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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2017 Regarding marijuana growing in Dunes City Dear Dunes City Residents: The city has recently received a number of inquiries regarding Dunes City residents who have submitted applications to the state to grow marijuana. First, please understand that the licenses to grow are issued by the state, not Dunes City. State Measure 91, which allows pos- session, manufacture and sale of marijuana in Oregon, passed by a 51 percent margin among Dunes City voters. Neither the City Council nor the voters of Dunes City placed a local ban on the November 2016 ballot. As a result, these marijua- na licenses are legal within the city. Indeed, in November 2016, the city voters voted to imple- ment a tax on marijuana retail sales. Additionally, the city does not enforce federal criminal laws. To the extent the activities of a mar- ijuana licensee might be illegal under federal law, the licensee Letters from 4A C ONCERNED WITH OCHS ISSUES Regarding the front page article in the Aug. 12 edition of the Siuslaw News (“Past and Present Volunteers, Board Members Clash Over Care”), I have concerns about the Oregon Coast Humane Society. These concerns came about recent- ly when I went to the shelter to adopt a cat. I have adopted four cats from OCHS. Going into the cattery was depressing due to the crowded conditions and the odor. However, my biggest concern was that information I received about the cat I wanted to adopt was conflicting. It seemed difficult to get the right information. I understood that she was not ready to go; she had been nursing a litter and was a recent arrival. I was told she was spayed. When I went back days later to visit with the cat, I was told she had not been spayed and that they have trouble finding enough vet- erinary care. I was astonished when I was told they need to take them to a Veneta veterinarian. Is this true or misinformation? Staff I spoke with seemed almost uninterested in my con- cerns, which included the cat’s drippy eyes and questions about her health. What has happened to all the money that was bequeathed to the OCHS? How will these issues be resolved? The board seems dysfunctional from what I read. While people disagree and let their egos get in the way, homeless animals do not get the care they need. Homeless animals often have been trauma- tized and neglected before arriving at the shelter. They deserve to be well cared for. Good management, a responsi- ble board and good training of staff and volunteers can benefit these animals and the community, and I understand that constant fundrais- ing is necessary for success. But not everyone cares about homeless animals. Those of us takes that risk on their own. For now, the federal government has decided not to enforce federal criminal laws related to state- licensed marijuana business. Marijuana is an agricultural product. Dunes City Code permits agricul- tural activities under certain conditions. Except for certain reasonable times, places and manner regulations allowed by state law, the city does not have the authority to treat mari- juana differently from other agri- cultural crops. When asked to provide the Land-Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) for the state permit, state law requires the city complete the form within 20 days. Failure to do so results in an automatic approval of the LUCS. The city can — and does — provide conditions that must be met such as: • Marijuana grows must pro- vide evidence to the city of where the water source comes from. Water under the Dunes City Shared Domestic Water Supply is not allowed to be used for mari- juana grows. In fact, most state who do, need to speak up and help where we can. —Linda Kanter Deadwood Please act responsibly and don’t play with a man’s reputation. —Liat Meller Florence K EEP THIS IN MIND L OST BET Seven months ago, on or about Jan. 25 of this year, I made a bet with myself — which I now have to concede I have lost. At that time I made a bet with myself that after Donald J. Trump won the presidential election in our country, the Democratic National Committee, many democrats and the left-wing media would do everything possible to disrupt his presidency for the next six months in order to take him off his stated agenda. Well, it is now seven months later and they are still out there full ply with all Dunes City codes, so they are prohibited from using phosphate containing fertilizers or pesticides and further prohibit- ed from allowing waste water from running off their property (it must be captured). • Each marijuana grow operation must submit a detailed site plan to the state for issuance of a permit. That site plan must be reviewed by Dunes City as well to ensure requirements are met as to set-backs, environmentally sensi- tive lands, lot coverage percent- ages, building height restrictions, etc. The LUCS process is an administrative process, meaning the city’s review is based on objective criteria. In other words, the criteria are basic yes/no ques- tions and do not take into account discretionary factors. The city does not have the ability to reject the LUCS simply because of community objections. To my knowledge, none of the applicants for marijuana grow operations in the Dunes City lim- its have been permitted by the state; so, as far as I know, none of them are operational. You can look up licensed facil- ities online at Oregon.gov/olcc /marijuana/Documents/Marijuan alicenses_approved.pdf. While at the OLCC website, you can also peruse the regula- tions and restrictions imposed upon grows by the state that are over and above Dunes City’s reg- ulations. I hope this clears up some of the misconceptions and misun- derstandings I have been hearing. Please feel free to give me or the City Council member of your choice a call for additional clari- fication. scale trying to do exactly that. I have now placed myself another bet. Never mind my previ- ous six-month bet; this one is going to continue until the next election in November 2020 — or possibly until November 2024 if President Trump is re-elected. If we can get the election process cleaned