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Suite A-10 Flor
1845 Hwy. 126,
126TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 23
SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
FLORENCE, OREGON
SIUSLAW SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SEEK $36.9M BOND
Money would pay for new high school construction and possibly other building improvements
Siuslaw News
Siuslaw School District will ask voters
to approve a 25-year general obligation
bond not to exceed $36.9 million on the
May 17 ballot to cover the cost of con-
structing a new high school facility and
possibly additional improvements to
other district buildings.
The district has received a $4 million
construction grant from the state to help
offset construction costs, but that money
can only be accessed if the bond measure
is approved. The district received the
grant through a lottery process and has
no guarantee that the money would be
available again in the future.
School board members and superin-
tendent Ethel Angal are meeting with
community groups and interested indi-
viduals to explain the need for the new
school and the urgency of the timing.
“The more people hear about how
we came to this decision, the more
people will understand,” Angal said.
According to the district, the high
school facility, completed in 1970,
does not meet current seismic, energy,
fire safety and Americans with
Disabilities Act compliance codes.
“Every year it becomes more and
B Y J ACK D AVIS
Siuslaw News
COURTESY PHOTOS
Under the theme, “The Sky’s the Limit!,” Florence Rotarians and community members dress in costumes from around the world.
or the 2016 Rotary Auction,
the sky was the limit!
Extravagant costumes fit the
travel-the-world themed auc-
tion March 12 at the Florence Events
Center, with more than 300 people
dressed to match
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
the destination
_________________________
of their choice
— from Italy to Ancient Greece to post-
apocalyptic Australia to Hawaii, and
many more.
Guests bid on hundreds of silent auction items,
desserts and 50 live-auction items. Rotarians Kim
Erickson and Kevin McMullen co-chaired the event.
“Everyone pitched in,” said McMullen. “Rotary
volunteers provided lots of details, which made the
event go great.”
Erickson praised the 16 Rotary Interact students from
Siuslaw High School who volunteered during the auc-
tion: “Ultimately, this event is about raising money for
scholarships for our students. It’s great knowing that
our youth are willing to help with this goal.”
Rotary Club of Florence plans to announce the
total amount raised at its Tuesday, March 22, meet-
ing. Last year’s event exceeded $100,000 raised for
local student scholarships.
F
INSIDE
BOND 8A
Commissioners forfeit $3K
earnest money and will not
move forward on deal
Final amount raised at auction
to be announced Tuesday
Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5
SideShow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B6
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B
Word on the Street . . . . . . . A8
See
Port rescinds
land purchase
agreement
Y
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R KES
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T IGH
FL
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7
Coastal Events . . . . . . . . . . A10
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4
more expensive to maintain,” Angal
said. “It is not energy efficient. It has
single-pane windows.”
In addition, Lauren Johnson with
LSW Architects from Vancouver,
Wash., gave the building a “poor” rating
THIS WEEK ’ S
TODAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
55 49
56 49
53 45
53 43
WEATHER
Full Forecast, A3
Following an executive session March 16,
Port of Siuslaw commissioners voted to
rescind an offer to purchase a 50-acre parcel
of land located at 5940 Highway 126, just
east of the North Fork Siuslaw River Bridge,
from Don Wilbur.
In January, Don Wilbur Ltd. and the port
agreed to a sales price of $300,000, with a
60-day review period during which the port
would conduct its due diligence. In terminat-
ing the offer, the port will forfeit $3,000 in
earnest money paid at the time of signing the
agreement.
According to port manager Steven Leskin,
who took over the position Feb. 1, the port
initially saw an opportunity to build a second
boat launch, preserve the area for clamming
and maintain a deep-water port on the river.
The parcel has previously been used for
dock building, tug and barge operations, boat
repair and storage.
During the review period, the port con-
ducted soil and water samples, consulted with
tribal members, ordered an appraisal, inspect-
ed the property for endangered species and
requested an environmental assessment
report.
“There were some minor issues,” Leskin
said, “but there were no environmental issues
which would impede the sale from moving
forward. The property appraisal came back
favorable as well.”
He added, “This decision is simply about
money. This is not a good time for the Port to
over-extend itself. In the short term, we need
to repair erosion damage to our shoreline,
repair a failing bulkhead and build a new
campground restroom.
“The next several years will see signifi-
cant upgrades to our wharf and boardwalk
and additional renovations to the RV Park.
The purchase of this property, and the devel-
opment and permitting costs, would have
inhibited our ability to maintain our existing
assets.”
In other business, port administrative assis-
tant Dina McClure reported that the port’s
current balance sheet shows $126,000 more
in reserves than the previous year.
In addition, McClure said, “In the profit and
loss previous year comparison, you will note
that this year to last, we are $20,000 ahead in
income and we have spent $30,000 less.”
During the regular meeting, commissioners
also heard a report from port Maintenance
Supervisor Jason Wagner on erosion concerns
behind and beneath the campground bulk-
head located along the Siuslaw River.
Maintenance and eventual replacement of
the bulkhead was one of the future expense
items mentioned by Leskin.
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