Wednesday, May 6, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
LETTERS
Continued from page 2
sleeping quarters at our south station.
Even though our two primary engines are older,
I take exception with comments that we have sub-
standard or unsafe equipment.
The voters approved a bond of more than $2.6
million. It is the board’s duty to taxpayers to spend
those funds in the most judicious way possible. As
we start to spend that money, I am concerned with
the lack of board oversight. I was criticized by the
other board members when I chose to abstain in the
vote to approve purchase two $400,000 fire engines
because we had not yet seen the specifications.
Unfortunately, that same lack of oversight is
carrying over to the new fire stations. The south
station is being designed with six bays in spite of
our 20-year plan that calls for only five bays. At
the north station, three small bays will be replaced
with two larger bays, thus reducing the number of
apparatus that can be housed in the north end of
the district. After only a few minutes of review, the
board approved the building plans for both stations,
without taking time to thoroughly look at the plans.
The board has yet to meet with the architect, and my
requests for a community oversight committee have
repeatedly fallen on deaf ears.
Keith Cyrus, Cloverdale
RFPD Board Member
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To the Editor:
My wife, Alycia Downs, is running for
Cloverdale Fire Board Position #3. She is the vol-
unteer secretary to the fire board for seven years but
not a board member. She is a strong, independent-
thinking woman, who will use her business back-
ground and years of experience working with the
board to represent the interests of the Cloverdale
community.
Alycia has lived in the Cloverdale District for
27 years. She is active in a number of charitable
organizations; she has a degree in business admin-
istration, is part of St. Charles Health Systems for
seven years, including St. Charles Foundation and
currently the Cancer Center.
Alycia helps the fire department with commu-
nity events and supports my late-night fire calls for
over eight years. She’s a mother of two that she has
raised here in the Sisters community; one is graduat-
ing this year and is going to George Fox University.
Alycia decided to run for the #3 position in
February, after the current member announced res-
ignation plans. Now her opponent is running again
and planning to resign after the election; this allows
the remaining members to circumvent the election
process, and appoint their choice to fill the seat.
After much thought, Alycia decided to fight for
the position and intends to fill out her term and
work transparently representing the Cloverdale
community.
My wife is not a firefighter, neither is a good
portion of the Cloverdale community. Alycia views
her concerns about the community the way the com-
munity views them. Many long-time “firefighters”
forget and/or lose sight or address these. Good rep-
resentatives of a team or administration will address
ALL concern at all levels. Alycia will address
those concerns and represent those that are not as
knowledgeable.
Please vote for Alycia Downs for Cloverdale
Fire District Board of Directors Position #3.
John Downs
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To the Editor:
As members of the hiking community, we wish
to add our support to the creation of the Black Butte
Trail. We agree with the points made in The Nugget
by Mike and Wendie Vermillion (“Paved trail
would connect communities,” The Nugget, April
22, page 2) and feel trails make for a vibrant com-
munity and provide access to our wonderful forests
and wilderness experiences.
Jim and Judi Gilles
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To the Editor:
As a Tollgate resident, I fully support the paved
bike trail connecting Sisters to Black Butte. It pro-
vides a safe trail for road bikers, allowing us to
avoid the highway.
This safe trail will be used by children, adults,
seniors, veterans, wounded warriors, and anyone
with impairments.The revised trail layout is unob-
trusive and out of view to the homes in Tollgate.
Cycling and other outdoor activities are a val-
ued culture of Sisters and Central Oregon. This
paved bike trail is an attractive addition to Tollgate,
Sisters, and Black Butte Ranch.
It further encourages our experiences of our
remarkable Central Oregon vistas and enjoyment of
outdoor areas. It proves a valuable asset to the busi-
ness enterprises of Sisters.
Plus, it adds to the property value of our homes
in Central Oregon. Overall, the bike trail is a ben-
efit and bonus for Tollgate, Sisters, and Black Butte
Ranch.
Dave Johnson
To the Editor:
As I read Rob Malone’s letter to the editor (The
Nugget, April 29), I was struck with the number of
inaccuracies it contained.
Mr. Malone references the purchase and sale of a
piece of surplus equipment. While it is true the cost
of the equipment three years ago was $100,000, and
next year’s budget shows a projected sale price of
$50,000 for this same piece of equipment, that, by
no means, is the actual sale price. Any administrator
worth his salt, such as Chief Olsen, “low-balls” the
expected sale price for any surplus item for budget-
ary reasons.
A little about the facilities plan approval which
occurred within 20 minutes — which is “unheard
of” according to Mr. Malone. The truth is the board
See leTTerS on page 16
VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE
Responsible Grouth
Appropriate Oversight
discal Accountability
Transparency
in Actions
Alycia Downs
• Alycia has lived in the Cloverdale community
for 29 years
• Her children are enrolled in Sisters School District
• She has been secretary for Cloverdale
dire for seven years
AIL
• She has over 10 years of fund
M
E
TH LLOT.
H
management experience
C
AT UR BA 9!
W
• She has a degree in
Y 1
YO
FOR E BY MA
business
VOT
Rob Malone
• Rob is a 15-year resident of the Sisters area
• He has 30 years of business and management
experience
• He is retail and customer-service oriented
• He is board chair on Sisters Park & Recreation
District Local Option Committee
• He has a bachelor of science degree in business
administration and fi nance
• Rob has extensive construction experience
CLOVERDALE FIRE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
— Paid for by Friends of Cloverdale Fire District —