McCulley A Look Back At Springfield Mayor

From Lane Co Oregon

[edit] The Valley News, December 12, 1971

McCulley -- A Look Back At Springfield Mayor

by Mary Jean Kelso of the News

During John McCulley's past seven years as Springfield's mayor there have been many changes made in that city.

McCulley has been influential in bringing about a variety of these changes. Yet, he refrains from taking credit for the accomplishments.

"I've always been reluctant to take credit for these things because no one person can do them," McCulley said. "We don't really know who is the most influential in accomplishing anything." Mayor McCulley cited the Motor Vehicle Department's decision to build an office in the Springfield area. (The building is currently under construction on 18th Street, just off Centennial Boulevard. It has a completion date of February.) The Springfield Chamber of Commerce and several other people in the Springfield area worked together along with cooperation from State Legislators to bring the decision about.

"In most cases, all of the accomplishments have been the work of many people," McCulley said.

McCulley moved to Springfield in 1948 and has moved only once, "a matter of three blocks," since becoming a resident.

He served on the Willamalane Park and Recreation Board for three years, then served on the city council assuming the position of mayor in 1967, replacing Dave Scofield. He was later re-elected to the office of mayor, a non-paying position requiring many hours of work.

McCulley said that, having been on the council, "You would think that as a councilman you would get some awareness of how much time it takes to fulfill the duties of mayor, but you don't. Most people have no idea how much time a mayor spends in work for the city."

McCulley said he had always been interested in Springfield and civic affairs throughout the area.

When asked to estimate the hours spent as mayor, McCulley stated that not too much time was spent in the actual office. The work is usually at meetings in other locations in connection with L-COG and various other public sessions or talking to people interested in locating business in the Springfield area. A lot of time is spent on the telephone and, at times, at peoples' homes or places of business.

The mayor's job is time-consuming, requiring an extreme interest in people and self-sacrifice.

Although the job is non-paying, out-of-picket (sic) expenses can be reimbursed providing they can be proved with statements. The statements go through the council and the council makes approval of all bills.

Springfield is known to be tight on its purse strings. "There are two reasons for it, I think," McCulley said. "It's only good business when you are spending the taxpayer's money, and the other reason is, we don't have very much taxpayer's money to spend."

In citing some of Springfield's problems, McCulley mentioned street improvements. This is is a subject usually brought up by the public for consideration.

"Springfield, unfortunately, still has the remonstrance system where people who don't want an improvement can vote it down."

It requires two-thirds of the property owners in a particular area to turn down an improvement. Eugene does not have such a restraint.

Since Springfield has no city hall, the mayor's office and city manager's office are in a building separate from other official offices. Other divisions of city government are spread out over the next block.

McCulley sees a city hall as desirable, but, as yet, unaccomplished.

The fire serial levy which was passed during McCulley's recent term of office is expected to provide a new snorkel truck and third fire station.

McCulley is one of the Voting members of L-COG, which is an appointment by the city council. To be a representative the person must also be an elected official. His position here will terminate with his official resignation in January.

"I'm sure that my resigning isn't going to create too many changes," McCulley said. "Most of the things the council has already approved of and gone through with."

There is one area of interest which McCulley would like to see carried out. That is the recently formed Community Goals Committee in which 35 to 40 citizens with varied community interests will be involved.

"There seemed to be a lot of enthusiasm at the last meeting about Community Goals Committee," McCulley said.

City Manager Pat Teague was asked about some of the accomplishments of Mayor McCulley.

Teague stated, "Mayor McCulley has had many accomplishments, both personal and professional."

A partial list of projects Mayor McCulley has been instrumental in included the following:

The Mapped Streets Act which is an official map containing existing rights of way for the entire city. Its purpose is to protect property owners from constructing building in an area that will someday be a roadway. This is an approximate 10-year updated projection.

The Emergency Operations Plan which coordinates local, state and federal governments under emergency situations or disasters is another project Mayor McCulley has been interested in.

McCulley has assisted in preparing the Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety (TOPICS) which has helped the city become eligible for federal funding.

He has worked with Lane County Medical Network which is sponsored by the City of Springfield. It is responsible for a medical communication system to link all emergency vehicles throughout Lane County with hospitals. Presently this program is in Salem under review.

Another project is the Comprehensive Zoning Code in which the city utilizes the most recent information for good planning concepts.

The mayor personally created the Livability Action Committee to denote a first citizen and others in promoting beautifation of the community.

Perhaps one of the largest steps the city has undertaken is to become involved in data electronic processing which has brought the mayor's job from "pen and quill to flashing lights," according to Teague.

Darwin Courtright, President of the Springfield City Council, will become acting mayor around January 4.

Both Courtright and McCulley began working on the council at the same time.

"Mayor McCulley has done a terrific job," Courtright said. He also states that he hated to see him resign.

"He has accomplished many, many things. A person just can't remember them all," Courtright said.