Fire Chief Stange expresses concern over future insurance costs due to increased weather events

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 26, 2025 

A devastating hurricane in Florida has a damaging effect that goes far beyond the sunshine state – insurance rates tick up after such natural disasters and that's a growing concern for Polk County Fire District No. 1, according to Fire Chief Ben Stange.

In a presentation last week to the Monmouth-Independence Climate Group, Stange explained the link between catastrophic weather events and rising insurance rates. Along with the climbing costs of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), insurance-rate increases for the fire district have become a budget worry, he said. 

"It costs all of us," Stange said, including local city governments and school districts. 

The fire chief noted he has been attending conferences for years about insurance rates for special districts across Oregon, which impart information from the Association of Government Risk Pools (AGRiP). The situation has worsened over the past 15 years. 

The number of billion-dollar disasters is occurring with unprecedented frequency: tracking by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows they occurred in 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021, he said. 

A graph showing this dramatic change is available on NOAA's website (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/)

"The big driver in these is hurricanes," he said. When insurers pay out so much more for losses, the recovery comes from spreading it across purchasers of insurance. "We are all tied together," Stange observed. 

In his budget message last year, Stange pledged to keep an eye on the future to "offer reliable, sustainable, dependable lifesaving services" but insurance has escalated more than expected. When the price of coverage goes higher from AGRiP – the umbrella organization that impacts various municipal governments and public-service agencies – there is no easy solution, he said. 

Wildfires and tornadoes contribute to the problem, he said. However, it is hurricanes that appear to inflict the greatest environmental intensity. For example, in a year-end review, network broadcasts identified Hurricane Erin as causing the first major catastrophic event of 2025 – but Erin never made landfall on the East Coast, where it wreaked havoc. The closest the hurricane got to American shores was the Outer Banks of North Carolina, according to the news reports. 

The main facility for Polk County Fire District No.1 is Central Station at 1800 Monmouth Street in Independence. Stange gave the presentation at the Monmouth Senior Community Center. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 26, 2025 

Polk County has earned a reputation for safe and stable roadways by continually monitoring them and focusing on pavement preservation, according to several transportation reports over the past year. 

The overall strategy can be summed up in a single acronym: The 3-R plan, according to engineer Todd Whitaker, director of the county's public works department. 

"Repair, rehabilitate or replace" is the public works philosophy for all thoroughfares and bridges in Polk County, Whitaker explained in a presentation to the Polk County Board of Commissioners this past spring. 

And making such determinations has paid off. The Oregon Transportation Infrastructure Condition Report this year shows that Polk County has comparatively high ratings across all regions of the state. From state-wide studies that range from the "2024 County Road Needs Survey" by the Association of Oregon Counties to an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) report on maintenance and operations, Polk County was a standout.

Those rankings arrived in a year that ODOT issued a pavement report documenting the diminishing quality of road pavement, with fewer roadways now classified as being in "good" condition than in past years. 

And, for the past several years, Polk County consistently has achieved a relatively high "Pavement Condition Index," a system that assigns numbers from zero to 100 for indicating pavement health – the higher the PCI, the better. As a result, the county is considered a leader in road maintenance; County Commissioner Jeremy Gordon has referred to the county's road system as "top tier." 

Preventing costly reconstruction by targeting areas through chip-sealing has been a major means of protection, an approach that weatherproofs roadways while making surfaces more skid-resistant. In a presentation in March, Whitaker told the County Board of Commissioners that, in 2024, "patch paving" was done on a half dozen roads. Persistent maintenance is key to remain cost effective, Whitaker said. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 26, 2026

Almost exactly a year ago, this article was published on this very page and website. It may become a Trammart News holiday tradition. It is  proof that history can tell the most poignant stories, and that happy endings do occur – and that Christmas has yuletide tales that cross  centuries and connect eras, and always will. Thanks go to the Independence Heritage Museum's Amy Christensen for providing the  original details of this special chronicle.                    
 

In the fall of 1918, the parents of a World War I soldier from Independence who was listed as missing in action were preparing for the saddest holiday season of their lives. On Christmas eve, they instead got a great and surprising gift – their son walked through the door.
 

Armine Oliver Young had been seriously injured in a battle in France, and his family was notified that his whereabouts were unknown. Finally, in October, they received a letter from him that he was in a field hospital, recovering from a bullet wound to his arm. Shortly before the clock tolled for Christmas, Young strode into his house, giving his mother and father the city’s biggest shock of the season, which landed him on the front page of the Polk County newspaper, The Enterprise, as well as other newspapers across the county.
 

