By Toledo Tribune
February 19, 2025
Good evening. The Toledo City Council convened on February 19th in a meeting marked by deliberation, debate, and a search for solutions. The most pressing matter: leadership. The city manager’s seat stands vacant, and help is on the way.
Come Wednesday, the fixers arrive.
Recommended by the League of Oregon Cities, these three seasoned professionals are no ordinary applicants. They are crisis-tested city managers, sent into municipalities in turmoil to steady the ship and restore order. Their task in Toledo will be no different. After much discussion, the council determined that their interviews will take place in an open meeting, allowing the public to witness firsthand the selection process.
But here lies a wrinkle—a provision in the City Charter, approved by voters last year, mandates that any city manager must be a resident of Lincoln County during their tenure. A simple rule, but one that may narrow the field before the first question is even asked. The fixers are coming, but will they be able to stay?
Yet, leadership was not the only concern of the evening.
Jonathan Mix presented the Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer, a website designed to give property owners critical insight into their wildfire risk. With fires growing more destructive each year, the tool offers a much-needed resource for residents seeking to safeguard their homes.
Environmental progress took another step forward as Dahl and Dahl secured funding from the state to recycle new and different types of plastics. However, their efforts required the City’s cooperation in submitting necessary paperwork. The discussion on this matter was procedural but essential, ensuring that Toledo remains a part of Oregon’s broader sustainability efforts.
Public safety concerns brought heated discussion to the council floor. Residents along NW Lincoln Way have long voiced concerns about reckless drivers leaving the roadway and landing in private yards and driveways. The initial proposal sought to lower the speed limit to 20 mph, but longtime resident Jim Chambers questioned the need for such a drastic reduction. After lengthy debate, the council opted to maintain the speed limit at 25 mph. However, as no new signs have been posted in the last 11 years, six new speed limit signs will be installed to reinforce the limit.
Meanwhile, the community will soon bid farewell to a beloved figure. Denyse Marsh, the children’s librarian and a rare gem of Toledo’s library system, has announced her retirement. Generations of young readers have benefitted from her kindness, her storytelling, and her dedication to fostering a love of books. She will be sorely missed.
Finally, the Toledo Police Department is in the process of expanding its ranks. Two applicants are currently undergoing background investigations as the department seeks to bolster its force. In a time when small towns struggle to retain officers, the potential additions mark a step toward ensuring continued safety for the community.
From leadership transitions to public safety, from environmental action to personal goodbyes, the meeting was a reflection of Toledo itself—ever-changing, ever-resilient. The fixers are coming, but the future remains unwritten.
This is the Toledo Tribune. Good night, and good luck.
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