Outgoing city finance director and federal report paints bleak picture for city's budget woes

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 5, 2025  

Independence is spending more money than it’s taking in and, unless that gap can be closed, the city will run out of funds and face deficit spending in only a few years, according to retiring Finance Director Rob Moody.

The situation needs to be addressed in the coming budget cycle – costs currently are outpacing the expenses of the city and tax dollars alone cannot provide the answer, Moody warned in a report to the city council last week. 

Noting that Mayor Kate Schwarzler has repeatedly referred to him as “Bad News Rob,” he said he wanted to impart what he sees as the way in which the city might work toward stabilization. 

“It is not our job to make those decisions,” he acknowledged. It’s a city council determination, he stressed.

The “biggest bang for the buck” would come from personnel cuts, he advised, pointing out that this segment comprises 67% of the budget. 

As an example, Moody cited the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, which is designed to ensure allocations for retirement to government employees. When annual pay rises, so do PERS contributions, he said. 

As salaries go up 5%, such as the recently approved sum for City Manager Kenna West’s $170,000-plus annual package, or such as the uptick of 2.5% that's currently scheduled for staff this year, the benefit costs accompanying those new amounts also gets a boost. 

Moody’s report was delivered after an address by a consultant, Dave Waffle, of Portland-based Jensen Strategies, the firm that helped prepare a financial look at the city under a federal advisory plan, the “Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance Program.” 

Findings show the city is facing multiple financial dilemmas.

1) There are declining balances in the General Fund and an underperforming Urban Renewal Agency. The reserve dollars in the General Fund, which is the city's primary operating fund, continue to be used to shore up city expenses. The Urban Renewal Agency shows a disappointing return on investment so far. 

2) There is lack of development in the city under the present structure for system development charges. These fees now exceed $50,000 per house and are higher than those in any neighboring communities. Development in southwest Independence has largely halted. 

3) Some needed infrastructure demands have no readily available funding source. Qualifying for the federal technical assistance program for distressed cities was listed as a “double-edged sword” – it makes the city eligible for some grants but is also an indication of precarious financial circumstances, the report observed.

4) Outstanding city debt needs closer analysis. Under the federal program, an overview and evaluation will be undertaken to determine “historical debt practices” and compare Independence’s debt load to “peer cities.” 

5) Support for the succession of the current finance director is planned. The federal program, which is under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, will provide “transition” assistance to the incoming finance director, Amanda Carey, as a result of Moody’s departure this month. 

6) No observable marketing efforts have occurred by the city. Use of the city communication capacity is being recommended. (Note: The city’s communication director, Emmanuel Goicochea, hasn’t answered any press inquiries from Trammart News for more than 18 months.) 

The report appeared to be generally well received by city council members with the exception of two: Councilor Dawn Roden, who said that her previous comments on the issue often have been met with rejection, and Councilor Shannon Corr, who characterized the report as confirming what was already known.

After the meeting, Roden was asked about her viewpoint. She replied that she has long felt “we were headed to a financial crisis if we did not take action.” Instead, the former mayor and some current city council members responded to her concerns, during prior discussions, by referring to Independence as a place “other cities look at" and "as the guiding light” for other aspiring Oregon towns. 

Roden predicted painful months lie ahead while grappling with the dismal financial situation.

In contrast, Corr said she'd “like to have this half hour of my life back," alluding to the time it took to hear the report. In effect, the report only recounted what she already knew, Corr said. 

“This kind of consultancy makes me crazy,” she added. 

City Manager West explained to Corr that the report is only “the first step” in a long process. The “Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance Program” gave Independence an important overview and “another set of eyes,” West said. 

(Next Friday Trammart News will take a look at some of the other proposed measures, aside from personnel cuts, recommended for consideration by the report and by outgoing finance director Rob Moody – and the reaction of city councilors to them.) ▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 5, 2025  

Even on winter days, sunsets can be dreamy in Independence. So, when a twilight view is suddenly interrupted by barbed wire that cuts across a familiar horizon, is it any surprise that some residents reacted negatively? 

In the River Oak neighborhood, barbed wire was installed on a city-owned six-foot fence near the south well field of Independence, in an effort to add an extra layer of protection to city property. It went up without any city communication, according to some who live there. 

The barbed wire was put atop a fence in a residential zone – a fence less than eight feet above the ground, in violation of city code. David Clyne was one of those who complained. His backyard view was impacted by the addition, he said. 

So the matter was placed on the agenda for a work session, which was held by the planning commission this past Monday. And Clyne took his objections on the barbed-wire installation to the commission meeting. (Clyne is a former city manager of Independence.) 

In his address to commissioners, Clyne emphasized that in residential areas – which is where the city facilities are located and how they are zoned – barbed-wire attachments like the one he now sees daily have been prohibited by the city "for years and years." 

Clyne was cut off after three minutes at the podium, which is the limit for public speaking at a city meeting. 

In fact, the installation did appear to violate the city's code, agreed City Planning Manager Fred Evander. Within the Independence Development Code, commercial and industrial zones require barbed wire to be on fences at least eight feet high.

But a requirement of eight feet is difficult to meet when barbed wire is being added to an existing six-foot-tall fence, Evander added. And that's one reason to consider a code change. Under the proposal, the city would codify six-foot fences topped with barbed-wire, to protect areas of government use, he explained. 

At present, those provisions are missing from the current code, Evander said. 

Of the four commissioners present, three of them – Sally Coen, Rebecca Jay and Alex Paraskevas – appeared to favor having more alternatives than the single code change under discussion. Corby Chappell, who chairs the commission, concurred with the call for alternate solutions.

Coen observed that there seemed to be "no notice from the city" to neighbors when the action was taken to add barbed wire to city fencing. 

"I don't want to do something for this specific problem," Jay stressed. Over the past several years as a commissioner, she has observed that "we don't do this in piecemeal fashion." 

Commercial and industrial businesses are required to have eight-foot fences, to which barbed-wire could be affixed, she pointed out. "Why should the city get preferential treatment over industry?" she asked. 

Evander countered that there already are fences with six-foot heights and barbed wire around pump stations, the Independence State Airport and commercial zones.

After the meeting, Clyne said he would have liked to have had more time to speak – to advise the commissioners that the city's proposal for the lower six-foot threshold topped by barbed wire could put children, pets and wildlife at risk on abutting residential properties – a point Jay also made at the meeting. 

He would also have told the commissioners that the city had failed to "pull a permit," which is a city code requirement, Clyne said. 

"Any other builder or developer would have had to remove the barbed wire until a code change was made allowing for it, but the city chose not to follow its own requirements in this regard," Clyne stated. 

As of this date, the barbed wire still sits on the six-foot fence by the well fields in the River Oak neighborhood, according to residents. 

A public hearing on the issue will be held at the commission's January meeting, said Shawn Irvine, assistant city manager. Irvine attended the work session with City Manager Kenna West, who kept track of the public-speaking time and halted Clyne after three minutes at the podium. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 5, 2025  

Over the past three months, Central School District has seen a rise in attendance compared 

with the start of the school year, which may be an indication that approaches ranging from 

all-student greeting by staff to increased phone contact with families is paying off, according 

to a report presented to the CSD school board Monday night. 

Though September showed no improvement over last year's percentages, October and November ticked up – with November showing a six percent increase district-wide, said Superintendent Jennifer Kubista. Though attendance overall hovered at 69%, "we are moving in a positive direction," she said. 

The same trend is being seen in two key groups, students with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged; Both are being targeted for improved student attendance, she observed. 

The immediate goal is to break into the next percentile of 70% or higher, Kubista said. Periodic updates on attendance will be issued throughout the year, she added. 

In another piece of positive news, CSD approved the sale of district-owned property across from Talmadge Middle School for $400,000, putting a new infusion into district coffers. 

In a motion made by Board Member Susan Graham and seconded by Board Member Irene Oliveros-Vega, the superintendent was directed to sign a counteroffer for the sale of approximately 19 acres adjacent to 510 N. 16th St. to the buyer, National Development Incorporated. 

The vote was four-to-one, with an abstention by Board Chair Byron Shinkle – a typical vote-recusal in such instances – and a no vote by Board Member Jann Jobe, who expressed concern about the possible encroachment on the wetland area. Board Member Steve Moser was absent.▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, November 28, 2025  

EDITORIAL 

As soon as I received this week’s financial report on the city from a HUD program called “Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance,” I knew what I had to do: delay digging into it. 

Though City Manager Kenna West reported that the recent consultants' view shows the city is moving in the right direction, neither the documents nor the departing financial director, Rob Moody, seemed nearly as positive. Moody cited personnel costs as the high expenditure for the budget, a fact affirmed by the overview that was presented Tuesday night. 

Will I report on that this week? No. It can wait. 

But I felt the need to write a thank-you letter to an outside auditor who appeared to predict some of the very information in it, about eight years ago. 

It’s a murky memory now, except for my recollection of her, the auditor, Kamala Austin. I’d only been publishing a relatively short time, when I heard this young woman tell city councilors that she was worried about city debt piling up in a few years. I followed her out to the foyer by city council chambers. 

I’ve never been able to spot courage till it hits me over the heard, proverbially speaking. That night it did, with a big cabong. Austin looked conflicted, even addled by angst, but she confirmed, once again for me, what she’d just said. 

