Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council on April 23 adopted ordinance revisions governing taxis and vehicles for hire during its regular meeting.
Voting for the ordinance were Marybeth Angulo, Craig Fentiman, Mayor Jim Gourley, Greg Mahler, Scott McKee Jr. and Dave Trask.
Bruce Hobbs voted no.
“The reason I voted no was not because anything that was updated in the ordinance was particularly wrong but because I feel that the ordinance as a whole is unnecessary and onerous,” Hobbs said. “I do not feel that the city has the right to look at a company’s books and decide if that company is viable.
“Also many of the other things that are regulated in the ordinance are already covered by state laws. Then there is the whole barrier to competition component, which is a bothersome thing in and of itself.
“But at this time, I did not think I could win this fight. The best I could do was vote my beliefs in a consistent manner.”
In other business, the council:
n Received an update from Executive Director Greg Roe of Linn County United Way on the 2-1-1 information system.
The 2-1-1 system directs families and individuals with personal or community struggles to services that can help, connecting those who need it to every nonprofit, social service and government agency available in Oregon.
Linn County United Way started the 2-1-1 program in January 2012.
During the year, it fielded 537 calls from the Sweet Home area, Roe said. Of those, there were 42 instances where a referral was not available for the caller’s requested need.
Sometimes that occurs when the agencies that provide a certain type of assistance, such as energy assistance, are out of funds. Other times, the services needed simply do not exist.
Of the callers, 126 were referred to Community Services Consortium, 57 of them seeking help with rent and 54 help with energy costs. Some 15 were referred for help with employment, education, housing services, foreclosure and water.
One hundred two of the callers were referred to FISH of Albany, 97 to the Salvation Army, 41 to the Oregon Department of Human Services and 33 to Sweet Home Emergency Ministries.
n Learned that Al Culver had resigned from the Planning Commission. To apply for the vacancy, contact the city manager’s office at (541) 367-8969 or stop by City Hall, 1140 12th Ave.