21 October 2014
Narrow option greeted with optimism… and deferral
A third and even less intrusive alternative to a proposed walking and biking path along Rhododendron Drive was unveiled last night. But, the Florence City Council seems inclined to “kick the can down the road” and defer any further action on the controversial plan until January when at least three new members take office.
Alternative 2-B, as it was labeled, would be nearly identical to its predecessor that was introduced last week; with one exception.
It consists of a pair of six-foot wide shoulders, paved with a ‘pervious’ asphalt that would allow rain water to soak through, instead of running off. It eliminates the need for a two-foot wide drainage swale, making it the narrowest and least intrusive option proposed so far.
The City Council heard the proposal in a work session last night. They did not make any formal decisions. Two of the councilors who will leave office in December, Sue Roberts and Brian Jagoe, said they didn’t want to discuss it any further and wanted to put any further conversations on the matter off until the new council is seated.
Pathways Community Survey
So far, about 350 area residents have completed an online survey measuring their views on a variety of community topics.
It’s part of a “community vitality” program sponsored by the Ford Family Foundation aimed at giving people a voice in how their community operates.
Meg Spencer is a co-team leader for the effort that is being promoted by graduates of the Ford Family Foundation community leadership program.
She said results of the survey will be shared with the community November 13th. But there is still time for interested residents to weigh in on things that they feel contribute to the vitality of our area.
Paper copies of the survey are available at Siuslaw Public Library… or you can go online at www-dot-siuslawpathways-dot-com.
Another Phone Scam Reported
Several residents in Lane County have reported receiving a call from a man who identifies himself as being with the “Lane County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Division”. The caller then says the person has missed jury duty and there is a warrant out for their arrest. He directs the person to purchase a “green dot money pack” from a local retailer and then call him back with the payment information.
Sergeant Carrie Carver with the Sheriff’s Office says it is a scam. If you get a call from someone telling you that there is a warrant out for your arrest and they want to arrange payment of a fine over the phone: simply hang up. She says the crooks are even leaving a call back number that has a recorded message identifying it as being the Sheriff’s Office… it’s not.
Voters Challenged to Turn Out
Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has issued a challenge to voters. Four years ago, in the last gubernatorial election, Wheeler County had the highest turnout of all 36 counties in Oregon with 85-and-a-half-percent.
Brown said every county “should strive to have the highest voter participation rate” and is urging counties to compete for the highest turnout this time around.
Oregon’s overall turnout rate in the election four years ago was just under 72-percent… a pretty significant achievement considering turnout in the most recent primary was only 36-percent.
Boat Launch Patience Urged
The fall salmon runs on the Siuslaw River and other coastal streams are continuing and that’s created quite a bit of congestion at the limited number of boat launches available to anglers.
Wait times to launch boats in the pre-dawn hours have often extended as long as two hours. The wait to ‘haul-out’ at the end of the day can be lengthy as well.
Ashley Massey with the Oregon State Marine Board says it’s a good idea to use a ‘staging area’ to transfer all equipment and supplies into the boat before entering the launch ramp area; Launch and retrieve with another person so someone can stay with the boat while the other parks; and never block a ramp with an unattended boat or vehicle.
Once you’ve launched, Massey advises boaters to remember the proximity rules for speed and wake to avoid agitating other boaters.
Once your ballot is returned… it cannot be retrieved.
That’s why it’s so important, says Cheryl Betschart, that you look on both sides before sealing it in the privacy envelope, then in the outside envelope and signed.
Betschart, the Lane County Clerk, is also in charge of elections in Lane County.
She says are a number of ballot measures and even candidates on the back side of the ballot, something that often people miss.
Most voters in Oregon have had their ballots for several days; they’re due back no later than eight pm, Tuesday November Fourth.
If you believe you’re registered, but still haven’t got your ballot in the mail, there’s still time to double check your status and remedy that situation.
You can go online at www-dot-OregonVotes-dot-com; or call the elections office at 541-682-4234.
