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Butte Falls candidates focus on future By Melissa Martin BUTTE FALLS � How to build a water bottling plant that will generate revenue for this former lumber town is a key issue facing candidates in Butte Falls. Gerrad Munsell, 31, a logger, is running against Mary Wright, 31, a council member since 1995, for council position 1. Stan Moore, 60, a forester, is running against Ray Macy, 43, who has held position 3 for seven years. Neal Ellis, 55, manager of Butte Falls Gas Station, is unopposed for position 2. Ethel Hoppe, 71, a retired cook, and Alvin Thompson, 57, who works for Eagle Point Irrigation District, are running for mayor. "One of my goals is to push this water-bottling and community-development corporation," said Macy, a truck driver who has lived in Butte Falls 22 years. "The profits will help Butte Falls pay back this big debt for our new water lines," Macy said. "I want to help lower our water bills." Butte Falls residents� water bills increased $11.25 to about $60 a month to repay a loan for the town�s $1.65 million water system overhaul. "The water-bottling plant will help create jobs," said Moore, who will soon retire after 40 years with the Butte Falls Ranger District. He�s served on the council and as acting mayor. "It could furnish jobs for some of our local folks and for some of our young folks coming out of high school," Moore said. The reduction of timber has affected this logging community, he said. "We want to stay a viable community because this is a nice place to live." Butte Falls has 435 residents, but only 171 taxpayers responsible for paying off the town�s debt, said Thompson, a logger for 30 years. "Everything we do in Butte Falls, those 171 people have to pay for it," Thompson said. State and federal mandates also get passed along to local residents, Thompson said. "It�s like a gnat that gets stepped on and recovers from it, only to get stepped on again." The other mayor candidate, Hoppe, believes Butte Falls has other infrastructure needs, such as the rehabilitation of the sewer system. "I�m running because I don�t like the way our town is heading and I want to do something about it if I can," Hoppe said. She was mayor of Butte Falls and served on the council for nearly 10 years before she resigned to care for her husband before his death. Munsell, who moved to Butte Falls two years ago, said he�s running to try to find ways to improve the town�s economic base. "We need to come up with other revenue because of the way the timber industry has decreased," Munsell said. Along with jobs and revenue, the town needs activities for its youth, said Wright, who works for the Nickel in Medford. She helped raise money for the town�s youth center that had to close recently due to lack of funds. "We�re such a small community and you can only ask for so much money. We have a limited resource to tap into," Wright said. Her goals include re-opening the youth center and finding funds to keep the town�s new school resource officer on board. "I feel the youth is the future of our community. If we can send these kids to college, they can come back and be productive members of our community." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.