The mayor had shut her down. The councilors seemed to ignore her comment.

But there, standing by the stairwell in city hall, I gave her my business card and promised her I’d report what she’d told them. And so I did.

Kamala Austin. It has taken all these long years for the city to come fully to grips with the financial situation she partly forecast.

This week, I sent her a bouquet of paper flowers in a card I bought from Hi-School Pharmacy. 

Did she get it? I don’t know. My sleuthing for home addresses isn’t always reliable. But I felt a great sense of satisfaction leaving the post office. 

This Thanksgiving holiday, there is nothing but gratitude to write about … there are so many individuals who have helped keep the local press from the ash heap by fanning embers when the flames got low.

When I wrote a story about the two homeless women living on the library bench, a resident led the effort to get a motel room paid for so the two could be warm, dry and housed. The pair  are there now.  

This is a thank you to all who have helped Trammart News since it formally launched with its first print edition in the fall of 2016. 

Transparency champs also are residents who raise issues, make inquiries, and talk about their concerns  –  asking for information that should be publicly available. Hometown heroes are volunteers who make events  happen, ranging from Indy Days to the Santa Train. Without them,  Trammart News would have far less important coverage.   

Did you think I did it all by myself? Did you presume, as many have, I am a one-person operation because my name is on all news articles? Think again. Thanks are due to an entire throng. 

Of course, technically speaking, it is just me, the lone reporter-publisher. However, from a retired dean of journalism in Southern California to a former software entrepreneur living in suburban Portland, I’ve had a crack team of experts providing me with emotional support and savvy advice. 

But I really want to honor the hometown heroes, like former City Councilor Ken Day and the “transparency champs,” like Austin, who stood solid and righteous. They both saw the financial crash coming, and now it has landed on your doorstep. You will either have to pass a new tax or take on a new monthly fee. 

The city is almost dead broke, according to the new report. 

Day, who served on the council several years ago, got so fed up he quit – a gesture that for one brief shining moment shed some light on the difficulties the city faced. He had been a corporate CEO and, like many on the council, took a dim view of the critical-eyed accounts penned by me. But he changed his mind and, soon enough, he began sounding alarm bells. 

When he passed away late last year, I told his widow he was one of a kind – and I meant it. How many individuals do you meet who go full about face after careful review of information? He did a 180 because that is the kind of view he could see. It’s a rare leadership skill, in my experience. 

This latest city report, handed out this past week, appears to take Independence to task for SDC charges that are too high and for spending concerns that seem too low, but a big part of the blame is placed on the Oregon tax system.

Can’t argue with that. But there’s no denying that both Austin and Day were way ahead of the fiscal cliff now being faced. 

There are still so many to thank – for stepping up and putting their best foot forward. 

What a privilege to know individuals who pushed a water-safety movement after a river drowning – Rachael Ojeda and Amber Covarrubias – and to see other mighty forces for good, like the Ella Curran Food Bank. Then, there are the Main Street merchants who make Halloween so special every year, and the many charitable collectors of coats and toys and diapers and household essentials that help others in the city have a warm and happy holiday. 

They’re too numerous to name, but their contribution is so monumental that my nickname for Independence has always been “Inter-dependence,” a place where neighbors depend on neighbors. 

When I wanted to look at what our city’s sanctuary declaration meant this year, with all that’s happening, I turned to the wrong sources. I’d been there several years ago, when the proclamation was made by the city council. 

So I asked the city mayor and the communications director, who was tagged to serve as the liaison to the Hispanic community, to weigh in. The mayor declined comment; the communications director had nothing to say. 

Who spoke up on the issue? 

Recently, State Sen. Deb Patterson, who represents Independence, noted in her newsletter that, though she appreciates the need for immigration reform, current events are troubling: "Our  Constitutional rights are being gravely tested by federal actions in recent months which have  placed residents of our communities, both  citizens and non-citizens alike, at risk for being detained without due process."   

Locally, a great-grandmother with the operatic name of Aida, also spoke out and offered to discuss the issue with me. And so, now we have an ongoing series of “The Two Grandmothers,” in which we talk about the situation for a minority in town that contributes to making it so special here. 

Every holiday season, I hear a song l love to hum. The lyrics begin: “Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free.” The freedom to report without constraint and to follow the simple path laid by public spending is an enlightening route. As this holiday season melds into 2026, I plan to stick with it. 

Some city council members have vigorously taken on local news  –  with condemnatory emails, internet postings aimed at inflicting online injury and public commentary that falsely claims the press shouldn't be allowed to ask questions of elected officials. 

All of this isn't a deterrent – thanks to the hometown heroes and transparency champs I have met, know and admire. 

Next week Trammart News will report on the ramifications of the federal-assistancefinancial  plan for the city. But, for now, I would simply like to express my gratitude to you – and to Helen Caswell. 

Let me introduce you to her. I was neon green with envy of Caswell, of her ability to put together words in a way that was equal parts mesmerizing and informative. She wrote for Salem Weekly, until it stopped in 2018. 

To me, news coverage in the capital city has never been quite the same since then – Caswell lit up the pages of that newspaper. 

She had originally moved to Salem to become a legal private investigator. So, is it any wonder I thought the word “scoop” every time I read one of her articles? 

I missed Caswell’s reporting when the paper closed. And I wanted her to know that.

When I tried to track her down, I was told she had been diagnosed with late-stage cancer. I called her anyway.

I left a voice mail explaining how inspiring I found her reporting – she’d tackled tough issues of the city with the clarity of fine crystal. 

To my delight and surprise, she returned my call – I got a voice mail telling me how kind I was to phone her, how flattered she was to hear my message, and how much she appreciated receiving it. 

Caswell died a short time later. Her picture remains on my desk. 

I’m still a little jealous of her, trying to live up to the standard she set. And her passing reminded me never to let time go by when thanks should be offered.

Thank you, everyone.▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, November 28, 2025  

'Twas the month before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a present was purchased, and I felt like a louse;

Stockings were hung by the fire stove to see,

But no gifts were wrapped, for under the tree

Fear not I informed my perplexed family

Downtown Indy’s the answer, you’ll see!

And I in my denim with dollars to spend 

Went to Quimby’s, finding items no end 

Tea and blackjack gum, among other things

Then onto The Collection where I found some rings

My granddaughter would love them, I informed Katie

And at Robin’s Roost I found pirate’s loot, Matey!

I know kids who love that “Sonic the Hedgehog” book 

And, at Heritage Museum, I had only to look 

And what did my wondering eyes get to see?

Two tiny hedgehog plushies just waiting for me

It was on to Rose Cottage where in my sight 

Birds on a pane were catching the light!

I bought two, then off to Bramble Boutique

A holiday sweater hung there, bougie and sleek 

My daughter could use that for parties this season

And I snatched it for purchase, what a good reason!

At "Little Mall on Main," I found that very same day 

A cape at M-I Closet; puzzles in Heartfelt Hideaway

And at Rockin’ Rad Relics they had everything

I needed a bag for my haul, which I didn’t bring 

“No matter” said the co-owner of the place 

She gave me a sack and a discount, what grace! 

While visions of sugar plums danced in my head 

I stopped at Melting Pot – got chocolate instead

At Second Chance Books, I went on the loose 

And found classics for kids, like old Dr. Seuss 

It was time to visit my favorite gas-station store

Jimmy’Z, which has chicken gizzards and more 

Every food and drink you can imagine is there

Even fishing bait in a fridge! And no one will stare 

If you munch on a gizzard while roaming the aisles 

Instead they will greet you, and meet you with smiles 

Take a peek inside Central Plaza’s Dollar Store 

You will see bargains and stocked shelves galore 

And if you hit it at just the right time of day 

Jean Wimer will be at the counter to say 

Hello honey, what are you doing here?

Isn’t this just the greatest time of the year? 

Yes it is! But now I am off in search of that rack 

At Hi-School Pharmacy with the cards that stack

They have pop-up flowers and cute animals, too

Seasonal treats, ornaments up the wazoo

At The Hidden Collection, crystal tears called my name

I bought ‘em for me, wasn't that lame?

So I called Maganda Glassworks to see

If I could order stained glass for the whole family

And that's just what I did, and, as I drove out of sight

I said: “Thank you, Indy, you made shopping so right.” 

(Trammart News purchased gift certificates from all  area restaurants, with thanks to some special ones for displaying the monthly issues of The Independent: Brew & Tap, Ovenbird Bakery, Starduster Cafe, San Antonio's. TN also wishes to express gratitude to merchants who do the same.) ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, November 28, 2025  

Bringing The Wall That Heals to Independence created a lasting sense of community, uniting Oregonians "in this significant manner, providing a space for reflection, healing, and profound gratitude."

That was the message sent by the Polk County Board of Commissioners to the committee of 25 volunteers who paved the way for the 175-foot-long wall to travel to the Sports Fields in Independence this fall.

Today, a lone tree helps mark the site where the wall once stood, a testament to the visit by this impactful replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.

This month, The Wall That Heals finished its 2025 tour, with stops over the past few weeks at Wylie, Texas and Athens, Alabama; The final destination was the Mississippi town of Crystal Springs. 

