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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2015)
Wednesday, October 7, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Trail: A reboot of the process has a ways to go yet Continued from page 1 seeking a clearer indication of community support. Unger volunteered to seek out that community sup- port, an effort which in itself proved controversial. Oregon Solutions Network, which specializes in conflict resolu- tion, stepped away from a pro- cess it had tried to initiate this spring to restart a community discussion on the concept of a paved trail, citing an inabil- ity to bring all parties to the table. Unger proceeded on his own, seeking input on the trail. “My records indicate that of the 1,200 entities that voiced an opinion about the trail, 256 people and organi- zations stated their support via email/letter to me,” Unger wrote in his letter to Miller. “I received emails/letters from 86 people in opposition to the proposed path. The posi- tive letters stand out by the strength of their content and the civility of their discourse.” Unger noted that the major- ity of correspondence he received, both pro and con, came from Black Butte Ranch property owners. The letter details Unger’s outreach and concludes that, “I believe a strong majority of Sisters Country residents and businesses want you to start a new Environmental Assessment of a paved trail connecting Black Butte Ranch through the public forest to the City of Sisters.” Unger noted that some opponents of the trail softened their opposition or indicated approval when talk turned to a trail running along the north side of the highway. Unger told The Nugget that he does not personally favor such a configuration because it “doesn’t connect communities … and because of that it’s not going to have the same values — but we should consider it.” He told The Nugget, “I don’t think it’s for me to say what configuration the Forest Service might bring forward in the future… That will be brought up and worked through in the EA process.” The EA process is lengthy and detailed. If the proposal to reopen the process is accepted, the next step would be to conduct the environmental assess- ment (EA), which can take anywhere from a year to two- and-a-half years to complete. Miller indicated there is no money in the 2015 budget for an EA and it is on the list for 2016 but is unfunded. Miller told The Nugget that she must find funding and she would also like to set up a series of open houses so the public can provide input on what they’d like to see in a trail. During the EA, process, all appropriate specialists are con- sulted regarding the impact of the project, including hydrolo- gists, timber, heritage, fisher- ies, and wildlife. If it is deter- mined there will be a signifi- cant impact, then an environ- mental impact statement must be completed, which is a more detailed, time-consuming, and expensive process than an EA. The Forest Service pro- poses an action, based on pur- pose and need. There is then a 30-day period for public comment, during which time possible alternatives may be identified. So Unger’s letter is really only the beginning of the beginning of a possible reboot of the proposal for a trail. Unger said he appreciates citizens’ willingness to weigh in. “I thank them for their time and energy to outreach to me and give me their thoughts,” he said. (Reporter Sue Stafford con- tributed to this story.) photo provided The master will visit Sisters for a haunting literary (and culinary) evening. Poe dinner: Event includes a community dinner Continued from page 3 Allan Poe, to the delight of audiences of all ages and to the acclaim of critics. His meticulously researched char- acterization has, in the words of one critic, “made him lit- erally become Edgar Allan Poe.” Over the course of 9- plus minutes and just in time for Halloween, audiences Sales • Service • Installation Broken Spring Specialist will experience full dramatic recitations of some of Poe’s best-known and lesser-known works along with Mr. Poe’s strange and hilarious com- mentary and an interactive question-and-answer session with Poe at the end of the show. For ticket information visit www.belfryevents.com. Come In… Relax…Enjoy! SISTERS GARAGE DOORS Residential • Commercial GREAT FALL CLOTHING… For men and women from Patagonia, Simms and Howler Bros. Prevent a Litter, Prevent a Litter, Prevent a Litter, Fix Your Critter! Fix Your Critter! Fix Your Critter! 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