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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2016)
New owners at Emerald Fitness, page 3A Hannah's back Dog Park update! — 7A Trial results — 3A Faith Page — 8A Return from injury means a return to form for Albrecht, page 1B $ PUUBHF ( SPWF 4 FOUJOFM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016 SOUTH LANE AND NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY'S MOST AWARD-WINNING NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1889 VOLUME 128 • NUMBER 44 Marijuana tax to appear on ballot D AY OF C ARING Cleanup, celebration mark Earth Day Council votes to refer issue to voters in November BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel C ottage Grove should get a chance to vote on a three-per- cent tax on recreational marijuana retail sales this No- vember, after the City Council approved a plan to place the tax before voters Monday night. Oregon House Bill 3400, Section 34a states that “the gov- erning body of a city or county may adopt an ordinance to be referred to the electors of the city or county…that imposes a tax or a fee on the sale of marijuana items that are sold in the area subject to the jurisdiction of the city,” a tax that cannot exceed three percent. On Monday, City Manager Richard Mey- ers said that several councilors had asked about such a tax on recreational marijuana, adding that the tax would have to be put on the November ballot. He said a host of Oregon communities including Veneta, Florence, Salem, Springfi eld and others were looking into placing a tax on November’s ballot. “Is this something you want to do?” he asked the Council, adding that if so, the Council should “instruct us to put together the materials so it can be placed on the ballot.” Councilor Jake Boone spoke fi rst and stated that, while he is no longer employed at local dispensary Apothecaria and is not fi nancially invested there, he still opposes the tax. “There is a tax on recreational marijuana as it is,” Boone said. “Ten percent of the state tax is set to go to the cities. I’m more than willing to wait and see how much that is.” Boone said he encountered a similar issue with an effort to place a restaurant tax before voters to fund swimming pool op- erations a few years back. “They couldn’t show me a nexus between why we should tar- get this industry,” he said. “An industry-targeted tax should be used to somehow offset issues that come from that industry. In this case, the money is ostensibly for increased law enforcement cost. But as the numbers show, there’s been a decrease because we don’t have so much illegal marijuana. You’ve got to have a reason to put an extra tax on somebody. Because it might be free money I don’t think is a good reason.” Councilor Jeff Gowing said that he is opposed to “pretty much all tax” but would be willing to let the voters decide on this one. Councilor Garland Burback added that he’s in favor “because the public can vote on it.” BY SAM WRIGHT The Cottage Grove Sentinel C ottage Grove’s Earth Day celebra- tion held out against the looming threat of rain on Saturday. Had the weath- er been less forgiving, the celebration would have been moved to the Cottage Grove Armory. But no such relocation was necessary, and Coiner Park hosted about 50 differ- ent booths that represented various envi- ronmental conservationist programs and ideals, along with local vendors and other demonstrations. Just down the road, the downtown clean up was taking place with around a dozen volunteers and their children collecting trash off of Main street. Local resident Britney Basting brought her three kids along to help clean up. Please see EARTH, Page 12A photo by Sam Wright Macey and Olivia Basting help their mom, Britney, pick up trash during downtown's Day of Caring cleanup. Zone change approved with second vote BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel The Cottage Grove City Council again voted 6-1 to approve a change in zoning for two properties on Lane Street near downtown Monday night, with the second affi rmative vote putting the zone change into effect. The Council had fi rst examined a request from applicants Eric Scully and Glen Taylor to rezone the two properties adjacent to the railroad tracks at 115 and 125 Lane Street from C-2 Central Business District to C2-P Community Commercial, a change that was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission in March. At its April 11 meeting, Councilor Garland Burback explained that his lone ‘no’ vote came about because of what he knew to be the intended use of the property, in this case the growing of marijuana. Burback again voted ‘no’ on Monday night. As part of the requirements of the new zoning, both applicants will be required to add parking on their properties. Please see TAX, Page 12A OSU extension, 4-H program makes appeal for votes BY GORDON OKUMU For the Sentinel O n Tuesday, April 19, at the Healing Matrix in Cottage Grove “Support Lane County 4-H and Extension” supporters asked for the support of the public for the May Ballot Measure #20-239, which aims to provide local funding for 4- H and OSU Extension Service programs. 