A correction was made at 10:50 a.m. Aug. 20, 2024: An earlier version of this article reported in error that Philomath Community Services sits on city property. To clarify, a portion of the PCS parking lot sits on city property. The News regrets the error.
The Philomath City Council approved a $6,000 funding request from Philomath Community Services Monday night to help cover the cost of parking lot changes that the organization says it needed as a result of the city’s upcoming construction of a new water treatment plant.
Philomath Community Services Executive Director Sharon Thornberry, in a letter to the city early this summer, said the “estimated cost of improving the south parking lot currently and creating the temporary drive that will be necessary during the water plant construction project is $13,963.”
Thornberry said Hughes Excavation committed to a $4,800 donation in labor to the project and would also share its yard space to ensure access to those who need services as well as PCS volunteers.
A portion of the Philomath Community Services parking lot sits on city property. City Manager Chris Workman explained that the city had offered to help the organization with changes that might be needed, such as a load of rock, or moving a gate or fencing.
“I think when we first got a look at all of the rock that they were asking for from Hughes, I was like ‘that’s a lot more than a load of rock that we had offered’ so we kind of went back and forth,” Workman said.
Workman said he then inquired with Corpac, the contractor on the streetscapes project, about donating grindings from the highway work.
“I actually had them lined up to donate that and level it out and everything for them but unfortunately, PCS had already entered into this contract with Hughes so they had a game plan and ‘we’re needing just the aggregate rock to be donated.’”
Councilor Diane Crocker said she feels that with Hughes’s track record as a positive community partner that it would have been open to listening to an alternative option that could save money.
Workman admitted that he had a mixed reaction to the situation.
“I feel like we had a really good source of help that we could have provided that wouldn’t have cost the city anything and instead we’re being asked to help pay for the project as they had already entered into it,” he said. “And I feel we support PCS annually with contributions that come from that shared revenue and we send that out pretty liberally to Philomath Community Services amongst others, so I have a little bit of reservation with the request.”
The city awarded $11,000 to PCS in November 2023 — which was more than what had been typical each year — with that amount ultimately going toward lighting, gutter, plumbing and door needs and repairs. In the application process last year for the social services funding, PCS had requested up to $12,000 to partially fund the replacement of a failing freezer.
“I have a little bit of reservation with the request but I understand why they’re making it and you know, it was our retaking of the parking lot that’s led to some of these improvements they’ve had to make on their site,” Workman said. “I’m a little torn on this one and I’m happy to hear from the council on where you stand.”
Councilor Christopher McMorran had questions about investing in the property when the organization had been talking about relocating.
“I love PCS and I think we should support them but I have a little bit of a reservation about pouring a bunch of money into that particular site when they’re actively talking about moving elsewhere,” McMorran said.
Teresa Nielson, who serves as the council’s PCS liaison, said she knows the organization needs more space but added “campaigns to find a new building, to find property and the money to build the type of square footage that they are needing takes years. … It is a long and tedious process to acquire a new building and the campaign is just now beginning.”
Nielson said a priority for PCS, which she gleaned from attending past meetings, revolves around safety and accessibility. As for the question of finances, Nielson said the organization continues to serve more and more people in the area.
“Their numbers are growing and those individuals that they serve … I can’t say that there’s going to be a decrease in need over the next few years so their expenditures, rather than decreasing, are increasing,” she said. “And the amount of help and the number of people that they help in our community — pretty substantial.”
Philomath Community Services operates Nancy’s Food Pantry, Community Gleaners, Holiday Cheer, June’s Kids Kloset and Lupe’s Community Garden.
“I think we can do this for them,” Nielson said. “I feel that they want us maybe making some sacrifices so they can better meet the needs of our citizens, our community members, as they serve those who are food insecure and have special needs.”
Mayor Chas Jones voiced hesitation with the PCS request saying that he felt like the $6,000 ask could be a part of the social service funding that is distributed annually. He also noted that from last year’s distribution, “they were going to spend the funds on one thing and then kind of swapped it out for another thing … they also asked for a lot more money than they typically did when they did that.”
After a few more comments from councilors, Ruth Causey made a motion to award PCS $6,000. During the followup discussion, Councilor Matt Lehman wanted to know what would not be funded if the PCS request was approved.
Workman mentioned funds that had been budgeted for restriping and crosswalks could be at risk but said there was a little bit of money available in the street maintenance budget. However, he also suggested — as the mayor had — that the money could simply come from the annual social service funding that is allocated each year out of state revenue sharing dollars that are distributed to the city.
The application deadline for those grants is coming up Aug. 30 and the Finance Committee will be taking a look next month at recommendations on allocations.
“So we could tag that in and say the first $6,000 of that is going towards this effort and here’s the balance and that gets divvied up amongst everybody else,” Workman suggested. “That wouldn’t have a negative impact on other city street-type projects.”
Last year, the city allocated $38,602 to six organizations with PCS getting that $11,000 as the largest share. Benton County Habitat for Humanity, ABC House, Philomath Youth Activities Club, Strengthening Rural Families and Maxtivity also received funding through the program.
Workman ultimately recommended going that route on the funding source. Causey then amended her original motion to stipulate that the $6,000 contribution come out of social service funding. The vote to amend was unanimous.
The final vote on allocating the $6,000 was not unanimous at 6-1 with Lehman voting nay.
