January 23, 2014
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It’s official! Long-awaited visitors’ center celebrated at grand opening By Dave Fisher The Citizen
It was a good-sized crowd, upwards of 70 to 80 people at least, that gathered at the corner of First St. and Laneda Ave. on a sunny Saturday morning for the grand opening of Manzanita’s new visitors’ center. Though the facility had been open a few days prior to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house slated Jan. 18, it was an opportunity for Manzanita Business Alliance president Kay Covert and local officials to pat each other on the back as Manzanita’s visitors’ center and public restroom facility is, at long last, a reality. The completion of the center has been on the MBA’s (soon to be Manzanita Chamber of Commerce – see related story) to-do list for years and gained steam early in 2013 with the purchase of the property, occupied most recently a real estate office, by the city. In thanking the business community and Manzanita City Council for its vision and perseverance, Mayor Garry Bullard made a point of recognizing Manzanita City Manager Jerry Taylor for “keeping an eye” on the property as a prime location for the new facility and
By Dave Fisher The Citizen
“The majority of funds of these accounts will be the employees’ money…and it’s just a matter of making a few simple adjustment in the current budget,” said Coopersmith. “I would like to see us make a decision by the next meeting. In my opinion, it will make a difference in the candidates for the general manager’s position.” “At a minimum these tools could be adopted and employees could make contributions immediately, while it could be a budget consideration in the future,” said board chair Kevin Greenwood, who noted that, by consensus, it appeared the board was in favor of initiating a plan sooner than later. At the end of the meeting Greenwood, who recently accepted a position with the
In an overwhelming vote in favor of the idea, the Manzanita Business Alliance has decided to become a member of the US Chamber of Commerce and, in doing so, amended its bylaws to reflect the change in its name to “Manzanita Chamber of Commerce,” with a mission to serve Manzanita, Nehalem and Wheeler. The vote came on the heels of the MBA’s annual meeting held Monday evening, Jan. 13, at Pine Grove Community Center and made official the following day. However, the action could hardly be described as a “slam-dunk,” as there were those MBA members strongly opposed to the idea with others on the fence weighing the pros and cons of affiliating with the national organization. “What are the benefits and what are the alternative?” Dellanne McGregor, a real estate broker with Pete Anderson Realty, asked. “This is a very conservative political organization…it makes me feel uncomfortable giving money to something I don’t support.” At issue, said McGregor, was the Chamber’s conservative position on a variety of social and environmental issues, including its denial of the scientific consensus on climate change and the impact it may have on the economy. “I can see nothing more damaging than joining the Chamber,” added Lower Nehalem Community Trust board chair Allan Olson. “It carries an image… we’re successful based on the people in our community.” “I understand your concerns,” MBA President Kay Covert countered, “but our dues are only $300 per year and it’s not as if they’re going to tell us what to do.” Covert, noting she didn’t want the MBA to be viewed as a “club,” expressed her desire to be on equal footing with other
See NCRD, page 7
See MBA, page 7
Above: Stewart Martin, owner of the Spindrift Inn, was among the first to sign the guest book during Saturday’s grand opening of the visitors’ center. From left are Dan Haag, Stewart Martin, Kay Covert and Manzanita City Manager Jerry Taylor. Photos by Dave Fisher
Left: MBA President Kay Covert and coordinator Dan Haag apply the ribbon to the entrance of Manzanita’s new visitors’ center in preparation for the grand opening ceremony. his efforts in overseeing the project the past few months. Also on hand were Nehalem Mayor Shirley Kalkhoven and Tillamook County
Commissioner Tim Josi, who praised the City of Manzanita’s latest addition and those who made it happen. The Manzanita Chamber of
Commerce will serve Nehalem, along with the City of Wheeler, said Covert in her remarks. With that, Mayor Bullard
cut the ribbon adorning the main entrance to the visitors’ center and people streamed in to get a firsthand look of the building’s interior.
