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❘ OCTOBER 21, 2017 ❘ $1.00
‘Greater Tuna’
comes to Class Act
INSIDE — A3
SPORTS — B
127TH YEAR ❘ ISSUE NO. 84
SERVING WESTERN LANE COUNTY SINCE 1890
FLORENCE, OREGON
OCHS must
respond to
Department
of Justice
Port looks
to public to
plan future
Commissioners plan to
build committees, create
classes and reach out to
entire district
Assistant Attorney
General pens letter to
humane society board
requesting financial info
B Y J ARED A NDERSON
Siuslaw News
B Y M ARK B RENNAN
Siuslaw News
The October meeting of Oregon Coast
Humane Society (OCHS) Board of
Directors was again held with the pres-
ence of a Florence Police Department
officer when it met Thursday evening at
the Laurelwood Community Center.
The meeting began with a statement
from Board President Robert Bare, who
told the 50 or so community members in
attendance that, under advice of council
and in consultation with the Oregon
Department of Justice (ODJ), the organi-
zation was looking into the possibility of
members of OCHS voting directly for
the Board of Directors.
Bare stated that this had never been
done before, and noted the board was
considering the option and would make
OCHS’s intent known at some point in
the future.
The introduction of official oversight
into the controversy brewing at OCHS,
in the form of consultations with the
ODJ, has elevated the profile and the
problems facing OCHS.
One of the individuals responsible for
bringing the attention of the state’s high-
est legal authority to the OCHS situation
is Scott Bailey.
Bailey, a local attorney and former
OCHS Board Member, said he feels the
current board was improperly seated,
which is why he brought his legal
expertise in an effort to invalidate the
standing of the current board.
Bailey recently met with ODJ officials
in Portland and describes the meeting as
informative and productive.
“I met with Liz Grant and Lottie
Zorn at the Attorney General’s office.
Liz is the head of the charitable activi-
ties division, Lottie is the person who
was assigned to conduct the prelimi-
nary investigation into OCHS in
response to complaints (there have
been 12),” Bailey said. “Apparently,
Liz does not step in unless the situation
is fairly rock solid.”
See
PHOTOS BY
JARED ANDERSON/
SIUSLAW NEWS
Senior Expo brings together lifestyle, healthcare options
ore than 300 people attended the
2017 Good Life Boomer & Senior Expo
at Florence Events Center on Thursday.
Exhibitors showcased senior living options,
community groups, volunteer opportuni-
ties and healthcare choices during the
event. “The weather did not keep people
away,” said Siuslaw News Publisher Jenna
Bartlett. “The vendors said they had a
chance for meaningful interactions with
everyone. We are very pleased with the
success of the event.” Siuslaw News pre-
sented the expo, and it was sponsored by
Hillside Retirement Residences and
Roby’s Furniture and Appliance. BJ’s Ice
Cream Parlor provided complimentary
scoops of ice cream during the free expo,
where people were able to donate canned
goods to Florence Food Share.
M
Miller Park to get new facilities
OCHS 10A
Updates include concession stand, restrooms and soccer field
Florence Mayor Joe Henry. “I
believe that Miller Park is an
untapped opportunity for our
community, both in terms of eco-
nomic development, as well as a
wonderful amenity for the fami-
lies and children in our communi-
ty.”
The project, which was just
granted the notice to proceed, will
begin construction in 2018.
“The current concession stand
in the park will be demolished,”
Florence Public Works Director
B Y J ARED A NDERSON
Siuslaw News
Florence’s Miller Park will
soon be getting an upgrade with a
new concession stand, soccer
field, sidewalk, restrooms and
additional security camera and
repositioned softball fields.
“Miller Park is our signature
Park and it has been a number of
years since we have dedicated the
resources to this wonderful fea-
ture that it deserves,” said
Mike Miller said.
In its place, a new building will
be constructed which will house
restrooms, storage areas for local
sports programs and a new con-
cession stand.
“Traditionally, the concession
stand has been used exclusively
by the Siuslaw Baseball Assoc-
iation,” Miller said. “But now it
will be more of a community asset
so you can have more activities
See
It’s time to reach out to the community
to move forward in planning the future,
Port of Siuslaw Commissioners conclud-
ed during their Wednesday, Oct. 18, pub-
lic meeting.
“I think it’s time to bring the public in
and get some ideas. I believe there are a
lot of people in the community, within
this district, that have good ideas that we
can listen to,” Port Commissioner Mike
Buckwald said.
