---
date: "2024-06-12"
title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2024-06-12"
source: "2024-06-12-minutes-council-monthly.pdf"
---

CITY OF PRAIRIE CITY

BUDGET HEARING

&

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

June 12, 2024

Attendance:

Ed Clark, Mayor

Councilor Chase McClung

Councilor Colby Bradford

Councilor Pam Gangler

Councilor Brook Williams

Councilor Jenny Shaw

Shonalie Oakes, City Recorder

Jeff Bryant, Museum Director

Georgia Patterson, Budget Committee Member

Visitors:

Frances Preston

Billie Jo George

Fran Bunch

Nancy Hitz

Ken Gillihan

Ryan Williams

Mayor Clark called the budget meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. The pledge was recited, and

roll call was called.

Mayor Clark turned the floor over to Rob Gaslin, Budget Officer. Gaslin announced that

there are enough amendments that need to be made to the budget, that we will not be

able to adopt it today and that the hearing will be rescheduled, removing from the

agenda Resolution No. 2024-05, Resolution No. 2024-06, Resolution No. 2024-07, and

Resolution No. 2024-08. Today’s meeting will be to discuss the proposed changes and

amendments. One of the most notable changes to the budget is on page 14 to the water

fund adding $21,600.00 for the temporary summer help maintenance worker position to

assist in installing the new water meters from the unappropriated funds balance.

Discussed next was the increased costs associated with putting on Community events,
New Years, 4th of July, Christmas, etc. The change to the Holiday Celebrations fund

increased from $13,000.00 to $17,000.00. Next discussed was the Law Enforcement fund.

Members of the community have expressed a decrease in crime with the police presence.

Budget Officer Rob Gaslin explained that keeping the police is not sustainable as there is

no revenue to support it. The budget committee recommended at the previous meeting

to cut the budget for law enforcement in half, which would only provide Prairie City with

an officer for 20 hours a week. Councilor McClung stated that he would rather cut from

the Holiday budget than compromise on having a full-time officer. Budget Committee

member Georgia Patterson expressed that she would like to fully fund law enforcement.

Councilor Williams recommended the City expel its contract with the county police

department and cut police funding entirely. Councilor Bradford suggested a compromise,

rather than reducing the law enforcement fund to 50% he asked the council how they felt

about 75%. Councilor McClung asked to open the meeting to hear the public’s opinion on

this matter. Mayor Clark asked if anyone would like to provide their feedback. Loreli

Clapp, manager of the Prairie City RV Park said that she felt safer having the police

presence, that she has witnessed drug deals and doesn’t like it and that she has spoken to

the district attorney who said they can’t do anything about it. Councilor Williams said

that is the reason she doesn’t support funding the police, because Oregon has made

drugs legal and there isn’t much the police can do. Councilor Bradford suggested leaving

100k available in the budget and to try to negotiate with the Sheriff’s department and see

what 50-75% would provide us with. Frances Preston wanted to know how much of the

time that we are paying the Sheriff’s department for is being spent within city limits?

Mayor Clark agreed that he too would also like to know the answer to that question and

will follow up with that question when he meets with the Sheriff to negotiate the

contract.