26 March 2015
Resignation creates early vacancy on Port Commission
Port of Siuslaw President Ron Caputo said Bill Fleenor’s resignation from the commission earlier this week wasn’t expected. But, Caputo said, he wasn’t surprised by it either.
Fleenor announced he would be stepping down from his post 3 months early to avoid a “possible conflict of interest” with his telecommunication company.
His term was slated to come to an end June 30th and he had already announced he would not seek reelection.
Caputo said it’s up to the remaining commissioners to fill the position vacated by Fleenor.
Only one candidate filed to run for the spot. David Huntington is a commercial fisherman and guide. Caputo said he would be a likely candidate since he will most likely assume the spot in July anyway.
Razor clams ok north of the Siuslaw
Two Oregon state agencies have announced the reopening of recreational and commercial razor clam harvesting on the stretch of beach between the Siuslaw River and Heceta Head.
The Agriculture and Fish & Wildlife departments had closed all razor clamming from Heceta Head to the California border in August because of elevated levels of a shellfish toxin. Recent sampling indicates those levels have dropped.
But, razor clamming from the Siuslaw River entrance and south to Brookings remains closed.
Shellfish contaminated with the toxin can cause minor to severe illness and even death. It’s produced by algae and cannot be removed by cooking.
Gas prices begin dip
It’s been a roller coaster ride for gas prices over the past few weeks. Prices are once again on the downward slide; mostly because of lower crude oil prices.
Marie Dodds with Triple-A of Oregon says the lower prices are also coming despite increased demand; regional refinery maintenance and a seasonal switch to more expensive summer-blend gasoline.
The average cash price in Florence fell by 12 cents a gallon in the past week and is at $2.74. Oregon’s average price fell by six cents in the same period to $2.79.
Dodds said the national average price held steady this past week at $2.42 a gallon.
Refund season doesn’t need to be fraud season
An op-ed piece published this week in an influential on-line news website was co-written and signed by a Florence-based tax preparer.
The piece, titled “How to prevent refund season from becoming fraud season” was published in Tuesday’s on-line edition of “The Hill”. Signed by Alan Twombly, the op-ed calls for national reforms of tax codes, and establishment of minimum standards for tax preparers.
Twombly said several states, including Oregon, already have those standards, providing increased fraud protection to residents. In the article, he said “uniform federal minimum standards just makes sense”.
Twombly owns several H&R Block franchises on the Oregon Coast and operates them from his base in Florence. He’s also the vice-chair of the national H&R Block Franchise Leadership Council. He and other members of the council wrote the article.
Dems push for expanded gun background checks
Oregon Democrats are taking the first step toward requiring background checks on private gun sales.
A bill introduced Thursday could begin moving through the legislature as soon as next week.
Gun control advocates have tried for years to expand Oregon’s background check requirement. With expanded Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate following last year’s election, the bill now has much stronger prospects.
The measure would require private gun buyers and sellers who aren’t related to visit a licensed gun dealer for a background check.
Oregon already goes further than federal law in requiring background checks at gun shows.
Federal payments won’t preclude need for county registration fee
A two-year extension of the federal Secure Rural Schools Act will not change the long-term need for stable road maintenance and repairs in Lane County.
Commission Chair Jay Bozievich said projected operations deficits for the Road Fund are $9-million annually. That’s expected to continue for the long term. The S-R-S money will bring about $11.5-million over two years for roads. An additional $3.3-million is anticipated for the county’s general fund.
Bozievich said if the measure is ultimately approved, it won’t change the long term need for a $35-per-year vehicle registration fee. Voters are being asked to approve that in the May 19th election. The $11-million generated each year by the fee would be split on a 60-40 basis with incorporated cities.
