Editor:
I can certainly understand why Kim Lawrence is confused about the Weddle Bridge repairs in her Nov. 23 letter to the editor. I hope I can clear up some the things she questions. Some of my knowledge is from serving on the city budget committee, eight years as a council member and also my interest in Sankey Park — named for my beloved grandfather, WS Sankey.
The bridge was not bought by the city and they did not have money for repairs. The Cascade Resource Center, a group that brought the pieces of the bridge into Sweet Home, helped fund the bridge being assembled in Sankey Park.
The group had originally planned to have funds to care for up keep on the bridge, but as with many small-town planning ideas — that did not happen. The group disbanded and the bridge sat on city property.
Of course anything that sits on YOUR property is your responsibility.
When the city took over ownership of the bridge and its repairs, there was more money in the budget and hope that the repairs could continue. Of course when we all voted for the passage of property tax reform, money was cut from all kinds of things.
Everything the city has going is not always paid from their budget; sometimes people band together and pay for things with their donations. That happened with the Skateboard Park and with the bridge. The bridge roof will be repaired with the money that came in and when the money comes in again, other major repairs will be done also.
Now it was good thing that the city did take care of the bridge. The bridge is the gateway for those of us that volunteer at the Oregon Jamboree each year. The bridge is a haven for wildlife. The bridge is wonderful for weddings, dances etc. when it is not a hazard for our citizens. It is also a good tourist attraction for people interested in covered bridges. And the citizens need to keep it repaired as best we can.
My husband, Bob Waibel, and other volunteers worked many hours to build this bridge from the beginning. No one was paid to work on the bridge.
It was my understanding that the $6,000 that was given now for the bridge was from the sale of trees that were harvested on city property. This money was not in the budget, as it was something that transpired and not a planned thing at all.
The city government, that being the council, the mayor, and the paid position of the city manager is money well spent. The council and mayor are volunteer positions and believe me they do a great deal of work for all of us, and make mostly very wise decisions.
Money for street repairs is a difficult thing to explain. I suggest you speak to Mike Adams who is in charge of Public Works, which includes street repairs. If I remember right, there is a Master Plan for street repairs and they do them systematically, one street at a time. And they don’t usually jump around to problem areas until that project is on this year’s list. It actually is a good way, as several years later the streets get repaired again as their turn comes.
So I do hope you understand now that the city was not wasting money, but doing what they can with the little resources they have to keep the bridge in repair.
Our family pays a great deal of property taxes and we also gave a donation to the bridge repair. Did you?
Mona Waibel
Sweet Home