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e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Oregon Gulch fire 11,000 acres and growing Changing winds saved Pinehurst Inn from Oregon Gulch fire Medford police have arrested a second arsonist Oregon Gulch Fire grows to 6,300 acres July beats heat record Crime, Courts and Emergency Services 5,000-acre wildfire forces evacuations in Greensprings Emergency Services Man cited for DUII after drifting into an oncoming lane of Interstate 5 and hitting a truck head-on Two-bit crime spree yields $866 in quarters Community blog: ARSON-FROM WORRY TO RELIEF Politics and Elections Medford council veterans plan exit Former colleagues laud Atiyeh's 'practical' leadership Former sheriff candidate is let go Education Migrant student numbers soar $21 million Science Building upgrades begin at SOU Eagle Point district mulls fate of Trail school SOU Provost James Klein plans to retire Poverty standard hurts Central Point schools State news Nation - World Obituaries Don Mallaghan Ethel Iris McCoy Margaret Elizabeth Powell Van Lynn LaMaster Jack Jerry Ansures (Tooter) Weather Photo Galleries Videos Sports Latest Stories Another decent start for Tiger Lynch ends holdout with Seahawks Coach Riley prepares Beavers for fall camp Coaches rank UO fourth in first poll Flurry of trades prior to deadline Varsity 541 College Sports Coach Riley prepares Beavers for fall camp Mannion, Beavers look to close the gap Riley's coaching longevity bucks the trend in Pac-12 His own Gary Payton Beavers hope new diet plans give them bite Pro Sports Judge OKs record-setting $2B sale of Clippers Recovered from illness, Serena ready for return Darvish, Rangers drop Yanks Even after payday, Seattle's Sherman hungry as ever Fists flying at Philly practices Community Sports LOCAL REPORT Cowden, Hunt power Mavericks in win Medford Mustangs stay hot LOCAL REPORT Rogues come up short against Bells Business Latest Stories Blog: Part 2: How to Stay Cool in 100 Degree Weather Avista requests rate hike of 9.7% Blog: Study finds Oregon's exports slow to recover Contractor sweep nets 34 violations in S. Oregon Survey shows small businesses aren't being left out as economy improves Real Estate News Average selling price of existing homes jumps 8.1% countywide People In Business People in business People in Business Transportation Medford airport has second-best June ever Agriculture Hail has local pear growers checking for damage Del Rio plans to add 50% more plants Harry & David sets sights on year-round operations Opinion Latest Letter: Israel is vulnerable Letter: Don’t ban guns Letter: City’s ‘fix’ too costly Letters to the Editor Thursday, July 31 Nation is ready for a middle course on foreign policy Editorials Our Opinion: Take it easy Our Opinion: Life and taxes Our Opinion: Overreaction? Other Views: Federal logging lags Our Opinion: Keep your eyes open Letters to the Editor Letter: Israel is vulnerable Letter: Don’t ban guns Letter: City’s ‘fix’ too costly Letters to the Editor Thursday, July 31 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Guest Opinions City council members should be paid Why voters should approve the open primary Our region's beauty deserves protection Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog:Top Ten Reasons Why Trying to Solve Other People�s Problems is a Bad Idea Commission could adopt new Chetco chinook angling rules Pluggin' for steelies Fishing Report: Aug. 1, 2014 This bird isn't always among the pines Food Community blog: Ways with watermelon span summer months What's in a wine's name? In Italy, it can get complicated Dive into a big bowl of cold soup DANCIN days are here again Ripe & Ready: Melon season is here Home and Garden Learn to pick produce at the peak of ripeness Support the mycorrhizae! It could help your plants Make a plan for your fall and over-winter garden Note to self: Keep a garden clean to limit pests Gardening history is truly rich Health Community blog:Top Ten Reasons Why Trying to Solve Other People�s Problems is a Bad Idea Health officials taken aback by STD outbreak Snug as a bug A long recovery Faith Religion briefs Community Blog: Peace: The inward passage - by Bonnie Greenwell Religion briefs Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Stuss-Bones Births New Arrivals New Arrivals Groen-Arkens Tempo Latest stories 'Shrek' comes to the stage as a musical Sweet Ghosts at Oberon's Entertainment 'on the bricks' at OSF 'Chicken' Hirsh: 'A responsible bohemian' Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' Theater 'Shrek' comes to the stage as a musical Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' 'Great Society' a darker sequel to 'All the Way' 'The Great Society' opens at OSF ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’' at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Music Sweet Ghosts at Oberon's Entertainment 'on the bricks' at OSF 'Chicken' Hirsh: 'A responsible bohemian' John Hiatt: 'Terms of My Surrender' Delta Halos and The Lures at Club 66 Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk It's Fair Time! Dining India Palace Taco Riendo Uber Herbal Coquina Restaurant Home State BBQ Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living NEWS NOW City council members should be paid Recently the Mail Tribune ran an article titled "Medford council studies creating stipend." Unpaid Councilor Dan Bunn, in a quandary between his conservative fiscal leanings and the reality of public service, said,"Two weeks ago I would have been dead set against it." What he would have been "dead set against" is the looming discussion of a stipend or salary for members of the City Council. By Joel Marks MailTribune.com By Joel Marks Posted Jul. 27, 2014 @ 2:00 am By Joel Marks Posted Jul. 27, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Recently the Mail Tribune ran an article titled "Medford council studies creating stipend." Unpaid Councilor Dan Bunn, in a quandary between his conservative fiscal leanings and the reality of public service, said,"Two weeks ago I would have been dead set against it." What he would have been "dead set against" is the looming discussion of a stipend or salary for members of the City Council. For an elected official this is a bold confession. The age-old question of salaries for public officials has been discussed for many years. How much is too much? Should they be paid at all? (Ben Franklin was for not paying any salary.) What is an appropriate raise? In my opinion, all city councils should receive a salary or stipend of modest amount depending on population. Washington state has a statute starting at $400 a month for all city councils. This can be increased by the people or the council by vote. You may say, why would any conservative be for such an expense to the taxpayers? Because its the right thing to do. The city staff gets paid handsomely. Our council, which represents "we the people," should be paid. Don't get me wrong. Most bureaucrats are hard-working individuals doing the best job possible. However, our elected representatives have a responsibility to lessen government. Liberty is the essential ingredient, and a small remuneration is well worth it for that protection. There are two examples of this remuneration question: one good, one bad. A few years ago we elected county commissioners who raised their salaries from $68,000 to $86,000 (more than 25 percent) with today's salaries at $100,000 plus benefits. The county administrator was given a sweetheart deal for $200,000 with car and house payments. For a small place like Jackson County it doesn't pass the smell test, or then again, it does smell. When people in private industry are unemployed, underemployed, underpaid or part-time for lack of full-time work, these raises are grotesque, and the negotiation team for the county was either naive or purposeful. The public was outraged, and some of us still remember the debate and the players. This is a bad public example of greed, avarice and self-indulgence. That's why we have a ballot box. Now for the good. His name was Harry Truman and he left the White House "dead broke." In a recent editorial in The Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan quoted David McCullough as saying, "He didn't know how he would make a living. His great concern was not to do anything that might exploit or 'commercialize' the office he just left." Before President Truman died at 88 years old, he was interviewed by the New York Times, which reported, "Harry feels that he's square with the world, that he gave his best and got its best in return." That statement has a wonderful, rhythmic ring to it. It sounds like honesty. May it always be with our public officials. Joel Marks lives in Medford. By Joel Marks MailTribune.com By Joel Marks Posted Jul. 27, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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