Gas Agreement: At the Corvallis City Council meeting on Jan. 3, the council voted 6-3 to extend the current NW Natural Gas agreement for three years but left some major holes in what that agreement entails.
In the first of many split votes, the council voted to shorten the 10-year contract agreement allowing for the contract to be reopened in three years instead of five or ten. City officials spoke to the council and warned them that NW Natural Gas would more than likely reject this change.
Next, the council unanimously agreed to change the current effective date of Jan. 1, as it has already passed, to the current date of Jan. 3. Kris Kelly, Internal Services Division Manager has previously warned that delaying a renewal and/or allowing the franchise agreement to lapse will affect the city’s revenue stream.
Currently, the city receives 5% of gross sales of natural gas within the service area, $600,000 annually in General Fund revenues from the existing franchise.
The council ultimately voted 6-3 to table the matter until its meeting on March 31. The agreement will now go to NW Natural Gas, who could reject the changes made by the council, further delaying a final agreement.
Sworn-in: The new mayor and members of the Corvallis City Council were sworn in at the Jan. 3 council meeting. Municipal Judge Larry Blake swore in each new and returning elected official.
- Ward 1 Councilor Jan Napack
- Ward 2 Councilor Briae Lewis
- Ward 3 Councilor Hyatt Lytle
- Ward 4 Councilor Gabe Shepherd
- Ward 5 Councilor Charlyn Ellis
- Ward 6 Councilor Laurie Chaplen
- Ward 7 Councilor Paul Shaffer
- Ward 8 Councilor Tracey Yee
- Ward 9 Councilor Tony Cadena
Mayor Charles Maughan has taken over for former Mayor Bill Traber, who announced his retirement after serving over 10 years for the city. Each of the councilors will serve a two-year term from 2023 to 2024, and the mayor will serve a four-year term from 2023 to 2026.
At press time, Maughan did not return our request for comment.
School Board Seeks Public Input: Next week, members of the Corvallis School Board will be holding their last scheduled listening session on their five year goals plan – it’s potentially an opportunity for parents to impact the district’s priorities. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 6:30 pm, at Kathryn Jones Harrison Elementary, 1825 NW 27th St.,
This is the third of a trio of listening session the Board had scheduled for this and last month, and even before these meetings, they had already held a number of sessions. But according to a statement from the district, they felt a need for more clarity, “In April, the Corvallis School Board surveyed staff, families, and community members for their input in drafting the 2023-2028 board goals. The board is now hosting community engagement sessions to get more detailed information and ensure that all voices are heard.”
The district is asking, not requiring, that participants RSVP, because they’re looking to plan on food. For more information, or for language assistance, click here.
By: Jennifer Williams
