Transportation Improvement Program needs your vote!

Dear Neighborhood Associations,

 

The SKATS Metropolitan Planning Area (MPO) has approximately $5 million in federal transportation funds to allocate to eligible projects as part of the SKATS Transportation Improvement Program. 

 

Eight applications have been received. The projects will go through a review and prioritization process, with a final public involvement period of the recommendations in January/February of 2018.

 

Now is your first opportunity to comment on these projects.  The project applications are posted on the MWVCOG website, as well as the schedule, and there is an interactive map of the projects where you may provide comments on each project.  They welcome your feedback.  Please feel free to share this information with your members and on your social medial platforms such as Facebook or NextDoor.

 

Once public review and comments have been completed, the Policy Committee will hold a public hearing in February 2018 and then decide on the final awards.  For more information or questions, contact Karen Odenthal at kodenthal@mwvcog.org or 503-540-1608.

 

 

Sumpter November PTC Notes

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Attached are the November PTC Notes.  A couple of important points to take note of are the following:

1. Mrs. Prats gave an explanation for the extra security at Sumpter last week.  Since then, the offender has been arrested.

2. Student Store is doing very well! It is raising a lot of money which is earmarked for outdoor school--because of student store, outdoor school costs are lowered for parents!  Liz Norris has put many hours of effort and pays careful attention to what will sell. She is also mentoring student helpers as they make change and run the store. In December, students will see little plants and gifts for parents & grandparents for the holidays at the student store. Thank you for your support! Please email PTC if you have any questions.

3. There will not be a formal December PTC meeting (typically it has been very low attendance, or ICED out). Instead, we will hold a PTC Holiday Open-house on December 17th from 5:00pm-8:00pm.  Please watch for flyer.

 

Thank you everyone who participated in bringing food for our teachers on Monday.

Have a wonderful holiday!

 

Rene Tyson

PTC President

 

Sumpter Parent Club

 

Library Bond Website

CITY CREATES INFORMATION WEBSITE FOR SALEM PUBLIC LIBRARY BOND ON NOVEMBER 2017 BALLOT

News Release from City of Salem
Posted on FlashAlert: September 20th, 2017 1:15 PM

The City of Salem created an informational website for proposed Salem Public Library Bond Measure 17-373, which will be on the November 2017 ballot for Salem voters.

Please refer to www.cityofsalem.net/librarybond for information about the proposed seismic retrofit, Americans with Disabilities Act, and safety improvements included in the $18.6 million bond measure.

Contact Info:
Kenny Larson, Communications and Community Engagement Director
City of Salem -- City Manager's Office
503-588-66363 | klarson@cityofsalem.net

 

CITY OF SALEM ANNOUNCES LIFE JACKET LOANER PROGRAM

CITY OF SALEM ANNOUNCES LIFE JACKET LOANER PROGRAM

News Release from City of Salem
Posted on FlashAlert: August 29th, 2017 9:00 AM

Downloadable file: Life Jacket Station

SALEM -- The City of Salem announces a Life Jacket Loaner Program to promote water safety on the Willamette River. The United States Coast Guard reports that many victims of drowning accidents were not wearing life jackets. According to the North American Safe Boating Council "life jacket wear is the simplest strategy to stay safe while enjoying your favorite recreational water activity."

The City of Salem Life Jacket Loaner Station is intended to provide access to life jackets for visitors to use while on the Willamette River. The program provides life jackets in various sizes along with instructions on proper sizing.

Fire Chief Niblock noted that "residents who wish to support the Life Jacket Loaner Program may do so by making a monetary donation." Monetary donations will be accepted at Salem Fire Station #1, located at 370 Trade Street SE, between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. Monetary donations will be applied towards the purchase of additional life jackets. Each donation is considered a charitable contribution and will be confirmed by providing the donor with a receipt. The City is not accepting donations of used life jackets.

A temporary station has been placed in Wallace Marine Park near the public swimming area. The City's Public Works Department with assistance from the Oregon Department of Corrections will be installing two permanent Life Jacket Loaner Stations in the next month. One located in the swimming area of Wallace Marine Park and the other located near the boat launch in Wallace Marine Park.

Additional information regarding life jacket safety can be found here:

* http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/
* https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/boating
* http://www.boatus.org/life-jackets/

Contact Info:
Carl DeCarlo, Deputy Chief
City of Salem -- Fire Department
503-588-6245| CDeCarlo@cityofsalem.net

 

Coffee with the Mayor

The City Manager’s office has asked that I be sure to share with you Mayor Chuck Bennett coming to your area. He will host Coffee with Mayor Chuck on Friday, August 11 from 7:30 am to 8:30 am at Shari’s Restaurant at 5005 Commercial Street SE. Councilor Steve McCoid will also be on hand to discuss your neighborhood needs and concerns. Please share widely with everyone in Ward 4. Here is a link to the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/132526577350273/.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

 

CITY OF SALEM'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SAVES TAXPAYERS MILLIONS IN INTEREST COSTS

CITY OF SALEM'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SAVES TAXPAYERS MILLIONS IN INTEREST COSTS

News Release from City of Salem
Posted on FlashAlert: July 28th, 2017 8:30 AM

Carrying out the policies of City Council, employees in the Budget and Finance Division actively work behind the scenes to manage the City's debt and find opportunities to decrease interest costs paid by taxpayers. Thanks to refinancing and prepayments of Utility Fund bond obligations, the City's cost reduction efforts have saved residents $11.5 million dollars. These actions continue the City's long-standing practice to prepay and refinance debt when market conditions are favorable.

The savings come from the City refinancing a 2009 obligation to the Utility Fund, and early payoff of a $4.8 million Utility Fund loan from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. The money saved will be put toward maintaining the systems necessary to deliver clean water, and treat sewage and storm water. It also relieves the commitment of other revenue sources that support services outside of the utility.

"It is because of our credit rating that we are able to get such good interest rates and savings," says City Manager Steve Powers. "The fact that Salem can offer the level of service it does, with per capita property tax revenues equal to cities much smaller than us, is a testament to our sound management practices."

The City had its AA credit rating from Standard & Poor's Global Rating for its general obligation bonds affirmed in 2016. In June 2017, Moody's, another ratings agency, upgraded the credit rating of the City's Utility Fund to Aa2. Both of these ratings show that Salem is a quality, low credit risk borrower, and that the City has a very strong ability to meet its financial commitments. These very strong scores come after a comprehensive evaluation by the ratings agencies of the City's management practices, past financial performance, and overall economic health of the community. Like credit ratings for individuals, the better the rating, the easier it is to get a loan and the lower the interest costs.

The City is in the process of another rate review that should produce favorable results for issuing bonds that will pay for the construction of the new police facility Salem voters approved in May 2017. With a favorable credit rating and interest rates, the City is looking at prepayment and refinancing options on voter-approved debt for the Streets and Bridges, and Fire Bonds.