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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2004)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, March 3, 2004 (Continued from page 3) aging AWS Doors, Win- dows and Cabinets. This is something Riddle did dur- ing his campaign for com- missioner and something he does at meetings and in private. In the article he says he has turned over day-to- day operation of AWS to his most-trusted employee, but goes there once a week to “sign the checks” and make sure everything is running smoothly. In the Feb. 20 edition of the “Daily Courier,” on page 9B, there is a quarter- page ad that begins “Quitting Business Blow- out Sale.” It goes on to read, “After 25 years, AWS is closing its doors.” This is the same AWS Riddle has held up so often as proof of his ability to manage. While the closing of AWS is tragic on many levels, I hope that Riddle’s style of management was not the only reason for the company to fail, for he now helps “manage Jose- phine County.” As I see things, the biggest management prob- lem, and hence the biggest fiscal problem Josephine County has is directly re- lated to the style of man- agement by the commis- sioners. They take advice from department heads they have appointed, from committees they have ap- pointed and from other managers throughout the county. They have public meetings and allow the public to speak, but only hear something if it parrots their already-held position. Opposing views are not welcome. But maybe the biggest hole in their management style is that they do not talk to the staff. The staff, our employees, the people who do the day-to-day work for us. The commis- sioners routinely schedule meetings with “The Man- agement Team,” but not with the staff. The staff has many ideas as to how to run the county. I know this be- cause they will tell you so in private. The staff should not be the ones who have to ask for these meetings. Indeed they are probably too afraid since they fear retaliation. Not everything wrong with the county can be blamed on environmental- ists and federal court deci- sions as Harold Haugen is so wont to do. He has been a commissioner for a long time and things continue to get worse. If you are the captain of the “Titanic” and your ship strikes an iceberg, it is hardly the iceberg’s fault that your ship sank. I have lived in Jose- phine County for more than 20 years, and I can see the ship is going under. My apologies From Jeremiah Mutina Cave Junction My name is Jeremiah Mutina. I was involved in a string of burglaries in your area. The main people that this is for is the owners of TC Computers, La Cav- erna Restaurant, Northwest Hairlines, Dave’s Perfect Pizza, and most of all, Bear Images Boutique. I am writing a letter of apol- ogy to all of them. I either robbed them lately or in the past. I want to say “Sorry” to the com- munity for causing so much grief and B.S. The reason I did all of the burglaries was for my drug use. I stole money and other stuff just to get some weed or alcohol. I am in rehab right now, and I realized that drugs are not all my life is about and that I have more to live for like my mom and dad and sisters. Being locked away, I can’t see them and that is hard for me. I love them with all my heart. I probably won’t be coming back for a long time, so it gives you time to think if you want to for- give me or not. Thank you if you do, and I’m sorry if you don’t. (Editor’s note: This letter, originally written Nov. 11, 2003, was sub- mitted for publication as a condition of the letter writer’s probation.) Cascade Auto kudos From Charlene Parson Cave Junction Recently, my vehicle had a mechanical failure. Not knowing where to go to get it repaired, I took the advice of a friend and went to Cascade Auto. I was pleasantly sur- prised at how courteously I was treated. Mike Trinity listened as I explained what the problem was and didn’t treat me as if I were a non-human just because I am female. I have had so many horrible experiences at auto shops in the past that I literally get sick when I have to take my car to a shop. I felt that Cascade Auto treated me fairly and did not overcharge or try to sell me parts that were not needed. Library levy necessary? From Marilyn Arnold O’Brien I’m having a tough time getting behind the need for another new tax for the libraries, because they’ve received five out of six levies since 1992. The one voted down in 2002 is the framework for this latest levy, but the for- Country Breakfast I.V. Senior Center *Biscuits & Gravy *Pancakes *Eggs *Bacon *Sausage Links *Coffee, Milk, Juice $4.00 - Adults $2.50 - Kids Under 12 Saturday, March 6 - 8 to 11 a.m. mula comes out to 10 times what I would have paid for Measure 30. Over- taxed citizens shot that down, so why are library board members so confi- dent this one will fly? The Cave Junction library is down to 20 hours a week, and some people lost wages/jobs last sum- mer because of cutbacks. I called the library twice this week to ask questions, but no one returned my calls. Public records show that the Library Director Sue Luce still makes the same generous income, which is twice what we pay most public school teachers. Why does she still make the same income if the libraries aren’t open full time? I love libraries, but give me a break. Maybe some salary cuts from the top down (incredible concept, huh?) should be considered, in- stead of another