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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2018)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2018 Districts from 1A McClure continued, “The staff has been great to work with and they’ve been very supportive of me, as well as the board. I’ve gotten a lot of support.” During her recent tenure as manager, McClure has over- seen a whole host of long planned changes at the port. The security cameras were upgraded, the maintenance truck was replaced, the Wi-Fi was updated and new debris booms were put in place. But the largest impact McClure had on the port was supporting the forward U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West s r e d n a m Com The JAZZ ENSEMBLE FREE CONCERT! 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In October 2017, McClure came to the commissioner’s board with a list of projects that needed to be worked on: The port bulkhead needed to be replaced, the erosion dam- age needed to be fixed and the marina needed to be dredged, among other issues. “There are a lot of issues facing the port that are impor- tant, and decisions have to be made,” McClure said. “And that was when the commis- sioners came up with the idea for public input for activities, projects and improvements.” McClure took the lead on the meetings, holding three thus far, which brought on a variety of suggestions from the public. “There has been a lot of enthusiasm for activities at the port,” she said. “I’ve met with individuals who have some ideas … I think the public wanted to be heard. And the board has given that some con- sideration in how they move forward with their plans. What they do with that input has yet to be determined.” The plans and projects that the board faces are numerous. The erosion project, which has been mired in controversy and red tape over the past two years, is still not completed. But when McClure first came on board as interim manager, the future of the project was in doubt. Now, as McClure worked closely with federal and state regulators, along with the board and the engi- neers, the project is almost ready to begin. The bulkhead still needs to be fixed, as well as dredging the marina. “One passion project would be selling the 40 acres in the Pacific View Industrial Park because that would give us the funding to tackle a lot of those big projects, and to reduce the debt,” she said. Recently, the board, with McClure’s help, secured a realtor for the property. McClure was also excited to work on the strategic plan, as the current one is set to expire this year. However, these projects will have to be finished by the next port manager. In addition, McClure is exit- ing when the board is still searching for the manager. If the board is unable to find a replacement by McClure’s end date on March 15, they should be able to recruit another inter- im manager from the Special Districts Association of Oregon. “Or maybe somebody in the community will come knock- ing on the door saying, ‘I want to be that person,’” McClure said. Whoever ends up replacing McClure, she promises not to leave them in the lurch. “When I leave the port, I don’t want to turn my back on it,” she said. “I’m still going to be in the community. If I’m asked to stop by, I’m still here. I can be a resource to make the transition a good one.” And she also said the new manager will be in good hands with the staff and commission already in place. “We have a great staff here,” she said. “They’re hard work- ing and dedicated. I have a lot of respect for the work they do, and I will miss working with them a lot. They show up every day and they’re willing to work.” She said that although the port had its share of “drama” and issues with the camp- ground or facilities, the staff continues to handle things well. “We have a teamwork effort here,” she added. “I really have been lucky in having their support in my position here.” And the commissioners and port employees said they felt the same way about McClure. DO YOU HAVE A HEARING LOSS? IT MAY BE AFFECTING YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE. Your hearing loss may seem insignificant now but studies have linked untreated hearing loss to real-world consequences 1 : 9 A “She served the port very well and was unafraid to take on any task,” Commissioner Terry Duman said. “We will really miss her.” Commissioner Nancy Rickard said that McClure had been a rock for the port. “I’ve gone to visit her two or three times a week and she always know what she’s doing, even when we don’t,” Rickard joked. Port Maintenance Lead Jason Wagoner appreciated McClure working with him on budgeting items and facility maintenance issues, saying, “It’s been a great pleasure working with her and it’s hard to see her go, but I wish her the best in the future.” Campground staff member Joyce Kidwell had worked with McClure since the begin- ning and said she “just loved” McClure. “We’re a very close-knit family here, and she’s done such a tremendous job,” Kidwell said. “It breaks my heart that she’s going.” As for the future of the port, McClure thinks the future is positive. “We’ve got good staff and a good board,” she said. “They’ve got all the pieces in place to really tackle the issues facing them. They’re concentrating on what the issues are, and now it’s their time to prioritize the funding for some of these projects.” The port has gone through many changes over the years, she pointed out. “It’s not an active port like it used to be. The history here is amazing with the fishing and logging, but those days are done,” she said. However, that’s not to say the port has become obsolete. It will always find ways to be a vital economic driver for the community. It lobbies for fed- eral money to keep the mouth of the river dredged, which is a key component of what the port can do. But the Port of Siuslaw has also reimagined itself as a des- tination place for tourism and economic development, which McClure believes brings a positive future for the port. “It provides a gateway tourism on the Oregon Coast,” she said. “Having this camp- ground and marina brings a lot of people into this area which provides an economy for Old Town as well as all of Florence and the Oregon coast. “I think Florence is an awe- some place and the port plays a big role here.” For more information, visit www.portofsiuslaw.com. • Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety • Greater risk of developing dementia • Fatigue, tension, stress and depression • Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations Improve your life with better hearing! 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Participants will join Collette Tours’ “Countryside of the Emerald Isle,” a 10-day small-group tour that includes a welcome recep- tion in the crypt of Christ Church Cathedral, a cook- ing class at one of Dublin’s premier culinary institu- tions, visits to the dramatic sites of the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher and an overnight stay on one of the Aran Islands. Participants should book by Friday, Feb. 23 to ensure a spot and receive a $250 discount. The air-and-land package includes round-trip trans- portation from Florence. Call 541-997-8444 for more information.