The story of Armine O. Young is chronicled not only in the yellowed pages of an old newspaper, but among a set of display panels at the Independence Heritage Museum. Though not currently out for public view, the true tale of the soldier’s unexpected return was unearthed by Independence Heritage Museum Manager Amy Christensen.
 

“I came across a small newspaper clipping with Young's story,” Christensen explained. “I found it to be a lovely expression of the sorrows, as well as the unique rejoicement involved in being a military family,” she said, noting that her own family is one of those, as well.
 

The story is a poignant example of a slice of life in Independence more than a century ago. “We aim to connect visitors to history through our local personal stories,” she said. Among some visitors to the museum when this exhibit was displayed years ago, the World War I story of Young and his return home became known as “the soldier’s Christmas story.” ▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 19, 2025  

A Trammart News analysis on the financial issues of Independence from a recent session of the city's budget committee roundtable 

How to stop the severe depletion of city finances drew differing opinions and no solution Tuesday night during a budget roundtable that marks the last meeting of 2025 on the Independence monetary crisis. 

The session included clashing perspectives between City Manager Kenna West and City Councilor Dawn Roden. Roden called for re-examining what led to the budget shortfall over the past several years. In a sudden emphatic response, West countered that she possessed the administrative "backbone" to call for a halt to interfund transfers and loans, which were a root cause. The approach was dubbed "going cold turkey" among a small segment of residents. 

"I stood up with my backbone and spoke and I said, 'these are the issues that we have,'" West said, adding that Roden "sat there on the dais" and wanted to continue with the transfers. Roden replied that she had been unable to offer alternative suggestions that were taken seriously – she said she now wants to review what went wrong and learn from it. "It's critically important that we look backwards," she said. 

This much is clear: A recent financial report indicates immediate attention is required. The roundtable, convened with the budget committee members, yielded a far-ranging discussion that appears to offer a preview of conversations that will take place in the budget-building process in 2026. 

Presented below is a five-point analysis by Trammart News at year's end, as information on the budget ahead – some of it conflictual – continues to emerge. 

1) Mayor Kate Schwarzler traced the origins of the dire fiscal consequences to decades in the past. But there's evidence that a red flag was raised more recently. 

After the meeting Tuesday, this news outlet provided Schwarzler and West with an article published eight years ago by Trammart News, chronicling an outside auditor's advisory in 2017 that debt might reach worrisome levels within five-to-ten years. The fiscal cliff for running entirely out of reserve funds is now 2028-2029, according to outgoing Finance Director Rob Moody. 

Former mayor John McArdle was queried by email for his response to this warning, but it wasn't received by press time. Two current city councilors were on the Independence city council at that time, as well. 

2) City Councilor Marilyn Morton has repeatedly praised transparency by the city as a key attribute under West and did so again Tuesday night. However, neither West, nor the council, nor the city communications director has provided certain public information for some monetary decision-making by the city council. 

Examples include expenditures ranging from the cost of approving a recent resolution for increasing the city manager's salary (estimated to be $170,000-plus) to passing an approximately $3.9 million internal loan of unknown origin that West recommended remain undisclosed due to the difficulty locating the source. The sum eventually was found in the Independence Urban Renewal Agency, the result of financial sleuthing by a special program at Stanford University, at the request of Trammart News. 

When told about the latter sum's inclusion in the follow-up Tuesday night, West said she didn't want to speak about it. 

Recent actions to stretch the city's budget involve plans to sell off city properties. However, Moody, who retires this month, has reiterated that the sale of the Heritage Museum building site, along with other city-owned properties, would provide only a temporary way to sustain the budget. He has urged the council to apply proceeds from such sales to rebuilding the city’s reserve fund which is expected to be about $1M below the desired level by the end of the current fiscal year.

3) The allegedly weak marketing efforts by the city were pinpointed in a recent consultant report but largely went unanswered Tuesday. "There is also a lack of marketing of the community as a place to play, live and invest," according to the report, a federally funded study called "The Capacity Needs Assessment for the City of Independence, Oregon." 

Low marketing effort seemed to be one lapse in a chain of events, including the failed community-services levy. The levy loss demonstrated "limited voter support for tax increases and highlighted the need for diversified revenue strategies," stated the report, which was conducted by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development through its "Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance Program." 

