Category: General Interest

Submitted By: dmccalltillamook@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

As mentioned in a previous post, a post including the fear of being taxed out of one’s home prompted me to reach out to the two candidates (thus far) for Tillamook County Assessor, and request a short summary of how our property tax system works, and how tax increases occur.
I reached out to both candidates, requesting a short summary (so that both would fit within the constraints of BBQ).

The first response came from Kari Fleisher, who submitted the summary you will see below. She also stated that she welcomes any further questions to: kari@karifleisher.com and my website at www.karifleisher.com. Also, you can always direct traffic to the Assessment and Taxation website at www.tillamookcounty.gov/assessment

Unfortunately the second candidate, KaSandra Larson, was not able to provide a summary due to “personal and family obligations to attend to this week.” She said she will, however, explore a future article on the property tax system.

So, with that said, here is Kari’s summary:
As a candidate for Tillamook County Assessor, Kari Fleisher aims to ensure that Tillamook County taxpayers are informed about the property tax laws that bind us all. In Oregon, property taxes provide funding for school districts, Tillamook County, cities, and special districts, including fire, ports, transportation, and sanitation. These government organizations offer services to the local community. Property taxes are ad valorem, aka based on value. Taxpayers pay taxes based on the assessed value of their individual properties.
Oregon voters passed two significant laws that limited the amount of property taxes collected
from taxpayers and the amount of money taxing districts can receive. First, Measure 5 limited
the total property taxes paid by an individual property to 1.5% of its Real Market Value. The
second was Measure 50, which created a new term called Maximum Assessed Value. The Maximum Assessed Value typically grows 3% per year and is not tied to Real Market Value once set. The lower of the two annually becomes the Assessed Value. An individual property can see increases in their Maximum Assessed Value above 3% due to changes to their property like new construction, remodeling, rehabilitation, subdivision, and more. One downfall of Measure 50 is that Assessed Values are no longer equitable to like property. Only Real Market Value can be used for comparison/equity purposes.
All properties are assessed per Oregon Revised Statutes that allow using cost, market, and
income approaches to value. In Tillamook County, we use a computer-assisted mass appraisal
system to input various property information to calculate a value. We annually adjust our
valuations based on market research. Programs like personal business property and industrial
property require using directly reported costs from taxpayers.
Taxing districts had a permanent tax rate set when Measure 50 was passed. The only way to ask for more money is for a 5-year operating levy or a bond limited to capital improvements. Both require voter approval. Once passed by the voters, this will increase the tax rate and taxes for all property owners within the district.

Submitted By: Cpossibility1023@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

If you didn’t get a call from me, you didn’t win the raffle for the
Pink Sapphire ring, I feel your pain as neither did I! Thank you to all who purchased tickets and supported the White Clover Grange!

Submitted By: Jackie.ryser@newryse.com – Click to email about this post

We are a sustainable residential design firm in Nehalem taking new clients. We handle anything from basic interior remodels to fully custom sustainable home designs. Visit our website for more information at www.newryse.com

Submitted By: Cpossibility1023@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

In my haste, I left out the cost. $5 each 5/$20

Submitted By: Cpossibility1023@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Many of you gave already purchased your tickets, thank you. For those who haven’t, this charming ladies ring is highlighted by a rare Pink Sapphire man-made stone (.72c). It is set in a 5prong solitaire 14k yellow gold setting, approx size 7. The ring was recently appraised at $850. You may remember this ring was found about 18” underground by our local NW Dirt Fishing Co., it is thought to have been originally lost 100 years ago. All proceeds will go into the White Clover Grange building restoration fund.
Contact Constance tonight or by noon tomorrow to get your last minute raffle tickets via Square, drawing will be held at approximately 3pm tomorrow. Thank you!

Constance Shimek 503.936.1511

Submitted By: mmurf10@yahoo.com – Click to email about this post

ISO free or low cost income tax prep services, generally offered by AARP or VITA or at Senior Centers or Libraries, etc. Thanks!