up and voter ID installed, I feel he stands a good chance for re-election no matter how many lies and distortion of truths I see being cooked up against him by the DNC and left- wing media. It’s clear to me they will go after him regardless of what he says or doesn’t say, regardless of what he does or doesn’t do. A prime example is the recent episode regarding the KKK attempting to march down south and the opposition it met, which prompted our president to issue comments regarding same. I have seen and heard numerous statements by the president dis- avowing any agreeing with — or supporting of — that radical group. Yet the left-wing false media and democrats seem to just keep dis- torting what he said into something other than what he meant. And I expect this to continue. So, to my fellow conservative Republicans (that excludes sena- tors Lindsey Graham, John McCain and the likes), I say pre- pare for a non-ending continuation of the previous seven months of bad mouthing by the liberal false news media and the DNC. —Tony Cavarno Florence Letter to Dunes City residents ABOUT KKK, A NTIFA A Twitter friend in Finland sent me this. They have experience in these things and we would do well to keep this in mind: “In reality, the difference is that #KKK attacks people who look different and #Antifa attacks peo- ple who think differently.” —Dave Peck Florence S TEVEN ’ S GOOD NAME Steven Leskin was treated poor- ly by the Port and by Siuslaw News. He was the Port Manager and came to do the work the port need- ed him to do. But when it came time to collect fees, they turned against him. Collecting fees and taxes was part of Steve’s job, but since sever- al people on the board own boats, they were not interested in paying the bills. Instead, they turned against the man they hired to do the job. But no one knows that because Steven’s side of the story was never included in the articles that appeared in Siuslaw News. It doesn’t look like the newspa- per even reached out to Steven to hear his side. The port used dirty words and ugly accusations against him that ended up in the newspaper. This included accusation from an angry board member telling Steve he needed anger management class, and a sexual harassment story that was proven wrong. These accusations are not news and they don’t belong in the news- paper. They hurt the name and rep- utation of the person and can destroy his future ability to find a good and decent job. Unless proven right, there is no room in the paper to publish speculations. I feel both the port board and our newspaper owe Steve an apol- ogy for all the damage that was done to his career and his name. B Y J AMIE M ILLS D UNES C ITY A DMINISTRATOR permits and certificates do not allow much in the way of irriga- tion. Also, a commercial grow must get a commercial well drilled. • Marijuana grows must com- ply with all Dunes City nuisance codes, including odor, noise, lights, etc. • Marijuana grows must com- ply with all Dunes City building codes, including fencing require- ments/limitations and set-back requirements. • Marijuana grows must com- Florence Food Share provides food to those who are hungry in our community. If you have four hours a week available, we are in need of volunteers to staff our Front Desk and also act as Guides as clients walk through the pantry. Please call our volunteer coordinator, Gina Yates, @ 541-997-9110 (Monday – Friday, before noon) to learn more about volunteering. info@lorence- foodshare.org 2190 Spruce Street. Volunteers needed for new home construction, home repairs, general offi ce work, public relations and program administration. Join an operating committee and help Habitat help others! Call 541-902-9227 or e-mail to fl orencehabitat@gmail.com Offi ce located at 2004 HWY 101, Florence Hwy 101 S #2000, #2001, #2300 – One of a kind 48 acre Siltcoos Lakefront parcel. Zoned RR1 in Dunes City with potential 6-8 lot subdivision. Visit Dunescityhall.com for community and zoning in- formation. Gated entry, call for an appointment today! $495,000. #2715-17018995 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 DENTURE SERVICES INC. LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED Open 4 days a week! Donate Do your part and volunteer today to help support these local non-proft organizations in our community! Th e Florence Senior center is in need of Volunteer Receptionists and Kitchen Helpers If interested please call or stop by. 1570 Kingwood, Florence 541 997 8844 Assisting those in need in our Community. Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri, 11:30 AM - 1 PM NEW LOCATION SOON! HELPING HANDS COALITION Volunteer Desiree Clifton Principal Broker 541 999-5223 Volunteer Get involved Buying or Selling? I can help. Price Reduced —Jamie Mills Dunes City Administrator United Methodist Church, 333 Kingwood, Florence Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer Get involved Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers. You will find an area of interest in a caring organization. Donate 400 9th Street, Florence, OR 97439 541-997-8412 ext. 209 Do your part and volunteer today to help support these local non-proft organizations in our community! Peace Harbor Volunteers Meals on Wheels are available to people over the age of 60 who cannot get out much due to illness or advanced age and who are not eating properly, regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those who prefer to make new friends in a dining room setting. 1570 Kingwood • PO Box 2313, Florence 541-997-5673 laneseniormeals.org Operating Monday, Wednesday and Friday Here to serve your denture needs: Dentures Partial Dentures Immediate Dentures Implant Dentures Relines & Repairs Same Day Monday-Thursday 10am - 2 pm 524 Laurel St. 541-997-6054 William Foster LD Sherry, Offi ce Manager “As a denture wearer myself, I can answer your questions and address your denture concerns.” ~ William Foster, LD Financing: Citi Health Card 12 Month no Interest Saving men one PSA test at a time. 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net Someone to talk to... who understands! To include your organization in this directory, please call us @ 541-997-3441 5 A
