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Wednesday April 9, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 15 www.polkio.com

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ODOT’s Polk County declares April alternative Child Abuse Prevention Month to the gas their abuse prevention partners, available in both English and Spanish. “We’re lucky to have a presentation at all our regional meetings for the month of April to really tie into the theme of this month,” Warren said. “We’re also partnering with them for our Mid Valley Partnering program to bringing these trainings onsite in Polk County and several connections to our local schools as well. Liberty House really has a vital foothold in Polk County providing that vital education.” Jeremy Gordon said he’s appreciative these resources are available. “As a father of an eight year old, I’m going to stay in touch. We need these trainings, too. My wife and I and our child appreciate getting ahead of the conversations versus being reactive,” Gordon said.

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Staff couldn’t find a precise number, but for at least the past 25 years, the Polk County Board of Commissioners have announced an official proclamation on Child Abuse Prevention Month. During their April 2 meeting, the commissioners heard a presentation on how both the county and its partners are coordinating to help prevent child abuse. Abby Warren, Polk County Service Integration Coordinator, was joined by representatives from Liberty House and CASA Polk County, just a couple examples, she said, of the partnerships the county has throughout the community to ensure that families have what they need to prevent child abuse. “We appreciate how some of our partners are able to educate staff on warning signs of child abuse and neglect to be able to act responsibly as community members and agency representatives across Polk County and surrounding areas,” Warren said. She then gave the floor to Max Goodfriend Prevention Education Coordinator with Liberty House, who outlined their programs. Goodfriend said part of his role is going out in the community to educate adults how to recognize the signs of child abuse and how to react responsibly. “A lot of times we hear from parents they don’t necessarily know they have the confidence to act if they see something. So, we try to get rid of those stigmas and help them understand they all have a role in protecting children and we all have a role and responsibility to act,” Goodfriend said. Next, Liberty House sponsors online safety training. Goodfriend said kids are getting on phones and devices at a lot younger ages.

tax is stuck in neutral BY NIGEL JAQUISS Oregon Journalism Project

On March 25, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation discussed two related problems that could turn its future into roadkill. First, the Oregon Department of Transportation’s budget calls for spending far in excess of projected revenue. What’s more, ODOT over They’re seeing a rise in mental somebody they know and trust. They relies on revenue from the gas tax, health issues, self harm and suicidal need to recognize the signs of abuse which is vulnerable to inflation, ideation. and how to go to a trusted adult,” greater fuel efficiency, and the rise “One of the things we really want Goodfriend said. of electric vehicles (whose owners to do is, not necessarily educate kids He added he’s most proud of the don’t pay the gas tax). moving the curriculum away from to stay away from phones, because It’s not a new problem, as a worksheet heavy presentation to we know kids are going to get on Transportation Committee vice phones eventually, but educate them more interactive, group-sharing exerchairman Sen. Bruce Starr cising that result in the youth openon how to react and react responsi(R-Dundee) noted last week. Back bly when they are on those devices,” ing up about their own experiences. in the 2001 session, Starr was part Liberty House has training sesGoodfriend said. “It’s usually a of a group that recognized ODOT sions throughout Polk County with better way to go than to tell them See CHILD, page A3 would one day be in the spot it’s to stay off social media, because in today: hostage to a tax that will not many will listen to that message Domestic Violence Signs become obsolete. That year, Starr anyway.” The following are possible indications that a person may be the victim of and his colleagues formed the Road He’s particularly proud of Liberty domestic violence. Recognize the signs. User Fee Task Force, which still House venturing out into mid• Showing extreme jealousy of friends or time spent away from them. exists. dle schools with its Sixth Grade • Preventing or discouraging from spending time with others such as That group gave birth to Oregon’s Supplemental Health Curriculum, friends, family, or peers first-in-the-nation pilot program to “My Worth.” They’ve educated • Isolating the victim from family and friends charge drivers by the mile, using just over 100 youth this year alone • Telling the victim they never do anything right. mileage counters in their vehithrough the program. • Blaming the victim for anything bad that happens cles. The program, OReGO, has “We talk about self worth and • Insulting, demeaning, or shaming, especially in front of others won national recognition since it resiliency helping them understand • Not allowing the victim to make their own decisions, including about went live in 2015. The problem is, that all of them matter, 100 percent what they wear, working, or attending school the voluntary program has never worth, just by virtue of the fact they • Controlling finances such as taking their money or refusing to provide attracted many participants: 3,189 are alive,” Goodfriend said. money for necessary expenses. over the past decade, according They also talk about social • Pressuring the victim to have sex or perform sexual acts they are not to ODOT, of whom just 788 are media’s effect on mental health, the comfortable with. enrolled today. dangers of “sexting” (the act of send• Pressuring to use drugs or alcohol The tiny number of users means ing and receiving explicit images) • Intimidating through threatening looks or actions OReGO brings in almost no and the concept of safe friends/safe • Insulting the victim’s parenting or threatening to harm or take away money—and because its contractors adults, what they do and do not do. their children or pets can only spread their fixed costs “We want to make sure they • Intimidating with weapons such as guns, knives, bats, or mace out over a few vehicles, adminisunderstand that 90 percent of youth • Destroying the victim’s belongings or their home tration consumes about 40% of the who are abused are abused by revenue, a bite that lawmakers and state finance officials say must come down sharply if the program grows. Starr is focused on a significant portion of motorists he thinks should be enrolled in OReGO: owners of the 107,825 electric vehicles on I-O STAFF REPORT - 5g cart (with 95g bi-weekly recycling) - $43.85 To approve a change in solid waste rates, city Oregon’s roads. The Monmouth City Council unanimously / $45.60 code requires the council to consider such factors as He notes an ODOT task force approved a rate increase request by Brandt’s Sanitary - 2-yard Container - $138.22 / $143.75 Brandt’s costs to perform their services, the anticifinding last year that EV drivers pay Service at its April 1 meeting. - Drop Box all sizes-haul - $162.20 / $168.70 pated increase in the cost of performing their services less to use Oregon roads than ownBrandt’s has an exclusive franchise granted by (plus disposal and environmental fee) and the need for equipment replacement or additional ers of conventional internal comthe city to provide solid waste collection and recyequipment. The city council approved a 7.9% increase last bustion vehicles. That may reflect cling services in Monmouth. The city received a rate year across all service categories. In 2018, a recyCouncilor Jon Carey asked Joshua Brandt about a desire to subsidize electrification, adjustment request from Brandt’s Sanitary Service on cling surcharge of $1.90 was added to respond to the ReHub transfer station planned for the former Starr says, but it ignores the wear March 3. Rickreall Dairy site. Brandt noted that it was proadditional costs for recycling. The surcharge was and tear that electric vehicles put on The rate increase was approved at 4%. The current kept in place in the latest increase. jected to be built by 2029 and explained that Apple roads (their batteries are very heavy) monthly rates increased in the following categories: Estle Harlan, Solid Waste Management Consultant, Tree Companies is still in the process of getting the and places an additional burden on - 35g cart (with 95g bi-weekly recycling) - $25.81 explained the rate increase was requested to keep permits it needs from the county to get the depot conventional vehicles. / $26.84 built. Brandt’s operating margin at 7.8%, just below the - 65g cart (with 95g bi-weekly recycling) - $34.50 preferred 8-12 percent. See ODOT, page A3 / $35.88

Monmouth raises waste, recycling rates again

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