The City Council approved some actions during its June 25 meeting that they expect will ultimately help revitalize the community through new business and nonprofit organization opportunities.
Most of the council members approved of City Manager Kelcey Young’s work that will bring in a nonprofit organization, preserve an historic building and, they hope, bring in more businesses to the downtown area after a couple of lease agreements are signed. The city also lauded a Sweet Home police officer for his life-saving response during a call.
Officer Honored
Captain Ryan Cummings honored Officer Garritt Bolkcom for how he handled a call in which a male had tried to end his own life.
Cummings reported that Linn County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance on June 17, and Bolkcom responded to the call.
“Officer Bolkcom responded very quickly and from what I’ve seen in the video he wasted no time jumping into action and taking the appropriate and necessary life saving measures, including CPR,” Cummings said.
After medics took over, Bolkcom proceeded to spend time with the spouse and try to comfort them, Cummings said. He reported that the individual is expected to make a full recovery from the attempt, “thanks in large part to the actions of Officer Bolkcom.”
“What he did that day is in line with the highest standards of the law enforcement profession and he is a credit not only to Sweet Home Police Department, but also to the community at large,” he said.
Bolkcom has been with the Sweet Home Police Department for two years. For his work in this particular situation, he was given a SHPD Life Saving Award.
Young informed Bolkcom that she had spoken with the family and she thanked him for his integrity and compassion during the matter. A family friend also approached the 28-year-old to share on behalf of the spouse that the man “has expressed a desire to continue living, which he has not done for several years.”
Resource Organizations Moving In
Council gave Young authority to enter into lease negotiations with Community Services Consortium (CSC), a community action resource agency that seeks to rent out space at City Hall. Resources and tools they offer include utility services, workforce development training and housing guidance.
Young said having CSC at City Hall will not only provide revenue, but also in-kind services in areas such as remodeling and parks services. They will also train a team that can work with the fire district and other workforce development services.
“They will be bringing an entire program to provide services to East Linn County, but they’ll even be moving some of their programs from other locations here to Sweet Home,” she said. “This will be bringing in potentially 30 additional jobs into Sweet Home, as well as workforce development training and much-needed services.”
The council also approved authority to enter into lease negotiations with Ridgeway Health, which would like to rent the old city hall building.
“What we would really like to do with that space is not only approve the potential lease with Ridgeway Health, but then open that up to be a wellness center,” Young said. “We have other agencies that have expressed interest in being in that building as well, and we think it would be a big benefit to Sweet Home.”
The council expressed gratitude for the opportunities to increase support services to the community.
City to Buy Former Feed Store
The council approved purchase authority to buy the former Santiam Feed store building on Long Street for $260,000 which would be paid half this year and half next year.
“One of Council’s goals was for us to acquire additional property and to also look for opportunities to help with filling vacant properties,” Young said.
She said the idea with the feed store building would be two-fold: to preserve the historical nature of the building while also bringing in additional businesses to town. According to Young, businesses and community members have expressed interest in potentially using the city-owned feed store to put in an artisan work space or gallery, or perhaps a restaurant or coffee shop.
Young pointed out the side of the feed store has a large door opening up onto 13th Avenue, which could provide a valuable opportunity once “festival street” is modified into a one-way street and used for special events.
With CSC moving in with its in-kind service opportunities, Ridgeway Health and other potential organizations moving in at old City Hall, and opening up business opportunities at the feed store, Young believes the blocks surrounding the parking lot across from the library could see a boost in activity. She added that there’s a potential business also opening up in the empty lot next to Mr. Lucky’s Deli.
“This is a way to really start revitalizing that entire square,” she said. “And the synergy and work that can be done between the different agencies will really get all of this going quickly.”
Administrative Services Director Cecily Pretty read a letter submitted by Josh Victor who opposed the purchase of more real estate while the city has other properties that he said need attention. Young responded that projects for most of those properties are in process and Councilor Lisa Gourley chimed in, noting the amount of progress both council and city staff have accomplished in the past couple of years with parks and buildings.
“Businesses are very, very important to our community’s livelihood, and services they bring into our community are a high concern for us,” Gourley said. “Council has heard the community complain about the empty businesses downtown. This has been a huge sore and heartache for our community, especially for those people who remember how vibrant we were years ago.”
She said needs and opportunities have changed over time, so things are going to look different.
“We’re not taking from, but we’re making sure that there’s a future for town for everybody, so I think we should be proud of the work that’s being done,” she said. “I know some people don’t like that, but if we’re not growing and changing and investing in our community, we’re dying. Sweet Home has so much potential and we shouldn’t have to be driving to Lebanon to get job training, we shouldn’t have to be driving to Lebanon to go to a restaurant. We shouldn’t be having to leave our community when these things were here. We used to have a shoe store. We used to have clothing stores. We used to have all these lovely things and we want to bring what we can back to our community.”
Citizen Karla Hogan asked the council why the city would get involved in public business, and added that in-kind services wouldn’t be enough to cover the high costs of remodeling. She also noted that grants from the city for building improvements is not nearly enough to put a dent in business owners’ projects, and she’d rather see the city invest more money into current business owners instead of competing with them.
Citizen Patrick Rogers also addressed the council on the matter, saying the city would be involving itself in property management which is “a whole ‘nother world.” He also said incoming businesses may find themselves in competition with the city when trying to acquire a building.
Young responded that it’s not uncommon for cities that are trying to revitalize their towns to invest in properties. She said the council could use grants to renovate vacant buildings, use the buildings as business incubators for new businesses, and eventually even sell the building later down the road.
The council approved the purchase of the feed store building 5-1; Councilor Dylan Richards opposed.
In other business:
- The council participated in a work session prior to the regular meeting regarding council goals specific to modifying Council Rules. In particular they briefly addressed attendance, how the council members act in public, and how they represent the city.
- Citizen Robert Egner spoke to the council regarding the City Council work session that took place prior to the regular council meeting. He expressed frustration, saying the council remained silent and “did nothing.” He asked they not table the discussion again if another meeting on the matter occurs, and he requested rules be put in place for council member conduct in the community.
- The council appointed City Manager Kelcey Young as City Budget Officer.
- The council approved a resolution appropriating funds for FY 2024.
- The council held a public hearing and approved a resolution declaring the city’s election to receive state funds.
- The council approved a resolution that certifies the city provides at least four services (e.g., police, fire, water, etc) in order to receive state revenues.
- The council adopted a $97.6 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Taxes imposed include: the rate of $1.4157 per $1,000 of assessed value for General Fund operations, the rate of $7.8500 per $1,000 of assessed value for the Police Local Option Levy, the rate of $1.1700 per $1,000 of assessed value for the Library Services Local Option Levy and Non Ad Valorem customer sewer usage charges not to exceed $50,000.