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