The report noted that one way to help shore up finances would be to focus on recruiting more business operations to the city's industrial zones, but so far there appears to be little movement on that front. 

4) Both Moody's report and the federal document have suggested that the most impactful long-term solution for city finances would likely come from personnel cuts. To date, West has resisted examining this option, noting that cuts "to the bone" had been made in prior city budget cycles.

Tuesday night was no exception. Staffing reductions received almost no discussion. 

Yet, the number one "cost driver" among cities across Oregon is pay for employee salaries, according to the 2024 State of the Cities report by the League of Oregon Cities. 

Though Independence budget committee members observed that many cities in Oregon are facing struggles similar to those in Independence, a majority of cities in the same classification aren’t – 37% of the 73 cities that responded to the survey with populations of 3,726 to 10,670 said they were less able to meet their budget needs. 

5) Several budget committee members at the Tuesday night session expressed a desire to make careful evaluations, including not making choices that would be regrettable in the future – an observation emphasized by City Councilor Evan Sorce.

In fact, there has been a rise in budgeting aimed at priority-setting as an initial process – Priority Based Budgeting. PBB is a method that identifies for funding the most critical programs and services, based on established community goals. PBB relies on public support to determine what those are beyond state-mandated ones, such as law enforcement. 

In a report two years ago, which looked at 32 cities that had implemented PBB, the results were mixed, a finding that "casts doubt on its ability to fully reallocate budgetary resources from low- to high-priority programs," according to the author, David Mitchell, associate professor at the University of Central Florida. 

The outcome shows that distributing resources while following a guide determined by early priority-setting – a system that was being used by 200 local governments at the time of the 

study – isn't a cut-and-dried approach once allocations are underway. The study was published in the journal of Public Budgeting & Finance. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 19, 2025  

Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton said he plans to move cautiously toward use of artificial intelligence in his office, despite the technology's growing reputation as a time-saver and cost-cutter for processing paperwork. 

"We need to do it right," Felton told the Polk County Board of Commissioners in a presentation on the DA's Office at their weekly meeting this past Tuesday. He's wary of adopting AI as a routine tool until it can be carefully evaluated, he said. 

Felton's remarks came on the heels of reports over the past few months that indicate the legal field is embracing the technology. A survey of attorneys by the American Bar Association that was published this year indicates relatively high personal use of generative AI within the profession, although "firm-wide adoption lags due to policy and ethical concerns," according to the poll. 

Some of the information on AI has made him "leery," said Felton, who recounted that he'd recently returned from the Oregon District Attorney's Association Winter Conference, where a few "horror stories" on AI were shared. 

The conference, which was held earlier this month, occurred at the same time as a headline-making discovery about a lawyer's reliance on AI, in which the case citations turned out to be a "bunk-filled brief" in the words of a write-up on the incident by The Oregonian.

That court filing apparently was the result of what is known as a computer-related "hallucination," Felton explained; It's a hitch in AI that causes incorrect information to be composed in a believable way. 

Felton noted that some law enforcement agencies already are using AI – and he is in touch with a few to monitor their best practices for utilizing it. Some of his colleagues have told him that employees may be using it "whether you know it or not," he added. 

That assertion seems to be borne out in professional publications. "Forward-thinking litigation practices are using AI in two complementary ways: providing better strategic intelligence internally and collaborating more effectively with clients," according to an article published in the National Law Review this week. 

Felton said his office has been receiving an average of 176 case referrals every month for the latter part of this year. But despite the high volume, his office is not going to be driven by "what's in the news," he said. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 19, 2025  

What a razzle-dazzle road trip, rockin' with radiance at every turn. It's the homes of Independence decorated for the holidays and you don't want to miss 'em.

In fact, if you drive down some streets, you can't. You'll be "Blinded by the Light," in the immortal lyrics of Bruce Springsteen, who surely must have meant this kind of illuminating experience when he wrote "Spirit of the Night." 

Where to start? The brilliant panorama at the house on Williams Street is a good beginning – you can spend a … l-o-n-g … time gaping at that magical transformation, taking in all the remarkable details as well as the light show. Be warned: it is a popular place every evening for gawkers, so you may have to park and walk to the site. 

You get there by hanging a turn off Gun Club Road and really, the blazing scene is so easy to spot that there is no need to provide an address. After taking in all that luminosity, where to go next? 

Just head down Monmouth Street toward downtown. Homes periodically can be seen that are ablaze in holiday lights, including the former city mayor's house, a two-story historic structure at the corner of 7th and Monmouth streets. 

