First council members recall incorporation debate

YANGER

The creation of the City of Anderson was by no means a consensus, nor did it happen immediately. Frank "Bob" Yanger, a member of the first city council, spoke with the Valley Post recently about the political climate surrounding the incorporation, which became official Jan.16, 1956.

The attempt to incorporate became a regular discussion that rose and fell in popularity, with a couple unsuccessful incorporation attempts before the topic become a major issue in 1955, Yanger said. It was the Junior Chamber of Commerce who heavily backed the effort, he said.

"It was a bunch of young guys, mostly veterans, (who) thought incorporation was a good idea," Yanger, 85, of Red Bluff, said.

Opposition came largely from businessmen in the farming community who were suspicious about higher taxes, he said.

"People (were) just used to one certain way of life ... (they) weren't ready to incorporate into the city. They didn't want any changes," Yanger said, describing a sharp division of thought on Anderson's future.

In drawing up the city boundaries for incorporation, proponents excluded the lumber mills in the Anderson area, fearing that the owners would throw their money in with the opposition.

Yanger recalled one man, Bernie Hansen, who worked as a manager at Miller's Market in Anderson. The man was fired for openly supporting incorporation, Yanger said. The owner was concerned about the store's image, as many shoppers opposed incorporation, he said.

Alvin Treat, who eventually became one of the first councilmen, also opposed incorporation. Yanger said he had great respect for Treat, crediting Treat for openness and honesty about his opposition to the incorporation.

"Some great people were involved at the time on both sides," Yanger said. "At the time, I thought they were jerks. But as I got older, I realized they truly believed what they stood for."

Also among the first city council members, Muriel Peckler said most of the businessmen in the area were all in favor of incorporation.

"I wanted to have a city so we could start building sidewalks," said Peckler, 90, reached at her Stockton home by telephone.

Once on the council, Peckler said she later voted down residential development in the Anderson Heights area "out of orneriness because they wouldn't put in sidewalks."

Once incorporated the council members handled many city affairs, Peckler became the first police commissioner and Yanger handled city planning.

"I didn't know spit about it," said Yanger, who said he pushed for a general plan for the city. "I thought it was necessary ... for orderly growth."

The city was able to move forward with the while contracting with the county for most municipal services, such as road maintenance and police protection, according to Valley Post archives.

Yanger called John Goodrich, city attorney, "father of the city," for his work with the city.

"Without John's advice we wouldn't have made it," he said.

Peckler and Yanger were the only surviving members of the first city council as of publication. The other three members were Alvin Treat, deceased in 1980, Lynn Dallagiacomo, deceased in 1998, and Ralph Ganyon, deceased in 1975.