Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 19, 1978)
Bargaining with Eugene bureaucracies There is a tax revolt going on south of Oregon and it looks like there may be a nationwide revolt against high taxes. So, if you want to see how your tax dollars are spent before they're revolted away, there are several ways to go about it. Beginning on the county-level, where most decisions are made, the county commissioners are the place to go to see tax money in action. The commis sioners hold court Tuesdays and Wed nesdays in the Lane County Public Ser vice Building, 125 E. Eighth Avenue. The building is located in the bureaucra tic center of Lane County, four blocks of federal, state, county and city offices. Paying parking tickets, fighting mov ing violations, buying food stamps and finding Forest Service maps can all be accomplished by a trip to bureaucrats' square. The square encompasses the four blocks bounded by Eighth and Sixth Avenues, Pearl and High Streets. In the same building as the county commissioners are most of Lane County’s service agencies and courts. The complex is divided up into three separate buildings: courthouse, Public Sen/ice Building and Harris Hall. In the courthouse are the district and circuit courts, the district attorney’s of fice, the public defenders’ office and the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office coor dinates the Lane County rape team, a 24-hour counseling service for rape vic tims. Moving traffic violations issued by the county or state must be paid or con tested in a district court trial. The Public Service Building (PSB) section of the complex houses the ma jority of Lane County’s service agencies. In addition to the three county commis sioners offices, a stroll through the build ing will uncover jury assembly rooms, the surveyor’s office, personnel officials, community health and social services agents and the county parks and recrea tion staff. The building also houses the offices of the Lane Council of Governments (L-COG), a super-agency of govern ments that is not a government itself. It simply serves the local governments in planning, coordination and the resolu tion of public issues. In the event you want to tangle with city politicians, Eugene’s city hall is lo cated across Pearl Street from the county complex. Two years ago the county constructed a bridge between the two buildings for people who don’t like to cross busy streets. The city council meets the second and fourth Mondays each month in the coun cil chambers, in a circular monument lo cated in the center of the city hall com plex. Other services found at city hall in clude municipal court (Room 104), which is where speeding tickets issued by city police can be paid. Violators of the city code (misdemeanors) will have to ap pear in municipal court also. Bicycle licenses are purchased at the city’s finance office (Room 101 — the yellow door), which is also a fun place to pay city parking tickets and Eugene Water and Electric bills. The city has three human rights specialists who make a living hearing complaints about discrimination in em ployment, housing or against lifestyles in general. To make a complaint or redis cover your rights, visit them at the city manager’s office, Room 105. Room 107 of City Hall is the police headquarters. It is the place to report crimes against person, property or reli gion. The police department also runs some special programs through its community relations office. Operation identification is a program to engrave household valuables such as stereos and televisions. The Eugene Police Department (EPD) will lend the engraving equipment and offer instruc tions on how to properly mark the valu ables. When stolen goods are reco vered, it makes it easier for the depart ment to locate the owner. Rental Security Surveys are also un dertaken by the EPD. An officer will visit your apartment and tell you what se curity measures can be undertaken to prevent burglary. The EPD also has an observer program that allows students to ride for four hours in a police car. Also in the city hall complex is the main fire station, a community relations office and a neighborhood groups office. Across 7th Avenue from the city hall complex is the federal building. Its major occupant is the Willamette National Forest headquarters. The Forest Service Information Office on the ground floor is a good source for national forest maps for Oregon and Washington. They also have updated in formation on hiking trails and campgrounds. Upstairs from the forest service is Oregon’s Fourth Congressional District office of Rep. Jim Weaver. Complaints and requests for federal assistance are handled through the Eugene office. Other neighborly federal agencies in the building include the FBI, Bankruptcy Court, Internal Revenue Service, Army Recruiting and the U.S. Courthouse. Food stamps, welfare assistance, vo cational rehabilitation and other essen tial student services provided by the state can be acquired at the State Office Building across Pearl Street from the Federal Building. Other State agencies are scattered throughout Eugene. The employment division is located at 432 W. 11th Av enue; the State Scholarship Commis sion at 1445 Willamette St.; and the state police and motor vehicles division offices at 2141 E. 15th Ave. Three other services you might want are phone, electricity and the bus. Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone’s local offices are located at 112 E. 10th Ave. The Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) main offices are beneath the Ferry Street bridge. Both EWEB and phone bills can be paid at the EMU main desk. The local bus system is the Lane Transit District (LTD). Buses run on the half hour except on Sundays when they run only half-days. Four important items are required to ride the bus: 35 cents in exact change; a bus system map; a University rider’s guide; and a Eugene Mall riders’ guide. All but the fare can be obtained free in the EMU or at LTD’s rider’s information outlet on the mall. Food Service This Summer stay cool in the air-conditioned EMU Food Services. in the Fishbowl: The Deli Open: llam-2pm & 4:30-6pm Open: Fridays from 11-2. At the Deli you can make your own sandwiches from a wide selection of meats and cheeses. Salads are avail able too. The Skylight will be closed this summer and their sandwiches will be available in the Deli. Open: Mon-Thurs 2-6pm The grill offers burgers, piz zas, hotdogs, fries, chili, soup and more. Open: 9 am-6 pm. The soda bar serves donuts, soft drinks, fruit juices, ice cream, yogurt, coffee, tea, cookies as well as other things. The Trailer Open: 9:45 am-2 pm The trailer is located outside the lib rary in the turn around. It offers bagels, yogurt, variety of drinks, fresh fruit as well as some sand wiches to help you get through the day. The Cafeteria Open: 11:00-1:30 The cafeteria line has always been the place to go. It features daily lunch specials with a choice of salads, sandwiches and desserts. and Every Thursday Beer Garden Open: 3-6 pm Free popcorn and Musi ceil Entertainment i.d. required.
