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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (March 24, 2021)
SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 | 5A WATER from page 1A “It’s more than just the water be- ing turned off. It’s also concern- ing when they don’t notify us when they’re going to be turning the water off and the fact when they do turn the water back on ... we were never notified that we were able to drink the water again.” According to the resident, a let- ter was not sent out to customers informing them that it was safe to drink, with most getting word through the newspaper and on social media. Calls to the MWD from Siu- slaw New seeking clarification on the water bills sent to customers, and unconfirmed reports that sitting board members have re- signed due to the latest situation, have gone unanswered and unre- turned. In addition, the resignation of Terry Saubert as MWD Board President has been posted on var- ious social media platforms but has not been officially verified, and calls to Saubert were not re- turned as of press time. One member of the WMD Board, Vice Chairperson Dustin Basurto, has been willing to speak with Siuslaw News, with Basurto explaining that he wants residents to know there will be an opportu- nity this week to speak at a special session of the MWD board. A Zoom meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday (time yet to be determined) to allow for the selection of new board members and for clarification of the path forward regarding the unclear hike in water bills. “A few members of the board have agreed to make themselves available Wednesday night for a Zoom meeting,” Basurto said. the infrastructure required Hyak has been selected to to provide reliable internet fulfill that goal in our area. Hyak was formed in 2017 nationwide program to ac- access to rural commu- celerate the construction of nities nationwide — and by the merger of Siuslaw INTERNET from page 1A It’s Our GARDEN PALOOZA Sale! GROW! Vege Pods ..........................................10% Off Smart Pots .........................................10% Off Sunshine Pro 4 ................................ $5.00 Off Espoma Organic Fertilizer................10% Off GARDEN DECOR Wind Spinners & Chimes Garden Trellis & Arbors Glass Art DAILY DRAWING Win a Rhododendron! SPRING SAVINGS Pansies & Violas ................................30% Off Herbs .................................................20% Off Spring Bulbs .......................................30%Off “All details and the statement, as I said, are still in the works and [Lane County Commissioner] Jay Bozievich has been in contact as well. He has been surprisingly helpful and succinct with advice and steps moving forward.” MWD’s remaining board members are holding the meet- ing to address the community’s concerns. Basurto also indicated a new board may be seated, including participation from a well-regard- ed Mapleton resident and long- time Salmon and Trout Enhance- ment Program (STEP) volunteer. Get Results...List With Brian. Brian Jagoe Principal Broker 541 999-1314 New Listing LCB#6718 88493 Hwy. 101 Florence Open 7 days Just 2 min. N. of Fred Meyer Spruce St #100 – In- town property with utilities at the street. Munsel Creek runs along the property. Check with the City of Florence and build your Coastal Getaway. $42,500. #3190- 21364581 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 • HVAC A/C & Heating Duct Cleaning • Zonal Heater Cleaning Cadet Wall Heaters • Dryer Vent Cleaning • Gutter Cleaning • Screen Installation • Moss Removal & Treatment • And more... YEARS Patios • Water Features • Fire Pits Outdoor Lighting • Irrigation Systems Home & Garden Décor Dan and Teresa Lofy, Owners And Watson 10% Senior Discount Every Tuesday 997-5973 www.LaurelBayGardens.com Find us on Facebook HOLLOWAY & ASSOCIATES, LLC Certifi ed Public Accountants 733 Highway 101, (across from Safeway) • Ph #541-997-3434 For the safety of our clients, staff & our community, we are not open to walk-in visitors. Call us to discuss alternative options. We can conference call or video chat with you about your tax situation. Call us at 541-997-3434! Karla D. Holloway CPA Andrea Dexter CPA Editor’s Note: The arsonist who set the Sweet Creek Fire, Elia New- ton Pendergrass, pled guilty to ar- son charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison along with three years of post-release supervision. Indian Creek, Swisshome, Brickerville and Sweet Creek Road. “These areas are gener- ally served by satellite only today or limited DSL that no longer meets the defini- tion of broadband,” Ecker said. Hyak CEO Robbie Wright believes the deci- sion to provide substantial funding for this effort is warranted now more than ever. “The RDOF program is a great solution for rural America and our commu- nity to create opportuni- ties for families who live in our outlying areas,” he said. “Access to quality inter- net has become even more important with distance Broadband and Full Spec- trum Computers and has become the area leader in providing expertise, instal- lation and maintenance for computer systems of all types. “This represents a sig- nificant investment in the outlying areas of Florence and Mapleton that we’re excited to make,” said Neil Ecker, COO of Hyak. “Fed- eral support of these high- cost areas means we’re now able to deliver our gigabit fiber internet to some of the most rural portions of western Lane County.” Hyak was awarded $1.6 million to serve areas of the Siuslaw region outside of Florence and Mapleton, such as North Fork Road, Award-winning Landscaping Service 32 “Jim Grano has stepped up from the community at large and I’ve asked him to form a com- mittee of our customers/owners to address this issue and provide an avenue for discussion’s moving forward,” Basurto said. Residents with questions or concerns can contact the MWD office at 541-268-4348. Thank you for your understanding, Holloway & Associates, CPAs. We are here for you. Rod McCulloch CPA learning and remote work as the current pandemic continues to shape how our rural communities can op- erate.” Wright said the com- pany wants to be a part of helping build a community where youth can choose to live and work — things not possible without address- ing the need for affordable housing and quality inter- net. The FCC has, among many other agencies, the responsibility for oversee- ing the nation’s airwaves and internet infrastructure. The commission has moved aggressively since the onset of the pandemic to improve rural opportunities to uti- lize resources which may only be available remotely. “Through a two-phase reverse auction mecha- nism, the FCC will direct up to $20.4 billion over 10 years to finance up to gigabit speed broadband networks in unserved rural areas, connecting millions more American homes and businesses to digital opportunity,” the FCC said in its announcement of the contract awards. “Without access to broadband, rural Americans cannot partici- pate in the digital economy or take advantage of the opportunities broadband brings for better education, healthcare and civic and so- cial engagement. In recent years, the commission has made tremendous strides toward increasing the avail- ability of broadband in rural America. But more work remains to be done, and the RDOF is a key part of the FCC’s continuing ef- forts.” The project timeline al- lows for a six-year window of completion, but Wright is hoping to have the work completed before that deadline. The initial stages of the project have begun with preparatory work being done in advance of Hyak beginning to install and construct the extensive sys- tem, which will be needed to run fiber optics and the sup- porting equipment need- ed to monitor the system. “We have quite a bit of work in front of us,” said Wright. “We’re looking at more than 80 miles of fi- ber to be deployed with re- quirements to be built out to 40 percent within three years, and 100 percent in six years. While we’d like to expedite those timelines, some of these areas are pretty remote with some challenging aspects of their build.” In addition, Hyak has opened its new office loca- tion at 1535 Ninth St. For more information, visit hyak.co. Visit us on Serving Florence for over 40 years the web Proud to be a Florence and Reedsport-Winchester Bay Chamber member. T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM Rick Yecny CPA S IUSLAW N EWS