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.