Camas-Washougal Post-Record

April 12, 2012

Camas police, fire departments negotiate new contracts

The Camas City Council has approved one-year contracts with the city's police and firefighters' unions. Members of both groups will receive raises this year, after going without in 2011. A contract for 2012 was approved with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local No. 2444. Highlights include a one percent wage increase effective Jan. 1, 2012; 24 hours of "flex time" to be used in 2012 (with conditions that it cannot be cashed out, carried over or cause overtime); and a limit to 200 hours for the amount of vacation time that can be cashed out annually. The new contract also included elimination, as of March 1, of positions classified as "firefighter engineer" and "paramedic engineer."

April 10, 2012

Education is key

Most of us would like to believe that there is inherent good in each and every person. But unfortunately, nearly each and every day there is some news report that proves otherwise.

April 5, 2012

ECFR commissioner resigns from post

A longtime East County Fire & Rescue commissioner has resigned due to a move out of the district. John Clancy, who has served on the Commission for approximately seven years, stepped down because he moved out of the boundaries of ECFR, according to Chief Scott Koehler.

April 3, 2012

Eagle Rehabilitation at Camas recently made a pledge to support and honor the men and women who are members of the United States military Guard and Reserve. Representatives from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense organization, recently visited the local facility to present certificates memorializing this commitment to U.S. troops. The ESGR was established to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. Pictured above are (left to right) Camas resident Art McCallum, ESGR ombudsman; Sheri Boles, occupational therapist at Eagle Rehabilitation; Diane Backstrom, Eagle Rehabilitation director of nursing; Col. Daniel R. Kern, Washington National Guard; Paul McVay, Eagle Rehabilitation administrator; and Joel F. Scott, ESGR area chair for the Washington Committee. For more information, visit www.esgr.org.

Pledging support for our troops

Eagle Rehabilitation in Camas made a pledge to support and honor the men and women who are members of the United States military Guard and Reserve.

April 3, 2012

Waterfront possibilities

Looking south from Camas and Washougal toward the Columbia River and the prime waterfront property that was the former Hambleton Lumber Company site, the possibilities seem almost endless.

April 3, 2012

Camas levy increase will land on Aug. 7 ballot

Camas voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots on a proposal to increase the current emergency medical services levy. Last night, the Camas City Council unanimously voted to send the issue to the Aug. 7 ballot. If approved, the six-year levy would raise the current rate from 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to 46 cents. Starting in 2013, the owner of a $300,000 home would pay $138 per year — a $33 increase. The proposed increase is an effort to stabilize the emergency medical services funding stream. In recent years the EMS fund’s revenues have dropped, primarily due to a decrease in assessed property values. At the end of 2011 the fund had a shortfall of $55,000, an amount that had to be covered by the city’s general operations fund. According to Camas city officials’ calculations, at 46 cents the levy would put the EMS fund in the black by $237,130 by 2018. But keeping the rate at its current level would build a deficit of $2.9 million by 2018.

April 2, 2012

Camas officials propose EMS levy rate hike

In an effort to help bring some long-term stability to a struggling emergency medical services fund, Camas city officials want to place a proposal for an EMS levy rate increase on the Aug. 7 ballot. During a recent Camas City Council meeting, Camas Fire Chief Nick Swinhart said the recommendation is to boost the rate from 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to 46 cents.

March 27, 2012

Support the U.S. Guard and Reserve

Each day, thousands of men and women of the U.S. Military's Guard and Reserve units are serving their country through active deployment. They have left behind their families, their homes and their civilian jobs to fulfill this commitment.

March 27, 2012

Camas prepares to begin search for new city administrator

In preparation for the onset of the search for a new city administrator, Camas officials are proposing a 4 percent increase to the position's annual pay scale. On Monday, the City Council will vote on a resolution that would boost the salary to a range that starts at $9,464 and tops out at $11,300. The current scale is $9,088 to $10,852. City Administrator Lloyd Halverson, who announced in January his plans to retire from full-time work in September after 23 years on the job, said he supports the adjustment. "I think it is in the city's best interest to be sure that we are competitive in the pay we offer in this decision," he said during a recent City Council meeting.

March 20, 2012

An opportunity for something new

More than 60 years ago, a local man who had a true entrepreneurial spirit and what absolutely had to be a love of music and the industry itself built a live music dance hall and roller skating rink in Camas.