Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2015)
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon LETTERS Continued from page 14 inflated number of “registered addresses” or the actual number of households, the analyst can only come up with 496 people or 61% of respondents (not necessarily homeowners nor households), who were in favor of the path. That is hardly a “majority.” If one used the number of households which are allowed to vote on important issues, that number comes to something like 39 percent and, if one used 1,785 “registered addresses” that figure drops to about 28 per- cent. A majority is defined as “more than half” and neither 39 percent nor 28 percent comes close to that. The statement that the proposed path would connect at the “public, commercial area of the Ranch” gives a false impression. Land classifications and uses within Black Butte Ranch are documented in the master design and there is NO public, commercial area. The spot where the proposed path would connect with Black Butte Ranch is part of “Resort Properties” and close to “Private Areas” and “Private Ways,” an opportune location to tres- pass onto 18 miles of Ranch bike paths. Finally, Cathy states, that, “the Board maintains its philosophical support … sub- ject to resolution of some issues of access that have been raised.” To date, Black Butte Ranch access issues have not been dealt with, signage pertaining to vehicle restrictions and private property continue to be ignored and many comments in The Nugget show little respect for all issues at hand. However, there are several things we can all agree on. We chose to live here for many reasons. We love our National Forests, we believe in protecting the environment, we enjoy recreational opportunities, we support the development of community assets, we back education, we value the synergy between all communities but we ask for the respect of private property. Other trail options on the north side of the highway should be discussed and the pres- ently proposed trail must evolve into a true recreational community asset for visitors and local residents without immediate ill effects on private neighborhoods. Isolde Hedemark On behalf of concerned BBR homeowners s s s To the Editor: Hey, Tollgate residents, are you feeling wealthy? I hope so, because you might need to donate a portion of your bank account to defend the Tollgate Property Owners’ Association (TPOA) against inevitable injury claims if the Sisters-to-Black Butte Ranch Trail gets built. Anyone who gets hurt while crossing Tollgate Road on the trail can sue TPOA. Members of the homeowners’ asso- ciation could be on the hook for paying dam- ages out of their own pockets. The reason? Back when Tollgate was formed, TPOA indemnified the U.S. Government against any injury, loss or dam- age for use of its easement (Tollgate Road) into the subdivision. TPOA would need to be painstakingly thorough about keeping a trail across the road free of ice, sand and other hazards. If a tourist should take a spill on their bike or get hit by a speeding car while crossing Tollgate Road on the trail, TPOA could be held liable. But liability isn’t the only headache with the proposed trail. Since there are no plans to build parking lots along the proposed route, the head of Tollgate Road would likely become a de facto parking area for hikers’ and bikers’ cars. One can only imagine the amount of automobiles, garbage and toilet paper that would accumulate on Tollgate Road as it transforms into both a parking lot and emergency outdoor bathroom. The Tollgate Board of Directors has voiced their desire to support the pro- posed trail. But the board would be act- ing in direct violation of TPOA’s CC&Rs should they officially offer the commu- nity’s support for a trail across Tollgate Road (which is common property) without approval by 2/3 of TPOA members in a vote. Concerned? It’s time to call the Tollgate office (541-549-7962) and voice your opin- ion. The next Tollgate Board meeting is July 28. Be there! Michael Cooper 37 Bill would boost penalty for invasion of privacy By sheila V Kumar Associated Press SALEM (AP) — As part of an ongoing push to strengthen the state’s privacy laws, Ore- gon Senate lawmakers on Tuesday cleared a measure making it a felony to secretly record someone while they are nude and in a private area. The state Senate gave unanimous approval to the bill, which would increase the penalties for someone who sneaks a camera into a private room, like a bedroom or bath- room, and records the occu- pants without their knowl- edge. Culprits would only be required to register as sex offenders if a court decides it’s necessary for the commu- nity’s safety. It’s currently a misde- meanor to violate the personal privacy laws, and prosecu- tors have argued the statutes haven’t been able to keep up with the pace of changing technology. “We wrote the bill very specifically to address the sit- uation of people who are hid- ing these little tiny cameras in places where somebody has the expectation of privacy,” former state representative Denyc Boles told a joint sub- committee last week. The measure targets cases like Bryan Duane Tilley, a Keizer man who pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and invasion of privacy last October. Tilley was accused of stalking his college-aged stepdaughter and hiding cameras to record women undressing. He was sentenced to serve nearly four years in prison, but not because of the invasion of privacy charges. His stepdaughter Ash- ley Buckle said in submitted testimony that she went to police after someone hijacked her social media accounts, and they later discovered her stalker was her stepfather. Buckle’s mother, Cathy McIn- nis, said they were shocked to hear Tilley would only be charged with a misdemeanor for taping Buckle and that he would serve more time for the burglary charges. “We are not only victims of this crime, we are also vic- tims of the law of enforce- ment due to current Oregon laws,” McInnis told the subcommittee. Gov. Kate Brown has also signed two other bills aimed at keeping state laws in line with new technology. One measure increased penalties for those who sneak photos up women’s dresses without their consent. Sup- porters of that bill say it closes a loophole that allowed a man to escape unpunished after he snapped photos up a teen- ager’s skirt in a Target store. And so-called “revenge porn,” sharing intimate images of someone without that person’s consent, is now also a crime. We keep you up-to-date every day! Become a fan to receive notifications of breaking news, events and more! Facebook.com/NuggetNews
