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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us February 8, 2005 Councilors let Burks vacate seat By Robert Plain Ashland Daily Tidings PHOENIX - Harold Burks and his wife, Amy, walked out of the Phoenix City Council meeting last night before it began. They were both on the verge of tears. Just before they left, an emotional Burks handed his letter of resignation to Mayor Vicki Bear and she read its contents to the overcrowded and undersized meeting room. Later in the evening, the council voted unanimously to accept Burks' resignation, with Councilor Terry Helfrich and Carlos DeBritto doing so "with much regret." And then they continued about their business of governing the small but growing community of Phoenix. They did not discuss Burks again during the meeting. After the meeting, though, Mayor Bear expounded upon why she thought Burks had stepped down, and what that says about the current political atmosphere in the tiny town of Phoenix. Furor over 'backdoor politics' "It's unfortunate, but obviously he has some strong feelings about it," she said. "Clearly he stated political reasons. [Burks] made a comment in his letter about 'backdoor politics.' I am not aware of that happening. We try to be straightforward and keep things above the table." Newly elected council President DeBritto also said he was not only surprised by Burks decision but also his reasons. "I'm confused by his mention of backdoor politics," DeBritto said. "As you can see, politics are very above the board here in Phoenix." DeBritto added that he was more concerned with moving forward than with analyzing why Burks chose to step down. Another newly elected councilor, Terry Helfrich, claimed to have no knowledge of the anonymous letter campaign during election season that Burks cited as his reason for leaving public office. "I never heard much about it," he said, referring to the anonymous letters. Helfrich said he was too new at his job of city councilor to speculate as to why Burks may stepped down. But Mayor Bear, on the other hand, had much to say about the anonymous letters. "I've been accused of writing them," she said. "There are many rumors going around. I've been very explicit: I would really appreciate if those that wrote the letters would come forward. It would put many questions to rest in this town." Only one member of the assembled audience addressed Burks resignation: Wanda Long, owner of the Norton Lumber Yard and a prominent resident of Phoenix. "I agree with Hal," she said. "I hate these anonymous letters." Battling Medford for land The council also discussed the regional problem-solving plan. Regional problem solving is a state plan that deals with how and where growth in area communities, including Phoenix, Medford, Talent and Ashland, will happen. Jeannell Wyntergreen, a member of the town's planning department, told the council that, in some instances, Medford and Phoenix are trying to grow into the very same areas. "Phoenix would like to have some economic growth," she said, adding that Phoenix may want to become the industrial hub of the area because of its proximity to the rail line, I-5 and Highway 99. "To do this we need land. We don't want to become a bedroom community to Medford." The council also approved funding to purchase playground equipment for Blue Heron Community Park. The recreation department was given $32,000 to purchase a metal jungle gym for the park along the Bear Creek Greenway, as well as a prefabricated restroom facility and some landscaping and building supplies. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams