The Sweet Home City Council appointed Jessica Coward to complete the remainder of Robert G. Danielson’s term on the council.
The council considered applications from Rich Rowley and Coward at its regular meeting on June 25. The council interviewed both candidates in a special meeting prior to the regular meeting.
Coward’s term expires on Dec. 31, 2004.
The council applauded both for applying.
“Is there any way we don’t have to make a choice,” Councilman Craig Fentiman said. “Can we split the position?”
“We have two candidates that are very well qualified,” Councilman Jim Gourley said.
“Both of these people have served with distinction on the Planning Commission,” Mayor Tim McQueary said.
Rowley has served on the Planning Commission since 1994 and has been vice chairman for about six years. He served for six years on the Sweet Home Economic Development Group Board (SHEDG) of Directors and was secretary for three years. He has worked with Fiserv/Summit Information Systems for 25 years and served in management for about 15 years. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1978 with a bachelor of science degree in computer science.
Coward has served for several years on the city’s budget committee. She has been on the Planning Commission for about two and a half years. She has served on the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District Budget Committee for three years. She is an office manager and senior escrow officer with Amerititle, where she has worked for seven years.
She is an Oregon Jamboree volunteer and has served for five years on the Linn County Affordable Housing Board. She is vice president of the Mid-Willamette Chapter Oregon Escrow Council and president of he Optimist Club of Lebanon.
“I believe that I have a good understanding of what makes the city operate,” Coward said. “I have an understanding and appreciation of policies and procedures. I am open minded, progressive in outlook, not afraid to tackle challenges and perhaps could bring some new insight and next-generation ideas and ideals to the table.
“I believe that you cannot just sit back and complain then expect changes to occur. I believe that if you want to see change, you need to make a commitment of time and effort and work toward a goal.”
Not to criticize anyone serving on the council, Coward thinks the city is moving in the right direction but could use a new perspective.
She believes that the city needs to encourage the formation of local improvement districts and urban renewal zones to fund infrastructure improvements. She would like to see sidewalks developed consistently.
“First thing that pops to mind, sidewalks by the junior high, sidewalks by Hawthorne,” Coward said. In both areas, kids walk in the streets, and both areas need sidewalks for safety’s sake.
An urban renewal district would take advantage of growing property values in some areas of the city and provide revenue for infrastructure improvements. Increases in actual tax revenues based on the growth are diverted from the city’s operating funds and used for improvements in urban renewal districts. The City Council is studying the possible creation of an urban renewal district.
The sewer system is among other issues facing the city right now, Coward said. Inflow and infiltraton need to be stopped.
Inflow and infiltration is water that leaks into the sewer system through cracks in pipes and cross connections. This dramatically increases the amount of water the waste water treatment plant must treat. The city will complete a $2 million demonstration project to determine the most cost-effective way of combating the problem.
The council is already tackling the problems, Coward said. The community is headed in the right direction as a whole too as it has pulled together to build the Community Center and police facility and attracted the interest of an outside developer, who is proposing the Resort at Salmon Run, which will have 27 holes of golf, a restaurant, hotel and many more features.
“I think people are going to realize the potential Sweet Home has to become a destination town,” Coward said. SHEDG is getting stronger, and she would like to see more recreational opportunities available and more festivals, sparking more business opportunities, with successful business staying open later and offering more products for local shopping.
Sisters has something going on every weekend, Coward said. She would like to see Sweet Home do the same and coordinate it with other area events, such as the Strawberry Festival.
“There’s just so much potential,” Coward said. The council can “try to encourage that potential by brainstorming and doing something different, that’s never been done before.”
Coward enjoys being outdoors, hiking and camping. She likes to join the summer hikes offered by the Sweet Home Ranger District.
Coward grew up in Southern California. She moved to Sweet Home in August 1994. Her son, Josh, will be a junior at Sweet Home High School next school year.
Danielson resigned his seat on the council last month and moved to Beaverton. Coward will be sworn in on July 8.
The council voted 5-0 to appoint Coward to the position. Gourley abstained from voting because he thought the council should have discussed the differences between the two candidates.