CITY COUNCIL
Oregon Republican Reporter / oglecountynews.com • Friday, October 16, 2020
OREGON BEAT
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Railroad car lease presentation made Zephyr car might be coming to the Depot BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com Oregon Depot Museum Board Chairman Roger Cain made a presentation to the Oregon City Council on Tuesday regarding the possible lease of a restored railroad car that may be coming to town. The depot board has been in contact with Mike Abernathy, the owner of a 1947 Zephyr dome car about it being relocated to Oregon. “It’s a feasible, doable project,” Cain said. “There’s been a tremendous amount of support financially and from local manufacturers. The relevance to the Oregon Depot is there. It’s part of a set that traveled from Chicago to Minneapolis where it stopped in Oregon both ways. The car is in Charles City, Iowa. He’s been spending money to where it can be licensed to travel.” The renovations of the car aren’t finished yet. Cain said the car will be worth around $500,000 when completed and it will have a patio, fence, seat 24 people and feature a kitchen. It could be used for those that want to hold events in it. Burlington Northern has been “convinced” to extend tracks and lease land for the exit and entrance of the car at no cost, Cain said. “I’m not sure when completion will
In this undated photo, the Twin Cities Zephyr makes a stop at the Oregon Depot. Photo supplied by Otto Dick be,” Cain said. “I’m guessing two years,” Cain said that without being owned by the city, the car can’t be put on city property. He said Abernathy understands that and will relinquish ownership after he passes away. The city did not take any action on the project. It will be reviewed by the council at a later date after some decisions that must be made by Burlington Northern.
Candlelight Walk The carriage ride route for Candlelight Walk was unanimously approved
by the board Tuesday. Rides will be offered Nov. 28 and Dec. 19. Candlelight Walk’s lineup was rolled out last week and will be different from years’ past due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Christmas isn’t canceled in Oregon,” Oregon Mayor Ken Williams said. “It will take place over more days and there will be raffles, decorated businesses, our people can sign up to have Santa and Mrs. Claus drive by in the firetruck. Merchants will give out craft bags instead of the kids indoor carnival. It’s going to be really neat.”
POLO NEWS
Council approves offer for new city hall BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com The Polo City Council unanimously approved a $229,000 offer on a building that could become its new city hall and police department at a special meeting on Friday, Oct. 9. The building, located at 610 S. Division Ave. in Polo is the former site of the CedarStone banquet hall, which was operated by White Pines Resort. That business declared bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were contacted by the bank about a new property as a city hall,” Polo Mayor Doug Knapp said. “I talked with the aldermen. The asking price was $229,000. We were going to try for $200,000. They were showing it and we thought maybe we should offer the full asking price. The plan is to move city hall and the police station over there. The main hall could be used for civic
functions. We could open it up to weddings.” The council discussed paying for the new property equally out of its four funds: general, water, sewer and sanitation. That method would see $57,250 coming out of each fund. The full price could also be taken out of the general fund. The city plans to do around $50,000 in
renovations to make the new building suitable for city operations. Engineering work would also have to be put out to bid and done. The city’s current city hall is located at 115 S. Franklin Ave. downtown. Alderman Randy Schoon voiced concerns about the old building. “I can’t imagine anyone would want to buy city hall,” Schoon said. “We’d have to tear it down. So $229,000 plus $50,000 for renovations and money for demolition we’d have $350,000 in this project. By moving this out, we’re taking this out of downtown and we’re hurting enough down here. But I still think it’s the best opportunity so far.” City Attorney Tom Suits said there could be delays in the purchase process due to financial difficulties of the previous owner. If there are no delays, the city’s contract would see it take ownership on Oct. 29.
