Recall planned by senior president as rent hike looms

About a half a dozen seniors protested a senior center rate hike at the June Council meeting. Senior President Kathy Gould, argued that there were others using the dining room at the center, but not paying any rent.

She also went on to say that Lakeside was predominately senior and that the city was punishing the seniors by raising the rent.

The result?

Lakesideinfo.com has learned that Gould has taken out recall papers to possibly get signatures to attempt to remove some council members.

The citizens of Lakeside have turned down a tax base proposal several times since incorporation in 1974. Such a tax would be a permanent tax amount added to residents’ property taxes.

Lakeside runs its operation on income from:

• transient tax; a portion going to the Chamber of Commerce to promote tourism
• highway use tax from the state; apportioned  based on population
• power, cable, and garbage franchise money;
• a coastal management grant from Department of Land Conservation and Development
• electrical & building permits
• cigarette and alcohol taxes
• license, fees and permits
• hanger rent

City recorder Charlie Hill said, that Lakeside’s budget is broken up into funds that “cannot cross over.” One fund could have ample money where another may have little, yet you cannot take from the one and add to the other. That is a part of Oregon budgeting law requirements.

The seniors rent was addressed at the budget meeting and the special council meeting in June ’09. With city revenues down, the senior rent must go up, according to the council.

The recommendation from the budget committee was to increase the rent $94 This would bring it to $244 a month.

The vote in anticipation of raising the rent in the budget was 6-1, with Mayor Nelson the only vote against.

Gould stated, “she is displeased with the council.”

Gould was asked who she will name and she said, “Elaine Armstrong, Mack Eubanks, Chrysta Swift, and Rod Schilling.”

She told us she is still working on her 200 word statement that is required for each party subject to a recall petition.

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Get rid of this website!

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Echoing the mayor’s sentiments, the senior’s leader also see’s no need for the Lakesideinfo.com website. She told us: “People can go to the council meetings and see for themselves.” She said that the website is “all so negative.” She then added: “I wish we could get rid of it.”

In a follow up conversation on Thursday, Kathy Gould said she is still working on the recall and has no intention of dropping it. She stated that she “is not the kind of person that backs off of anything.”

When asked why she hadn’t named Councilor Tim Crockett as part of the recall, since he had also voted to raise the rent, she added:  “who knows, I might include him too.”

When asked if she was concerned by the Mayor and Council not giving them a heads up on the rent increase, she said that she thought it “pretty rude to not get back after they had presented a rental agreement.”

She went on to say that “they had no agreement, the city hadn’t gotten back, they are still paying the same; they can’t continue to ignore us.”

At the June city council meeting, the apology was made to the seniors by several councilor’s that they were sorry they hadn’t gotten back to them.

Hill said, “that the recall Kathy Gould intends to file will cost the city close to $4000 dollars.” It would only cost the city, however, if sufficient number of signatures were gathered to place any one or more of the elected member onto a ballot, which would require a special election.

The money for such a potential recall election would come out of the general fund. That’s the same fund that contains the money Gould wants to be used for senior rent.

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Background facts

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• In the minutes of June 21, 07, budget meeting: Orville Nelson asked that the council only accept what South Coast Business pays for rent for the senior center which is $150.
• Lakesideinfo.com found no motion or vote to change the senior rent and no new contract was negotiated at that time.  Dispite that at the meeting the rent was reduced from $256 to $150.
• The seniors are a 5013-c non-profit.
• The officers are: President, Kathy Gould; Vice President, Jackie Baggen; Secretary, Robbi Flemming; Treasurer, Mary Ann McPharren
• The South Coast Business employment corporation is the agency supplying the $150, that is currently used for rent. South Coast’s role is to administrate the senior nutrition program. This is a federal program with funds coming from the ‘Older Americans’ Act (OAA)’ The center has lunch on Tuesday and Thursday with 16 meals on wheels provided and delivered.
• The funds that SCBEC provide comes from a grant that is reapplied for every year. This is done by June.
• Had the seniors known about their rent increase in advance, it is possible the amount they receive from SCBEC could have been increased, but were never informed by the mayor or the council. The increase request will have to wait for the new grant cycle next year.
• All of the funds must be used in providing the space and food for the meals. The meals are very popular with seniors coming from North Bend and Reedsport to eat food prepared by Sherry Richards.
• The meals are free for those over 60 and $4.50 for those under 60. The participants are encouraged to contribute to the program.
• The complaint of others using the space without paying has now been corrected. After speaking with city recorder, Charlie Hill she confirmed, “there are now no private groups using that space.”
• The dining room can be rented out for activities.
• The seniors use three rooms, the dining room, the kitchen exclusively per SCEBC rules, and an activity room. They host a number of activities.
• The seniors are trying to be inventive in raising funds to apply to their rent. So far, they are raffling fresh flower arrangements with vase and cake with platter during their meal time.
• Any donations would be very welcome. Please contact Mary Ann McPharren, senior treasurer at 759-3819