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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 2012)
slant information about a different public records request. That public records requests was made in regard to allegations made in a letter from attorney Alan Thayer, representing Eugene businessman and EWEB Commissioner John Brown. The letter alleged that Handy illegally asked for contributions for his debt that came about as a settlement over a timber company-financed open meetings lawsuit. Handy said he checked with the county’s finance department before asking supporters to assist with the debt. Dugan says the county claims that it has no public records requests asking for Rob Handy’s finance department information, “So the question is, how did Thayer get those documents to attach to his letter?” she asks. Dugan says the county has also “completely stonewalled on giving us records” about the emergency meeting. Under Oregon law, in order to have an emergency meeting with less than two hours’ notice the justification for the emergency must appear in the minutes. The minutes for that meeting have yet to appear on the county website with the minutes for other board meetings. District Attorney Alex Gardner has called the request “incredibly broad.” The public records request was originally rejected by Stephen Dingle, senior assistant county counsel. Dugan and Handy then appealed the rejection to Gardner. Gardner is not only the district attorney, he also serves as the county counsel. After not getting a response back within seven days, Dugan filed the public records suit. The county has argued that it would not release some of the documents under a criminal investigation exemption. Dugan says some of the documents asked for were created before the letter from Thayer arrived at the county, and so before any investigation. Dugan writes in an email to Gardner, “After reviewing the May 3 emergency meeting, I see that Ms. [Liane] Richardson states that it is ‘regular policy’ to choose not to invoke the criminal exemption when a public official is the target of the investigation.” She adds, “At the emergency meeting the county already chose to waive the criminal exemption with regards to this investigation.” Outgoing Oregon Attorney General John Kroger had spearheaded an effort to update Oregon’s public records laws, limiting fees and putting time limits on how long a government agency can take to respond to a request. Open records advocates are hopeful incoming AG Ellen Rosenblum will continue that effort. — Camilla Mortensen • The band Garden Goat has gone unplugged, thanks to some help from local law enforcement officials who confiscated the group’s instruments last week. We can only conclude that the Eugene police are strong advocates for acoustic music, given their response to a noise complaint at The Venue on 14th and Willamette that resulted in the seizure of Garden Goat’s instruments and gear. EPD doesn’t seem to be giving the stuff back, either, despite pleas from the band members. Garden Goat had nothing to do with the misdemeanor charges doled out to Eugene resident Edgar Noe Lopez, who allegedly sold alcohol without a license at The Venue. The group remains without the electric guitars and sound equipment needed to play shows. Surely there are better ways to express a love for acoustic music. Perhaps the EPD is planning to start up a rock band? We hear there’s a fundraiser for the band in the works. • What’s with the Oregonians for Higher Education Excellence PAC? Money is pouring into it from high rollers: a cash contribution from Phil Knight of $65,000; Charles Lillis (yes, like Lillis Hall) and Pat Kilkenny ponied up that same amount each. The PAC was reportedly launched in March by Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle, who chipped in $62,500; the PAC’s treasurer is Carol Russell of C & A Consulting. Russell is a Bandon cranberry grower and is an Oregonians for Food and Shelter board member. OFS is known for its pro-pesticide stance. So we have a corporate, big agriculture group swiftly raising money for “higher education.” Is this the UO’s next board of directors if the institution goes solo? Boyle told Portland alt-weekly Willamette Week that the new group “is interested in seeing the legislature and the Oregon University System cede autonomy more quickly to the system’s seven campuses, which have seen their financial contributions from the state shrink far faster than their authority to govern themselves has grown.” We don’t think it means good news for the school’s more left-leaning bent and important programs like environmental studies. • Rather than passing electronic reader boards warning them of construction and traffic changes, drivers heading down Washington and Jefferson Streets early in the morning of May 24 passed boards that had been hacked to say: “Dig up your lawn … and grow food,” and “Kill your Facebook.” Ironically, the pictures of the signs have been posted all over Facebook, but we like the sentiments anyway. Step away from your computer; go outside; grow your own food! Taking Care of Your Four-Legged Family for Over 30 Years Full Service Clinic: • Well Pet Care • Orthopedic Surgery • Cancer Management • Behavior Consultations • Dental Care Cameron Jones, DVM Barbara Maki, DVM Cary Heyward, DVM • Things continue with the crazy over at the county. We’ve heard that despite being locked out of his office while the Department of Justice conducts an investigation, Commissioner Rob Handy is still doggedly doing his job, answering emails, checking voicemails and meeting with citizens, just not in his office. Is someone going to do something about the nonstop attacks from the right on the progressive commissioners? Or have the attacks scared people away from taking on the big money and developers in Lane County? We’re hoping that the anger against Faye Stewart over the mining of scenic Parvin Butte and the anti-environment, anti- human services moves the conservative commission has been making mean the local green and progressive scene is going to put up some good candidates for Stewart’s and Bozievich’s seats in the next election. Occupy Lane County government? • Our new website, at www.eugeneweekly.com, with its integrated blogs is worth checking out. It still has a few quirks, but it’s a big improvement and much more interactive than our old site. Leave comments on news and arts stories and our letters section (some of the comments are priceless). Lots of folks read us in print, then follow our blog, Twitter feed and Facebook page, or check our Calendar online during the week. Looking for past EW content? Try our search box at the top of our home page. • Safety concerns for smart meters are a big deal for many Eugeneans, particularly those of us concerned about adding to the electromagnetic field (EMF) and radio frequency (RF) radiation that we are exposed to by everything from cell phones to wi-fi to wires in our walls. It’s wise that EWEB is going forward very cautiously with smart meters, and in big part that’s due to vocal community input. What we like about the concept of smart meters and time-of-day-based billing is that it’s a serious move toward conservation. As customers become more conscious of their energy consumption, many will adjust their habits accordingly. Lane Electric Co-op installed its 13,000 smart meters in 2006 (hard-wired through power lines) and will never go back. Dave D’Avanzo of Lane Electric tells us tracking customers’ energy consumption remotely as it happens makes their operations much more efficient, cuts response time for outages, and can lead to significantly reduced household costs. The utility now offers no-deposit “pay as you go” accounts for thrifty customers who can track their consumption online daily and cut back if it looks like they will exceed their budget. Next, the utility is starting a pilot program that will allow remote control of water heaters, turning them off for a few hours between demand times, potentially saving lots of energy and money. Announcing Our New Second Location! We’re proudly bringing the same quality food and friendly service you’ve come to expect from Ta Ra Rin to the former Kuraya’s space at 1410 Mohawk Blvd. – T HANK YOU FOR VOTING US Best The OF EUGENE 2011-2012 IN 2008-09 E UGENE W EEKLY ’ S B EST OF E UGENE 2009-10 2010-11 2011-2012 For take-out orders or reservations, call 541.505.8987 Original location still in Eugene at 1200 Oak St. Appointments Available 8am-6pm Weekdays 9am-4pm Saturday info@amazonparkvet.com • 541-485-0161 • 725 E. 25th Ave. Eugene WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM Phone 541.343.1230 com See our menu online at www.TaRaRinThai.com EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 31, 2012 7