The conclusion came after a lengthy
discussion involving the repair of river-
bank erosion damage and other expensive
future projects.
Interim Port Manager Dina McClure
started the conversation by announcing
FEMA had unrestricted funding for
repairing portions of the riverbank that
were damaged in the unusually strong
2016 winter.
Last month, FEMA had frozen those
funds due to hurricanes in Texas, Florida
and Puerto Rico, a freeze that was expect-
ed to last at least six months. FEMA is
expected to pay 75 percent of the costs
for the repair, which could cost up to
$200,000. Now that those funds are
released, the port can move forward with
the project.
However, there is still discussion on
how to proceed with the project. The
commissioners are still deciding how to
approach the repairs, along with what the
project will ultimately look like when
completed.
The commission’s dilemma was made
clear when commissioners began dis-
cussing the future Siuslaw Estuary Trail
that would run through port property. The
final path of the trail is still being decid-
ed, but is currently planned to run along
the boardwalk, riverbank and out to the
east estuary, much of which is on port
property. Part of that plan would have the
trail running through the eroded river-
bank as well.
“Where are we going to put that trail?”
Port Commission President Terry Duman
asked. “It belongs on the river.
PARK 9A
See
FUTURE 7A
New recycling rules extend from curbside City discontinues ‘Snowbird’ program
pick-up to Florence Transfer Station, county Low-cost water turn off option ends for Florence residents
INSIDE
Residents of Florence are in the process of
adjusting to major changes in the rules and
materials that can be recycled in curbside pick-
up, and most seem to be
B Y M ARK B RENNAN
responding well to these
Siuslaw News
changes.
New rules have been
adopted by waste haulers in town that prohibit
consumers from putting any kind of plastic in
their recycling and by reducing the materials
that the companies will accept from consumers.
Lane County has also announced that, begin-
ning today, Oct. 21, the only plastic that will be
accepted at county landfill sites and at transfer
locations, including Florence, will be clear plas-
tic milk jugs.
The list of materials no longer accepted
will include all other types of plastic, including
all food and beverage containers made from
plastic.
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This is a dramatic change from earlier poli-
cies in effect.
These changes were implemented in response
to newly enacted Chinese governmental restric-
tions on the type and quality of recycled materi-
als that will be accepted by the country, which is
the world’s largest purchaser of waste products.
The lowering of the percent of contaminated
materials allowed has forced a dramatic realign-
ment in the work American recyclers have to
undertake to adequately prepare the waste mate-
rials to be exported.
This prompted the changes enacted by the
commercial haulers in Florence earlier this
month and by the county beginning today.
These changes affect both waste removal
companies in the Florence area, although in
marginally different ways.
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Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B
Weather Data . . . . . . . . . . . A2
This Week on the Coast . . . . A7
See
RECYCLE 10A
THIS WEEK ’ S
B Y M ARK B RENNAN
Siuslaw News
The City of Florence recent-
ly ended the low cost option by
which residents can turn off the
water to their property using
what
was
called
the
“Snowbird” program.
Florence Public Works
Director Mike Miller said that
moving forward, Florence will
no longer offer this service to
residents.
“The city recently complet-
ed a thorough water, waste-
water and storm water rate
analysis. This work was per-
formed by an outside consult-
ant working with staff and an
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advisory committee appointed
by the mayor and approved by
Florence City Council. Much
of the analysis performed was
to identify any inequities with-
in the rate structure or operat-
ing policies,” Miller said.
During the course of its
work, the committee received
information from city staff
about the “Snowbird” program
and supported staff’s findings
and recommendations to dis-
continue the program.
City council was briefed in a
work session on the report,
findings and recommenda-
tions, as well as an implemen-
tation plan, which included
ending the “Snowbird” pro-
S IUSLAW N EWS
2 S ECTIONS ❘ 20 P AGES
C OPYRIGHT 2017
gram, which served a limited
number of residents. In addi-
tion, the city did not promote
the program, but honored it for
those that knew about it.
According to findings and
recommendations suggested
by consultants Gel Oregon and
CiviData, “Water and waste-
water systems are capital inten-
sive and are built and operated
to serve the entire community.
Whether
those
systems
are used or not, these systems
have significant fixed costs.
These costs are allocated to
all homes, businesses and
other users, to be paid monthly.
See
WATER 9A