Document text
Harris will conclude 24-year Phoenix term By Tony Boom PHOENIX � Term limits will bring an end to one man�s 24 years of continuous City Council service on Jan. 2. J. Allen Harris, 77, said he vowed to be an asset rather than a liability to his community when he moved to Phoenix 47 years ago. He apparently made good on his vow: His fellow residents re-elected him to five more four-year terms. "I tried to represent the citizens of Phoenix rather than myself," said Harris. "All the races were fairly close. There were no runaways." Harris began his elected terms Jan. 1, 1977. "He�s had nothing but Phoenix at his heart for all of his 24 years," said former mayor and present Councilman Otto Caster. "You�d have to go a long way to find a more community-minded person." Councilwoman Diana Rasmussen said Harris could win some and lose some and not get wrapped up in a particular issue � except, perhaps, the availability of alcohol. Both Caster and Rasmussen noted that Harris always opposed granting new liquor licenses in town. "Allen has a lot of knowledge and background on the city," said City Recorder Betty Smith. "He�s easy to work with and a hard worker. He�ll be missed a lot." Water supply issues have served as bookends to Harris� council service. A failing city well field on Colver Road was one of the first concerns he tackled. "Everyone was tired of the hard water," said Harris. "Nearly everyone had a water softener device." Harris went to several local water districts and ended up at the Medford Water Commission, which eventually supplied the water. A federal grant was secured to finance the pipeline project, which was connected in 1982. Harris also served on the Talent-Ashland-Phoenix water intertie committee for three years. Ground was broken in early December for the project, which will boost Phoenix�s supply and pressure through a new reservoir east of Interstate 5. A proposed property annexation to the city�s west side on Houston Road in 1997 was one of the largest controversies Harris faced during his tenure. The land-use group 1000 Friends of Oregon opposed the annexation, which would have included 41 acres of farmland outside the urban growth boundary. "I was for it because we�d get 12 acres for a park and access to county-owned property deeded to the city," explained Harris. The council voted down the proposal 4-2. Harris opposed extension of the urban growth boundary and development east of Interstate 5 along Fern Valley Road, however. "It�s better farmland than that on the west side," said Harris. "The west side farmland is quite rocky. The east side is a more sticky soil." Harris has been on both the city�s budget committee and utility commission for 24 years. He was a volunteer firefighter for 14 years. He�s been the city representative to the regional sewer rate committee for 24 years. "Allen was fabulous. He always kept the interest of the ratepayer in mind," said Chuck Root, manager of Bear Creek Valley Sanitary Authority. "He knew what was going on in Phoenix and he kept a regional perspective as well." Elimination of the city administrator position in the mid-1980s meant more work for Harris and his fellow council members, but there was little opposition to the move. "I felt we couldn�t afford it at the time," said Harris. Harris heads the Lions Club�s annual leaf pickup and is secretary for the Phoenix Cemetery Board of Directors. He also works full time for Ashland Greenhouses after "retiring" from jobs with a fuel company and a freight company that spanned 46 years. Harris voted for the term limits that will bring his council service to a close. He plans to serve on a city committee or commission and has not ruled out running for the council again in two years as allowed by the term-limit ordinance. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.