception to the neat sheer-like chop to the animal’s tail is Thacker’s horse Heart. The first cut went into the horse’s tail bone.
“Once they realized they had the bone, they went for a second cut,” she said.
Thacker and Hannan both said they were surprised the horses allowed the strange people into the stalls, and think that perhaps the trespassers made several visits to the animals once it was dark.
Thacker said she had found the rubber band in the stall earlier during the week and had placed it with her other tack items. She said it had been moved more than once.
One thing they are all certain of is that the people who cut the tails appeared to know what they were doing.
“I thought it was odd that the tails were all black,” she said. “If they wanted to sell them, black is a pretty common color. It isn’t unique and they won’t get as much for it as they would for other, less common tails.”
Thacker said horse owners should watch for suspicious vehicles driving slowly by their property and report it to the police right away.
Bill Myers
staff reporter
Cowlitz tribal officials unveiled two new tribal ordinances Oct. 16 that they say are legal alternatives to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) executed in 2004 with the Clark County commissioners.
Earlier this year, members of the Southwest Washington Growth Management Hearings Board ruled that the commissioners approved the MOU without adequate public participation as required for land use decisions by the state’s Growth Management Act. Clark County officials asked a neutral Thurston County superior court to reverse the Hearings Board ruling. Pre-trial hearings are underway, but no court date has been set.
Vancouver attorney Steve Horenstein, representing the Cowlitz Tribe, said two ordinances recently enacted by tribal officials “will render the MOU moot.” Tribal officials believe the ordinances will reassure federal decisionmakers of the Tribe’s intent to partner with Clark County. They also hope the ordinances will prevent federal officials from having to wait for a court decision on the MOU before approving an environmental impact statement submitted last year by tribal officials.
A first ordinance--an Environment, Public Health and Safety (EPHS) ordinance--requires tribal officials to mitigate measures dealing with environmental and public health issues covered by the MOU. Such measures include law enforcement, fire protection, emergency responses, public health, traffic and transportation, sewer and water. MOU provisions to prevent impacts on Clark County revenues, including payments in lieu of taxes, are also contained in the EPHS ordinance.
Like the MOU, the EPHS ordinance grants an irrevocable, limited waiver of the Tribe’s sovereign immunity to Clark County. This provision allows enforcement actions by County officials to be handled in state courts. The measure also creates a Tribal Enforcement and Compliance officer who will oversee compliance with ordinance provisions. The EPHS ordinance will be submitted to federal Department of Interior officials.
A second tribal ordinance amends the tribe’s gaming ordinance to make mitigation measures contained in the challenged MOU part of the gaming ordinance. Another provision gives the federal government and the County enforcement authority to ensure that mitigation measures are put in place. This amendment will be submitted to the National Indian Gaming Commission for federal review and approval, said Washington, D.C.-based tribal attorney Heather Sibbison.
The County’s obligations to the tribe as described in the MOU, such as specific law enforcement and prosecution services, are not contained in the tribal ordinances. Sibbison said County commissioners will have to decide if they want to live up to the agreements. Tribal officials say both ordinances are legally enforceable. “Our marching orders were to provide the County with the same protections it had under the MOU with a legally enforceable mechanism.” Tribal officials submitted copies of the ordinances to Clark County commissioners on Oct. 16 and to federal authorities on Oct. 17. She said terms of the ordinances will stand regardless of the outcome of the MOU litigation.
Tribal representatives have claimed there was ample public participation when the MOU was negotiated with County commissioners.
Asked if a public process will take place on the new tribal ordinances, tribal chairman John Barnett said public participation was part of the County process, but is not part of a tribal ordinance process.
Tribal representatives were asked if new public hearings are justified in view of current plans to build a much larger casino/hotel facility than was originally proposed during earlier hearings and MOU discussions. Tribal council member Philip Harju said state gaming regulations that allow up to 75 slot machines in a new casino now allow up to 975 slot machines, subject to the state governor’s discretion.
“The size argument is a red herring,” said Horenstein. He said the tribe should be allowed to build a facility that meets existing laws.
When a reporter asked if passage of the ordinances were an attempt by tribal officials to circumvent recent resolutions by elected officials in cities such as Vancouver and La Center opposing construction of the proposed casino, Sibbison said opponents are bound to make such charges.
“What is the tribe to do?” she asked. “La Center has refused to come to the table,” she said. “They (La Center officials) won’t even sit in the same room with them.”