4-H and among other exten- sion programs in Lane County have suffered greatly since the loss of local funding in 2010, but with a vote to reinstate pro- grams that had been curtailed or lost due to lack of government funding, the organizers believe that restoration is coming. John Punches, OSU Extension Services Regional Administra- tor, who was the main speaker during the event, explained in full the tax levy and the specifi c outcomes. In his presentation, Punches said that the proposal to Fund OSU Extension in Lane County had been agreed to by the Lane County Board of Commission- ers, which preferred a local op- tion tax measure on the May 17 ballot to provide specifi c sup- port for the Extension Program for fi ve years. Punches clarifi ed that the pro- posed tax rate of 1.5 cents per $1000 assessed value (about $3 per year for a typical prop- erty owner) would generate ap- proximately $400,000 annually, after adjusting for compression and tax collection rates. These funds would be used to enhance access to 4-H by reducing en- rollment fees and supporting the club’s in-school and after-school programs. It will also be used to stabilize support for Master Gardener, Master Food Pre- server and Food Pantry volun- teer programs. Further, Punches said the program should still leverage federal grant funds to strengthen nutrition education programs and provide opera- tional support for an Extension forester and allow development of a Master Woodland Manager volunteer program. Punches said the local option tax would not result in compres- sion to the permanent tax rates of cities or other taxing districts, and the Lane County Asses- sor has indicated its impact on other local option taxes would be minimal. Punches indicated that the extension program had so many benefi ts including but not lim- ited to: The 4-H Youth Development Program that provides young people with high-quality learn- ing experiences that promote positive interactions with adults and peers, sustained and ac- tive participation and meaning- ful contributions to the world around them. The Master Gardener™ and Community Horticulture Pro- grams that educate Oregonians about the art and science of growing and caring for plants, and facilitate comprehensive training of a dedicated volunteer corps. The Master Food Preserver Program, which trains volunteers to answer food safety and preser- vation questions from the public. Photo by Gordon Okumu John Punches, OSU Extension Services Regional Administrator, makes a public presentation during the 4-H and OSU extension program appeal for votes at the Healing Matrix in Cottage Grove on Tuesday, April 19. The Food Pantry Project, which trains volunteers to help citizens with limited-resources makes better use of available foods. The Nutrition Education Pro- gram (NEP,) which delivers fed- erally funded programs aimed at improving nutrition and reduc- ing obesity in low-income youth and families. The Small Farms Program, which serves commercial pro- ducers of niche agricultural products, beginning farmers and small-acreage landowners. The Livestock and Forages Program serves commercial producers of beef, sheep and meat goats. Commercial Horticulture, which runs in 2,660 farms in Lane County and encompasses 219,625 acres, with annual pro- duction value of $142 million. Forestry and Natural Re- sources Lane County is consis- tently one of the top two timber producing counties in Oregon. It has a large private industrial timberland base and numerous family forestlands. Oregon Sea Grant, which helps coastal Lane County ad- dress challenges through col- laborative research and educa- tion programs. OSU Open Campus, a com- munity-based education part- nership convened by Oregon State University to provide local access to learning in order to address the unique educational needs of Oregon communities. Rain Country Realty Inc. P G! N I D EN Price reduced, back on the market and pending again $130,000. Cute 2 bedroom on quiet street with garage, large fenced yard and shed. AC E! G A E R CONTACT US www.cgsentinel.com On the Internet (541) 942-3325 By telephone (541) 942-3328 By fax cgnews@cgsentinel.com By e-mail P.O. Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 By mail Corner of Sixth and Whiteaker, Cottage Grove In person Teresa Abbott ..................221-1735 Frank Brazell....................953-2407 Lane Hillendahl ................942-6838 29 usable acres. a very functional manufactured home. Zoned for multiple uses. WEATHER Broker Valerie Nash ....................521-1618 Licensed in the State of Oregon CONTENTS HIGH LOW 59 40 Poss. showers Principal Brokers Calendar....................................... 11B Channel Guide ............................... 4B Classified ads................................. 6B Obituaries....................................... 2A Opinion .......................................... 4A Public Safety .................................. 5A Sports ............................................ 1B 1 Dollar