02/28/1949 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I 15 33~ "WE BELIEVE THAT S.B. 245 OFFERS A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE HOME RULE PREROGRATIVES OF' OREGON CITIES AND THEREFORE MERITS YOUR STUDY. S. B. 245 DECLARES THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUPLICATE OR COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC, TELEPHONE, WATER AND HEATING FACILITIES TO BE CONTRARY TO PUBLIC POLICY~ IT ALSO TURNS OVER TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE WHEN DUPLICATE FACILITIES MAY BE CONSTRUCTED. A COpy OF THE BILL IS ENCLOSED. voJ ~ '~IJ S. B. 245 WOULD OUTLAW COMPETITION AND FIX FOR ALL TIME A MONOPOLY IN FAVOR OF THE EXISTING UTILITY. SUCH A LAW, WE THINK, WOULD OPERATE TO THE DETRIMENT OF OREGON CITIES IN SEVERAL WAYS. " , .t" .' IN THE FIRST PLACE IT ABOLISHES HOME RULE AND TURNS OVER TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE FURNISHING TO PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES WITHIN YOUR CORPORATE LIMITS. SUPPOSE, FOR INSTANCE, THAT YOU WISHED TO COMPEL A UTILITY TO IMPROVE SERVICE, TO CORRECT A HAZARDOUS CONDITION, TO MODERNIZE ITS STREET LIGHTING FACILITIES OR TO PAY A FRANCHISE TAX, YOU COULD NOT DEAL wiTH THEM AS EFFECTIVELY IF S. B. 245 BECAME A LAW. THE UTILITY WOULD BE SECURE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT ITS MONOPOLY WAS PROTECTED BY STATE LAW, AND THAT YOU WERE POWERLESS TO ENCOURAGE COMPETITIVE SERVICE IF YOUR REQUESTS WERE IGNORED. THERE IS A SECOND SITUATION THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU. A NUMBER OF CITIES ARE INTERESTED IN CONSTRUCTING MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC SYSTEMS. MONMOUTH IS THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE OF THIS. UNDER S. B. 245 SUCH LOCAL SELF-DETERMINATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL AND CONTRARY TO PUBLIC POLICY. MONMOUTH, BY THE WAY, HAS THE LOWEST ELECTRIC RATES IN THE STATE, MAKES A SUBSTANTIAL PAYMENT OUT OF THEIR ELECTRIC FUND INTO THE CITY GENERAL FUND AND HAS A DEBT FREE ELECTRIC SYSTEM AFTER LESS THAN EIGHT YEARS OF OPERATION. s. B. 245 IS NOW IN THE SENATE RAILROAD AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE. HEARINGS ON IT ARE SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY MARCH 2, 1949. IT MAY BE THAT YOU WILL WISH TO HAVE THESE HEARINGS CONTINUED UNTIL YOU HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY THIS BILL." A COMMUNICATION FROM P. J. HANNS - RE: AS FOLLOWS: THANKS FOR LETTER FROM CITY WAS SUBMITTED AND READ . "UPON MY RETURN TO THE CITY AFTER BEING AWAY FOR A FEW WEEKS, I HAD A VERY PLEASANT SURPRISE IN FINDING A VERY NICE LETTER ON MY DESK FROM YOUR BODY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE THIS VERY MUCH, AND ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU. WITH THE VERY BEST OF WISHES TO YOU ALL, I AM." IT WAS MOVED BY SMITH, SECONDED BY DAVIS THAT THE COMMUNICATION BE RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE. MOTION CARRIED. 16 A COMMUNICATION F'ROM MINNIE BELLER, 739 IV. 5TH AVENUE - HE: TRAI LER HOUSES IN CITY LOTS WAS SUBMITTED AND READ AS fOLLOWS: "I HAVE BEEN INFORMEO THAT WE ARE ALLOWED EITHER I OR 2 TRAILERS AND THE MAN AT THE CITY HALL WHERE YOU GET PERMITS TOLD ME TO WRITE THIS LETTER TO YOU AND I OUGHT TO BE ALLOWED 2 TRAILERS. My OACK LOT IS IOOx60'. THERE IS NO BUILDINGS ON IT BUT A GARAGE AND 2 WALNUT TREES. I WENT TO EXPENSE Of PIPING RUNNING WATER OUT, AND HAVE PUT IN A SHOWER, TOILET AND WASH BOWL FOR THEM TO USE. ALSO HAD THE ELECTRICIAN RUN WIRES AND SEPARATE BOX OUT. IT WILL BE KEPT CLEAN AND SANITARY. THIS IS IN THE APARTMENT HOUSE DISTRICT. I AM A WIDOW AND MAKING LARGE PAYMENTS ON MY PLACE AND NEED THE EXTRA MONEY BADLY. BUT I WILL BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO ABIDE BY THE LAW. OBLIGED." IT WAS MOVED BY BOOTH, SECONDED BY DAVIS THAT STRICT ENFORCEMENT BE WITHHELD AND THAT TRAILERS NOW ESTABLISHED BE PERMITTED TO REMAIN AT LEAST UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR BUT THAT NO NEW ONES BE PERMITTED. MOTION CARRIED. 17 A COMMUNICATION FROM IGNATIUS K. WERWINSKI INSURANCE AGENCY, ENCLOSING A RESOLUTION TO PROCLAIM OCTOBER 11TH OF EACH YEAR AS "GENERAL PULASKI'S MEMORIAL DAY", FOR THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION AND ACTION WAS SUBMITTED AND READ. IT WAS MOVED BY WELLS, SECONDED BY DAVIS THAT THE COMMUNICATION BE RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE. MOTION CARRIED. 18 A COMMUNICATION FROM IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE OF AMERICA - RE: RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE WILLAMETTE CHAPTER OF I.W.L.A. AT ITS BOARD Of DIRECTORS MEETING FEBRUARY 8. 1949 WAS SUBMITTED AND READ AS FOLLOIVS: "THE fOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED BY THE WILLAMETTE CHAPTER I.W.L.A. AT IT'S BOARD OF DIRE CTORS MEET I NG FE BRUARY 8, 1949. ~