City of Cannon Beach endorses

Cannon Beach, May 7, 2008
By PAMELA ROBELThe Daily Astorian

Cannon Beach is the first to endorse cemetery district vote

Cannon Beach became the first city to endorse a proposed November ballot measure that would form a cemetery district in Clatsop County Tuesday.

In a 4-1 vote, the Council approved the idea moving forward to be put to the voters in November.Mike Leamy, who has been heading the ballot measure effort at all the City Council meetings in the county, addressed a laundry list of 15 questions presented to him by the Council during his presentation. Among those questions, were concerns about the structure of the proposed district's management, grounds maintenance and tax rate increases. The tax rate increase would amount to approximately $100 for a house valued at $500,000."They used to say, on the proposals, the rate on a $100,000 home would be (this amount)," said Leamy. "Now, a $100,000 is a fixer-upper."

The endorsement of the district was opposed by Councilman Jay Raskin who expressed concern about making a decision for the residents of Cannon Beach without hearing what they had to say in a public hearing.

"I was hoping there'd be public testimony," said Raskin. "Frankly, I don't have any sense of what the residents of Cannon Beach feel about this."

The endorsement, if mimicked by the other four incorporated cities in the county, allows the proposed cemetery district to be put on the November ballot but does not form the district. If the other cities in the county choose not to support the proposed ballot measure, Cannon Beach has the option to rescind its endorsement.

Councilman Sam Steidel said he thought the measure was a county matter and that by endorsing the proposed measure, the city was allowing county residents to vote on the district come November.

"I'm not going to be buried in a cemetery, period. Whether it's in Clatsop County or anywhere else," said Mayor John Williams. "My ashes are going to be scattered over the ocean, but I think out of respect for the people who have gone before us, and because of the historical aspect, I'd be willing to pay my $100 to support this."

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NOTE:
We Thank the Cannon Beach City Council for endorsing our proposal, and especially we thank Mayor Williams for his statement, as this endorsement turned out to be one of the very last items Mr. Williams got to do for humanity. Sadly Mayor Williams passed on 3 days later.