Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council on Oct. 13 tabled a request to appoint William C. Wallin, a First Avenue resident, to the Traffic Safety Committee.
Councilor Greg Mahler said he was concerned about the number of First Avenue-Nandina Street residents on the committee over-representing one area. Wallin would be the third.
Councilor Jeff Goodwin said he wanted to hear more from Wallin before appointing him to the committee. Wallin answered the question, “What special contribution do you feel you can make to the group/position you are applying?” with “common sense.”
Wallin was not present at the council meeting, and Goodwin said he wanted to find out whether that implied a lack of common sense and possibly negativity.
The council will consider the application again at its regular meeting on Jan. 27.
Present at the meeting were councilors Marybeth Angulo, Goodwin, Mayor Jim Gourley, Bruce Hobbs, Mahler, Dave Trask and Ryan Underwood.
In other business, the council:
– Recommended to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission approval of a liquor license for a new owner at Midway Market, Ved O. Chawla, to allow the sale of beer and wine.
– Re-appointed Nancy Patton to the Parks Board with a term expiring on Jan. 12, 2019. She has served on the Parks Board since moving to Sweet Home eight years ago.
– Approved the closure of 14th Avenue west of Sankey Park from Elm Street to Kalmia Street between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Feb. 14 for the “Sweetheart Run in a Sweetheart of a Town,” a fun run event that will include 10K (6.2 miles), 5K (3.1 miles) and a children’s run marathon event.
City staff members anticipate several hundred participants and many vendors setting up in the park prior to the event.
The closure will allow runners to warm up and reduce safety issues associated with pedestrians and vehicles, said Finance Director Pat Gray, one of the planning team.
Residents of 14th Avenue will be allowed access.
– Declared surplus 12 computers still running the Windows XP operating system, which is no longer supported by publisher Microsoft, along with two office chairs, a desk, a laser level, a light table, an overhead projector and a recording system.
With the declaration, city staff can auction the items.