The commissioners' letter to volunteers, which was sent a few weeks ago, thanked them for their successful initiative and countless hours of work. 

The solitary tree servs as a reminder of an event impactful for all who saw it, according to two principal organizers of the event. 

A presentation on the visit was made shortly after the departure of The Wall That Heals to county commissioners by former Independence Mayor John McArdle and Polk County's Family & Community Outreach Director Brent DeMoe. Seed money had come from the county – an initial $12,000 allocation that opened the door for revenue matching and grants, DeMoe observed.

Both men thanked the originator of the plan, Vietnam veteran Billy Whisenant, of American Legion Post 33 in Independence, for his tireless efforts in bringing the project to fruition. 

More than 8,600 people came to The Wall That Heals, McArdle said, adding that there were school tours and youth groups, too. "A lot of people got a lot of education," he said.

Commission Chair Craig Pope noted he "just missed" the draft for the Vietnam war, and watched the airlift operation in Hanoi as a high school student. 

Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst, a former manager for Les Schwab, said he watched in awe as company managers – from across the state, ranging from Pendleton to Medford – assembled The Wall That Heals upon its arrival. Athletes from Western Oregon University were responsible for breaking down the site at the event's end.

Commissioner Jeremy Gordon recommended writing the letter of gratitude to the volunteers, in recognition of "this incredible event." His two fellow commissioners quickly agreed. 

"This shared objective allowed us all to commemorate, express gratitude for those who sacrificed, and recognize our collective history as one nation and one people," the commissioners concluded in their joint letter. 

The Wall That Heals had only one Oregon stop – Independence. The mobile memorial and educational center tours began in 1996, making this year almost 30 years since The Wall That Heals began traveling. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, November 21, 2025  

Disciplinary actions are down this year at Talmadge Middle School and TMS has been taken off the state’s “watch list” for low achievement, thanks to gains in academic growth and regular school attendance among certain student groups.

The news arrived this week in the form of data showing that discipline actions have dropped and students that were in the bottom 10th percentile for learning – emergent bilingual students and those experiencing disabilities – have now shown an upward trajectory, which is being recognized by the state. 

Teachers have credited some of the turnaround to Principal Alisha Resseman, who was appointed to the top job last year and is a 23-year educational veteran of the district. 

Resseman, who gave a presentation on TMS to the Central District School Board Monday night, said in an interview after her talk at the school that this is a building-wide accomplishment. Everyone has been pulling together, she said. 

One worry about discipline – which dropped from 71 monthly suspensions last October to 59 this year – is that it still occurs too frequently in hands-on encounters, almost exclusively among male students. However, there don't seem to be as many incidents now, which appears to be due to approaches being taken at the school, she affirmed. 

There are increased leadership opportunities, she explained, and they’re not limited to typical school strivers. Different paths are open to students who may feel overlooked or lacking the kind of skills that would make them a standout.

Even for those who have had repeated disciplinary events, "there are ways (and classes) to get them involved in special projects where they can feel they are making a difference," Resseman said. 

One example is a student who came up with a plan for better school signage, to direct attendees to sporting events. "He worked on the posters and he’s responsible for putting them up," she said. The result seemed to be a sense of accomplishment and pride, as well as easy-to-follow signs. 

There’s also been renewed emphasis on “restorative” discipline, which avoids placing blame, Resseman pointed out. 

Instead, the approach relies on examination of consequences. A student may be asked to reflect on their actions in a way that helps them understand the implications of the outcome – that they are no longer in class, for example, and missing out on whatever is happening there. They also may be asked to recognize how the disruptive behavior impacted others, interfering with student class time. 

"When we are using this, there are lots of points," Resseman noted. "Is it mean? Is it rude? Is it bullying?" In this way, a student takes responsibility for their actions, and helps design a plan for "re-entry," she said. 

The cell-phone ban has had a good effect, too. Talmadge was the first school to start such a program. It was underway last year. "Cyberbullying is down," Resseman observed. "And the noise level in the cafeteria is way up, as kids socialize and engage and talk instead of looking at their phones." 

Resseman also pointed out that "ParentSquare," a user-friendly communication tool that connects parents and families to school information via the internet is keeping teachers, staff, parents, families and volunteers in touch. ▪ 

 By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, November 21, 2025     

A list of hazardous substances in Oregon now includes a “forever chemical” detected in the latest Independence Water Quality report – PFBS is one of six compounds identified this fall as part of a new rule-making step taken by the state’s Department of Environmental Quality. 

DEQ’s “Cleanup Program” is implementing the new rule, which was adopted in September. It adds a half-dozen PFAS chemicals to a roster of those that carry potential health risks, including PFBS, a chemical found in low concentrations in Independence drinking water, at levels far under the federal limit. 

PFAS chemicals have been detected in some drinking water systems in Oregon. "They're an emerging pollutant and a lot more needs to be known about them,” said Dylan Darling, DEQ public affairs specialist. 

When these compounds are detected in public water systems above drinking-water standards, the Oregon Health Authority – along with DEQ’s Drinking Water Source Protection Program – conducts assessments to find potential sources of contamination, according to Darling. 

The DEQ Cleanup Program now will regulate PFAS “just like it regulates the other 800 chemicals on the hazardous substances list,” he said. 

The agency is identifying sites in Oregon, including but not limited to airports, with suspected or known PFAS contamination and is beginning to test for PFAS at them. The new rule gives the DEQ program the authority to investigate, regulate and clean up the six PFAS constituents, Darling said.

There is no single culprit for contamination. However, over many decades, special fire-extinguishing foam contained PFAS compounds – and frequent use and storage of the foam is linked to PFAS.

In Oregon, Senate Bill 91, which went into effect this spring, now bans the sale and use of foam-containing PFAS substances. 

Following detection, DEQ’s Drinking Water Source Protection Program and the Oregon Health Authority work with water systems to identify the next steps. “This is one piece of the puzzle to address PFAS,” Darling said. 

PFAS have become a source of public concern and a focus of research. This past week, a scientific session on PFAS was held in Portland, at the annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry of North America. The research presented there shows gains in quantifying the presence of PFAS chemicals. 

"There is a pressing need to identify an approach to characterize and measure PFAS routinely, as well as assess their potential effects on human and ecological health," according to a statement by the organization, which added that "to do so, there is a lot of research directed at understanding the sources of PFAS, their fate and transport in the environment, and their potential toxicity to humans and wildlife."

In a podcast a few months ago, State Sen. David Brock Smith, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, observed that the rulemaking ability by Oregon agencies essentially provides a way that new laws are made without a vote by the Oregon Legislature. 

However, PFAS drinking-water standards are established by the EPA under federal authority. (OHA is the lead on all state drinking-water issues and DEQ’s Laboratory is a partner that helps with the testing.)  Information on the DEQ web page about this issue is at this link: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/wq/dwp/Pages/PFAS-in-drinking-water.aspx  ▪ 

 By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, November 21, 2025     

This week, the financial picture in Independence seemed to go from bad to worse. A budget-slashing "Financial Recovery Report" was issued by Rob Moody, the departing Independence finance director, which shows that the city needs to implement more cutbacks in order to help stabilize its precarious general fund.  The report is included in the November 25th city council meeting agenda packet.

About the same time, Oregon Sen. Deb Patterson issued a state-level warning that times are hard for the legislature, too. However, at a local meeting, the senator provided a record of accomplishments over the past year and shared hope for the future.

Standing firm in her “3-H” advocacy – health care, housing and hunger reduction – Patterson told a neighborhood meeting in her district this week that those will remain her priorities for coming legislative sessions. 

After securing six million dollars for the Marion-Polk Food Share Warehouse expansion and $1.75 million for the MI Trolley, Patterson received recent kudos from individuals ranging from trolley drivers to volunteers at the Ella Curran Food Bank. 

But, as queries to some of the town's residents show, there is concern that politicians in Salem are failing to recognize the financial strain being experienced by everyday people. "No matter what, we hear that taxes are the answer," said one merchant. "But those of us paying them think enough is enough."

Patterson alluded to her work and support for "The Fair Energy Act" as an example of her commitment to improve the outlook for people having a hard time making ends meet. It helps families avoid sudden increases in utility bills by requiring gas and electric companies to analyze the effect on rate-payers and directs the Public Utility Commission to take that into account to allow adjustments to lessen the impact. 

However, Patterson, who represents about 127,000 people in a district that spans both sides of the Willamette River, warned that she expects federal dollars to dwindle for Oregon.

Speaking to the Southeast Salem Neighborhood Association at its annual meeting, Patterson reminded her constituents that the state's budget has to be balanced, which will mean a squeeze. 

"But I am standing steady for housing," she said. 

Two bills she fought for – SB 684 and SB 974 – establish a program for low-interest short-term loans in developments for mixed incomes and streamline the approval process for residential building, respectively. 

Patterson chairs the Senate Committee on Health Care, and she said she is determined to find ways to recruit more primary care physicians into the state; Some Oregonians are waiting months, even years, to get a family physician, she noted. 

She cited a recent success in getting a bill passed that offers grant funding to eligible organizations for the recruiting and retaining of behavioral healthcare providers. 

