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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1978)
Lookin’ up Rust says county morale is improved; cites shenanigans for past problems By ANN TRENEMAN Of the Emerald Lane County government has not been in the peak of health for some time. In fact, it could be characterized as sick. Employee morale is low; two commissioners have faced the threat of being re called; and everyone it seems is criticizing the county assessor. And that’s just for starters. But Lane County Commis sioner Jerry Rust says things are looking up. Rust sits drinking cof fee, surrounded by stacks of papers and memos in his office at the county's Public Service Build ing. “Things are getting better. We had to accept the fact things were not good." He compares the county with a sick person; “That person can’t get well if he doesn't admit and recognize the sickness first.” Rust says that was a major reason behind a recent press con ference during which he be moaned the "political shen anigans” in county government and admitted to having hindered, instead of helped, the situation. “We weren't tolerant enough and we criticized too much,” he says. “It infected the whole or ganization.” The board of commissioners, which Rust chairs, should deal with administrative problems as well as general policy-making, Rust emphasizes, but adds that in the past the board has confined it self too much to administrative decisions. “We should pay more attention to policy making,” he says. "We've intruded too much into administrative space.” Employee morale is on the rise with a new grievance policy in the Commissioner Jerry Rust making and the introduction of more delegated responsibility within each department. “All it takes is the will to work together," Rust says shaking his head. “We sure haven't helped it (employee morale) any." The Nov. 7 election could change several aspects of the county structure. Archie Wein stein, who along with Bob Wood and Rust make up the commis sioner board, faces a recall vote; an assessor will be elected; and a ballot measure vote will determine if the assessor’s job will be elected or appointive in the future. The measure concerning the assessor’s job is a “vindictive thing against Bylund," Rust says. “Why would anyone want Archie Weinstein, a millionaire property owner, to pick an assessor?” Problems in the county asses sors office aren’t new but Rust still endorses Bylund over his op ponent, Bill Bain. "He’s taking a lot of heat from big business, ” Rust notes, adding Bylund isn’t a "Republican-style assessor” — meaning he’s not in favor of giving businesses lower property taxes. Rust adds that Bylund hasn’t had the monies to perform his job up to snuff. “Trie budget committee came down on Bylund hard.” Rust is looking forward to Jan. r 1, when the board will be ex panded to five members. “I’d love to share some of these respon sibilities," he says pointing to the vanous piles around him. Will he be able to get along with the new comers? “No one can raise as much hell on this board as Archie has..he says grinning. Indeed Weinstein’s raised voice can be heard coming through into Rust’s office. “We hear Archie whenever he gets upset," he says nodding toward the wall. What about Archie Weinstein? Does Rust think he and Wood are ganging up against him? “There’s never been a stable coalition against me or Archie,” he says. But administrative and political quibbling aren’t the only things on Rust’s mind. The issue of how to deal with 30,000 people in the River Road/Santa Clara area and the county jail are upper-most in his mind this week. “What’s really happening at the jail?” he muses. “The bottom line is that it's an unconstitutional jail.” He cites overwork of trus tees, unhealthy conditions, and people who really don’t deserve to be in jail being kept there as things that need reform. The county has imposed a growth moratorium on the River Road/Santa Clara area which, as an unincorporated city, has no sewage facilities. There is a quarter-million ground water study being conducted now and the initial results should be in within a year. Other issues on his mind? "I've got to write a letter on Measure 10,” he mutters, rifling through his papers. Measure 10 would abolish the Land Conservation and Development commission. “It’s going to set us way back. People don’t understand the is sues. “LCDC isn’t a burden; land-use planning is working. We are pre serving timber land and flood plane... "The way to reform isn’t a con stitutional ammendment, but a legislative act. LCDC is only an administrative body. The county has tremendous leeway in making their own comprehensive plan.” Rust is planning on changing his party registration from Inde pendent to Democrat this year. The way to be effective in politics is to belong to the political party. Sunny Saves Money CONSISTENT DISCOUNT PRICES ON MAJOR BRAND GASOLINE. Sunny Service locations: • 23rd ft Olympic St. • 19th & Agate St. . LCC-1-5 at 30th • 6th ft High St. . Veneta • 7th & Van Buren St. • Junction City • 57th ft Main. Spfd. . 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