Submitted By: dmccalltillamook@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

I must admit, when I see a post from a certain Dixie, I prepare to be entertained with some wild story of a conspiracy, or some other disinformation. But reading her post this weekend, including her fear of being taxed out of her home due to the rampant increases in property taxes “far above the normal rate,” another thought came to mind.
It’s easy to forget about increases in Social Security of 5.9% in 2021, 8.7% in 2022, or 3.2% in 2023, and focus on the (maximum 3%) increase we see on our property taxes.
What I saw when I read this post is an opportunity:
Two candidates have filed to be elected as the next Tillamook County Assessor. How about asking them to provide an explanation of how property taxes are assessed, including the difference between assessed vs market value, and how the budgets of our various taxing districts are affected by property taxes as inflation is high or low?
I have reached out to each of the candidates, and asked them to provide a short (max. 2000 characters) explanation that I will share with the BBQ community once I receive them. Hopefully we’ll be able to read their explanations next weekend, and start to see how each of them communicate with us.

Submitted By: cbbcalm@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

The community did it . The balance is now clear.
May it be known that Doctor Matt Didlake will continue to help those in hard time
Witnessing this last Friday when delivering January hair cut donations there was a gentle man and his awesome dog both homeless in the waiting room
We knew the pooch would be taken care of .
Today enquiring about the pair it was shared that Dr. Matt had paid for a place for them to stay.
and that it was not the first time he did this.
Let this slip into our hearts
no more words needed
Corinna and Daniel

Submitted By: marooncaboose@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Ginger Matyas of Katcandu and Woofgang pet services has been caring my dog for almost 2 years, and I am so grateful for her. During my long work days or when I am out of town, I am reassured that my best buddy is getting the love and care that he needs. Ginger is reliable, flexible, professional and kind. For anyone needing pet services, I highly recommend that you reach out to Ginger. 

www.gingerpetsitter.com/

Submitted By: Jamesk3nn3r@aol.com – Click to email about this post

Key words, entitlement.
Let’s do better in our community.
www.verywellmind.com/communal-narcissism-a-deep-dive-into-collective-self-centeredness-7561322

Submitted By: dixiegainer@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

So – inflation, property taxes increasing far above the normal rate, heating bills and everything else – the total cost of living has jumped enormously, BUT Kotek’s Housing Advisory Council Floats $3 BILLION in New Oregon Taxes.

YES 3 billion in new taxes!

Just weeks after suggesting a 3-year pause on new taxes, Governor Tina Kotek’s own Housing Production Advisory Council released new recommendations calling for more than $3 billion in new taxes. The list was exhaustive, including establishing a sales tax, increasing personal income taxes, doubling the gas tax, and more. 

Can you pay more?

Will more people become homeless because this increase in taxes will push them over the edge? I keep thinking that one of these days I will be taxed out of my house.

I was thinking one morning as I like to do in the quiet of the dawn with my cup of coffee. If I were governor how would I look at my responsibility. Now I could never become governor nor do I want to but how would I look at my roll? I think I would see my job as to make sure as much as possible that every Oregon citizen would have an opportunity to thrive. That would be my job, that is how I would make decisions. I would not pass any bills, like HB 2002, from outside entities. And in a time of financial crisis I would not raise taxes at all. In many states the governors lowered what taxes that they could: Fourteen states have individual income tax rate reductions taking effect in 2024: Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire (interest and dividends income only), North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina.

So are you just going to sit there and take it?

Gov. Kotek # 503-378-4582
press 3 to leave a comment
press 4 to get a list of other ways to contact the governor

The state of Oregon has the sixth highest taxes in the nation.
Many people are leaving Oregon because it is becoming unlivable – crime, murder, homeless camps in your backyard. Our Democratic legislators would like to remove the kicker. Our governor, Tina Kotek, for instance, proposed in 2018, when she was a lawmaker, to use kicker dollars to reduce the state’s unfunded liability for its egregiously generous retirement system for public employees. Kotek suggested the next year that the state keep half the kicker money and use it for transportation projects. The more you give them – the more they spend.

