Greetings from City Hall –

Before I forget, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! Last week’s Black Friday seems to have made a lot of people watching the economy happy. It only proves that if the government didn’t need so much of our money it would serve the economy better because we could spend it. Of course, some of the shoppers across the country were prepared for war as we saw people get maced for getting between a lady (?) and what she wanted to buy. In another store, there was a near-riot over $2 waffle makers. Perhaps Christmas shopping is morphing into a blood sport. Our visiting family members went Black Friday shopping in The Dalles and were very impressed by the politeness and friendliness of the people in the stores – the shoppers and the sales folks. Of course, our visitors were from Seattle, Portland and California, where combat shopping is a way of life. And that is why we all live here, in this hotbed of laid-backedness.

American Legion Hall

Last month I mentioned the Planning/Workshop/Council Meeting that would happen on 22 November. It happened just as planned. Several people heard me list the things that we would have to do in order to bring the American Legion Hall up to ADA code, keep it from leaking heat, prevent it from suffering severe injury from electrical malfunctions, getting the restrooms off the stage where people are trying to perform, and just generally convert/modernize/rehabilitate the old building to something usable. The list was, in general, too rich for most people’s blood, especially for an old building that the City doesn’t own (but has a lease for at least 30 years, renewable for another 30). This brought the discussion around to a completely new separate municipal building with all the features of the American Legion Hall, a new library and offices for City government. It also brought the realization that such a facility would take at least ten years to magically appear and cost a good deal more than twice as much as rehabbing the American Legion Hall. So the discussion shifted back to the American Legion Hall and what we would have to do to make it minimally useful for the period of time that we plan, fund, and build the new facility. At this time there are at least four groups that are working the problem – the City, the Town and Country Players, the membership of the American Legion, and a group looking into the physical aspects of the building with the idea of an historical restoration. The hall itself is being used almost constantly for family gatherings (our family had a great Thanksgiving dinner there – with 60 degree weather outside and 57 people inside, we didn’t need the giant propane heater very much); the American Legion Auxiliary Bazaar this coming weekend; and the Town and Country Players in the middle of the month. There are requests to use the building for daycare, exercise training for both men and women and, as always, family gatherings, funerals, receptions and other community events that require space and/or a stage. When I read the list I mentioned installing a commercial kitchen in the front of the building and I think that was where the line was drawn in the sand – too much money for an old building we don’t own. But nobody disputes that the

community needs such a facility now and the options are pretty limited to the American Legion Hall. So I would suggest that we – all the groups involved – work toward doing what we can to make that happen. The community has to be involved so we will make sure that everyone has that opportunity.

The Greenway

This is another community treasure that needs some updating and rehabilitation. It also belongs to a family with a long history in Maupin. They are currently dealing with the property issues that follow the death of the head of a family. I have contacted them and reassured them that we are in no hurry to interrupt that process. So we will wait till the family is ready to talk about the property and how we can use it and preserve it perpetually as the greenway, something the family supports wholeheartedly. Again, we are soliciting ideas from the community so that nobody is left out of the decision process that wants to be a part of it. Dave Talbot, former head of Oregon Parks and Recreation, is offering his considerable skills and experience to help us with this project. His son, Eric, has presented options for new landscaping to the Chamber to show what the future greenway could look like. We expect the process to take about a year to complete. In the meantime, we will maintain and use the greenway like it is.

Economic Development

This month has been kind of busy talking about economic development. Our Economic Development Committee, which was formed during the community meeting held last spring, has been busy setting goals and strategies on how to approach the issue and has presented this work to the City Council and the Chamber. I have spent about eight days in Redmond, Madras, The Dalles, Phoenix and Maupin in meetings where the main topic has been economic development with the general emphasis on jobs. There are some initial planning steps for bringing jobs to south Wasco County, from Wamic to Shaniko. We are on the threshold of having greatly increased broadband service in South County. Discussions are beginning to take place with builders of workforce housing. I think South County will be a step ahead of everyone else when the economy does recover. I will travel to San Diego in February to sit on a panel with a mayor from Arkansas and a non-profit executive from South Dakota to talk about how we are working to recover from the grass roots. In my opinion, it is the only way we can get it done and that is borne out by the failure of the Federal Government to even approach the issue effectively, much less resolve it. But we have a whole bunch of South Countyites working the issue in ways that should start to bring the economy back. So hang in there – this spring could be interesting.

That’s it. My term as President of the League of Oregon Cities Board of Directors begins on 1 January and the travelling will really begin. I am both looking forward to it and dreading it, because my primary duty is here in Maupin; the other stuff, however, does give me the opportunity to tell a lot of people about our beautiful little niche in the world. But between now and January, the kids will be home from/out of school; we will be inundated with TV pleas to spend all our money on the latest gadgets, big and small; some folks will travel, some will have visitors; and some will “snow bird” their way to warmer climes. Whatever we all do, I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas!!

Cheers,

Denny

P.S. Oh, yeah – I invented a couple of new words which I am sure you noticed. DR