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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2018)
6 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 Port from 1A help bring Port of Siuslaw to state and federal agencies to help fund its major projects. By doing this, the agency can help save port staff time, and discover new opportunities that a smaller-staffed port like Siuslaw would have difficulty finding. “Small ports have benefited (from the IGA),” Harlen emphasized. “The reality is, the legislatures are lined up behind this. Hopefully there’s a pot of money at the end of this.” An IGA with Business Oregon potentially would give Port of Siuslaw access to thousands of dollars for proj- ects. Port commissioners found no immediate cause to reject Business Oregon’s offer and will be studying the particu- lars in the coming weeks. In the public meeting fol- lowing the group session, Bridgeport Market owner Jay Cable spoke during the public comments period with a num- ber of suggestions. He first discussed a fix for the handicapped parking space at the far west end of the park- ing lot, where individuals in wheelchairs have difficulty reaching a sidewalk without maneuvering into traffic. Cable suggested creating an entry point in the sidewalk next to the parking spaces. Cable then stated the park- ing directly along the river was being monopolized by fishermen who didn’t want to pay a $2 parking fee. “People who come to just view the river and sit and eat their lunch don’t have a nice place to park,” Cable said. “An easy fix to that would make that strip two-hour park- ing, which would eliminate that problem and allow people to park there at all times.” While the commission agreed that cars parked for a long period of time were an issue, they saw a roadblock in enforcement. “I understand that,” Cable said. “I think most conscien- tious people, if they saw that it was two-hour parking, just wouldn’t park there.” “People who get there at 5 in the morning aren’t really conscientious,” Port Commissioner Terry Duman replied. “I agree that it would help in some instances. But then the problems come, too, that if you don’t get there at 4:30 or 5, the workers park there. The people who work at the concessions.” While the commission saw hurdles in the plan, they agreed that parking needed to be looked at. Finally, Cable voiced his frustration with a Feb. 10 arti- cle published in the Siuslaw News. The article, which cov- ered the third in a series of public input meetings held at the port, covered a letter writ- ten by a moorage customer who listed a host of concerns about sanitation and the safety of the port. “It’s really a matter of frus- tration and economics,” Cable said. “Somebody without regard to the port, or without regard to the property values around the port, wrote a scathing letter of the condition of the port. None of it was true. For it to be included on the front page of the newspa- per I thought was very unfor- tunate.” The letter included refer- ences to poor sanitation from wildlife and visitors, as well as worries about fights on the docks. “We have a good workforce here,” Cable said. “They keep the lawns mowed, they keep the trash picked up. (References in the letter to) people skinny dipping and diapers made the port look, unfortunately, very poor. People who live here will understand that this is not true, but people who don’t live here read stuff like that and think, ‘Maybe we should just go on to another place where they care about their port.’” The article listed passages from the letter, which accused both the port and the Florence Police Department of essen- tially ignoring what the writer felt were safety issues. The article then quoted Florence Police Commander John Pitcher, who called the accusations unfounded. It went on to give the commis- sioner’s response as they took umbrage with the characteri- zation that the port had sanita- tion issues. Despite the feelings that the letter mischaracterized the port, the commissioners spoke at length about bolster- ing security through gates and listed the efforts taken by port staff to keep the area clean. “I’ve lived there for 10 years,” Port Commissioner Bill Meyer said. “I have always appreciated the port as a neighbor. I’m sure every- thing noted in that letter has occurred at least once, but to present it as if it’s a chronic ongoing problem is a dis- service. ... If people believe that letter is true, it low- ered the property value by millions of dollars in this area.” Florence City Councilor Ron Preisler, who was sitting in the audience, stated that the only way to refute comments like the ones presented would be to write a letter to the edi- tor to show what they believe is true. After Cable, public com- ment was given by Jeff Amenson, who addressed the commission with a plan to open up state roads to off-road vehicles. He mentioned a new Oregon law that allows com- munities to do this, and the town of Oakridge has already been seeing success. “They can come and camp at the port, and ride up to the dunes,” Amenson said. “The staging areas are so full right now. As the community becomes the staging area, it would allow more people to come to the area to recreate. This could be an awesome thing for the motels and the campground.” While the law doesn’t limit the type of off-road vehicles that are allowed on the roads, Amenson suggested that the city first allow side-by-side vehicles on the road