Oregon legislators got some relief this week, as state economists announced that corporate taxes drove the anticipated shortfall of revenue from $373 million down to about $63 million. However, this is considered a temporary solution, according to multiple reports on the state's economy.▪ 

 By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, November 14, 2025     

The new water-treatment plant, estimated two years ago to cost $44 million, has begun the first stage of building – land is being cleared on Corvallis Road to make way for construction. It is the most expensive venture on the city's horizon. 

Trammart News has been receiving inquiries from residents about it, which followed acquisition of the 12-acre parcel of land through eminent domain, for $459,000.

Though the city didn't disclose this purchase price for the site, Trammart News was able to make that determination through court documents and public records requests. Also, a city official's seemingly mistaken pronouncement that lack of well maintenance is one reason for the need for the new plant led to more questions. 

Trammart News has covered the city since 2016 without hearing any indication from city reports that well maintenance was not routinely undertaken. Inquiries were made to the city about this and other issues. However, for at least the past 18 months, the city's communications director, Emmanuel Goicochea – reportedly at the request of City Manager Kenna West – hasn't answered questions from Trammart News.

Trammart News has listed the most common resident inquiries below. Sources for answers about the water treatment plant are referenced in parentheses following the stated answers. 

1) Are the initial start-up costs really in the millions of dollars? 

Yes. To enter the design phase, which is being undertaken now, a $7.5 million bank line of credit was taken out – the loan later was largely repaid with another one from the state at a much lower interest rate (Independence city council reports, 2024, 2025). 

Payment for the first phase also is being aided by a $440,318 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (Independence city news release 2024).

2) I read that the city is getting $4 million from the federal government for the water treatment plant, is that right? 

Not if you're referring to the grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment is a separate process for the city. Renovation and expansion of that system is planned, too (Independence city news release, 2024). 

3) I don’t understand about the difference between wastewater treatment and water treatment. It’s not the same? 

No, it isn’t. Water treatment generally collects water from the ground, such as wells, or from sources like rivers, and the water is treated to purify it, making it safe for drinking so that it can be distributed to your tap. Wastewater treatment takes your sewage and other liquid waste, including storm run-off, and cleans it so that it can be released back into the environment (Water Environment Federation). 

4) How hard will it be to filter and disinfect the river water for drinkability? 

That remains to be determined. However, in its 2024 “Waterway Report” on Independence, the EPA rated the Willamette River here as having “good” environmental health. One reason: Ash Creek has been well maintained through ongoing care of the watershed, which helps keep the river healthy, too; This stewardship has been attributed to the Luckiamute Watershed Council (OSU Institute for Policy Research and Engagement, 2025).

5) If there’s less than $10 million so far to finance this water treatment plant, where will the rest of the money come from for the water treatment plant? 

Grants and technical-assistance funding can be sought by cities from state and federal programs to help finance such projects. But local governments often rely on bonds to pay for large-scale construction, which can spread the cost of repayment over many years (Oregon State Treasury). 

In 2024, Independence received $880,000 through an appropriation from U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Oregon), which is funding the replacement of the water line under Corvallis Road.

6) Is there a water shortage in Independence that is driving the need for a new water treatment plant? 

No. Trammart News has found no evidence of a current water shortage nor one that would occur in the near future, given the current population. But upward trends would change that. The city is expected to grow by more than 1.5% annually, according to previous forecasts. 

Nearly two decades ago, the town was expected to reach its current population, indicating those past predictions are likely on track. By 2030, the town is anticipated to have 15,000 to 20,000 people (Polk County Population Forecast, 2007). 

7) Is the city expected to have other water-agency partners in building this water-treatment plant?

Yes. It is being made available as a "regional solution" for water needs. Monmouth has signed on as a partner. So has Polk County, but clarity of the partnership may be needed when the county is referenced. The county isn’t expected to provide any major financing. 

Polk County officials want to exercise a "water right" of the county, which kicks in around 2029 – but they have been clear from the outset that the county is not in “the water business” and cannot be depended on for any significant financial help (Polk County Board of Commissioners meetings 2024, 2025). 

8) What is a "water right"?  

In this case, it is the right to harvest water from the Willamette River. Independence was under some pressure to begin working toward the water treatment plant in order to be able to retain that right. The deadline for showing progress toward that goal is 2026 (Oregon Water Resources Department, 2023).

As reported by Trammart News in 2023, the city has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars" for access rights to the Willamette River. 

9) Will the water treatment plant be big enough to accommodate both Monmouth’s and the county’s needs?

Yes, that's the plan. In fact, the original plan was to include more agencies than Monmouth – agencies that would also sign on with the city. But none have done so to date. 

However, the water-treatment plant will be built so that other agencies – Rickreall, Dallas – conceivably could do so, if they find they have a need to participate in the future. (Trammart News' water-agency poll, 2024). 

10) Will the new water treatment-plant affect water rates? 

It is likely that, overall, the new water-treatment plant will lead to increased costs for users. Already, the city has instituted a 5.5% increase for the next five years, to cover inflation, debt and ongoing operation and maintenance costs of its water system. (April 2024 City of Independence Water Rate Study).

The public works director overseeing city water projects, Gerald Fisher, announced he will retire in June. ▪ 

Trammart News Service, November 14, 2025      

In the last few weeks, Independence seemed to shift between a town starting to fill with festive spirit and one in which, increasingly, some community members had new reasons to feel fear. Immigration authorities dominated Oregon news reports. And the federal shutdown meant some local families were reaching a breaking point.

Two elder friends – one Mexican American, the other of Celtic heritage – met up at Gilgamesh downtown to discuss the social divides that seem to be invading this holiday season. These two grandmothers once again addressed some painful and current issues. – Anne Scheck

ANNE: Here we are again. The two grandmothers. I wanted to have lunch with you because I have been up and down Main Street and the economy looks bad, if not terrible, to some of the merchants. Also, a lot of people remain worried, really worried, about whether there will be visits to Independence by immigration officers. It just seems like a terrible time.

AIDA: Maybe there have been visits to Independence already. I don't know for certain, but that is what I was told might be happening – when I went to drop off some boxes for the food bank. 

ANNE: What do you mean? 

AIDA: A lady told me to take a detour afterward. I think she was worried about my safety. 

ANNE: Why? Did she think you looked Hispanic?  

AIDA: Yes. I think that was it. I think she was trying to warn me from going where I might be unsafe. 

ANNE: This is troubling because I just finished asking at the stores on Main Street about the local economy and everyone is saying it isn't good and so I would expect the food bank is getting a lot of use ... and I guess it is ... but you are saying you felt unsafe? And you weren't even there to get food ... so are people feeling unsafe using the food bank? 

AIDA: These are the times we are living in.

ANNE: This is so wrong. Our lives have been somewhat parallel, but I never had to worry about that. I mean, we both grew up without money, and we seem to look at life pretty much the same way. And we both lived in very mixed neighborhoods as adults in Los Angeles – I was in the minority on the street where I lived. 

AIDA: Yes. 

ANNE: I lived in a LA neighborhood that had people of all backgrounds. But even when I thought I wasn't being racist in any way, I learned I could be ...

AIDA: How?

ANNE: Well, I have always driven older cars because I just hate car payments so I just buy clunkers. There was this one time when I was a few blocks from where I lived in LA and my car stalled at a stop sign. It did this once in a while. That was the time I learned how prejudice can just surface and consume everything. 

AIDA: Really?

ANNE: See, I looked up. There were like three or four young African-American men, hanging out. They were drinking. So I just panicked. I must have looked terrified. And what did they do? One pointed at me and they all started laughing. 

AIDA: They were laughing? 

ANNE: Yes. I was frantically trying to get the ignition to start the car. I know I must have looked like I was going to die of fright. And those guys were laughing. 

AIDA: Laughing at you?

ANNE: Yes, and I noticed it was soda they were drinking, and I had a soda can in my car, too. So I started laughing, too. I mean, I know I looked so fearful. And there we all were. I held my soda can up, like I was toasting them, and we all had a good laugh. 

AIDA: They could tell you were reacting to them because of their race. 

ANNE: Yes. And they thought it was funny, thank goodness. And then I thought how ridiculous I looked. When I drove away, I thought I should have apologized. You know, I could have rolled down the window to say I was sorry. I regret that I didn't. 

AIDA: I believe that tipping your can was apology enough – it ended with a laugh. 

ANNE: That is very gracious of you to say. I was ashamed of being so afraid.  

AIDA: But you can see why people would have that same response to government cars, now. They don't know who is in them. They don't know if they are going to stop. If you look like I do, you don't know. Are they going to stop because of you, how you look? 

ANNE: I can't even watch the news anymore. Ironic, isn't it? I cover news in this town. 

AIDA: I always walk the dog, and I saw a government car the other day, and I thought of that. 

ANNE: This is such a terrible time. I also think of the financial strain most people are under and I just want it all to stop. I mean, how can it continue to go on? We have people in town who tell me that they dread going to the grocery store, with prices rising. 

AIDA: But there is a lot here to be grateful for. The sense of community is so strong.

ANNE: You are so right. Okay, Aida, I have another story to tell you. I realize I am sort of monopolizing the conversation today. You are being so polite. 

AIDA: Well, you have interesting things to say ... 

