Under the direction of Mayor Sean Guard, Washougal has slowly been building a stronger foundation that was left cracked and broken more than four years ago by mismanagement and poor leadership. Guard is up for re-election as part of the Nov. 5 General Election, and he should be allowed to continue to build on that growth and be elected to a second term in office.
Amid an economy that has been in a recession for several years and is finally beginning to get back on track, now just isn't the right time to ask East County Fire and Rescue voters to approve a capital improvement bond. The $1.275 million, 20-year capital projects proposition would fund two new fire engines, one brush truck, new fire fighting and medical equipment, an emergency generator at Mount Norway Station 94, parking lot repair at Sunnyside Station 93 and a water well at Livingston Mountain Station 92. It is estimated that the bond would cost taxpayers 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation. This means the owner of a $300,000 home would pay an additional $27 per year, the owner of a $250,000 home would pay $22.50 per year, and the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $18 per year.
Accusations make no sense
The column written by Battle Ground City Councilors Michael Ciraulo and Adrian Cortes was interesting commentary but plainly wrong when they state: "[i]n July 2013 a majority coalition arbitrarily changed our form of government..." The Battle Ground City Council cannot change their form of government. That takes a vote of the people. My understanding of what Ciraulo and Cortes are upset about is the procedures the Battle Ground Council adopted to elect their mayor. They don't make any complaints about their city management, in fact they seem to compliment it.
Washougal voters have an important decision to make when their ballots arrive in the mail for the Nov. 5 General Election. It may, in fact, be one of the most important issues to appear on local ballots in recent history. If approved, Proposition 1 would transition Washougal from its current mayor-council form of government to the vastly different council-manager system. Currently, Washougal citizens have the right to elect a strong mayor, who is the chief executive officer of the city, along with seven city council members who form its legislative body. Washougal's city administrator, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council, carries out the day-to-day operations of the city.
Smith wants to improve the community Why is someone from Ridgefield writing about a Camas city council candidate? Well, over the past few months I have been able to observe Melissa Smith through her service on the Regional Transportation Council.
Two big wins on the football field are great ways to start the fall sports season, and teams from both Camas and Washougal put on quite a show under the Friday night lights. Perhaps the biggest win of the evening came from the Papermakers, who toppled Portland's Jesuit High School with relative ease in a game that pitted the number-one ranked teams in Oregon and Washington against one another. In the end, as the 47-14 score suggests, it was really no contest and more than 5,000 fans got to see their hometown team shine at Doc Harris Stadium.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" wrote Charles Dickens in his "Tale of Two Cities;" a magnificent author and book which still provides relevance to contemporary generations. What does this have to do with our community here in Battle Ground? As city leaders within Battle Ground, we would like to offer some personal perspectives on the significant seismic governance changes occurring within the communities of Battle Ground and Washougal.
Honor for Jimmie Rodgers is deserved I would like to thank Sharon Ballard and Marquita Call for asking the Camas City Council to name a street in honor of Jimmie Rodgers, that well known singer from the late 1950s and 1960s. The City Council's resulting action in giving that part of Northwest 10th Street where Jimmie Rodgers lived during his early childhood and school years the honorary name of Jimmie Rodgers Avenue was a most fitting and proper move to show and pay respect to Mr. Rodgers.
"You should never, ever give up." These were the first words of Diana Nyad yesterday when, on her fifth try, she became the first woman to swim from Cuba to Florida without the help of a shark cage. After jumping into the waters of Havana, it took her 53 hours to complete the 110-mile swim. And even more amazing, is the fact that this woman recently celebrated her 64th birthday.