In 1979 Oregon had a Republican governor and that was when the Kicker tax was enacted and in 1999 it was put into the Oregon constitution. And the Democrat leaders don’t like it. I have to say I was a Democrat most my life but I finally grew up and now I am smart enough to just look at all individuals running when trying to decide who would be the best for the job. How is Oregon doing under about 14 years of Dem majority? Not so good it appears. Lots of corruption in the state capitol too but that is for another day.

Submitted By: dixiegainer@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

I watched Dave Chappell – a comedian – on youtube last night – he is very funny and laughter is the best medicine they say. When I woke up the next morning I was sitting up in bed drinking coffee and thinking, which is how I like to start my day – and I was thinking – I wonder if they have Chinese comedians? It seems an oxymoron as I can think of nothing funny about living as a Chinese citizen in China. When I got out of bed I went to google and looked up Chinese comedians and YES, much to my surprise there are comedians in China, but they have to be very careful and cannot say or make jokes about their government, or its off to the organ donor farm for them. This reminds me of Trudeau who told the Canadian citizens that they certainly could protest but they could not protest anything their government was doing!!. From China to Canada – hmmmmmm

Words like mis-information, dis-information, and mal-information are baby steps to a communist like government, and a new phrase has been added – infodemic!! This means there is too much information!!!!!!!!! – This from the World Health Organization!! who is preparing a treaty whereby they usurp all countries governments and put their own rules in when they call a pandemic – and I think this is where the WHO is moving us to a one world government. Want more information on that? Can’t have it – that would create an infodemic and we don’t want that – do we?

Very slowly our freedom of speech is being taken away and unfortunately most of the sheeples in this country haven’t got a clue. I suspect that is because they don’t have enough information and basically from what I see – they don’t want any. They like fact checkers though who tell them that everything is just fine. Everything is just fine. Just obey. Everything is just fine – really!

But me? I want all the info I can get and even more – so I know what is going on – like what’s in the jab? – or what’s in my food? or why are we getting close to a civil war in this country? I need info so I can make good decisions. There are a lot of dead people out there now who died because they didn’t get enough info. I probably can’t talk about that though – that would be mis-information! or maybe mal-information.

DEFINITIONS – MIS-INFORMATION – incorrect or mis-leading information,
DIS-INFORMATION – false information, MAL-INFORMATION – true information but something the government does not want to be known and now a
NEW ONE TO ADD – INFODEMIC – Way to much information!!!!!!!!!!

Do you think this article contains mis-information?dis-information? mal-information – or just a plain infodemic?

Then go to your nearest communist party cell and report it.

Submitted By: ben.killen.rosenberg@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

Posting on behalf of Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Let’s Talk About… Something Else

I was in Newberg, Oregon for a big chunk of December and January. I went up to be with my big sister before and after the death of her husband of 58 years, a dear man I’ve known my entire life. She’s 16 years older than me and they were dating when I was a just puppy, so I mean my entire life literally. But this isn’t really about that. So many people in our community have lost loved ones. I’m not alone or special in the grief I feel. If we didn’t love our people so deeply, we wouldn’t grieve their loss so deeply. It’s the cost of the ticket and it hurts like crazy.

With his death my focus shifted. Things that used to matter to me don’t anymore. Things that didn’t matter so much now do. I’ve decided to be intentional in where I place my attention focusing on what’s beautiful and good in the world—not just amazing sunsets and wildlife, but all the times when people just show up for each other.

I used to give my writing students an assignment I called, Somebody Did Me A Solid. I’d ask them to think of a time when someone unexpectedly stepped up and provided something they needed, be it a kind word or some cash money. Everybody has that story.