ANNE: Thank you and I hope this is interesting to hear because it also shows how strong socio-economic perceptions can be. Sometimes, being you know, Anglo,  makes no difference ... I mean, I know it does ... but let me tell you when it doesn't.

AIDA: Well, I know it doesn't automatically make your life easy. 

ANNE: In my old LA neighborhood we lived near a park – a park that was on this thoroughfare where people drove by from say, UCLA or the Westside, nice places. There was an affluent area south of where I lived, Manhattan Beach, and they would drive by this park to get home.

AIDA: I think the highway you are talking about is the 405?  

ANNE: Right. And most cars would just whiz by. But this one time, this woman my age stopped at the park. Her little girl was car-sick or something ... so they stopped at this park. I was there with my son nearly every day, right before dinner time. And I always felt in need of adult conversation.

AIDA: Yes. I know what you mean.

ANNE: So she put her little girl on the swing, and I tried to talk to this mom. We're both moms, right? But she acted like I had cooties. Well, I had on an old sweatshirt, and she was better dressed, obviously. But she treated me terribly. At one point, she simply stopped answering. 

AIDA: You mean, she just wouldn't speak to you?

ANNE: That's right. And she hurried off to her car. I had this crazy notion to scream at her that I have three college degrees, including a masters degree, and I am more than my dang old sweatshirt would indicate. But I didn't. And I realized ... none of that stuff should matter anyway.

AIDA: But it does. Sometimes that is all that seems to matter to people. How much money you have, how you look. 

ANNE: That's why I am so fond of this community. It seems like it doesn't matter here, or at least not as much. 

AIDA:  We share a lot. The beautiful fall colors. The river. The friendliness of people here. The sense of belonging. 

ANNE: I am so sorry that this time we're in has caused you pain, and that it is causing others who are so important to the community so much pain, too. And I want to thank you for today ... I have gone on and on ... and we have hardly talked about you at all. 

AIDA: That's okay. This has been a conversation about things you care about. We cannot solve the problems we're surrounded by if we don't have this type of conversation or deeper discussions. I do hope for a better future.

ANNE: I am praying for one. ▪ 

Trammart News Service, November 14, 2025      

Due to a persistent person in the community who misses “The Indy Hop,” which was a brief column that appeared when Trammart News began reporting in 2016, it is being brought back. You may wonder, can a single individual have that kind of influence? 

Why yes. Just ask Becky Jay, a busy master gardener and a member of the Independence Planning Commission, who hunted tenaciously for a fairy ring. In a gracious gesture, she conducted a search after TN told her that a reader – yes, one reader – wanted an article on this fungi phenomenon. Jay found a fairy ring, of course. But recent rains disfigured the circle of mushrooms, so the story will have to wait. 

Meanwhile, here is the resurrection of “The Indy Hop,” which was requested by – have I mentioned this enough? – a single reader. The chosen subject is AI’s take on Indy.

                                                                                                                                                                       – Anne Scheck 

If you live in Independence, perhaps you have noticed the tremendous comfort of the “sparse suburban feel,” as the copilot of Bing’s search engine puts it. If you have no idea what that means, don’t worry. Bing says that's a rural-like setting with few amenities. So now you know! 

The B-copilot also lists Independence as a town with the advantage of “proximity” to the lovely Willamette Valley. But, as most residents are aware, Independence actually is the site of a city within the Willamette Valley, rather than a place that’s close to some far-off Shangri-La. 

So, Trammart News decided it was time to ask Google’s AI. Would it have different things to say?

In fact, the AI copilot from Google does seem familiar with the town, calling it family-friendly with a strong sense of community. However, the question “What is it like to live in Independence?” did call up two different references to the “wet, sometimes gloomy winters.” 

Trammart News then asked Google’s AI if it would like to live in the town, given the heavy rains and all. But Google AI refused to offer an opinion. “As an AI, I don’t have personal feelings,” came the response. “My existence is in the digital realm.” 

Well, okay, but what does the more intellectual participant of the Google universe, Google Scholar, have to say about that? Sadly, nothing. But that search engine did take Trammart News to a 2014 journal article by Assistant City Manager Shawn Irvine, who sums up the benefits of Indy early on by stating: “Independence has taken active living to the next level.” 

This led TN to try to track down more articles – some of them, unlike the one by Irvine, obviously generated entirely by artificial intelligence. One recommended the great airport park (there isn’t one). Another extolled the fun of being in a college town (er, that would be Monmouth.) 

A third speaks of the town’s pride in being at the end of the Oregon Trail, which ... well, it isn’t. However, this error is understandable since the town’s motto is “Oregon’s Story Begins Here.” 

The Bing copilot got that wrong, too – it lists the town motto as “She flies with her own wings,” which is actually the one for the entire state. Google’s AI didn’t do any better: “Independence doesn’t have a motto,” its AI stated. 

If you want to learn about Independence from the internet, those realtor reels may be your best bet. They have great footage and really know how to praise the town. 

However, a few do include one less favorable aspect, perhaps because explaining that big unfinished structure downtown cannot be avoided. One narrator said it's known by locals as “the monstrosity.” 

Well, not quite. Older residents call it “Stonehenge”; Newer arrivals named it “Skeletor.” 

Either way, it has become a 20-year-old landmark, so listen up AI, because you don’t even reference it – unlike your human counterparts in those pretty online videos. (Note: AI was not used in the writing of INDY HOP!) ▪ 

By Anne Scheck 

Trammart News Service, November 7, 2025      

Six years ago, the City of Independence called off an effort to sell an open-space park at Polk and Ash streets because a deed restriction appeared to prevent the sale. Now it’s on the market – this time to help put money in the strained city budget. 

Questions about the possibility of restrictions on the acreage – donated as park land nearly two decades ago – were forwarded to Emmanuel Goicochea, the city communications director. Despite multiple attempts by Trammart News seeking answers, there has been no response to the inquiries.  

In 2019, City Manager Tom Pessemier expressed disappointment that the land couldn’t be sold, explaining that years ago, when Boise Cascade donated the lots to the city, it stipulated that the land must remain open space – and if not, the conversion must be to a park, according to a city council report by Pessemier. 

When the transaction initially occurred, in 2008, a notation on the document advised that “per Greg Ellis office this is going to be used for park.” (Ellis was Independence’s City Manager at that time.) 

A public records request by Trammart News turned up an email from the senior legal counsel at Boise Cascade in June about the donated land, which stated: “Any use of the property should be in compliance with all environmental/land use laws, ordinances, and regulations, and moving forward with a use outside of the former agreement is ultimately at the city’s risk.”

The inquiry that prompted that sum-up was an email to the Boise Cascade lawyer from City Councilor Shannon Corr, who had sent the company the “title paperwork,” which didn’t appear to include a restrictive covenant or deed restriction, according to the corporation’s attorney. 

Corr and City Manager Kenna West were queried about whether this was a definitive answer, given that Corr is a city councilor – but there has been no response from either West or Corr so far. 

Though West praised Corr’s input on this issue at a city council meeting, city councilors generally are recommended not to become involved in the day-to-day operations of the city, according to an advisory from the League of Oregon Cities. Their decision-making ability is largely limited to actions taken up by the city council, under Oregon law.

In an ironic twist, the parcel of land now for sale, which is two lots that comprise more than a half-acre, was originally proposed to be sold to raise money for acquiring a new location for the Heritage Museum. Now it has hit the market to help reduce some of the spending that resulted from the purchase of a new museum site, according to information from 2025 budget sessions. The loan was taken out to purchase the museum’s current building.

A resolution to allow Independence to seek $650,000 from a bank loan for a new museum building was passed by the city council six years ago, after a plan to sell the city-owned lots on Polk Street for part of the money was called off due to what was then reported as restrictions on the land by the corporate donor.  

The new location of the museum – on the corner east of the Post Office – is ADA accessible, unlike the previous site. The previous home of the Heritage Museum was in a former historic church building a few blocks away, with a stairwell entrance. The main floor was up a flight of stairs.

That one-time church, which housed the museum, was sold for an estimated $350,000, according to information imparted at a city council meeting at that time. 

The sum of the loan for acquiring the new museum building included both the purchase and the cost of immediate upgrades. However, city records show that the refurbishment required more money than had been anticipated. 

Now the current museum building, which has been occupied for only a few years, reportedly is being offered for sale. 

The museum is costing the city about $73,000 in mortgage payments annually, according to a recent report by Independence Finance Director Rob Moody. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck 

Trammart News Service, November 7, 2025      

This fall, 8th-grade students showed a 9% decline in math skills compared with tests they took during the spring of their 6th grade year – a significant drop largely attributed to a new math curriculum that was adopted last year. 

Those were the findings on Into Math, a curriculum introduced a year ago that already has yielded some data, which  was presented to the Central School District board members at the board’s meeting Monday night. 

From 6th grade to 8th grade, math percentages at the benchmark slid this year from 34% to 25%, according to the data. 

This contrasts with what is being seen in language arts. The use of the district’s ongoing and intermittent testing, called the “universal screener,” generally has shown gains in helping students reach toward those desired benchmarks. 

Put into place a few years ago, the universal screener allows teachers to target weak areas of learning – and the approach is showing success, as demonstrated by reading scores that have ticked up. 