levy on the May ballot. Supports library levy From Mike Mitchell Friends of the I.V. Library Cave Junction Most Illinois Valley residents should know by now that the Josephine County Board of Commis- sioners has required 2,300 signatures from residents before it will place a library levy on the May ballot. The decision to bring the levy to voters again is the result of a recommenda- tion to the library board of trustees by the Library Ser- vices Planning Committee, a special unit formed by the board to research short- and long-term funding options for the Josephine County Library System. The committee recom- mended the library go out for a 20-cent per $1,000 assessed valuation levy in May to prevent further cuts in services. It further recom- mended to the board that it begin a campaign to pass a Special District designation for the library system in the November 2006 election. It is time the residents of our county get involved to ensure that we have ac- cess to a strong and secure library with stable and ap- propriate funding to provide its essential services to the community it serves. There are many ways to help make this happen. People can sign one of the signature sheets that are in many businesses and the I.V. Branch Library. The county commis- sioners can be contacted at (541) 474-5221 or receive an e-mail by going to the county website for those who use the library and would like to see it open more hours, be better staffed, have more books or be expanded or replaced. The next Friends of the I.V. Library meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 9 at 3:30 p.m., and there will be information more about the levy and the Special District campaign. The meeting will be held at the I.V. branch, 209 W. Palmer St., Cave Junction. People also can write letters to this and other county publications. If you have questions you need answered to write a more qualified letter, phone Luce at (541) 474-5483. Page 5 ‘HAIL TO THE CHIEF’ - Harry Rich, (center) a firefighter for 34 years and who is also a paramedic, was inducted as new chief of Illinois Valley Fire District on Monday, March 1. His badge was presented during a ceremony at Station 1 in Cave Junction by Interim Chief Jeff Gavlik and Joe Malcolm, acting president of the district board. JoCo Jail vacancies need filling “There were more than a thousand people not taken to jail during 2003 who should have been,” Sheriff Dave Daniel told members of the Local Pub- lic Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC). The sheriff briefed a jail assessment report dur- ing an LPSCC meeting recently in Grants Pass City Hall. Daniel opened the meeting by reading from a Feb. 12 preliminary report addressing the state of the Josephine County Jail. “Our original plan,” read Daniel, “was to open the jail to house 170 in- mates, and then increase our staff in the 2001/2002 budget year to accommo- date 210 inmates.” When the budget re- ceived only a slight in- crease, “I went to the board of commissioners in 2002 and requested a cap on the jail of 170 inmates for safety and security rea- sons...and for the first time since opening the jail, we started releasing inmates early,” said Daniel. “The 2003/2004 budget,” he continued, “once again was under- funded, and we...lost seven positions. This took us down to a total of 25 cor- rections officers...a ratio of five inmates to one officer. “The new cap was ap- proved July 1, 2003. We started releasing inmates before their time and de- veloped a new phrase for releasing them: ‘Beyond Av a il abl e Re sou rce s (BAR). From July 2003 through the end of the year, we averaged releas- ing 51 inmates a month BAR, the majority of them felons.” Daniel said that in or- der to raise the jail capac- ity to house 210 inmates, an additional 11 correc- tions officers, one techni- cian, and one clerk would be needed. To open the jail to ca- pacity (262 inmates), the jail would need an addi- tional four corrections offi- cers, two technicians, three clerks and one administra- tive clerk. “I think there are other issues [not in the report] that need to be consid- ered,” said Josephine County Public Defender Gary Berlant. “There are issues and policies driven by the dis- trict attorney’s office that affect the flow of inmates not only in and out of jail, but where they’re ulti- mately housed, he said. “Maybe we should look at how much pre-trial time is spent on cases; that also impacts the function- ing of the courts, and all other associated commu- nity costs. “I think before we de- termine how many beds are necessary at the jail, we should look at how they are being used and whether or not they are being used effectively,” added Berlant. The desire to raise the jail capacity stems from a county Criminal Justice Study and jail inspection report by the Oregon Jail Managers Association and the State Dept. of Correc- tions. Get ready for spring today! Brushing, thinning, removals & reducing the risk of fire danger. We also offer stump grinding, clean-ups, walks, walls, fencing, roadwork & more. Phone: A thru Z Land Improvement TODAY for a free estimate & be ready for spring (541) 592-2528 or (541) 659-8609 Licensed/Bonded & Insured CCB#156237 Everyone Welcome! (please, no young children) Sliding Scale: $8 - $15 Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. Dinner & Drinks sold separately 9367 Takilma Road, Cave Junction - Thich Nant Hanh - For more information phone 592-3911