Horenstein said the greatest opposition to Cowlitz efforts to develop a gaming facility near La Center comes from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde of Oregon and the four card rooms in La Center. The Grand Ronde tribe operates Spirit Mountain Casino, about an hour wouthwest of Portland.
Asked if the ordinances represent a reaffirmation of the tribe’s pledge to work with the County, Horenstein said, “Absolutely and well said.”
Commissioner reactions
Tribal officials and their lawyers presented copies of the ordinances individually to each Clark County commissioner.
Commission board chair Steve Stuart said he has not had time to thoroughly review the ordinances, but said the ordinances appear after a cursory review to be enforceable. Stuart said he and County staff members need to go through the ordinances to verify that agreements match with MOU provisions.
Commissioner Betty Sue Morris, who with former commissioners Craig Pridemore and Judy Stanton inked the original MOU, said Cowlitz leaders appear to be making a good faith effort to show they intend to be good neighbors. She said she has no misgivings or regrets about signing the original MOU. She said County attorney Rich Lowry said the ordinances appear to be enforceable.
Commissioner Marc Boldt was dubious. he said. Boldt said he wants to make sure that tribal officials won’t be able to repeal the ordinances if they become unhappy with costs of County permits and fees. He said tribal officials have suggested lower levels of transportation services than required in the MOU.
Bill Myers
staff reporter
Citizens attending open houses at Yacolt and Brush Prairie Oct. 2 and 4 commented on a proposed pedestrian/equestrian trail that would track near the route of the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad from Vancouver to Chelatchie Prairie.
Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation project spokesperson Jane Tesner-Kleiner said eight citizens attended the Yacolt meeting and 60 citizens were at the Brush Prairie event. The meetings were a second opportunity for citizens to weigh in on trail plans. Two earlier meetings were held in July.
Tesner-Kleiner said comments and suggestions are being categorized and studied from the meetings. She said citizens have different opinions about trail surfaces and if there should be more than one trail surface for different users, such as for bicyclists and horse riders. She said motor vehicles will not be allowed on the trail except those designed for handicapped citizens.
The project will include rest rooms at trail heads and at least one staging area for horses.
Another meeting will take place in January 2008, said Tesner-Kleiner. At this meeting, citizens will be asked to view maps and choose a preferred trail alignment. The date, time and place of the meeting will be announced when available, she said.
County officials hope a final plan for the trail will be ready by June 2008 with a section identified for a first construction phase. Work on the trail will be done only as funding is available, said Tesner-Kleiner. Funds for preliminary trail studies and planning came from a Federal Transportation Enhancement grant, Park Regional Real Estate Excise Taxes and the Clark County Road Fund.
Tesner-Kleiner may be reached for more information at 397-6118, ext. 4522. The project Web page is www.chelatchie.org.
Landowners who want reduced property tax assessments by using their land as farm, timber or open space must submit applications to the Clark County assessor’s office by Dec. 31 in order to receive consideration for 2008 assessments and 2009 taxes.
Owners of properties that are currently classified for these uses do not need to reapply.
Valuation for tax purposes under the Open Space Taxation Act is determined on the basis of “current use” rather than “highest and best use.”
The law provides for reduced assessment for agricultural lands which must be commercially used for livestock or agricultural production with the intent to make a profit. Farms with less than 20 classified acres are subject to minimum earnings in order to qualify.
The law also provides for reduced assessment for timberlands of five acres or more, or six acres with a home site if forest crops are grown and harvested.
Forest lands of 20 acres or more may be designated under the Timber Tax Act if the owner so requests. A Timber Management Plan is needed in either case.
And the law provides for reduced assessment for lands considered “open space” for parcels of land at least 10 acres in size or 11 acres with a home site. Current use lands must conserve and enhance natural resources, protect streams or water supplies, promote conservation of soils, preserve archaeological and historic sites and provide for the enhancement of recreational opportunities.
A processing fee must accompany the application.
Clark County assessor Linda Franklin said there are currently about 145,000 acres in the county included in the current use and timber land programs. The reduced taxes on these lands, said Franklin, results in a tax shift of about 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to other taxpayers.
Lands withdrawn from the program are subject to back taxes, interest and penalties.
Sherry Daubert of the Clark County Department of Assessment and GIS said that lands withdrawn from the Open Space Taxation Act are subject to seven years of unpaid back taxes, 1 percent per month interest, compounded interest, and 20 percent penalty. Those who give a two year notice before withdrawing from the program may avoid the 20 percent penalty.