But math education has evolved over time, explained Amy Jackson, CSD’s director of curriculum. “Our new math curriculum, Into Math, has an increased focus on understanding how and why numbers are useful to find solutions to all kinds of problems,” she explained. 

Though Into Math maintains an emphasis on basic math facts, it opens more ways for students to see how and why those math facts can be used, Jackson said. 

There’s a lot more reading involved and such a change in curriculum can be hard, noted CSD Board Member Irene Oliveros-Vega. 

“It’s a lift,” agreed Kubista, who observed that when a new curriculum is first introduced and used there can be a period of adjustment for teachers, when components are evaluated as they are being taught. “So, what are we doing to help them?” Oliveros-Vega asked.

There is money for training in a special fund, said Julie Heilman, executive director of teaching and learning for CSD. However, budget cuts could be coming, Heilman warned. 

If budget-slashing is needed, “we will have to re-prioritize our existing funds in the district,” she said. 

Almost all the dollars for professional learning, as well as release time for teachers to get training, are paid out of that fund, Kubista added. 

Oregon schools are expected to experience cuts of 2.5% to 5% this year without the cash infusion needed to compensate for lower state revenue, according to a recent report in the Oregon Capital Chronicle. Predictions by the state’s Office of Economic Analysis have prompted comparisons to the impact on public education during the financial squeeze of 2008, which was dubbed the “Great Recession.” 

The new curriculum for math was implemented in the spring of 2024. Into Math was adopted for grades K-8.

At the time, district administrators said they expected the change-over process to have an impact due to the curriculum switch. 

Jackson noted that Into Math has “pacing guides,” which help teachers know how much time to spend on lessons and units to manage completion by the end of the year. 

The pacing guides are connected among grade levels, to make sure that students have opportunities to learn systematically and revisit topics when needed, Jackson said. 

The Carnegie Learning program, which includes higher math and involves collaborative engagement, was adopted for grades 9-12. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck 

Trammart News Service, November 7, 2025      

Jonathan Jay resigned from the Independence Parks Board five years after he was appointed to it. 

He brought to the board skills from a work life that included project controls management in industrial construction. And, with a master's degree in business administration, he had high-level experience in budgeting, too. But he decided he didn't want to serve the community in a position where he didn't feel he was making enough of a difference  – a source of disappointment to him. 

So, Trammart News, which covered the Parks Board during the time Jay was on it, asked to interview him about his time on it – and why he left. Jay agreed. His responses were candid and incisive.  

TN: I was so sorry to see you left the Parks Board. How long were you on it? I really enjoyed covering it while you were there. 

Jay: I think I was appointed not long after we moved here from Colorado. That would have been around 2020. My wife, Becky, got involved pretty quickly – as a member of the planning commission. So I wanted to do something, too. I was interested in parks, they're so important to the livability and character of the community. So, I was enthusiastic about being put on the committee. 

TN: Then it changed. It went from the Parks & Recreation Committee to the Parks Board. And the public works director, Gerald Fisher, took over as the city staff member who attended. 

Jay: I remember that the first issue was the community pool. It closed, of course, and is sorely missed. It would be great if Monmouth and Independence could go together to develop a community center. I think we need a pool and other facilities. But Dallas has had difficulty with financing for their aquatic center, so I know it is not an easy thing. 

TN: Did you get discouraged?

Jay: Yes. Because I felt like I wasn't making much of a difference and nothing seemed to get done. For instance, we had this consultant for a report on the sports park. The consultant simply told us what we already knew – that the current sports fields can’t be developed further because of flooding.

I was disappointed that we didn’t get much information about other possibilities for the area. I don't think we got that information. 

TN: Well, that report had some interesting observations. Like one part that seemed to reference Indy as being near a metropolitan area outside of Oregon, so ... 

Jay: I guess what I meant was that we weren't involved in the contracting, in requesting the information that might help ... I had questions, for example. Like other uses of the sports fields and other options for sports and recreation.

TN: Well, you made quite a difference with Sunset Meadows Park, after that was built. You kept asking for the toddler-safety swing there and, sure enough, you got one.

Jay: I kept asking about it. That's really all I did. But I really like getting things done, and I am glad that we finally got (Sunset Meadows) park finished. It’s getting quite a bit of traffic and use. 

TN: Did you feel you weren't getting things done on the Parks Board?

Jay: Yes. I didn’t feel we were having any impact. That was the reason I resigned. I felt like there was not much involvement with the city. To my knowledge, we never gave the city a report. Were we ever asked anything? If so, I don't remember that. 

I know there is important work going on – the parks master plan is being updated. That's a 10-year plan. A big job. But I didn't feel I was accomplishing very much. I feel like I am doing a lot more by participating in the Lions Club. 

TN: Do you miss the Parks Board? 

Jay: I have always thought parks are important. They build communities. They put people together, families from neighborhoods. When I first was on the board I went around to all the parks. I inventoried all of them. What was there? Playground equipment? What kind? 

TN: I am saddened you left the Parks Board. That is why I wanted to talk to you about it. But you seem to be doing a lot with the Lions Club.

Jay: I feel like I am getting more done. We do a lot of good work in the community, not just the 'trash pick-up' you see us out there doing. There's vision screenings for kids in schools, all the fund-raising for sight, hearing, cancer and diabetes programs. I see it as really making a difference. 

TN: You have mentioned your need to feel you are making a difference. But I feel you did on the Parks Board, and I know you are doing so now with Lions Club.

Jay: Thank you. I hope so. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck 

Trammart News Service, October 31, 2025      

City licensing fees for businesses, including those that are home-based, could generate more income for Independence, allow better tracking of such enterprises and identify them for informational purposes, according to a discussion at a city council work session on the topic this week. 

Currently, there are 622 business within the city limits, observed Rob Moody, the city’s finance director. 

If a $100 fee was imposed on each of them, that would equal $62,000 in revenue for the city, he said. 

The increase in fees for storefront and home-based businesses, along with other fee revisions upward – ranging from dog registrations to filings for conditional use permits – were discussed at the meeting.  According to a list of other fees from other cities, many of the charges in Independence are below those averages. But it was business licensing that received the most attention.

The proposed fees for businesses would include those that are home-based and those that offer rentals, such as an Airbnb – some councilors suggested that distinctions could be made from those that occupy storefronts. 

Councilor Kathy Martin-Willis said that someone using their time “to make doilies” in their own house differs from a larger commercial operation. 

Councilor Dawn Roden said she buys pickles from a vendor whose business appears to be limited to that product. A $100 fee could impact that pickle-maker significantly, she said. 

“We literally are trying to give you a place to start,” Moody advised. 

However, if varied businesses are given different fee obligations, it becomes more complicated, requiring staff time. Already, there has been a need for “administrative lifting” that has meant some records of businesses in the city haven’t been fully maintained, Moody said. 

The new fee schedule won’t be implemented until a resolution is introduced for the changes, he noted. Feedback from councilors is due by November 13, he added.

“We’re going to need that definition of a business and that fee amount,” Moody said. The issue is expected to return to the city council for consideration in late November. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck 

Trammart News Service, October 31, 2025      

It's billed as "fresh outdoor fun," which sums it up. It's welcomed a bridal party, Wolfie the WOU mascot, countless birthday celebrations and a whole drove of homeless rabbits. 

It's PuttSkee's mini-golf course, and by now many consider it a landmark. After all, it was on the S Curves before the nickname of the S Curves ever came to be.  

Over the years, PuttSkee's has attracted media for its unique brand of family entertainment, including a segment from KGW's "Rod on the Road." And it has become a familiar part of the M-I landscape. Dads and moms who once used the small golf course as kids now take their own children there. 

It's still home to the Winegar family, who live in one of two century-old homes on the acreage. 

PuttSkee’s shuts down every Halloween, then opens again every spring; It has been doing that for more than a quarter of a century. 

Isaac Winegar took over from his dad. His wife Daniela and son Samuel help run the place, too. (Daughter Megan is away at college.) 

By the time he graduated from Central High School, in 1993, Isaac Winegar had decided he wanted to stay in his hometown. 

Now he manages the same land and course built in 1999 by his father. 

Winegar was only in the third grade when he planted one of the tall pines near the entrance. 

The business has been stable and is "growing every year," he noted. By late this fall, the user-count had ticked up to 3,000. One reason for the popularity is probably the affordability factor – toddlers go for free, he pointed out. 

Winegar, whose two brothers left the area, recalls that his dad, Skee – now retired to Mexico with his mother – was a visionary in terms of the golf course. 

Skee had visited California on vacation and decided the M-I area needed one of the miniature golf courses he'd seen there. "But he was not a cookie cutter guy," Winegar explained. 

Most miniature golf courses were fairly free of vegetation, for example. But carefully planned trees loom over PuttSkee's, like a tiny forest grove. All of the putting greens – which are artificial turf – were hand-crafted, and a couple have huge tires made into challenging obstacles. 

Birds swoop in to alight on tree branches. Squirrels scamper through. And a few years ago, rabbits were released from across Monmouth Street by someone who decided it was time to quit raising them. 

"They were turned loose and they came here," Winegar said. "And, well, we just let them run around and find a new home."  