Some houses with outside decor that really light up these December evenings – like colored lightning cutting through the night – can be a little bit off the main thoroughfare. 

Turn south on 12th Street from Monmouth Street and you will see a most unusual flashing pattern on a home to your left, a creative alternation of red-and-green. Follow 12th down to Randall Way and several homes will compete for your attention. A favorite has a creche scene outlined in lights at the center of a spectacularly lit yard. 

At Fifth Street, turn south off Monmouth Street and slow down. There, to your right, is a remarkable assemblage that features a nativity, Santa, reindeer and a snowman – all with lights aglow. 

After you leave that beautiful sight, take a detour on the other side of town to A Street and Walnut. This one is a memory-maker, too – a home that was once a church and now provides a light-strewn showcase in a onetime house of worship. 

No holiday journey like this would be complete without taking a side trip to see Frosty across from the town's city hall. That big snowman has become an icon at this time of year. 

And don't forget one of the prettiest windows on Main Street, at Columbia Bank. Large bulbs that give off a glowing, amber light surround them. They conjure up a sentimental time, when the building stood during so many past winters, a landmark that goes back a century or more and remains the same beacon today. ▪  

(Note: This is a short list of homes on an easy route to take, but there are many more houses illuminated for the season to be seen throughout the town.)

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 12, 2025  

Among the 16 items that an outside auditing firm found in need of correction by Independence, a majority are being addressed through “closer monitoring” of spending in specific areas of the city’s finances, according to the list.

The  report also showed that all of the audit's recommended actions have  been completed, including the ten areas where more scrutiny on  financial resources is the new plan. 

The audit pinpointed occurrences that involved thousands of dollars and ranged from an advisory to make sure that loans and transfers from one fund to another are recorded in the right way – as debt from the paying fund and as revenue in the receiving one – to over-expenditures of dues, memberships and subscriptions from two different departments, Finance and Human Resources. 

Over-expenditures of nearly $463,000 were identified for water infrastructure and about $35,000 occurred beyond the budget in the tourism and events fund, which was largely attributed to spending for Indy Days.  

Months ago, the city's Facebook post on this audit was stated as showing that auditors gave the city a "clean" opinion – meaning "our financial reporting is accurate, complete, and transparent." However, the pending corrective actions that were requested during the process were only announced as "complete" during the past city council meeting. Neither the city's previous post nor the council presentation identified the auditing firm behind the requests. 

The audit wasn’t directly attributed to Salem-based Aldrich, the likely author and the company that has conducted the city audit for the past few years. The Independence communications director, Emmanuel Goicochea, didn’t respond to several attempts by Trammart News to confirm the originator of the audit findings. 

Not all the over-expenditures represented a debt being created – there was some shifting or mis-labeling. However, the auditor findings, which related to the fiscal year 2023-2024, are part of a financial picture to help cities ensure that they are complying with Oregon law in their accounting practices, according to an explanatory statement on the issue provided to the public by the Oregon Secretary of State. 

The audit will help prepare for the months ahead – a new budget session begins soon for the city, said Rob Moody, the outgoing finance director of Independence. Last year, the city faced a shortfall of more than $700,000 by the time the budget committee convened. 

The audit rundown was presented as part of a quarterly financial report Moody presented to the Independence City Council meeting this past Tuesday. The details for 2024-25 are in the final stages and weren’t part of the presentation, he noted. “There are a couple of things we are going to work through on a call Thursday,” he said. 

Moody alluded to his pending retirement, observing that the meeting is likely to be his last one since he departs from his position this month. “I want to thank the council for the last couple of years,” he said, adding that his hope is “that we are leaving the place better than we found it.” The statement drew applause. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 12, 2025  

ANALYSIS

A financial expert provided under a federal grant to help distressed cities said that Independence shows signs it has intentionally overspent and outstripped all current resources, which he defined as a circumstance technically known as “structural deficit.”  

In his address to the Independence City Council in late November, Dave Waffle of Jensen Strategies in Portland, said that his firm’s work with the city over the past few months revealed a serious financial situation. “I wanted to emphasize this is real,” said Waffle in his address to the city council.

Past practices of transferring some funds to others, the lack of development after the implementation of high system development charges for builders and urban renewal projects like Independence Landing that failed to generate anticipated tax money, all have contributed to the fiscal strain. Constraint due to limits on property taxes in Oregon are one of the problems, as well, he said. 