Lands withdrawn from the Timber Tax Act program are subject to back taxes of 10 times the unpaid taxes in the latest year, but not interest and penalty, said Daubert.
Questions about current use designations may be addressed to Sherry Daubert, 397-2092, ext. 4613.
Bill Myers
staff reporter
Woodland candidates for mayor and city council positions debated various issues at an Oct. 11 political forum sponsored by The Lewis River Review.
Mayoral candidates at the debate included Charles “Chuck” Blum and J.J. Burke. Council hopefuls taking part were Marilee McCall and Gene Silvey, vying for Position 3, and Aaron Christopherson and Al Swindell, running for Position 4.
Woodland school superintendent Michael Green moderated the debate, asking questions submitted by an audience of about 60 citizens.
Blum said elected officials failed to prevent transportation problems caused by developments near Schurman Way and Lewis River Rd., in spite of 13 years of advanced warning. He said council members should have conducted a 20-year transportation study six-to-10 years ago. Specific solutions offered by Blum to solve transportation problems included an underpass at Scott Ave. and northward extensions of Pacific and Atlantic avenues to Dike Access Rd.
Burke said council members will risk losing grant funds by moving in advance to tackle transportation issues before completion of a Cowlitz County traffic study expected about 14 months from now. He said the loss of grant funds could occur if actions by City officials conflict with County recommendations. Burke said whoever becomes mayor will have to “get out and get money” for matching funds on road projects.
McCall said the public needs to be heard on transportation issues, especially at Planning Commission meetings.
Blum, Silvey and Swindell said transportation impact fees should apply to residential, but not commercial or industrial developments. Burke said the city attorney told him that impact fees can’t be applied selectively just to residential construction.
Burke said the most important challenge facing city officials is to change “the way we do business in the City and the way people are treated at City Hall. He said citizens get different answers to the same questions depending on who they ask at City Hall.
Blum said communications at city council meetings is a big challenge. He said citizens “have a right to be heard” at council meetings.
“Chuck stole my thunder!” said Silvey. Citizens should be able to speak to each item on an agenda, added Silvey. “If we’re there until midnight, that’s tough! We’ll be there ‘til midnight,” he said.
McCall said City officials need to get accurate facts out to citizens quickly to keep them informed and from being needlessly upset.
Candidates agreed that more living-wage jobs are needed in Woodland. Swindell calls for a joint effort by the Chamber of Commerce, city council members and Port of Woodland officials to build a plan with vision.
Christopherson said city leaders need to be proactive to bring new businesses to the City.
All candidates agreed that tourism should be encouraged.
Silvey said too much time is spent on studies and not enough time on getting things done. McCall said studies are needed to determine what is best for the community. She said that while a developer might be willing to forego studies, anyone living near a proposed project would want a complete study done before a project is cleared for construction.
Casino concerns
All candidates expressed concerns about a proposed Cowlitz Indian tribal gaming casino a few miles south of Woodland near La Center. Blum said elected officials need to make concerns known to federal decisionmakers. The project will impact schools, and tribal businesses won’t be on a level playing field with Woodland businesses when it comes to paying taxes, said Blum.
Burke said he is concerned about casino impacts and said city officials should negotiate with tribal officials to mitigate impacts before taking a tough stand that might close doors to future negotiations.
Swindell said no one knows what the Bureau of Indian Affairs will do. He said city officials should talk about their concerns with tribal leaders. Silvey agreed, saying city officials should try to get a foot in the door to get what they want out of it.
Christopherson said he does not favor anything “that will change our environment.” He said the casino will cause a “negative atmosphere.”
McCall said she prepared a resolution for council members to consider at the next council meeting. Contacted after the forum, she said Woodland officials should ask federal decisionmakers not to approve an environmental impact statement until tribal officials mitigate impacts to Woodland emergency services, schools, social services and traffic.
No questions were raised at the forum about a proposed community swimming pool. Editor Gloria Loughry of The Lewis River Review said no pool questions were submitted by members of the audience.
The three-foot long, radio-controlled hydroplanes raced around Horseshoe Lake Oct. 14 to the cheers of onlookers as they churned up water and occasionally crashed.
The weekend national championship race was sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association and was sponsored by Electric Radio Controlled Unlimited (ERCU), an organization of radio-controlled hydroplane enthusiasts. ERCU races unlimited hydroplanes that are 1/10 scale duplicates of real unlimited hydroplanes that have raced since the 1940s.
