City Info Weekly - 2009/09/16 (Archive)

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2009 State of the Cities report

City Manager Bob Gregory presented the state of the City of Longview at the quarterly meeting of the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce on September 10.  He advised attendees of the ongoing work the City had done towards accomplishing several of the City Council’s 2009 Initiatives including:

• Reducing the Part 1 crime rate by 48% (homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson)
• Continuing responsible management of the City’s finances by reducing expenses in several areas that will allow the City to continue operating with appropriate reserves in case of emergency
• Progressing in Highlands neighborhood improvements by hiring a coach and neighbors working on various clean-up projects. 

In addition, he focused on the diligence of City staff in going after stimulus funds amounting to over $4.8 million to assist the City during the depressed economy, and pointed out several large construction projects currently in process in the community which appears to indicate a turnaround in the economy.  Accolades were given to community members such as Rick Winsman for his work on the Community Assessment program, the Daily News for the Cardboard Boat Regatta, and Bill Kasch for his tireless work to preserve Longview’s history.  Bob also recognized several City employee groups for their willingness to help keep the budget operating in the black by taking furloughs, giving up merit increases, and helping support the community in various charitable endeavors.

More information:  View the 2009 State of the Cities Report.

Welcome new Longview Firefighters

Fire Chief Daryl McDaniel introduced the City’s newest firefighters to Longview City Council at the September 10 meeting.  The City’s newest team members include Ben Winfield, Michael Scott, Graham Lasse, and Michael Mann.  Winfield and Scott were hired in new positions that were allocated to help offset overtime costs.  Lasse and Mann were hired to fill positions recently vacated due to recent retirements.  Having interviewed a number of very qualified candidates, Chief McDaniel attested that “we have hired the most elite that have prepared themselves for beginning their career with Longview Fire.”

Longview Fire Chief Harry Clarke artwork approved

Longview resident Bill Kasch submitted an art project to Longview City Council that honors the first fire chief for the city of Longview, Harry Clarke.  Council approved the artwork and thanked Mr. Kasch for his work in getting this project completed.  A painted, wooden cutout likeness of the chief by artist Barbara Lancaster will be mounted on the front of the Commerce Avenue fire station.  The artwork has been financed by current and past firefighters and it will be maintained by them. Harry Clarke served as Chief from 1923 to 1951.

New Business License Exception

Based on state law, the City will not be requiring a business license from anyone selling, delivering or peddling fruits, vegetables, berries, eggs or other farm produce or edibles raised, gathered, produced or manufactured by that person.  Additionally, also based in that same state law, no business license will be required of an individual that has a valid direct retail endorsement (under RCW 77.65.510) if they are selling, delivering or peddling commercially harvested salmon, crab and sturgeon at a temporary food service establishment.  A temporary food service establishment means not operating at a fixed location for more than twenty-one consecutive days in conjunction with a single event or celebration.  Ordinance No. 3113 has been adopted by the City Council to bring the Longview Municipal Code into compliance with the state law regarding these prohibitions of requiring business licenses in these instances.  A business license will still be required for those people carrying on activity with dairy products, meat, poultry, eel, fish, mollusk or shellfish as they do not fall within the exceptions of requiring business licenses under state law. 

Longview City Council selects citizens to prepare ballot statements

Longview City Council has appointed citizens to prepare pro and con statements for the upcoming ballot measure that will gauge community interest in whether or not to pursue merging the cities of Longview and Kelso.  Person appointed to prepare statements are:

“PRO” statement:  Don Lemmons, Rick Winsman, and Cathy Zimmerman
“CON” statement:  Larry Peterson, Veryl Anderson, and Bill Kasch

Longview exceeds blood donor contribution goal!

The Longview Fire Department on Commerce Avenue hosted a blood drive for the Southwest Washington Blood Drive Program on September 11.  The goal was to collect blood from 25 donors, but Longview exceeded its target by seven.  The donations collected will provide life saving blood products to over 90 patients in our community! 

More information:  To learn how you can set up a blood drive, visit the SW Washington Blood Program at http://www.swblood.org/about/index.htm.

Questions about Longview programs or services?  Don’t forget to check with ASK Longview!