19 August 2015
Board of Commissioners comment
The Bureau of Land Management recently released a draft plan for management of forest lands set aside in 1937 by congressional action to provide logging revenue for Oregon Counties. The new plan will replace the 20-year old Northwest Forest Plan. It falls short according to an analysis completed by Lane County. Intergovernmental Relations Manager Alex Cuyler told the board of commissioners yesterday that the portion of the plan assessing economic impacts is flawed.
Alex Cuyler – “The BLM really didn’t even look at unincorporated communities in terms of their study. They focused on municipalities.”
Cuyler said the focus on municipalities fails to account for the negative impacts on rural areas. And, he added, the two Lane County cities represented in the plan are the furthest away from former Oregon and California Railroad lands.
Alex Cuyler – “The communities in Lane County that they singled out, which were Junction City and Florence, in fact are sort of separated from the O&C Lands in a way. They’re not necessarily as integrated into those forests as for example a city like Cottage Grove or Oakridge.”
The Board of Commissioners accepted an 11 page letter prepared by Cuyler representing the county’s position.
Teen Center facelift nearing completion
Residents can get a preview of the newly renovated Boys and Girls Club Teen Center on Airport Road next week. The club closed the center last winter during a financial crisis.
Club Director Chuck Trent said that was never meant to be a permanent closure; but the club still faces financial challenges. A new Teen Center Director; Tracy Aaron; has been hired and the final stages of a face lift are underway at the center.
New windows have been installed, the building has been painted inside and out, and flooring will be in place by next week.
A special “Grand Re-Opening” is set for Friday, August 28th from six to 8 pm at the center. It officially opens with after school programs for sixth through 12th graders September 8th.
Fires prohibited
There may be clouds over us this morning and it may be relatively cool, but that doesn’t lessen the fire danger.
Lane and Douglas Counties entered a “fire protection level four” yesterday morning, effectively closing down all industrial activities in forested areas.
The closure also means no mowing of grass… dried or green… and absolutely no outdoor fires or charcoal barbecues.
Oregon State Parks posted signs in all campgrounds on the coast yesterday informing campers of the burn ban.
Mapleton schools registration set
Registration for new students at Mapleton schools will be offered next Monday and Tuesday. Superintendent Jodi O’Mara says all students entering seventh through 12th grades must register. Only incoming kindergartners and students new to the Mapleton district need to register for grades one through six. Parents or guardians of Kinders need to make sure to bring proof of immunization and a copy of their student’s birth certificate.
Mapleton will be offering full-day kindergarten this year. O’Mara said they didn’t have to add any classroom space, but did increase staffing.
She said all elementary students are also invited to drop off their school supplies and meet their teachers on Wednesday, September 2nd between one and three pm. The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 8th.
Florence City Council to consider financing proposal
The Florence City Council will hold a special meeting next Monday evening to consider a financing agreement that would help fund street improvements, water infrastructure and a new facility for the Public Works Department.
The $7.8-million includes $3.7-million for the Florence Urban Renewal Agency.
According to a report issued to the City Council yesterday, about half of the Urban Renewal portion is existing debt that would be refinanced. But it would provide slightly less than two-million in new funding.
Repayment of that portion would come from tax increments collected by the agency on property within the core downtown area of Florence. The public works, water and street portions would be repaid using expected revenue from transportation funding and utility fees.
According to the report, the proposal from Banner Bank would cost the city approximately $45-thousand less each year than what initially expected.
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