Winners of the Cascade Cup championship were Jeff Campbell of Kent in the Vintage class and his brother, Mike Campbell of Auburn in the modern class.
The Cascade Cup is a rivalry between Southwest Washington and the Puget Sound area, said spokesman Nelson Holmberg.
The Vintage class includes power boats from the 1950s and ‘60s, boats with a rounded bow, Holmberg said.
In the only other championship race, Mike Campbell took the top prize in both Vintage and Modern classes.
Holmberg said the organization chose Horseshoe Lake because “it’s the premier place to race model boats in the Northwest.”
Most ERCU members live in the Puget Sound area, although the sport is growing in popularity in Southwest Washington.
John Earnest of Battle Ground debuted a replica of the 1962 Gale V, a boat he built from scratch, Holmberg said.
“He finished it the day before the race,” Holmberg said.
The ERCU is one of two clubs in the U.S. that races .10 unlimited hydroplanes, he said.
The Woodland City Council has postponed for two weeks any action on a resolution regarding a gambling casino planned by the Cowlitz Tribe for the La Center area.
Council members agreed that a draft resolution submitted by city attorney Paul Brachvogel on Oct. 12 was incomplete and came too late for council members to review in advance of the Oct. 15 meeting. The council will consider the resolution Nov. 5.
“I expected a resolution,” said council member John J. Burke. “We got a draft with parts scratched out. I’d like to see an actual resolution.”
Darlene Johnson, who had urged the council to follow Vancouver and La Center and adopt a resolution in opposition to the planned casino, asked that the council postpone action. The draft that Johnson asked the council to consider referred to Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, but in the draft, Brachvogel noted that he could not “find supporting information or language.”
Johnson passed out copies of Section 20 of the Act to council members.
“Our goal was to have studies done for possible mitigation,” said council member Marilee McCall, who voiced concern about any delays in taking action on a resolution.
Most members of the council have indicated opposition to the proposed casino, but they have said they want to be able to mitigate any impacts that the casino could have on the city if it is constructed.
The council voted 4-1 Sept. 4 to authorize the city attorney to prepare a resolution addressing the city’s concerns about the casino that would be owned by the Cowlitz Tribe and operated by the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut.
Most council members agreed that the city must research the issues that could impact the Woodland community, including traffic, emergency services and housing issues.
Johnson of Woodland Trucking has spearheaded the recent effort to have a resolution approved, and she has voiced opposition to the casino, saying that the tribe would not be required to follow state employment law or pay state fuel taxes.
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
Al Swindell, who will oppose Aaron Christopherson for a seat on the Woodland city council, has been asking the council to have fewer executive (closed) sessions for most of the year.
He appeared before the council again on Nov. 15, saying, “This council is very secretive.”
“You’ve stretched the intent of the open meetings law,” Swindell said. “We need more openness. I’d like to see more communication. Not less.”
The five-year resident of Woodland has made his campaign for fewer executive sessions part of his campaign for city council.
“We need many fewer executive sessions,” he said during an interview. “The city attorney (Paul Brachvogel) announced his resignation in an executive session. He didn’t need to do that.”
Swindell also accused the council of not discussing issues in open meetings, and he referred to the Nov. 15 meeting.
“They passed an ordinance, but all the discussion took place in secret,” he said. “They said they were discussing litigation, but they were talking about an existing law. Why not tell us what they did?”
When the open meetings law was passed, the state allowed only five exceptions, he said.
“Now we have more than 100 exceptions,” he said.
Swindell said he believes Woodland residents should be allowed to speak during the council’s discussion of issues instead of only at the beginning of each meeting during a public comment time.
“You can allow people to come to the mic and limit the time they can speak,” he said. “I belong to organizations that do that.”
Interaction between the council and Woodland residents should not be confined to city council meetings, Swindell said.
“We need more and better communication,” he said. “We need open government, more community meetings with the citizens.”
A retired Boise Cascade millwright, Swindell has been active in labor unions and is a member of the Clark County Labor Roundtable. He is chairman of the 18th District Democrats.
As he campaigns door-to-door, he hears concerns about the number of city parks, the pace of growth and the effect of growth on transportation and the schools.
“We have only one park, and a few small parks that are playgrounds,” he said.
The city imposes park impact fees on developers, and Swindell said, “We need to spend that money and get something going.”
“We need more for kids to do, we need a community center,” he said. “Woodland has a lot of needs.”
A major need, according to Swindell, is improved cross-town transportation. He favors an I-5 overpass at the Scott Avenue intersection.
