Tillamook
Serving North Tillamook County since 1996
County
Tillamook County FAIR -Inside-
, 2019 Aug. 7-10
Headlight
Herald
North Coast
Citizen
Rockaway Beach Kite & Art Fest - See Page 2
$1
August 1, 2019
northcoastcitizen.com
Budget Questions
Volume 24, No. 15
Senator Johnson talks shop Hilary Dorsey
headlightreporter@countrymedia.net
S
Manzanita City Hall
Hilary Dorsey
headlightreporter@countrymedia.net
T
he July 10 meeting of the Manzanita City Council continued the discussion of issues former city manager Randy Kugler has been hounding the council and administration about. When the meeting opened up for public comment, Kugler took the floor about the budget issues involving 50 percent of the city manager and assistant city manager’s salaries being funded from the City Water Fund. One of the justifications given to the council was that the city manager also acts as a city water utility manager and spends four hours each day managing activity of the water utility. Kugler had requested a copy of the city manager’s job description and found no description of acting as a city water manager within the document. Kugler then reviewed the job description of the public works director, which indicated work with water management.
Kugler questions if the water system is so complex that the director needs two additional water utility managers. The previous city manager Jerry Taylor had said that other cities are using this system where 50 percent of the water budget goes to paying the city manager. Kugler contacted city managers from around the state to see if this was correct. According to his findings, for the cities that employ both a city manager and a public works director, the average for city managers salaries to come from the water utility is around 10 percent. Five of the cities he looked at paid zero percent of the city manager’s salary. He says that by the City’s own policy statement in the Budget document, all money in the water fund must be used for the water utility. “The city hasn’t given any commonsense justification for why the city manager and assistant city manager are receiving 50 percent of their salaries from the water budget.” Kugler said. Kugler had requested a written explanation from the public works director as to how the city manager and assistant city
File Photo
manager spend a total of 8-hours between them each day operating the city’s water utility. The director acknowledged the general supervisor role of the city manager with the water utility, but he did not know the direct or personal details of the activity or the time spent. The council had instructed staff to investigate the matter in time for next year’s budget process and expressed no reservation in investigating the staff during this year’s budget process. Kugler also questions how the city plans to make up for the hundreds of thousands of dollars taken from the water fund since the policy was first implemented 11-years ago. After Kugler spoke, Mayor Mike Scott responded. On June 26 at 7 p.m., the council members had a special meeting to approve the budget and had a public hearing as well. The salary and benefit costs of the city manager position was split 50/50 between the water fund and the
n See Budget, Page 6
enator Betsy Johnson has been busy. The Legislative Session just ended at the end of June. Senator Johnson is getting reintegrated into the District and is busy with meetings, events, and public appearances. Senator Johnson is also one of three writing the budget for the state. She will also have meetings in Astoria that will span for a couple of days. Johnson was able to attend the June Dairy Parade and was thankful for this. The capitol had been closed, which allowed her to attend the event instead of working at the capitol. Johnson also attended the Garibaldi Days parade on Saturday, July 27. Johnson says that this past Legislative Session was very difficult and unlike any others. Seasoned lobbyists and staff said they never attended a session like this, said Johnson. The political landscape has changed, she says. She saw evidence in this with protests for House Bill 3063 and House Bill 2020. House Bill 3063 removes the ability of a parent to decline required immunizations against restrictable diseases on behalf of a child for reason other than the child’s indicated medical diagnosis. House Bill 2020 would introduce a statewide cap and trade system to reduce carbon emissions. Hundreds of log trucks came down to the capitol with Timber Unity to protest House Bill 2020. For House Bill 3063, people used social media to organize people for protest. Sen. Johnson says that people who were one passive are now more engaged. More people are also shifting to nonpartisan. People feel that they need to be involved or they could be collateral damage. Johnson attended a community event on Thursday, June 26 that was held by the Tillamook County Democrats at Tillamook Bay Community College at 5:30 p.m. This event was the Tillamook County Democrats
n See Betsy, Page 3
RB KITE FEST SETS SAIL Seasonal festival planned for Sunday, Aug. 2 - 4
7
29467 70001 8
T
he Rockaway Beach Kite and Art Festival is slated for Friday through Sunday, August 2-4, at Ocean’s Edge Wayside, 103 1st Avenue. The theme this year is “Where Art Soars to New Heights.” The festival is sponsored by the American Kite Fliers Association and has been held for 43 years. Amateur and profes-
sional kite fliers participate in the festival. The skies will be dotted with colored kites in various shapes that create a marvelous view. Flying competitions are held as well as diverse children activities where they can learn how to build and fly kites. Visitors can enjoy live music, kites exhibitions, diverse stalls, food,
and more. Quad Squad North West (QSNW) will be participating. Katrina Bruland and Gerry Ralls will be joining their team. Steven Kline (original #3 pilot) is also back in the lineup. They will be making their debut. With three new
n See Kites, Page 3