NCRD investigates retirement plan for its employees By Dave Fisher The Citizen
While municipalities and other public entities in north Tillamook County have retirement plans in place for their employees, the North County Recreation District does not, posing a concern for its board of directors, which looks to remedy the situation in the very near future. Following the passage of the most recent five-year local option tax in November, a committee was selected to study employee retirement plans and at its January meeting board members heard from representatives of Edward Jones Investments and TLC Federal Credit Union on potential plans for district employees. While board members listened attentively and asked
questions, no decision was reached as to what shape or form a retirement plan might take. Complicating matters is NCRD’s precarious funding, which relies heavily on timber revenue and five-year local option tax money, something board member Julie Chick noted was “important to keep in mind.” “It’s our responsibility to come up with a retirement plan,” said board member John Coopersmith, who, along with fellow board member Jack Bloom and NCRD employee Steven Turnsen, helped investigate the matter for the district. As an “encouragement” for employees to save for their retirement, Coopersmith said he would like to see some kind of match from the district, but, at the same time, have a plan that would allow the board the flexibility to
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review the percentage match each year, even to a contribution level of zero, if NCRD’s projected revenue “took a hit.” The plan, which would cover the district’s 12 fulltime staff members, would come from existing revenues, Coopersmith added. “We’re not looking for any new money here,” he said. In a written report to the board, Coopersmith stated that “the lack of a retirement program will be a hindrance” in NCRD’s search for a new general manage to replace Peter Nunn, who plans to retire this spring. “Is there another public entity that does not have an employee retirement program?” he also asked. While endorsing the concept, Chick voiced her concerns about the timing of the discussion. “I’m not excited
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about the timing of this conversation. I can hear people saying, ‘Oh, they passed a levy and now they’re looking at a retirement plan for their employees.’ I really care about our employees, but I think it is bad timing,” said Chick, who noted a lack of public members in the audience. “I understand what you are saying,” said Bloom, “but we have a responsibility to our employees. We received 60 percent of the vote (in passage of the levy in November) and we should stand up and act responsibly like the organization we are.” “We’re in a really tough position here because we don’t have permanent funding,” board member Marie Ziemecki added. “I’m not sure why there wasn’t something there (a retirement plan) in the beginning.”
Yamamoto throws his hat into the ring for county commissioner By Dave Fisher The Citizen
Looking to approach perennial problems facing Tillamook County with a “pair of fresh eyes,” Pacific City resident David Yamamoto is off and running for Tillamook County Commissioner, Pos. 3. Yamamoto, who filed last week, joins Tim Josi, who is seeking re-election to the post, and Nehalem resident Bill Spidal, who has also filed for the position. Yamamoto and his wife, Terrie, moved to Oregon 20 years ago, building a home in Pacific City seven years ago. A long-term care insurance specialist, Yamamoto delved into many volunteer opportunities that presented themselves. His governmental and civic activities include: vice-chair of the
Tillamook County Futures Council, citizen at large for the NW Area Commission on Transportation, citizen at large for the Territorial Sea Plan Advisory Committee and subcommittees, Tillamook County Economic Development Council Small Business Advisory Committee, and Tillamook County Transient Lodging Tax Committee, just to name a few. All along, he continued to work full time. “People in Tillamook County are so inviting, so friendly,” said Yamamoto. “It’s so easy to get involved. I started as a volunteer but have had to pick and choose. It has, however, been nice to give back to the community at the same time.” It is that background and getting to know Tillamook County from north
David Yamamoto to south the past decade that prompted him to run for county commissioner, the first time he has sought elective office. “I know people from all over the county and had a lot of encouragement from people over the past year… I know how the county works,” he said of his decision to throw his hat into
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MBA decides to become a Chamber of Commerce
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the ring. In 2009, Yamamoto found himself working with the county as an advocate for short-term rental regulation. It was a contentious issue he recalls, particularly in south county and unincorporated Pacific City where nearly two-thirds of the homes are second homes. It was, he says, an opportunity to employ his problemsolving skills, listening to those opposed to regulations, those in favor and working with county commissioners to hammer out an agreement. “There were no rules or regulations at the time. My main concern was public safety and I was one of those in the forefront on the issue,” Yamamoto said.
See YAMAMOTO, page 7