“It would be best to get the state and federal governments to elevate I-5 and create an underpass for Scott Avenue,” he said. “Now Woodland is almost like two cities.”
He supports transportation impact fees for residential development.
“Commercial pays for itself,” he said. “Residential construction doesn’t always pay for itself.”
City transportation impact fees would raise money to match federal or state funding, he said.
Before moving to Woodland, Swindell and his wife Iris lived in Salmon Creek. His great-grandfather settled in Ridgefield. The Swindells had six children, four of whom survive
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
A senior majoring in business administration at Washington State University Vancouver is seeking a position on the Woodland City Council.
At only 19 years of age, Aaron Christopherson is on a fast track to receive a degree in December, and as the youngest city council candidate, he’s on a fast track to becoming involved in Woodland politics. He will face Al Swindell in the Nov. 6 general election.
Christopherson decided to run for the council because “I see the need for people my age to get involved.”
“I love politics and see it as something I want to do,” he said. “I know I can make a difference.”
Christopherson said the city should be more proactive in attracting development.
“We don’t want to wait for developers to come to us,” he said. “We want to go out and find the quality developers. We want to be strategic.”
He also believes that small business owners should not be worried about large businesses settling in Woodland, but he said the city should work with existing businesses.
“Less than 10 percent of every dollar is spent in Woodland,” he said. “Bigger businesses will cause people to keep their money in Woodland.”
As he has campaigned door-to-door, Christopherson has heard more questions about the proposed community swimming pool than about any other issue.
“The first thing they ask is what do I think about the swimming pool,” he said. “That (question) comes before waste water management, transportation, or growth. I find that somewhat disturbing.”
Christopherson said, however, that the Woodland community needs a swimming pool as well as more recreation opportunities for young people.
He said that the decision by Benno Dobbe to build the pool on private property takes the issue out of the city’s hands.
“I think it’s great to have a pool near the lake,” he said. “I’m not sure that the original land in the park was the best choice.”
The city has imposed park and school impact fees but does not require transportation impact fees. Christopherson said the city needs to “be strategic about imposing impact fees. We should work with developers to get the best results.”
Christopherson, who said he is supported by the Building Industry Association of Clark County, owns Arc Solutions, a mortgage and real estate company that also does interior and landscaping design. He also owns a printing and screening company, Kingdom Culture, with an office in the Life Center Church on Hillshire Drive.
The Woodland High School graduate volunteers at the church.
“I’m a church leader. I run a lot of functions and I’m involved in the business aspects of the church,” he said.
A native of Longview, he is the son of John and Chris Christopherson of Woodland.
As to juggling campaign, work and classes, Christopherson said, “It’s been nuts. My friends and family have helped, but it’s been challenging.”
Christopherson is facing Al Swindell in the race for council Position 4, the position now held by Erica Rainford who is not seeking reelection.
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
Marilee McCall spends her days as an administrative assistant in Clark County’s Community Planning Department, and a land use issue got her involved in Woodland’s city government.
“I was at City Hall on land use issues that affected the river level and the environment,” McCall said. “I saw an opening on city council.”
McCall applied to fill the unexpired term of Bruce Summers and she was appointed, but she is required to run in the Nov. 6 election to complete the two years remaining in the term. She is opposed by Gene Silvey.
One of her objectives as a council member is to inform people about the process for testifying on land use issues, beginning with the planning commission, she said. Many don’t know that the planning commission–not the council–hears testimony on land use issues.
Although McCall believes the citizen public comment period of each meeting needs to remain separate from council action, she said she would like to see quarterly town hall meetings.
“There we would take everything that people wanted to say,” she said. “It would be a more effective way to get public input. I don’t think we’re hearing enough from the public. I don’t think people are getting involved. We need something to get people heard. Town halls would be effective.”
Commenting on the conduct of regular meetings, McCall said, “during the business section we need to do business.”
City council agendas containing information and background on the upcoming issues are not being distributed long enough ahead of each council meeting, McCall said.
“A big problem is we’re not getting the information earlier than Friday before the Monday meeting,” she said.
During her campaign, McCall said she has heard concerns about the city council not acting in a businesslike manner.
“I hear concerns that the council is not unified and businesslike, that council members are arguing,” she said. “We’re not moving forward, we’re going back and forth.”
One example is the swimming pool issue, she said.
“People want to move forward with the pool or end it,” she said.
McCall said she hears concerns about jobs in Woodland and about residential growth.
