letters
TO THE EDITOR
SUPPORT FOR NURSES
I’m one of the fi ve Lane County
commissioners. The county and the nurses
who work at the county have been trying
to negotiate a labor agreement for some
time. According to media reports, these
negotiations have centered around both
wages and benefi ts, and it’s clear that
reducing benefi t levels to the nurses will
affect their total compensation. I do not
support reducing the total compensation
levels of Lane County nurses
According to media reports, a negotia-
tion session was set for Thursday, Jan. 26,
but it was canceled by the county side. I
hope that negotiations will continue so
there is no disruption to services needed in
this community. I’m glad that the county
government is providing information to
the nurses about how the health-care plan
changes could affect them and their fami-
lies. I am hopeful that this information will
help both sides reach a mutual understand-
ing about the impact, which will provide a
basis for an agreement.
Everyone in Lane County knows or
should know that these nurses are the cor-
nerstone of community wellness. They
could make more money elsewhere but
they choose work to serve the commu-
nity. The nurses at the Community Health
Centers of Lane County actually bring in
badly needed revenue. It is extremely im-
portant to Lane County residents, whether
they live in cities or outside of cities, that
the county government and the nurses con-
tinue bargaining and reach an agreement.
cannot remember this many rate increases.
Lambe will be gone, hopefully soon, before
he can do much more damage. But who will
clean up this mess for the people?
Lambe gets an estimated $180,000 per
year to manage and make sure that the
utility follows the law. An ethics complaint
was fi led in 2011 against Lambe. There
was documentation of open meetings
law violations and money being spent
without board approval. The State Ethics
Commission indicated that Lambe was
not in their jurisdiction. Later in another
State Ethics Commission complaint their
investigator found violations of open
meetings laws while he was manager.
I use to think we had a democracy in this
country. Now it is looking like hypocrisy.
Those with power bend the rules to meet
their desires and the people pay.
The people built Emerald. I believe the
20,000 ratepayers can unite and fi x this
situation. The sooner the better!
Ron Davis
Cottage Grove
These clinics and services must continue
without interruption.
I want Lane County government to
bargain in good faith, as Oregon law
requires. I support the nurses. I won’t
support bringing in replacement workers
for our nurses. These dedicated public
employees deserve our support. For far too
long, public employees have been vilifi ed.
It’s time for that to stop.
Pete Sorenson
Lane County Commissioner
LEGACY OF LAMBE
I wonder what the “people” will say
when Frank Lambe leaves Emerald PUD
at the end of the year with unbelievable lia-
bilities. The ratepayers should be aware that
he recommends raising rates 4 percent this
coming year and an increase of the monthly
basic rate 20 percent, from $10 to $12 per
month. In addition, the 10 year forecast
in the proposed 2012 budget calls for rate
increases seven out of the next 10 years?
During the 13 years I served on the board I
MORE POOL THANKS
Thank you Leni Bader of Eugene
(letters, 2/2) for letting us know about the
$25,000 donation for Tamarack Pool. I am
a caregiver and we go twice a week and I
see all the disabled people with smiles on
their faces.
I thank you, anonymous donor, and
bless you.
Sherry Brunson
Oakridge
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