During the cold snap and ice storm, I was still in Newberg while Ben was here in Manzanita. We only have the one car and when even triple A couldn’t get her started, a good friend came and picked me up, delivering me to my sister’s in time for her birthday—that’s a solid, for sure. When the temperatures dropped and the power went out a few days later, neighbors offered their RV for Ben to sleep in on the coldest night, so he’d be warm. The next day power was restored to everyone on our street except our house because of a downed tree on 3rd. Neighbors offered us room in their fridges and freezers, so we didn’t lose any food. I even saw an invitation to a power outage potluck that a friend in town wanted to host.

Ben did his Ben thing—he checked on the homes of our out of town neighbors to make sure pipes weren’t frozen. He told me how City and County workers were out in force in the cold and ice taking care of business as quick as possible in ugly and dangerous conditions. Look for the helpers, Fred Rogers used to say and man, do we have helpers in our community.

I know all this wasn’t particular to us or to our street.

Back in Newberg on a Sunday night, my sister and I watched an old episode of Grants Getaways on KGW that featured the Smiley Brothers & Sisters Salmon Harvest which harvests, cans, and distributes hatchery coho salmon to the North County Food Bank with the help of a whole bunch of volunteers. After the show was over, my sister asked about our community and I told her about some of the other things we do for each other; like the community garden at the Land Trust which provides hundreds of pounds of produce to low income folks in the villages, and events that are just plain fun like the Christmas tree lighting at Underhill Plaza, the Fourth of July parade, the community theater at NCRD, Pie Day, the apple festival at White Clover Grange, the Polar Plunge. And some of the small individual things people have done like the sewing circle that met every Monday evening for years at my neighbor Bobbie’s home and the outdoor movies and music Kelly Roy hosted this summer on the Dirty Bird lot.

Good people with good ideas making a difference in the lives of others and having fun doing it. Doing a solid for the place and the people in our community. A friend who’s lived here since the 70’s told me people see the possibility to create something here and they make it happen.

That’s how CartM started and that’s how the Heart of CartM continues.

Annie Dillard writes, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing.”

Amen, Annie. Amen.

Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com

Submitted By: babbles@nehalemtel.net – Click to email about this post

i’m responding to jett keyser’s post on last nights BBQ.

i’d sure like to see some of this embodied in the folks who are publicly denouncing and defaming the members of manzanita’s city council.

geez lawheez, give them a break! they are volunteers with nothing to gain from voting yes or no on any agenda item.

om peace namaste

lucy brook

To Live Our Own Lives
To live our own lives, not having to attack or defend,

knowing how each of us can give to others, to our family,
to strangers, to this earth, to beings we shall never see.

As we listen to many voices and changing representation,
we recognize that it is in the independent expression
of our own choices and values that we realize our freedom, live our own lives.

And it is heartening to see each meal train
appear, how we share our seeds, restore and repurpose a grange, protect a library, realize we are not alone, stronger together.

Regardless of what is driving the media ratings,
we can give support to the children in Ukraine, Gaza, Nehalem.

We can always ease up to live our own lives with compassion.

Submitted By: jettkeyser@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

To Live Our Own Lives

To live our own lives, not having to attack or defend,

knowing how each of us can give to others, to our family,
to strangers, to this earth, to beings we shall never see.

As we listen to many voices and changing representation,
we recognize that it is in the independent expression
of our own choices and values that we realize our freedom, live our own lives.

And it is heartening to see each meal train
appear, how we share our seeds, restore and repurpose a grange, protect a library, realize we are not alone, stronger together.

Regardless of what is driving the media ratings,
we can give support to the children in Ukraine, Gaza, Nehalem.

We can always ease up to live our own lives with compassion.

Submitted By: Tiffany@apeachycleanbytiffany.com – Click to email about this post

Www.apeachycleanbytiffany.com
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Results are AMAZING and long lasting!!!
Www.apeachycleanbytiffany.com

Submitted By: Cpossibility1023@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

This may interest some?

