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WSU
Vancouver in on four-year track--Columbian, Tom Vogt
Despite bleak budget outlook, Vancouver City council so far isn't
ready to look for new tax revenue--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize
County commissioners look forward to agreement with Cowlitz Tribe next
week that would make co-existence easier--Columbian, Margaret Ellis
County delays decision on tribal deal--Oregonian, Foster Church
C-TRAN board wants to ask voters to support new 20-year
plan--Oregonian, Bill Stewart
County permit is 'no deal' for Washougal Motocross--Columbian, Erin
Middlewood
Comcast proposes buying Disney for $66 billion--USA TODAY
C-TRAN board opts to restore service, plans
to ask voters for .03-cent sales tax increase
C-TRAN’s board of directors,
consisting of elected officials from Clark County, were unanimous is
adopting a 20-year plan of action for the cash-short transit agency
that would restore and improve service by doubling its sales tax base.
C-TRAN was one of the most
financially sound municipal transit agencies in the northwest when, in
1999, voters statewide approved Initiative-695, which repealed the
state’s onerous automobile excise tax and tore a 40 percent hole in
the agency’s operating budget.
Since then, C-TRAN has been
digging into a large bank of reserves it primarily held for bus
replacements. That source of funding is drying up.
During the past several months
the board has been studying alternatives. At a meeting last night the
board selected an option calling for adding on a .03 percent sales tax
to the existing .03 percent sales tax base.
The plan, which must be
approved by voters, would restore services cut in recent years by
C-TRAN and extend most rural services.
The vote on the sales tax
increase could come at a regular countywide election in September.
Unlike property tax measures, which require a 60 percent supermajority
approval, this measure would require only a simple majority.
The board also authorized staff
to develop an alternative plan should the tax measure fail. Two other
alternative plans, one of which would have called for a .06-cent sales
tax increase, were discarded.
The C-TRAN board of directors,
chaired by Vancouver City councilperson
Jeanne Harris, consists of the
three Clark County commissioners,
Betty Sue Morris, Judie Stanton
and Craig Pridemore, Vancouver
City councilpersons Jeanne Stewart
and Tim Leavitt, La Center
mayor Jim Irish, Battle Ground
councilman Bill Ganley, and
Washougal councilperson Stacee Sellars.
Vacancy on Evergreen School
District
board to be filled by appointment
The Evergreen School District
board is seeking candidates fill a vacancy created by the recent
resignation of Glen Gipe. Gipe
resigned because of personal and health reasons.
The appointment will be for
approximately 20 months.
Applications must be completed
and presented by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20. For further information, call
Carol Fenstermacher,
604-4088.
Wastewater fees in La Center
to increase
Rates for customers of Clark
Public Utilities’ Wastewater System in La Center will increase March
1.
The current residential charge
of $22.50 will increase to $26.89, the first increase since 1989.
Connection fees will also increase, from $2,000 currently to $4,320.
The monthly charge for
low-income seniors remains at $20.25.
Utility commission chair
Nancy Barnes said the rate
increase is needed to pay for construction costs of the recently
completed sewer treatment plant, which currently exceeds federal
standards.
Clark Public Utilities
Wastewater System serves 750 La Center customers. The utility also
provides water service to over 26,500 customers in Hazel Dell, Salmon
Creek, Lakeshore, Hockinson, Brush Prairie, La Center, Meadowglade,
Amboy and Yacolt, and electric services to 163,000 customers
countywide.
Students to design
billboards for clean water
Clark County school students
from all grades are invited to help the county’s Clean Water Program
design billboards to teach people about reducing pollution, keeping
water clean and protecting water resources.
Four winning entries will be
displayed on outdoor advertising billboards this spring.
Entry forms are available from
Cindy Stienbarger, education
and outreach coordinator for the county program. Call
397-6118, extension
4584, for further info.
News briefs
Port of Ridgefield
commissioners meet in regular session at 6 p.m. today in port offices
at 111 W Division Street. ---
Vancouver Ford automobile dealer Jon
Creedon presents “I swam with the sharks and lived to tell
about It: Lessons from the automotive sales Industry” at the Greater
Vancouver Chamber of Commerce’s East Chamber Council meeting at 11:45
a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in Camas Meadows Golf Club, 4105 Meadows
Drive. Registration is $15. For further information, call
694-2588. |