In an evaluation using past articles, notes from meetings and documents from the past few years, Trammart News offers this summary of what may happen as the budget committee undertakes its 2026 session. 

Fees for residents are likely to increase. Adjustments to the water bill are likely to occur – they are scheduled periodically. The city has confirmed that it will explore, once more, a five-year levy fee; the last one was voted down by residents. Should it fail again, some city officials already have predicted a fee will be added to utility bills. Waffle noted that the method of putting it in utility bills is “simple and easy to understand.” 

The city council is also expected to address fee increases on city occupants, from local businesses to dog owners seeking licenses, at one of their meetings in early 2026. Home-based operations, such as hand-crafters who create goods, were discussed for possible inclusion at that time. 

Fees for builders are likely to go down. The report from Jensen Strategies confirms that the fees assigned to builders – called system development charges – are high. They now exceed $50,000 per single-family house. Waffle observed that housing permits are down, and so is development. When contacted about the probable reduction, Larry Dalke, who was one of the primary builders in Southwest Independence, characterized the reason for the revenue reduction as simple: “They (the city staff)  stopped one of the most important things they could have done – growth.”   Dalke is president of Dalke Construction in Salem, which was founded by the family more than a century ago. 

But there is dissension on this point. “Are we actually thinking about doing something with SDCs?” asked City Councilor Shannon Corr. She pointed out that a lot of time went into making the determination to raise the rates. “I don’t want to revisit that issue,” she said. “We made a decision and we should stick with it.” 

City Manager Kenna West said she had pledged at the time the rates were set that this was an area that could be reconsidered. Trammart News notified West that no reference to this promise could be found and requested the date when it occurred. There has been no response from the city manager. 

The issue has prompted a list of projects that are proposed to be removed from the plan by public works, ranging from nixing the construction of a bike-pedestrian bridge over Ash Creek at E Street to some of the work pertaining to the Independence Bridge. 

The call for personnel cuts is unlikely to be acted on. Despite a recommendation by outgoing Finance Director Rob Moody that personnel cuts could make a dramatic impact, City Manager West has repeatedly resisted that action, and stated that the staff is cut “to the bone.” However, Jensen Strategies singled out marketing as an apparent lapse by the city. 

Trammart News has received concerns from residents that some videos that seemingly have consumed City Communications Director Emmanuel Goicochea’s time consist of “fluff,” such as a recent one which involves a comedic routine by City Planner Fred Evander that was filmed in segments to promote a tree give-away. “That could have just been posted instead,” one resident stated. 

Goicochea hasn’t answered any press inquiries from Trammart News for more than 18 months, necessitating public records requests by this news outlet. West has complained publicly that public records requests take too much staff time – but some city staff have affirmed she’s continued to prohibit Goicochea from answering news-related requests from Trammart News for information.

Amenities seem to have reached stalemate status. The Heritage Museum is for sale, but inquiries about how the museum and library will merge haven’t been spelled out in detail – and no substantial movement of artifacts or exhibits seem to have taken place at the museum’s current site. 

The Henry Hill Park property was removed from the list of city-owned land for sale and the school district and the Monmouth-Independence YMCA are planning to explore uses for it, with the city's approval.

The municipal pool has been shuttered permanently, according to both Mayor Kate Schwarzler and West, apparently due to it being deemed too deteriorated to fix. Though a proposal from a citizen coalition was laid for a community center, significant funds haven’t materialized in the three years since the project was announced as a future goal – prompting a call by City Councilor Dawn Roden to re-examine the previous pool site. 

She sent this message to the Parks Board for consideration: "The swimming pool can be refurbished. There is no need for a multi-million-dollar facility."

In fact, several firms specialize in pool restoration, but as an engineer observed – it can be very costly. Since the boiler no longer works at the Independence pool, replacing it would be a major expense. 

“In some cases, derelict and neglected pools can be restored,” confirmed one engineer. A scientific examination of the issue of municipal pool closures was undertaken by Steven Waller, a professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and several colleagues. 

A common reason cited for a pool tear-down is the cost of maintaining or repairing one, he said.

However, although a whole new pool may be conceived when an older pool is closed, looking into actual construction expenses makes sense. A comparison of what a “new build” would cost compared with the dollars needed for a renovation is a wise course of action, Waller said, noting that some engineering firms specialize in such projects and estimates.