For those who voted for the 5yr tax levy, or those who may be invited to the exclusive dinner/fundraiser coming up, take a look at how the Board is on track to spend a good chunk of the expected revenue this year.

Disclaimer: this is not about TJ Fiorelli or his Company. It is about protocol, fiduciary responsibility and a possible ‘backroom’ sweet deal ill-approved by the board.

In March of 2023, TJ Fiorelli’s Consulting was approved for a ‘capped’ contract of $10,000 from the NCRD to raise 2 million dollars for the new pool (see board minutes of 3.16.23)

If you look at the NCRD’s financial statements from May ‘23 when the 1st invoice (#72) was paid thru the end is December, you’ll discover the NCRD has paid TJ’s company $41,060, that’s $31,060 over the approved contract.

SIDE NOTE: Curiously an additional $2200 was paid for ‘grant writing services’? Being heavily involved with the Friends of NCRD since almost its inception in 2008, their responsibility is raising funds through fundraising and grant writing, why is the NCRD paying an outside company to do this?

At the Board meeting Thursday night TJ confirmed he is being paid $8500/mo for his services, folks that’s $102,000.00 a year! The ‘past chair’ defended this expense as TJ has brought in a $500k donation ‘singlehandedly’, “more than anyone has ever done” That’s great Jack and…

NOTE: The Board is not allowed to meet outside a scheduled board meeting. The public is to be notified and allowed to be present.

When I asked if this ‘new’ contract had been approved, Jack said yes. So my question is ‘When did that happen’? Did I also miss this (potentially) $102,000 contract being put out to bid to the community? Or at what Board meeting was this ‘new’ contract discussed and approved by the board? There is Nothing, Nada, -0- mention in any Board minutes regarding a contract, the date approved, the scope, the cost (there is a blurb in the October 12th minutes which states ‘Review/Approve contract with TJ Fiorelli: this item was tabled’. (Could a potentially negative impact on the 10/18 ballot drop for the 5yr levy been the consideration for this table?)

Pay attention Community: we were told by past BM Wally B, ‘you don’t want to get on the wrong side of the board, we have our own way of doing things’.

I am requesting the following documents be presented at the February Board meeting:
1. Present signed and dated copies of the revised contract, approving payments made over and above the $10,000 ‘capped’ contract approved.
2.Present the notification agenda for the meeting where TJ’s ‘revised’ contract was presented, discussed and approved
3.Present copies of TJ’s 1st & 2nd signed and dated contracts with the NCRD

FYI: The Board meets on the 2nd Thursday, 6pm via zoom or in person at the NCRD. It would be great to see standing room only…

Submitted By: katja@teleport.com – Click to email about this post

When the lights went out on Saturday and the freezing rain was still blowing down, I got ready for a cold night in layers of clothes and blankets. I was pleasantly surprised when the heat and lights came back on before bed.
That means that there were utility workers out there in the wet, freezing dark. I bet some of you had already worked hours and hours. Wow. Valiant.
And when I finally ventured into town, large limbs were out of the way, and traction material spread on the shady icy patches. Some of this I imagine was accomplished by volunteers. For you, and for the official road crews: Thank you.
Thank you for doing hard and miserable work to allow the rest of us to be comfortable. Thank you for taking care of your community. You are amazing.
Sincerely,
Katja & Coby

Submitted By: rkinor@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

What happened to our old City Hall? The City described it as an old, leaking, mold filled building that was so unsafe for use that employees could no longer work there.

The City’s selected contractor to build the new City Hall described all of the above negative building conditions associated with the reuse of the Underhill structures. Then just months later, he purchased and remodeled the old City Hall on Laneda as his business office. His new office has the same concrete slab on grade foundation as the School and Q Hut and is less than 300 feet away from the ground shaking dangers that he claimed would potentially destroy the Underhill structures. To this point his remodel does not include the installation of the bored pilings he claimed were the economical solution necessary to prevent foundation failure.