first, with the possibility of quads being allowed in the future. Amenson said he is forming a group to solicit businesses about the idea and gain their support to bring the issue to the Florence City council. If the city decided to allow the vehicles on the road, Amenson said, ODOT and Oregon Parks and Recreation would come out to review safety and speed. Noise limitations could also be mandated by the city. “I know that during the win- ter, if the weather is decent, you cannot get into that stag- ing area,” Meyer said. “If you get there past 9:30 in the morning, you’re shut out. This would, during our slow sea- son, possibly be a benefit.” The commissioners said they would review the propos- al. Later in the meeting, the erosion repair project was dis- cussed. Interim Port Manager Dina McClure reported that the engineer on the project, Jack Aiken, was working on speed- ing up the permitting process, which can take months. “His focus is to have this project approved,” McClure said. “He is actually shooting for April for the two-week construction and he also plans on getting in touch with Business Oregon to get 100 percent funding for the proj- ect.” The project is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with 75 percent of the cost provided by the gov- ernment, and 25 percent fund- ed by the port. McClure stated that Aiken believed he could get the 25 percent match from Business Oregon. The commission then dis- cussed the formation of a pub- lic input committee. Over the past few months, the port has held input meetings where community members were able to make suggestions on improving the port. The pro- posed committee would take that input and help the port study the feasibility of the suggestions and work them into the port’s upcoming strategic plan. Meyer pointed out an issue with creating the committee right now, saying that the port is in flux with its port manag- er position. “I don’t know how advis- able it would be to build a plan without a manager,” Meyer said. “We may want to postpone in conducting the evaluation until we get anoth- er manager.” McClure will be leaving the port in March, and the port is still currently looking for her replacement. Duman agreed, stating the commission did not want to overburden a new manager with such a large project so soon into their new tenure. The commission affirmed that they still want to have a committee with members of the public, but decided to hold off on creating one until a new manager is hired. DENTURE SERVICES INC. Boys & Girls Club of Western Lane County LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED Open 4 days a week! 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 We are looking for volunteers to help with • Elementary tutoring, mentoring and program assistance • Teen Center tutoring, mentoring and program assistance • Club van and bus drivers 1601 15th St. • Florence, OR. 97439 541-902-0304 Florence Food Share Ask us about volunteer opportunities. 2190 Spruce Street • P.O.Box 2514 Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 997-9110 info@fl orencefoodshare.org Habitat for Humanity 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 Volunteer Get involved Donate Do your part and volunteer today to help support these local non-proft organizations in our community! Helping Hands Coalition Assisting those in need in our Community. Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri • 12:30 AM - 1:30 PM New Life Lutheran Church, 2100 Spruce St, next to Foodshare Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer Meals on Wheels and Cafe 60 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 Memory Care Respite of Florence HOLLOWAY & ASSOCATIONS, LLC CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Come join the team! Memory Care Respite of Florence is looking for new volunteers to spend time socializing, playing games, listening to music, and having coffee and lunch with our participating senior citizens. Our program depends on volunteer power to stay afl oat and time is running out! If you’re at all interested in socializing and relaxing with seniors while their loved one takes a break, please email us for more information. We need more volunteers like YOU to keep our program going. Contact us at memcarerespite@gmail.com Focused on Your Financial Health...Protecting Your Assets Peace Harbor Volunteers Specializing in Tax Strategies, Estate Planning and Trusts Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers, you will fi nd an area of interest in a caring organization. 400 9th Street, Florence 541-997-8412 ext. 2218 Corporate • LLC’s • Individual Tax Consulting & Preparation Bookkeeping and Accounting Services Us Too Florence Payroll Services Karla D. Holloway, CPA Rod McCulloch, CPA Eldercare & Senior Services Bill Paying, Reconcilling Bank Accounts, Income and Expenditures Summary, Domestic Payroll, Year end Tax Planning and Preparation Call NOW For Your Complimentary Consultation! D EADLINE www.ustoofl orence.org 541-997-3434 karla@fl orencecpas.com 733 Highway 101, Florence, Oregon 97439 Serving Florence for 39 Years! P RESS R ELEASES I S E VERY M ONDAY T HURSDAY BY N OON . E MAIL P RESS R ELEASES @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM . FOR Saving men one PSA test at a time. “Someone to talk to...who understands!” 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net AND To include your organization in this directory, please call us @ 541-997-3441