“I don’t think most people realize how actively we have to plan for what’s coming,” she said. “There’s a misconception that we can just say no when the zoning is already in place. We can’t deny, but we can have them mitigate issues.”
A citywide transportation study, coordinated by the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments, is in progress, and McCall said she was pleased with a recent public forum that sought information from Woodland residents.
“I think they’re doing a good job,” she said.
McCall said she will work toward getting a more detailed plan for emergency evacuation should Merwin Dam fail. The Woodland Fire Department monitors the level of water at about 60 percent of flood level.
“When there is an emergency, people get worried, scared,” she said. “We need to map out” how functions of the community would be restored in the wake of a flood.
As for taxes and fees, “I’d be really careful about raising taxes and fees. We need to raise taxes 1 percent every year to keep from falling too far behind, but we should be frugal with garbage, water and sewer rates.”
A Cowlitz County native, McCall is the mother of two grown sons.
Alice Perry Linker
staff reporter
After 40 years as a sales manager in the western United States, Gene Silvey is undertaking a different sort of career as a candidate for Woodland City Council.
“I started going to council meetings in January, and I met J.J. (mayoral candidate John J. Burke). He convinced me to run,” Silvey said. “There are some things I’m not too happy with.”
Arlene, Silvey’s wife of 54 years, was also instrumental in his decision to run.
“He did a lot of complaining at home,” she said. “I told him to file or stop complaining.”
Silvey is running to fill an unexpired term of two years. Marilee McCall, who was appointed to position 3 in October 2006 after Bruce Summers resigned, is seeking election to the same post.
Silvey said his major concern is a lack of opportunity for citizen participation in council meetings.
“Most of the work is done behind closed doors,” he said. “They have an executive (closed) session and come back (into open session) and vote on something that’s not on the agenda. That’s not right.”
Woodland residents should have an opportunity to speak during council discussion of separate issues, said Silvey. Residents are now allowed to make comments at the beginning of each meeting but may not make comments during council deliberations.
A 12-year resident of Woodland, Silvey said that growth needs to be controlled.
“It has to be slowed,” he said. “We need industry more than we need residential.”
The candidate said he does not support impact fees on business or industry, but he does believe the city should require impact fees, including transportation impact fees, on residential development.
Transportation is a critical issue facing the city, and traffic flow should be improved, he said.
“Where is the money coming from?” he asked.
He said the state should play a larger role in helping to solve the city’s access problems.
The candidate also supports adding grocery stores and other places for people to shop.
“We need grocery stores and a place where we can buy shoes and socks,” he said.
Silvey said he has not done any door-to-door campaigning, but he talks to people he meets in the grocery stores and other places. He said he has distributed flyers and written letters to editors of different newspapers.
“I don’t believe in door-belling,” he said. “I don’t think people like to be disturbed when they’re at home.”
A letter to the editor of The Reflector about the proposed Cowlitz Casino brought only two responses, Silvey said, and one of those came from mayoral candidate Chuck Blum, who has expressed concern about the impact of a large casino on the Woodland community.
“The other person said, ‘Build it tomorrow. We’ll have good restaurants, good entertainment,’” Silvey said. “When I bring it up to people, they say, ‘what casino?’
“A city resolution has to be done. Something has to go in so we can mitigate the effects of a large casino.”
Silvey said he and his wife enjoy visiting casinos occasionally, but he said he doesn’t believe the proposed location on the west side of I-5 at the La Center interchange is appropriate.
The Silveys have three grown sons. Their oldest son died a few years ago. Born in Longview, Silvey moved to Woodland from Hazel Dell.
Bill Myers
staff reporter
Eight citizens attended an open house on Lewis River flood procedures hosted Oct. 9 in Woodland by PacifiCorp officials.
The annual meeting was scheduled to comply with terms of pending PacifiCorp re-licensing agreements with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that will allow the utility to operate hydroelectric facilities on the North Fork of the Lewis River. The event was conducted in an open house format, with Clark and Cowlitz county emergency service agency and National Weather Service officials on hand to answer questions.
“More attended this year than the six who attended last year,” said PacifiCorp implementation program manager Todd Olson.
Olson said he is hopeful that FERC officials wanted to see an updated list of endangered fish species before signing the re-licensing agreements. He said he hopes they will sign the agreements early next year.
Olson said emergency management agencies in both counties have tested and implemented “Reverse 911” telephone systems to help warn residents of flood emergencies. Such systems will allow workers at emergency agencies to alert threatened homeowners in specific areas to flood hazards.