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Looking east from the railroad trestle foot bridge across the North Santiam River at Hammond Park in Mill City. (Photo: Henry Miller/Statesman Journal )



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Mill City approved a consulting contract with former Stayton Public Works Director Dave Kinney.


At its Sept. 9 meeting, the town’s city council unanimously approved to extend a professional services agreement with Kinney as a community development consultant for the term of two years, until July 1, 2016.


Kinney resigned from the Stayton Public Works in May, where he had been serving as a part-time consultant for Stayton as the “de facto public works director.” Kinney began consulting in July 2008, when he stepped in after the departure of the previous director.


At that time, Kinney said he would continue to do some consulting work, but he intended to free up time for a project back East.


Kinney served as Mill City’s city administrator from the early-to-mid 2000s. He has also served on the North Santiam School District Board.


“He has worked in Mill City for many years in different capacities, including the pro tem (city administrator) appointment,” Mill City’s City Recorder Stacie Cook said. “Dave has been strictly in the position of planner now for about six years.”


Stayton has yet to appoint a public works director since Kinney’s departure. The city has conducted one review of candidates and will be opening the search again this fall.


“Dave was a contracted consultant with the City of Stayton, (which) allowed him to consult with other communities while he was working with Stayton,” Stayton City Administrator Keith Campbell said. “Mill City was one of several of his consulting clients while he was at Stayton. My understanding was he continued to do consulting work for a few of those clients.”


Also in Mill City:


•  City minutes noted that Sam Drevo of Northwest River Guides (eNRG Kayaking) expressed support for a small fee to launch or disembark watercraft in the North Santiam River at Hammond Park. Drevo stressed that improving parks will attract people to Mill City, and the fee could contribute toward that improvement.


Local outdoor recreation enthusiast Bill Sanderson also spoke to the council on the issue, conveying that a commercial user river fee is a potentially offensive concept to many river users. He would like to make sure there is additional time for discussion.


The Council will further review the idea at a later date.


•  Canyon Life Museum visitors in Mill City should soon find parking a little more convenient.


The City Council of Mill City voted unanimously on Aug. 26 to authorize exclusive use of three parking spaces on NE Wall Street for museum use. The vote followed a discussion about parking issues resulting from increased usage of parking for river recreation.


Council minutes showed that the discussion resulted in the council directing city staff to work with Frances Thomas to place signage at the east end of the street, authorizing exclusive use to three spaces, not including the ADA space(s), to the museum.


North Santiam Historical Society and Canyon Life Museum are located at 143 NE Wall St.; contact at (503) 897-4088, nshs@wvi.com.


jmuch@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 769-6338, cell (503) 508-8157 or follow at http://ift.tt/1nZery9


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