That was long before Roth’s Fresh Markets moved in, along with that coffee place featuring a green mermaid and Mexican fast-food fare under the logo of a bell. 

This is a golf course that attracts players that defy easy stereotyping, Winegar said. They’re young and old, coming from both inside and outside of Independence and Monmouth. 

However, the majority of customers are, in fact, locals who love the place. When players drive in from outside Polk County, it's usually from Salem or Corvallis, he said. 

So, who is the typical visitor to go miniature golfing at PuttSkee’s? They're teens out for group activity, grandparents with grandchildren, college students on a date and families. 

Maintaining the grounds takes work, and Winegar limits himself to two projects a year. One ongoing chore is the grass, which lies between the teebox areas. 

As soon as PuttSkee’s Mini Golf closes for the season, another kind of toil begins. Weatherproofing and winter plantings are on this list right away. 

But he does take a little time off to relax, Winegar confirmed. 

When asked how he does that, he identified listening to music as one way. One of his favorite songs? “Islands in the Stream,” by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, the same 1980s chart-topper that his father played while building the mini-golf course. ▪ 

Trammart News Service, October 31, 2025      

Trammart News editorial: How the news outlet became a sock puppet with appreciation for Seattle’s city council sock-puppet  players

This past year I found the perfect antidote to any press-related burnout. It gives me more energy than a downtown espresso, is as riveting as the scenic Willamette and causes more laughs than any local joke-teller. 

It's the Seattle City Council, as portrayed by sock puppets.

Just when I thought I was the only one in America to find some city council meetings too zany to believe, along comes the Seattle sock-puppet performers. Their lines are taken directly from the Seattle City Council. 

Every so often, I write a thank-you note to someone or something that’s helped me along the way. This Halloween seemed a good time to express appreciation to the sock puppeteers who make the Seattle City Council so amusing – and keep me going with big-dose injections of their mirth. 

My fan letter, mailed recently, is below. And, in their honor, I made a sock puppet of myself. 

                                                                                                                                                                   – Anne Scheck 

                                                                                                                                                                       Publisher

Dear sock-puppet characters of the Seattle City Council:

Hello from another Pacific Northwest city. I am writing to you from an Oregon town, Independence, that’s about 1% your population. But despite our difference in size, it turns out your big-metro government and our small-town city council seem to have a lot in common. 

So, I decided to write you during Freedom of Speech week, which celebrates press freedom far and wide. But, alas, not always here, not for this reporter-at-large.

So, I have turned myself into a sock puppet, as a coping strategy. I was inspired by the satirical sock puppet re-enactments about your own Seattle city council. 

Your sock puppets have saved my work life. I believe that some members of the Independence city council, if they had their way, would quash the local press quicker than a stovetop flame in the kitchen of a fire station. 

For instance, a couple of weeks ago, the city council passed a new annual salary package for the city manager of $170,000 but refused to identify that amount. And, instead of a formal evaluation, the city manager got flowery speeches by most of the councilors. I am not making this up! 

A couple of the city councilors got mad that I reported on this – salary level and all – and I got emails appearing to suggest the praise-heaping was the real, honest-to-goodness story and what is wrong with me, anyway?

You might think this would drive a journalist like me bonkers. But my sanity has been preserved this year by your sock puppets, O you wondrous creators of the Seattle City Council sock-puppet ensemble.

Using dialogue from the Seattle City Council, those cartoonish puppets of yours have given me many laugh-out-loud moments. 

My favorite quote (so far) is from that one city councilor who always delivers a 10-sentence monologue when a few words would do. At the end of one such soliloquy, his sock-puppet character says: “We have really complex, like, nitty gritty, thorny stuff!” and then concludes “Go Mariners!”

It's also a nice touch to have that puppet of the alligator-monster-thing drift through, at times, when city councilors then proceed to shower the toothy reptile with fake dollar bills. 

We’ve got monster dollar-bill needs here, too. 

For years, as the debt ticked up in this little burg – something I’ve watched happen since 2017 – I would look around and wonder if anyone else found this peculiar. But no one on the city council seemed alarmed, despite their being told this was a worry by one of the outside auditors during a public meeting.

To be honest, I don’t deserve much credit. I think a savvy student from an 8th-grade math class at Talmadge Middle School could have spotted this financial situation. 

How I wish I’d seen your Seattle sock puppets then…

Instead, I undertook some stress-eating – high pastry consumption at our spectacular Ovenbird Bakery. Sadly, it still shows. 

But now I have my own sock puppet! 

It’s very therapeutic – the opposite of a voodoo doll. I know the enclosed picture of my sock puppet looks frightening, but it is the best this ol’ non-crafter could do. 

I write little scribblings now, underneath it. Like this latest one: “Another inconvenient fact to report – uh oh!”

See, my news outlet is always getting blamed for the bad things that happen here. 

This past week, one of our city councilors told me by email of his irritation over my having had contact with his wife, to discuss him. I don’t even know his wife. In fact, I don’t even know who she is. 

Anyway, I got in touch with the one and only woman to whom I had briefly mentioned this councilor’s name in the past several weeks, to fact-check whether she was … y’know, a family member. That woman had no idea what I was talking about. I believe she now considers me loony-tunes. 

I told the city councilor this, but he had already moved on to the reasons I am so thoroughly unlikable. I felt compelled to tell him that I’m interested in following tax dollars, not finding chums on the city council. 

The city councilors here are all volunteers, and I am convinced their hearts are in the right place. But some pretty much regard me the same as floating scum on our local waterway, Ash Creek. 

Well, you may wonder what the latest little note under my sock puppet means, in the photo you have received. So, what “inconvenient fact” am I referring to?

Here it is. The city councilor who is known for asking pesky questions recently inquired whether putting in fees for home-based business licenses might be perceived as a burden. She also observed a lot of churn and struggle in downtown businesses. The city manager countered that this councilor was failing to recognize the funding opportunity of collecting these fees. 

The city manager then explained that, if a bunch more dollars come in from licensing, the city could hire a new downtown manager. (The former one hasn’t been replaced.) 

But there seems to be a good explanation for that vacancy being unfilled – a reason that maybe got a little glossing over? 

The big holiday that was a substantial part of the job for the former downtown manager – the Independence Days celebration on and around July 4 – is now in the hands of a nonprofit to manage, right down to the fireworks display. 

I waited for one of the councilors to mention this … that the downtown manager’s major responsibility has been passed off to another agency … hey, do you know that term “crickets”? Yeah, it was like that.

I think I have gone on long enough. Please keep those online reels of your sock puppets coming. Your city council sock puppets are hilarious. Perhaps we have some dialogue down here to rival it, at times. 

So, if you ever come to town, I’d love to show you around. We can stop by the Ovenbird Bakery and I can show you where I once dealt with such vexations by consuming many a marionberry Danish. 

The city council meetings – and the bakery’s confections – might make it worth the trip. Sure, Independence is a small place comparatively, but it has the same big opportunity for humor and drama. It really does. 

Thank you,

Anne Scheck, 

Trammart News & Publishing ▪ 

By Anne Scheck 

Trammart News Service, October 24, 2025      

The financial pressures bearing down on Independence should be taken directly to residents in a clear and informative way so that the public understands why for-sale signs will soon pop up on park land and buzz will begin about a new levy, according to a discussion Tuesday night by the city’s budget committee.

The meeting– a financial roundtable discussion– arrived at a time when property-tax bills have been issued. And, according to information submitted by the county assessor, a significant number of property owners will see an increase in their property taxes this year.

Independence has the highest tax rate among all cities contained in Polk County, at 18.1129 for 2024-2025 with an uptick to 18.2506 for 2025-2026. 

In the second of three financial strategy sessions, direct calls for action came from some budget committee members not on the city council. “No matter what we do, we are going to squeeze citizens,” said Dana Sharman, one of several residents serving on the budget committee. The committee is composed of all the city councilors and an equal number of volunteers from the community. Sharman seemed to call for openness as the city proceeds, and suggested a list of reference points from the city finance director might be helpful as he speaks with residents. 

The city budget already has a declining General Fund – it is expected  to be at least a million dollars short of its target goal by the time the budget committee convenes to adopt a new budget this spring, city Finance Director Robert Moody said. 

One tentative conclusion so far: A new levy is needed. “We can be forthright about what we’re doing,” said Erin Seiler, who moments before said she felt a levy was the only way to preserve city services, such as parks and the proposed combination of the Independence Library and the Heritage Museum. Seiler later pressed for a way to allow residents to ask questions about debt and spending. 

Though the city has resisted adding a new fee to shore up the finances, Budget Committee Member Bradley Karkanen wondered aloud what it would look like if a fee was imposed – the fee could be added to the utility-bill mailings. 

He acknowledged that this wasn’t an alternative currently being considered, but it could be part of a “useful conversation” to know, he suggested. “What is the fee, if we were to solve it that way?” he asked. 

City Councilor Dawn Roden warned that “there is really anxiety over our water bills.” Financing for the city’s new $44 million water treatment plant lies ahead, she noted. 

