14 August 2014
Dismissal of Superintendent Sought
The long, unexplained leave of absence may soon be over.
But, so far, there have been no explanations for the two-and-a-half month paid leave for Siuslaw Superintendent of Schools, Shawn Wiencek.
She’s been on leave since early June. That followed another brief leave in March. Both were publicly listed as “personal” with no explanation.
The school board will hold a special meeting this evening with the sole purpose of conducting a “pre-dismissal hearing” for Wiencek.
In a rare move, it will be open to the public.
Most personnel hearings and discussions are conducted behind closed doors in Executive Session. School district officials declined to comment on the reason for the public hearing, but, Oregon law does provide for it if the subject of the hearing requests.
The meeting will be called to order at 6:30 at the district office. The board may adjourn to private executive session “as necessary” during the conduct of the hearing.
Vacancies Remain in Dunes City Council Races
The Dunes City Mayor and three city council positions in that community will be on the November 5th ballot, but with less than two weeks remaining in the filing period there have been few takers.
Mayor Rebecca Ruede has begun the filing process to run for reelection to her post. Former mayor Sheldon Meyer was appointed to a council vacancy earlier this year; he is seeking election to that post.
Two other council terms expire this year. They’re currently held by Duke Wells and Richard Anderson. So far neither has begun the nominating process, but then, neither has anyone else.
The deadline for filing completed and verified nominating petitions at Dunes City Hall is Tuesday, August 26th. Officials say it can take several days to verify signatures on the petition, especially as the deadline approaches and the Lane County Elections Department receives last-minute requests from candidates in other cities.
Florence Voters Can Get Gas Tax Proposal Info
An overview of a gas tax proposal that Florence voters will decide in November is now available.
The City of Florence released the fact-sheet last week, it’s available at City Hall and on the city’s website.
Elected officials approved the ballot title last month. If approved by voters it would levy a three-cent a gallon fuel tax year-round in Florence. The tax would increase by two cents a gallon between March and October, making it a nickel during that time period.
Revenue from the tax collections would be used for street and road repairs and improvements in Florence. Officials say it would spread the cost burden over everyone who drives in Florence and not just people who live within city limits.
So far there has been no organized opposition.
30-years of Beach Cleanups
In the fall of 1984 two women got together to organize an event that has since spread around the world. Judie Hansen was working for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. She had seen more and more trash on the beach and found it was posing an increasing threat to wildlife.
Hansen called on Eleanor Dye with the Oregon Sanitary Service and the Great Oregon Beach Cleanup was born.
It has since expanded to twice annual events in Oregon and spawned similar efforts around the world.
The 30th anniversary cleanup is set for September 27th. That’s when volunteers up and down the Oregon Coast and world-wide, will converge beaches and riverbanks to pick up trash, cigarette butts, and plastic.
The effort in Oregon is overseen by the non-profit group SOLVE in partnership with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. That partnership with waste haulers by the way… it continues.
