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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: MAY 21, 1998

Evergreen museum, three other annexations approved

BY PAT FORGEY
Of the News-Register

McMinnville voters appeared to pick and choose from the slate of proposed annexations on Tuesday's ballot, and they chose the Evergreen Museum annexation in a big way.

"Thank you, McMinnville," said Gary Thompson, the museum's director.

By 74 to 26 percent, voters were approving annexation of 21.3 acres on Highway 18 as the site of a museum to house the Spruce Goose, Howard Hughes' legendary flying boat. It will be called the Captain Michael King Smith Evergreen Aviation Educational Center.

It was the largest margin of victory ever for a McMinnville annexation, achieved despite some local opposition.

Three other annexations also were approved, though by smaller margins. Only the controversial Shadden Claim annexation was defeated.

Thompson said he wasn't surprised at the museum site outcome.

"I was confident that correctly informed voters in McMinnville were not going to turn down the gift of an educational center," he said.

Thompson said the museum spent several thousand dollars mailing information to voters, printing signs and buying newspaper advertisements. He said he spoke to 37 organizations about the proposal and supporters even hired an airplane to fly a banner over McMinnville.

Opponents didn't express much surprise either. "It's clear that the people want the museum," said opponent Mark Davis of Friends of Yamhill County.

The land-use advocacy group remained neutral. But Davis and other opponents raised questions about various aspects of the project.

While Thompson said he hoped he'd answered them all already, he's willing to answer more. "If anyone still has doubts about taxes, traffic or environmental impact, call us," he said.

In other balloting:

Charles and Margaret Walker's annexation of 5 acres across from Columbus Elmentary School was being approved 54 to 46 percent. The city would like to purchase that land for a park, something the west side needs.

Annexation of the Kraemer property also was being approved, by a vote of 52 to 48 percent.

That's a 17-acre parcel owned by David and Joanne Kraemer. Located east of Cypress Lane and north of Old Sheridan Road, it is surrounded by land that is already within the city.

The Walker and Kraemer annexations were opposed by Friends of Yamhill County.

Also approved was annexation of 5 acres owned by Gene McMullin and Phyllis Moyer south of Three Mile Lane frontage road and west of Norton Lane.

It's slated for business development. The count was running 57 to 43 percent.

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