There are other factors, too. It may be easier to attract donors for restoration than for constructing an entirely new structure – existing pools often are seen as a gathering place not limited to swimming, but also for crossing paths with neighbors. 

Many city pools were built in the 1960s and 1970s and are aging or in disrepair, Waller said. But function is the important aspect providing lessons and recreation for children, with the aim toward drowning prevention, he said. 

Roden has called for a more affordable alternative than construction of a community center. “The longer we delay on this the more likely kids will die swimming in the river,” she said. ▪ 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, December 12, 2025  

Introduction to editorial:

A few years ago, I heard a resident's story about her difficulty getting vinyl fencing approved. 

This intrigued me – I had moved to Oregon from California where vinyl fencing was standard in leafy, upscale neighborhoods. What was going on?

Independence had a ban on vinyl fencing. The implication inferred by Trammart News from that very first conversation on the matter was that vinyl fencing was considered inappropriate for an aspirational small town like Indy. So I decided to dig in a bit further. 

And that's how I got to know the resident involved. 

I learned that she was caught in the do loop of the city's aim to engage in the practices of model communities. So, I called a few, from Lake Oswego to San Francisco. But I couldn't find a city that banned vinyl fences. 

So I singled out one synonymous with desired living, Beverly Hills, a place of manicured estates. I thought surely it might be avoiding vinyl fences in favor of natural stone or polished wood or high-end metal. 

Was I wrong! The folks at the city hall there extolled the virtue of vinyl: lovely in appearance, easy to clean, durable.

Recently I checked again. The famed 90210 zip code has changed the code for vinyl fencing – but only the way it is erected, not the material. In fact, city information from BH notes it can be recycled (at places like Habitat for Humanity's ReStores outlet.) 

Back when I was following the plight of the woman fighting for her vinyl fencing, I asked Independence city staffers to identify a city they were trying to emulate by removing the "vinyl" option. No municipality could be cited. 

I got to know the woman fighting the battle to put in a vinyl fence. And now she has written an editorial about it. Her name is Victoria Kruljac and I am happy to provide her essay to you. 

As a result of the acquaintanceship that blossomed during this period, I no longer feel I can quote Victoria in news articles – we're too close. So, I'm grateful you have a chance to meet her in the piece she wrote. From my personal perspective, it had a happy ending. I got a new friend. 

                                                                                                                                                         --Anne Scheck

EDITORIAL 

Fence controversy in Independence: A case of déjà vu

By Victoria Kruljac 

So, the city has put ugly barbed wire on a fence in a residential area, but the installation actually is against the city code? 

Imagine that – the city going against its own code. 

Wait, you don’t have to imagine it. Because a similar situation happened before. I know because there was a time, several years ago, when I followed city requirements to put up a fence, got the permit to do so, and then wasn’t allowed to install an attractive vinyl fence. Apparently, vinyl fencing had been removed from the code. No one could explain when or why. 

Visits to the city council showed that all council members, including the mayor at the time, were sympathetic and surprised that vinyl fencing was excluded. Even so, I was prohibited from putting up a vinyl fence until the city could put it back into the code. The council members looked toward the former city manager who, at that time, declared: "No exceptions." Meanwhile, other places in town had the same kind of vinyl fencing that I wanted for my own house. 

I had to wait nine months, while I was undertaking a landscaping project – a delay that cost me over a thousand dollars. Do I sound bitter? Maybe that’s because I viewed it as another control button by the city, a button that got pushed against a resident who was trying to follow the rules.

I had asked for an “expedited approval" as it was unanimously agreed by all that this was a reasonable request, to proceed with the knowledge that it would later be approved – because they were the ones approving it. 

Finally, I got the green light for the white vinyl fence. 

The icing on the cake was that I sent two emails to the city planning manager to confirm I understood the setback requirements and was told twice that YES, I was good to go. But there was still trouble ahead. 

I had wanted to make certain of these setbacks because I have a corner property, and the corner setbacks are a little different. But after I’d installed over 100 feet of fencing, the city sent a staff member to tell me I had to remove it.

I was informed it didn’t meet the setback code, so I was told I had to take the fencing down and start over which would have added an even greater cost to me. 

Luckily, I had kept the emails from the city planning manager, which showed that he approved my description of the setbacks. So, they were stuck with their own decision. 

But, for me, it was a stressful, unnecessary and expensive chain of events. I’ll get over it someday … maybe! ▪ 

(Note: the vinyl fence in the accompanying photos is not from the editorial writer's property.)

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  ▪