Finally, when Mayor Simmons requested access to the Old City Hall and Fire Station to examine the potential of those respective facilities for reuse, the City Manager denied her request to enter the buildings because “volunteers are not allowed” and then stated that the Mayor “was trying to undermine the new City Hall project”. I would note that EVC volunteers have complete access to the old Fire Station with no apparent concerns by the City Manager.

Those citizens who have taken exception to me sharing my opinions about the City Hall project or other City business matters with Mayor Simmons and demanded that she sever all ties with me should be aware that Mayor Scott and other past and current Councilors have sought me out to meet with and seek my suggestions, opinions and support on other of City issues.

After one private meeting Mayor Scott asked me to attend on the Underhill project he emailed me with the following: ” Thanks for your thoughts. They are well thought out and I will share them with the council. I really appreciate all the time and effort you have put into this project over this past year. ” In a separate email, Mayor Scott responded “I need your help in coming up with a strategy to get public support so we can make this project work.”

My experience with the City shows me that as long as you stay on script and do not ask too many questions, the Club has a place for you. If one dares to request an explanation or correction of public misstatements, the City Manager has recommended to the Council that “we must discourage or even ignore if necessary” such individuals.

This series on Club Manzanita is my attempt to present factual information concerning the policy and financial decisions of our public officials. I will continue to raise issues and have questions. I regularly receive emails from residents who I have never met who are interested in what is happening in our community but recognize the risks of publicly voicing those concerns. Thank you for watching what’s happening and your support.

The City Manager will be at the Pine Grove on January 16 to discuss the State of the City. Take the opportunity to ask your questions if you plan to attend .

Randy Kugler

Submitted By: dixiegainer@gmail.com – Click to email about this post

First of all – the state of Washington is trying to pass a bill outlawing gas powered outdoor tools. A law like that will probably show up here also. This is a “climate change” bill and scientifically speaking Climate change cannot be proven.

Secondly here is a message from a California U S Representative Kevin Kiley about happenings in our country’s capitol. All things that are happening effect our lives very much regarding income, employment, livability
and just plain survivalbility.

I would also like to say that Governor Newsom may be running for president after practically ruining the state of California. Just so you know.

A Warning to America – from Kevin Kiley

On Wednesday, we voted in the Judiciary Committee to hold Hunter Biden in criminal contempt. That is a routine step for any witness who defies a Congressional subpoena. Yet in a wild scene, Hunter decided to show up and crash one of the hearings – before abruptly fleeing.

In their own cartoonish way, Hunter’s antics encapsulate the *growing lawlessness of this administration. For instance, Biden has baldly “re-nominated” his “Acting” Secretary of Labor Julie Su, who was rejected by the Senate last year yet has clung to power nonetheless.

Worse, with Congress having rejected his attempt to nationalize Newsom’s vile AB 5 law, Biden is simply imposing the policy on America by Executive Decree. This week, he announced an “Independent Contractor” rule that takes a sledgehammer to the American workforce.

On the House Floor, I read a list of all 600 professions that have been decimated by Newsom’s law in California. I also outlined every possible tool I am using to block Biden’s decree, including fast-track legislation to nullify it and language in the Appropriations bill to de-fund it.

Meanwhile, in a deposition on Capitol Hill, Anthony Fauci said “I don’t recall” over 100 times and admitted the “6 feet apart” COVID rule was not based on data but “just sort of appeared.” Turns out “following the science” meant making things up.

And Newsom rolled out his budget, falsely claiming the $68 billion deficit is “only” $38 billion (the nonpartisan LAO says otherwise). Particularly revealing: Newsom is cutting support for foster kids as he insists on providing free healthcare to everyone in California illegally.

It has never been so clear. Newsom’s California is the furthest thing from a “model for the nation.” It is a warning to the nation.

* growing lawlessness may describe the previous, the existing and further administrations of our country and citizens really need to get involved and pay attention.