But city council members largely weighed in on obstacles that have made maintaining fiscal stability a challenge. Mayor Kate Schwarzler said wetland areas have been a barrier to commercial development in industrial zones; Councilor Evan Sorce noted that state money is drying up – Oregon will have to do some major belt-tightening of its own due to looming “revenue challenges”; Councilor Marilyn Morton observed that Independence has a high number of home businesses, compared with other cities. 

There are generally no state-wide restrictions on home-based businesses – permit requirements for operating one are largely left up to individual cities, according to the related Oregon statutes. 

Councilor Roden revisited a question about cost-savings from a four-day work week, with Friday closures at city hall for all but the police department. Roden has called them “three-day weekends” for some staff. 

Councilor Shannon Corr pointed out that the schedule may be an important retention tool for parents. However, when implemented at other public agencies at the state, such as the Oregon Department of Human Services, the four-day work week there doesn't include closing buildings – employees are given a choice of days so that the operations can continue for a five-day work week.

A Trammart News inquiry wasn’t answered by the city communications director about whether the idea was explored for an in-person four-day work week, in which the days could be staggered  for the city to continue a five-day operational week.  In reply to a Public Records Request by Trammart News the city showed some predicted savings in the cost of utility services for Friday closures. 

The tentative decision to deal with the impending financial needs is to place city park land for sale, with signs easily viewed by the public. But could it be seen as a need for a levy or a threat against not passing it? That’s a risk, said Moody. It could be that “people perceive it as a threat,” he added. ▪ 

GUEST EDITORIAL

for Trammart News Service, October 24, 2025      

Introduction: At times, a trio of individuals at council meetings seem to have targeted City Councilor Dawn Roden, or so it seems to Trammart News. 

Councilor Shannon Corr acknowledged this week she set in motion the recent censure of Roden; City Manager Kenna West spent time at the last council meeting verbally chastising Roden in what appeared to be a retaliatory way; Mayor Kate Schwarzler has taken Roden to task periodically and, in TN’s opinion, provides an ineffective example when doing so. For instance, at the last city council meeting, the mayor interrupted Roden as she weighed in with her own evaluation of the city manager – an evaluation Roden had been told to provide only moments before. 

If I personally sound sympathetic to Roden – someone who I also have criticized for her blunt-spoken ways – it is because she so ably points to the elephant in the room and is often the lone voice in doing so. Just how long can a money-strained pachyderm be allowed to lumber? 

Maybe now it’s coming into full view, trunk to tail. 

Last year, the budget committee all but ignored Roden’s suggestions for cost-cutting – and continually endorsed the city-recommended plan, praising the process. 

This year it may be different. 

On Tuesday, members of the budget committee not on the council – Erin Seiler, Dana Sharman, among others – raised sharp points that signal important questions.

You can read about it in the article on the financial budget strategy session, also in this Friday issue.

In the meantime, here’s an editorial by Roden, who explains her motives for being what could be described as the elephant-spotter who speaks up. – Anne Scheck, Trammart News Service

A Council Member's Perspective: Speaking Up for Independence

Facing Challenges as a Council Member

Before I was elected to the city council, I understood that my victory would place me in a challenging environment. 

The council had long consisted of the same individuals, and as a newcomer, I brought concerns about our city's debt and its track record on major issues. For years, I believed our debt was excessive for a city of our size, though it was only in the most recent budget cycle that other council members acknowledged the severity of our financial situation. 

I am convinced that my constituents did not elect me to simply accept the status quo; instead, I strive to scrutinize every proposal and consider how each decision affects the people of Independence. When I question policies or actions before the council, it is not a personal attack on staff members, despite accusations to the contrary.

Responding to Accusations of Difficulty

Recently, the city manager publicly labeled me as a difficult council member, directly addressing me during last Tuesday's meeting and suggesting that my statements negatively impact her and the city staff. Her remarks, delivered during a discussion about her performance and salary increase, felt unprofessional and off-topic, further highlighting a lack of transparency in our meetings. 

To be clear, I do not work for the city manager, and my intent in raising questions or objections is not to harm her or any staff. I seek answers to make informed decisions regarding our tax dollars and strive to ensure policies serve the people of Independence.

The city manager’s approach has made my role more challenging, as I am now required to direct all inquiries through her, limiting my access to staff opinions. Furthermore, she insists that any questions from council members be addressed in public meetings, yet it appears I am the primary councilor subjected to this rule. When I attempt to present material to council, I am often blocked for not following procedures, despite using the same methods as other councilors who are permitted to present. This singling out is unwarranted.

Recently, I was denied the opportunity to read a resolution condemning political violence during new business and having council vote on the resolution. Although I followed the rules, such a reading would have been meaningless during council announcements, as we cannot act on resolutions at that time. My goal is simply to encourage peaceful disagreement and responsible governance. A simple request that was denied.

My Commitment and Values

I acknowledge that I sometimes make mistakes. However, my dedication to Independence remains unwavering – I cherish our city, its people, and our unique traditions and diversity. It is never my intention to hurt anyone, nor is it to remain silent on issues that I believe are wrong or contrary to our community’s interests. Guided by my faith, I act with conviction, trusting that I will be redirected if I am mistaken.

Addressing the Recent Complaint

I filed a complaint, which was discussed at a recent council meeting. Some have questioned whether grievance was necessary. While it may seem insignificant, I believe it is important to consider how the situation would be viewed if roles were reversed – had I physically tried to prevent someone from leaving the civic center, I am certain the consequences would have been more severe. 

I recently watched the video of the interaction, and I admit it is very difficult to see due to the angle. I did not feel the physical contact was meant to “comfort me,” as stated in the sheriff’s report. I believed they were trying to stop me from leaving the building. Even though law enforcement determined the incident was not criminal, I shared my truth and perception of the event. 

I felt I had the right to stand up for myself and request that such interactions do not happen again. My hope is that by addressing these issues, they will not occur again, and I am prepared to move forward and hope there will not be retaliation. 

Clarifying My Intentions Behind Criticism

For instance, disagreeing with the city planner’s vision for historic Independence is not an attack on his character. I oppose the proposed “more houses, same neighborhood” code change and do not support building townhouses or ADUs in every backyard alleyway. This is a matter of opinion, not a personal criticism of him as a person. 

While I respect the city planner as an individual, I am concerned about the influx of Portland consultants seeking to reshape Independence. Ultimately, it is up to our residents to voice their preferences if they wish to prevent such changes. I am also greatly concerned with the debt of the new water treatment facility.

I believe this can only be funded and maintained by vastly increasing the population and size of Independence. If this growth does not occur, I fear what our water bills will look like. If this huge growth does occur, do we lose our small-town feel and overwhelm our schools and other infrastructure? Again, these are my concerns, not personal attacks.

Similarly, my criticism of the police regarding a local sex offender’s use of the library’s address and physical location was not an attack on their integrity. My goal was to protect children by referencing state laws, which led to the individual being relocated. I appreciate our police, but I felt they erred in this instance. 

When expressing disappointment with the cost and design of Sunset Park, I was not disparaging staff or the park commission. Instead, I aimed to highlight the unreasonable expectations placed on a single employee responsible for maintaining all our parks. My comments about the park’s jagged rocks, horizontal, very short, and sometimes scalding hot slide, and overall expense were intended to address practical concerns, not to undermine anyone’s efforts.

Some argue that the use of system and development fees (SDCs) for Sunset Park means its cost is not a major issue. However, I believe we could have allocated some SDCs to improve ADA accessibility at River Front Park's playground. 

My questions to the city manager regarding closing the civic center on Fridays were not personal attacks, but an effort to understand how such decisions benefit our general fund. 

The manager’s explanation—that savings may take up to two years and could extend the elevator’s life—seemed insufficient. I do not support three-day weekends for salaried employees if it does not serve Independence’s residents.

Additionally, I question the justification for a 5% pay raise for our city manager when we can’t even budget to prioritize public safety and our library. My dissent is not personal; it is my responsibility to advocate for effective governance for the benefit of everyone in Independence.

Clarifying My Relationship with Local Media

There have been allegations that I collaborate with Trammart News. I want to clarify that I have never influenced their reporting or editorial decisions. While I engage civilly with the editor, I do not control their content. 

I believe the editor is committed to informing Independence residents and operates independently. Their reporting has at times criticized my actions or inaction, demonstrating that I am not above scrutiny.

If it seems that their coverage focuses on me, consider whether this is due to the attention placed on me by the city manager and other council members. I have, for many months, may I say years, been the favorite target of some attacks. 

Encouraging Civic Participation

In closing, I want to make it clear that I do not intend to resign from the city council unless absolutely necessary. 

Serving in this role has been difficult, and I often reflect on how I can better serve our community, be a smarter councilperson, and learn from experience. 

My greatest regret is being the sole dissenting voice; I recognize the need to recruit individuals with diverse perspectives for our council and boards. I will work more diligently to bring more and different people to the discussion. 

This is where your involvement is crucial. 

I encourage you to consider running for local office in the upcoming November 2026 election, with three council positions and one mayoral seat available.

Additionally, please consider applying for the planning or budget committees. Please note, the sitting mayor has the sole vote to put people on commissions or boards. If that does not change it will be difficult to get diverse minds on these boards. 

Diversity of opinion is so important! It is time for you to step up, this is our turning point – together, we can build a stronger Independence. I cannot do this alone. It is time for you to help! ▪