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Get Ready Guide INSERTED INTO TODAYS PAPER Wednesday September 25, 2024 | Volume 148, Issue 39

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Judge rules county acted illegally reassigning treasurer duties

Lions donates $100,000 to Ellan Curran Food Bank

By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

Steve Milligan felt he knew without a doubt after being elected as Polk County’s treasurer in 2020, the administration was limiting his duties overseeing the county’s finances and had reassigned them to a financial manager. A judge agreed with Milligan Sept. 20 at the conclusion of a lawsuit, striking down the ordinance, finding it unlawful after a summary judgment hearing at the Polk County Courthouse. Milligan filed the lawsuit in November of 2023 against both the county and county Administrator Greg Hansen. Milligan’s attorney Misha Isaak said the ruling “now means treasurer Milligan now has the right to discharge the duties of treasurer as defined by state statute. The county has no contrary ordinance and is not permitted to have contrary ordinance.” Yamhill County Ladd Judge Wiles found the county’s ordinance unlawful, but was hesitant to call it unconstitutional. While the Oregon Constitution does say a county treasurer, like the county clerk and sheriff, must be elected by voters in general elections for four-year periods,

Funds to be used for new, permanent pantry facility By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

“We are letting people know what the Central Lions Club is all about. That we’re an international service organization devoted to sight and hearing issues,” Lund said from their booth. “We raise money for people to get glasses if they can’t afford them, and for hearing aids if they can’t afford them.” One of the club’s better known projects has gone statewide. “Several years ago, Oregon mandated that children have their vision

Micheal Cairns may no longer be an active member of the Central Lions Club after passing away in June. But his spirit may as well have been holding aloft the $100,000 check the club presented to the Ella Curran Food Bank on Sept. 12. About 20 members and volunteers from the food bank held a ceremony in Cairns’ honor as it was his project, members will say, he fought to see it to completion until his dying day. “It was Michael’s passion to do this project, literally until the end,” said his wife, Gail Cairns.”He fussed over and worried over it. I’m so happy to see this done.” Current president Danny Jaffer retold the story of how Michael started this drive to get the food bank a $100,000 hunger grant from the Lions Club International. “The Ella Curran Food Bank wants to build a new facility. I think we ought to try and get this,” Jaffer recalled Michael telling him about 2 ½ years ago. Jaffer has close ties to both organizations. Not only is he both a long time Lion and food bank volunteer, his parents were both Lions and his mother, Pat Jaffer, was the previous executive director of the food bank for 25 years prior to Patty McArdle taking over. They learned the requirements for being awarded the $100,000 were straightforward. The Central Lions Club, with members in Dallas, Monmouth, Independence and West Salem, had to reach out to the other 30 clubs within their District 36-R, which extends from Yachats to Eugene “We work on getting $25,000 and Lions International throws in the other $75,000,” Jaffer explained. He said their district governor at the time, Lynn Coon, who is now their council chair, went to the Lions’ national headquarters in Chicago to pitch the plan. “She got the approval in July 2023. They said, ‘Yeah, we recognize this is a worthwhile project. No go forth and start earning the money,’” Jaffer said. As their club’s main fundraising arm was geared toward youth vision programs, Jaffer said they had to go the more traditional route to get funds for the food grant - hat in hand. Contributions rolled in, from $100 to $1,000, whatever other clubs could afford at the time. “This grant has already helped. Because we knew it was coming, it helped us leverage other funds. It encouraged others to jump in,” said

See HOPS, page A7

See LIONS, page A7

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

Portland lawyer Misha Isaak argues behalf of Polk County Treasurer Steve Milligan (seated at left) at a summary hearing Sept. 20 at the Polk County Courthouse, while the county’s attorney Andrew Campbell awaits his turn to argue. orders, take note of interest paid and other accounting duties of the county’s finances. However, Milligan’s case outlined that Polk County Commissioners ran

it does not set out those duties for each position. State statute does outline basic treasurer duties to receive money owed to the county, pay for county

afoul of state statute when it adopted a resolution in 2016 that reduced the duties of the county treasurer’s See JUDGE, page A7

Revitalized hop festival brings fun to Independence By LANCE MASTERSON For The Itemizer-Observer

Mother Nature smiled upon the Hop & Heritage Festival, and that brought a smile to Natascha Adams. “I’m most happy about the weather cooperating, because that always makes a big difference,” Adams said Saturday. Smile-inducing as well is the success of the event itself, now in its second year of efforts to revitalize it following a COVID-caused pause. This year’s festival drew more vendors, added more attractions and entertainment, and featured a full slate of live music. “This year, the festival is bigger and better than before,” Adams said Saturday. Adams is president of the Independence Downtown Association (IDA). She is also chairperson of this year’s festival. One new attraction was the Young Entrepreneur Plaza (YEP), designed specifically for self-starters ages 3 to 17. “They’re here all day,” Adams said of the youngsters. “We just have different shifts for them. Each child is here for two hours. But (the plaza) goes all day.” For some, an all-day commitment is challenging. Shifts are more manageable and make YEP accessible to all. “We have really creative, imaginative youth in our community. For those who want to try and sell their items, it just gives them an opportunity to try the plaza out without having to be here all day,” Adams said. “It’s hard on an 8-year-old, you know, to have to be here eight hours. So shifts are a way for them to test

PHOTO BY LANCE MASTERSON

Joy Lund and Deva Powell of the Central Lions Club dress for the occasion at the Hop & Heritage Festival Sept. 21 in Independence. their entrepreneurial skills, and for us to see what our youth are up to now.” Jayden Menendez is one youngster who knows opportunity when she sees it. Laid out on her table were knit hats, spider plants, baby blankets, necklaces and bracelets. She learned of YEP from Facebook several months ago, knew she wanted to participate and has been busy on projects ever since. She’s also sold items at other craft fairs. So what keeps her going? “My love for it,” she said. “And then when I realized I could get

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money out of it, it was, like, this is perfect.” Next to Menendez, Norah Bodily was also honing her entrepreneurial skills. On her table were backpack pins, keychains, bracelets and hair clips, along with handmade dolls crafted by younger sister Violet. They, too, were in it for sales. YEP is sponsored by IDA. Not everyone or group was out to make money, though. Joy Lund and Deva Powell, for example, were there to spread the good word about public service.

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