I am writing to support the appointment of Craig Melton to the Columbia River Fire & Rescue budget committee.
It is clear to me (and anyone that attended the Feb. 14 board meeting) that Mr. Melton knows more about managing a fire department then the rest of the fire board combined.
Mr. Melton deserves to not only serve on the budget committee, but be on the fire board if he is willing to serve. Mr. Melton served on the board for eight years, ending in 2004. At that time the fire district had no debt, a balanced budget and a real fire chief. Now, it has come to my attention that your fire board has hired a fire chief that is not a fireman. I had heard this before, but dismissed this information along with Obama is not a U.S. citizen - I simply could not believe it.
Unfortunately, I found out by hearing it directly from Jay Tappan that he is not a fireman. Furthermore, Mr. Tappen specifically said that he is not able to supervise the firemen at a fire because he lacks the training to do so. So why does he go to a fire? To roast marshmallows?
I don't hold Mr. Tappen responsible for his lack of certification - it rests fully with the fire board. We deserve better. Contact your fire board and let them know you think so too.
Support Melton for fire board!
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TAPPIN HAS BEEN FIRE CHIEF FOR SOME 20 PLUS YEARS WITH NO ONE QUESTIONING HIS QUALIFICATIONS..........................
HE IS A POLITICIAN WITH NO FIRE TRAINING............
JUST ANOTHER DAY IN COLUMBIA COUNTY SEE COMMENT BELOW ]
April 23rd, 2012 Opinion Letter to all:
By Beth Wallace of St. Helens, Oregon
I think the standards, qualifications, and ethics of all public officials and candidates, should be presented to the public for review and comment before any elections take place. Being "qualified" does not mean you lived here all your life, or you fit in a specific influential circle of trust-or- vanity within the county-state or in secret. Nor should it be processed due to a political agenda or monopoly.. This should include but not be limited to extreme scrutiny when it comes to positions of power that can make or break a person, family or entire communities. This includes any and all self imposed boards or committees of control and power reigning over small or large groups of people such as Homeowner Associations which were also established by and through these same self interest circles of power and greed. None of which do anything but impose bad will and oppression to the general public It is up to the people to wake up to their true responsibly and arise from their apathy, and self interest to consciously consider the welfare and prosperity of the entire community when making any decision even the decision to turn away and do nothing. There are consequences to our actions and inaction's which I believe this county has seen more then enough for a lifetime, plus our children's lifetime.
Let us all be blessed with sound minds and hearts filled with mercy, fairness,wisdom and love for our neighbors in everything we do.

From Nancy Witney 4/23/12
I don't know who first said that politics is a dirty business but I surely am getting an education in this proverb.
In a public forum last week, Tony Hyde stated that he did not want to give the taxpayer owned Millard Road property to the City of St. Helens. Yet Mr. Hyde and the other commissioners are involved in a lawsuit as "usurper" trustees to do just that. That property is now held in trust by a warranty deed by Brady Preheim and Joe Cason, CHD trustees. Mr. Hyde intimated that he wanted the property used for "future medical purposes".
Mr. Fisher hid behind the "executive session" argument when asked about backroom meetings which took place when the commissioners and the old CHD board did away with over $500,000 and the Gable Road property. They are now attempting to add the 3.3 million Millard Road property to this giveaway.
Mr. Fisher also blatantly stated that they are using county money to fight the lawsuits brought against them even though they were not sued as commissioners - as much as $20,000. Guess what, Mr. Fisher? You have no right to use county money to fight a lawsuit brought against you as "usurper" trustees. You have SDAO (special district attorneys) for that. I, for one, would like a full accounting of that $20,000 you claim to have spent.
It is apparent that Hyde, Fisher and Heimuller, our current commissioners, fail to understand the outcome of Measure 5-209 in which the voters repealed the tax to build a hospital. They also fail to understand that the initial measure back in 2004 was to build a hospital, not to support public health. Public health is mandated by and paid for by the state and federal government. I am tired of making this argument and I trust the voters are even more so.
In another vein - I am the campaign manager for Tammy Maygra and Brady Preheim. We have been fortunate in that we have received enough donations to blanket the county with campaign signs. In Clatkskanie, however, our signs (and only our signs) have been knocked down and have now been stolen. This appears to me to be a really bad decision if someone wants to garner votes. But again - politics is a dirty business.