Posted: Thursday, March 22, 2007 12:00 am
n.e. children need playground
I feel that I need to speak up for the children of my neighborhood. We live in Northeast Albany off Clover Ridge Road, where all the new developments are springing up. The new developments are growing by leaps and bounds, and with them are the number of children coming to live in this brand new neighborhood. My concern is that I see no playgrounds, parks, sports fields, basketball courts etc. being built in the area.
The children in my neighborhood are a great bunch of kids, and they need what kids all over need, some space to play and get to know each other.
I wonder if someone from the city can tell us what is being done for the children out here off Clover Ridge Road? Are the children being considered in these new developments? What is the time table for action, if there is one?
David Anderer, Albany
Why PepsiCo is a great deal
A recent letter to the editor questioned why local government officials would want to locate a new PepsiCo facility in Albany given the costs associated with the project.
The Linn County Board of Commissioners and the Albany City Council unanimously voted to approve the agreement after considering its costs and benefits. The Oregon Department of Transportation approved a $1 million grant to the city to help construct infrastructure for the project, in addition to a $500,000 grant from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. Gov. Ted Kulongoski praised the project in October when he observed: "PepsiCo's manufacturing, bottling and distribution facility will create 500 good, family-wage jobs for Oregonians. The partnership between state and local government and the private sector that helped make this announcement possible represents the type of collaboration needed to keep our state's economy competitive and strong. I congratulate PepsiCo on their decision, good corporate stewardship, and long-term investment in our state."
The land where the new plant will locate has been zoned for industrial use for more than 20 years, but has yielded very little property tax revenue and few if any jobs because there was no interest in developing it. PepsiCo will pay full property taxes on the increased value of the land, but has been given a 15-year-tax abatement for the value of improvements.
The company will pay more than $600,000 annually in lieu of taxes to cover the cost of infrastructure improvements. PepsiCo has guaranteed creation of 200 jobs that offer a compensation package in excess of $47,000 annually, but the company has said that the plant and a companion bottling facility are likely to employ as many as 500 people within five years.
Questions have also been raised about the environmental consequences of the project. Keep America Beautiful recently awarded PepsiCo Inc. its 2006 Vision for America Award for the corporation's leadership role in preserving the environment through many diverse conservation and educational efforts. PepsiCo has purchased approximately 250 acres adjacent to the new plant that will become restored wetlands, permanently off limits to development. PepsiCo will be a large water user, helping to stabilize water rates and pay for the new water and wastewater treatment plants.
The Industrial Development Agreement involving the state of Oregon, Linn County, the city of Albany and SVC Corporation (a division of PepsiCo) is a public document available from City Hall upon request. Its terms have been fully explained in the press and at public meetings. Anyone with concerns or questions is welcome to contact me at City Hall and I will be happy to explain the council's decision to help support the creation of family wage jobs in Albany.
Wes Hare, City Manager
The empire just sat there
I would like to thank all the soldiers that are over in Iraq right now. I know that some people may be shaking their heads and wondering why I would go to this much trouble just to thank the soldiers, but I know why. Because I am so thankful that they go out there every day and risk their lives to keep terrorists from invading our homes and killing our families. Because of them we have the freedom to live our everyday lives without fear or pain.
I know that some people out there oppose the war. I don't like war either; nobody does. But if we don't have war over there, it soon will be here, in our own backyards.
If you've read your history lessons, you'll see that war has been going on since the beginning of time, not just now. If we stop war, we'll meet the Roman Empire's fate. You see, the Roman Empire was once a very prosperous country, like the United States is now. Eventually it got split into two empires. One of the two empires started getting invaded and it had to go to war. The other empire didn't go over there and help; it just sat there while the first empire got defeated. Eventually the other empire started getting invaded too, and now the first empire had collapsed, no one was there to back them up. So finally the entire, once-great empire collapsed.
This is what could happen to us if we don't help the other countries around us. We could be next.
Bethany Henry, 12, Seventh grade, Scio
Let's hear it for vinyl
More power to Boyd Moline for wanting to improve his historic home with vinyl windows that will save valuable energy as well as improve the comfort level of the house. As far as the style of the second-floor window in question, is it possible that the window was originally a six-over-six configuration and was replaced with a less expensive single pane when it was broken out at some point? Yes, that is entirely possible.
Thank you for pointing out the idiocy of the Landmarks Advisory Commission in disallowing him to install a vinyl frame window. As you pointed out, the man owns his home and the window he wishes to install should be allowed, for heaven's sake.The city isn't paying for it!
I bet his neighbors are thrilled that he has windows in his house. There are neighbors in the Hackleman District that wish the owners of the eyesore located at 532 Baker St. S.E. would be so innovative!
The Landmarks Advisory Commission awarded the owners of that home matching funds to "replace the front door with a period door, replace the missing front window and missing glass in all windows and rebuild another street-facing door," according to an article in the May 24, 2005, Albany Democrat-Herald. To date, there are still several windows that are boarded up or broken out. The home in question burned on March 31, 1996; here we are nearly 11 years later and the blight remains.
Rhea Graham, Albany
Officers need heart, too
Are you serious ("They should have been happy," Mailbag, March 10)? I do have friends and neighbors - four in fact - that are local police officers in Lebanon and I know of their duties. We are also foster parents and have taken care of meth-addicted babies. Yes, I know their duties, but some I do know have a heart too, unlike the officer that pulled my now son-in-law over and even after he found out he was on his way to his own wedding did not even give him a break.
I have also lost a nephew to a drunk driver and the officer was a the last person to see my nephew and give him comfort. That officer was kind and gave empathy.
My son-in-law is a good young man, does not drink and drive, just was nervous and forgot his wedding ring.
Why don't you become a foster parent to those drug addicted parents and see what real empathy is. Sounds like you don't have that quality. Sorry you were so offended by my silly little letter.
Stacy Read, Lebanon
What zoning compensation?
I know one thing about Mr. Richmond (Democrat-Herald, Saturday, March 10): Either he doesn't own one inch of Oregon land or he has some help with his taxes. His report stated Oregon's land owners had been compensated with lower taxes. That simply is not true. Our taxes have steadily gone up year after year.
By the way, what state did Mr. Richmond come to Oregon from? Did the people run him out so he came to Oregon? (Take him back!)
Lord, deliver me from busybodies like him, who think he is so smart he can tell everyone else how to run their business.
And a brief message to our governor: I thought we were a democracy. When a bill is passed by majority, let it stand.
Edna Richards, Lebanon
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