=
Expand search form

Civics 101: September

Change in the air  Mount Angel City Manager departs

By Melissa Wagoner

Mount Angel city government has experienced a recent upheaval with
two of its leaders taking their leave within 30 days of each other.

First, Mayor Andrew Otte resigned on Aug. 5 following a change in residence which left him outside the city limits.
Then, Sept. 4, City Manager Amber Mathiesen, in the position since October 2016, left via a mutual separation agreement with the city for reasons which were undisclosed.

“The City Council and the city manager mutually agreed to go our separate ways,” Mayor Kelly Grassman – formally elected to take over Otte’s role on Sept. 3 – stated. “We’re going to be having an interim city manager and we’ll be conducting a search.”

The search will be piloted by City Councilors Pete Wall, Ray Eder and Matthew Donohue, whose goal it is to fill the spot by mid-October.

In the meantime, Mayor Grassman and Councilor Wall are working alongside city staff to fulfill the city manager’s duties.

“We have a really good staff,” Grassman said. “They have their stuff down. I have a lot of confidence in them.” As for the future, Grassman is unconcerned about the recent departures.

“It’s not unusual,” she commented. “That’s why there are interim managers. This kind of thing happens.”

And as for the future, Grassman is eager to take the reins as mayor, fulfilling Otte’s term which expires on Dec. 31, 2020.

“I’m excited to be the mayor,” she said. “I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish moving ahead.”

Habitat dedicates home

North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity supporters and community members gathered for a Habitat home dedication on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Mt. Angel.

Single mother Jessica Bomar and her children Abby, Chance and Cash, received the keys to their Habitat for Humanity home in Mount Angel on Aug. 24 during a dedication ceremony attended by more than 50 people.

Family, friends and North Willamette Valley Habitat for Humanity donors and volunteers were there to celebrate with the Bomar family and to see the completed home for the first time.

Like all Habitat partner families, Jessica had a hand in building her home. She was there every step of the way and completed hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” as part of the partnership.

To see more photos from the dedication or to learn more about the NWV Habitat homeownership program, visit nwvhabitat.org.

Previous Article

Almost Canada: A prize before the journey even starts

Next Article

End of an era: Silver Grille closes its doors

You might be interested in …

Star by the Right: Silverton hosts regional Teen Square Dance Festival

By Melissa Wagoner Square dancing sometimes gets a bad rap, according to Karyn Buchheit. But she and her troupe of 16 Silver City Squares – ranging in age from 10 to 21 – are determined to change all that. “This is nothing like what your grandparents did,” Karyn explained. “This is nothing like PE class. Your preconceived notions – the […]

‘Look Who’s Coming’ – Davenport cartoon makes its way to Silverton

By Melissa Wagoner When Homer Davenport expert, Gus Frederick, learned that the original of one of Davenport’s most famous cartoons was for sale by a private seller out of South Carolina he immediately made an offer. The deal took several months but eventually “Look Who’s Coming” made its way to Silverton. “It showed a barren tree, filled up with a multitude of different […]

Horse therapy: Focusing on a rider’s ability, not disability

Susanne Rosen believes in what a person can do given the proper instruction and lots of encouragement. A visitor to the Adaptive Riding Institute, where Rosen is the executive director, is likely to encounter a rider wearing a beaming smile, escorted by spotters and an instructor leading the horse through a series of stops and turns.