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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 2022)
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon C O M M U N I T 3 Y City snapshot — new planner, code changes By Sue Stafford Correspondent Lynn Lounsbury’s water legacy PHOTO PROVIDED Lynn Lounsbury’s career has been built around water. He’s spending his retirement out on it, in a raft or with fishing rod. By Katy Yoder Correspondent Lynn Lounsbury knows water. How it flows, perco- lates, rises, and falls. During his long career managing water systems, taking care of Central Oregon9s precious resource has been his high- est priority. Since moving to Sisters in 1978, he9s managed water utilities for Black Butte Ranch (1978-2010), Indian Meadow Water Company (1988-2020), and Tollgate (1993-2022). He9s retiring from his duties with Tollgate at the end of this month. Looking back over decades of water and sewage man- agement, he credits his suc- cess with training, an ability to find solutions to tough challenges, and a desire to keep learning. Navigating the estab- lishment of water rights, a process that can take more than a decade, served both his clients and the environ- ment. His role also required orchestrating well-drilling and overseeing the construc- tion of water systems for thousands of homes. His goal was to ensure Sisters Country9s pristine water, both above-ground and in aquifers, remained healthy. His first job in Central Oregon began at Black Butte Ranch (BBR) through an internship program at Linn Benton Community College (LBCC). On the second day of his BBR internship, he was offered a full-time job. When Lounsbury9s boss left, he was promoted to the manager of the BBR utili- ties department for water and sewer. <There were four of us in the department. I9d just finished training at Linn Benton. I was responsible for operating the BBR sew- age treatment plant. The water on the Ranch was so good you didn9t have to treat it, just test it often,= he said, in the home he shares with his wife, Linda. At first, Lounsbury saw his position at BBR as a means to an end. The epic experiences he had work- ing on a forestry crew as a seasonal employee from 1962 to 1976 in Yellowstone National Park, remained a strong force drawing him back to the region. He says that Yellowstone holds many powerful and meaningful memories. He worked for Yellowstone eight months of the year, then went to school See LOUNSBURY on page 30 " Matt Martin, formerly with Deschutes County, has been hired as the City9s new principal planner. He will begin his duties in Sisters as of February 7. " Staff will be prepar- ing some amendments to the Sisters Development Code regarding the place- ment of storage units within the city. They will go before the Planning Commission and the City Council next spring for approval. There has been concern that the City9s limited supply of industrial lands should be used by businesses that cre- ate jobs. Council suggested a possible moratorium on any more storage units at this time. " Information regard- ing the housing plan update and the efficiency mea- sures being suggested as a result of the recently com- pleted Comprehensive Plan is available on the City9s website. " Community Develop- ment Director Scott Wood- ford reports that the issu- ance of building permits does not appear to have been impacted by COVID- 19. Single-family residen- tial permits have continued to average six or seven a month. He also reported that the Sisters School Dis- trict has submitted their See CITY on page 9 Sisters School Board snapshot By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent The January meeting of the Sisters School Board took place on Wednesday, January 12, with all board members in attendance. The meeting was held in person and offered virtually. " Business Manager Sherry Joseph reported on the findings of the audit of the district9s finances as being straightforward with no issues of concern. " A question was raised regarding pension costs for Sisters School District through the state Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) program, as the program changes. Curt Scholl responded that, for now, the district does not anticipate a sharp spike in its costs with regard to retire- ment funding. " Lorna Van Geem, direc- tor of special programs, See SCHOOLS on page 12 SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wednesday (September-June), Stitchin’ Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061. Sisters Area Woodworkers 1st Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-231-1897. Al-Anon Mon., noon. / Thurs., 10 a.m., Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. Go Fish Fishing Group 3rd Monday, Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPRD. 541-549-8846. 541-610-7383. 7 p.m. Sisters Community Church. All Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 ages welcome. 541-771-2211. Alcoholics Anonymous Thurs. & p.m. at Sisters Community Church. Sun., 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Email sistersbridge2021@gmail.com. Heartwarmers (fl eece blanketmakers) Transfi guration / Sat., 8 a.m., Episcopal 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Sisters City Sisters Caregiver Support Group Church of the Transfi guration / Mon., Hall. Materials provided. 541-408-8505. 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., Village Green 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Park. 541-771-3258. Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, Church / Big Book study, Tues., noon, 1 to 4 p.m. 541-668-1755. Sisters Cribbage Club Please call for Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / details. 541-923-1632. Citizens4Community, Let’s Talk Gentlemen’s meeting, Wed., 7 a.m., Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board 3rd Monday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. RSVP at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / of Directors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m. Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Thurs., citizens4community.com Location information: 541-549-1193. noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Military Parents of Sisters Meetings Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fri., are held quarterly; please call for details. Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 7 to 8:30 a.m., Brand 33 Restaurant at 541-388-9013. Church. 541-548-0440. Aspen Lakes. 541-410-2870. Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters Sisters Parent Teacher Community Black Butte Ranch Bridge Club Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m., BBR community Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-549-6469. Saloon. 541-480-5994. room. Partner required. 541-595-6236. SAGE (Senior Activities, Gatherings Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. Sisters Parkinson’s Support Group 2nd Thurs.,1 p.m. Sisters Library. For Saturday meeting dates and to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation 541-668-6599 location, email: steelefl y@msn.com. District. 541-549-2091. Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday. Central OR Spinners and Weavers Sisters Aglow Lighthouse Location information: 541-279-1977. Guild One Saturday per month, Jan. 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, thru Oct. For schedule: 541-639-3217. Zoom. 503-930-6158. Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-760-5645. Sisters Area Photography Club Council on Aging of Central Oregon Sisters Trails Alliance Board 1st Senior Lunch Tuesdays, noon, Sisters 2nd Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., at Sisters Monday, 5 p.m. Sisters Library. Community Church. 541-549-6157. Community Church. 541-480-1843. BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS Public welcome. 808-281-2681. Sisters Veterans Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-903-1123. Three Sisters Irrigation District Board of Directors 1st Tuesday, 4 p.m., TSID Offi ce. 541-549-8815. Three Sisters Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Spoons Restaurant. 541-419-1279. VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-903-1123. Weight Watchers Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. weigh-in, Sisters Community Church. 541-602-2654. SCHOOLS Black Butte School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541-595-6203 Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wed. monthly, SSD Admin Bldg. See schedule online at www.ssd6.org. 541-549-8521 x5002. CITY & PARKS Sisters City Council 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022. Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Directors 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m., SPRD bldg. 541-549-2091. Sisters Planning Commission 3rd Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022. FIRE & POLICE Black Butte Ranch Police Dept. Board of Directors Meets monthly. 541-595-2191 for time & date. Black Butte Ranch RFPD Board of Directors 4th Thursday, 9 a.m., Black Butte Ranch Fire Station. 541-595-2288. Cloverdale RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Wed., 5:30 p.m., 67433 Cloverdale Rd. 541-548-4815. cloverdalefi re.com. Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 541-549-0771. Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 541-549-0771. This listing is for regular Sisters Country meetings; email information to beth@nuggetnews.com