Senator Ron Wyden Hosts Polk County Town Hall
Mayor Kate Schwarzler joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden at his Polk County Town Hall at Western Oregon University, where she offered opening remarks and had the honor of leading the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the event. The town [...]
Mayor Kate Hosts First Quarterly Town Hall of 2026
Last week, residents gathered for Mayor Kate’s first quarterly Town Hall of the year. The community came together to engage in open conversation, ask questions, and learn more about the work the City Council and city staff have been [...]
Congresswoman Andrea Salinas Visits Independence
Independence welcomed Congresswoman Andrea Salinas for a visit focused on collaboration and the future of our community. Congresswoman Salinas met with Mayor Kate Schwarzler and city staff to discuss what’s happening in Independence and engage in conversations spanning a [...]
Water Meter Replacement Project Phase 3 Begins January 26
Beginning Monday, January 26, 2026, contractors will start Phase 3 of the city’s water meter replacement project. As part of this phase, crews will be working in the general areas highlighted on the accompanying maps. These maps provide a [...]
Seasonal Lagoon Turnover and Temporary Odors Explained
Some community members have noticed an unpleasant odor in parts of Independence over the past few weeks. This smell is coming from the city’s wastewater treatment lagoons and is the result of a seasonal lagoon “turnover” event. Here’s what’s happening: [...]
Improving Safety and Flow at River Road & Main Street
Last week, city crews completed the installation of a new 4-way stop at the intersection of Main Street and River Road, including updated signage and thermoplastic stop bars designed to improve safety and traffic flow. “New Traffic Pattern Ahead” [...]
Mayor Kate to Host Town Hall
Join Mayor Kate Schwarzler for a Town Hall featuring a Year in Review and a look at What’s Ahead for Independence. This event is an opportunity to hear highlights from the past year, learn about upcoming priorities, and share your [...]
January: A New Year
Hello Community, I hope everyone had a wonderful end to the year and a chance over the holidays to enjoy time with family and friends. The start of a new year always brings a sense of reflection, and this January [...]
River Road & Main Street to Become a 4-Way Stop
City crews will install a new all-way stop at the intersection of Main Street & River Road on Thursday, January 15, 2026, beginning around 9:00 AM. The work is expected to take approximately 2–3 hours. During construction, traffic will be [...]
Independence Police Release Monthly Report
Have you been curious about what our officers have been up to all month? The Independence Police Department is sharing a sample of the calls for service each month to inform and educate community members on the work we do. [...]
