10A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JANUARY 25, 2017
Special needs foster care asks city for help
PALLE
TIZED
DRY
FIREW
OO
IN STO D
CK!
City Council tables discussion on possible loading zone for bus pick-up, drop-off
Bobby Krasneski is quiet.
While the Cottage Grove Cham-
ber of Commerce discussed his
request for a loading zone in
front of his home, councilors
weighed in, fi red-off questions
and city staff presented fi ndings
to the board. Krasneski, how-
ever, sat in the back of council
chambers, arms folded over his
neatly buttoned fl annel and his
face fl ushed slightly red each
time an offi cial mentioned his
name in discussion. It wasn't
until several questions arose
that only Krasneski could an-
swer, did a request from a board
member inquire as to his pres-
ence. Reluctantly, he stood and
walked the few feet to the po-
dium to offer that, yes he would
like a loading zone.
Krasneki, 25, operates a spe-
cial needs foster home out of
his house and currently has
three special needs children that
ride a South Lane School bus
school. One child uses a wheel-
chair occasionally and the dead-
end street the family lives on is,
according to Krasneski, becom-
ing an issue.
Currently, the school bus can-
not pull up to the curb in front of
the foster home because cars are
routinely parked there. A load-
ing zone, the family said, would
solve that problem and prevent
the bus from having to block off
a portion of 4th St. to load the
children safely. The city council
however, had questions on the
"overwhelming need."
"I feel for you," councilor
Mike Fleck told Krasneski.
However, the councilor went on
to note that if the council grant-
ed him a loading zone, it may
open the door to other residents
coming forth to ask the board to
do the same, leading to limited
parking within the city.
Several members of the board
noted their desire to speak to a
South Lane School District bus
driver after Krasneski said he
was told the drivers can refuse
to load the children.
Retired driver Karen Munsell
tepped forward, citing the urge
to speak up for the applicant.
"South Lane School District
can tell him to bring the kids
across the street," she said; a
claim echoed by city engineer
Ron Bradsby.
"It gets political and it gets
messy and it gets mixed-up,"
Munsell said of discussions
with the school over bus pick-
up. "It comes down to this quiet
man trying to helo children he
didn't bring into this world," she
said.
Councilor Burback and May-
or gowing both wanted to hear
from the school district before
taking further action with coun-
cilor Boone noting that illustra-
tions submitted with the appli-
cation did not paint a dangerous
picture for him.
"If there are cars there, the
parked cars act as a wall, pre-
venting other cars from driving
through. I just don't see a kid
getting hit by a car in this situa-
tion," he said.
Krasneski said the more dire
issue with the current situation
was that it was diffi cult to cross
the street with three special
needs children and a wheelchair
when there was no sidewalk on
the opposite side of the street.
Without the parked cars on his
side of the street, he said, the
bus could pull up to his drive-
way; a solution the bus driver
on his route recommended to
him.
The board tabled the issue un-
til its next meeting on Wednes-
day, February 1.
School Continued from A1
ing of Measure 20-240, which granted a $35.6 million bond to
replace the current elementary school which was considered to be
aging.
The new school will be located by the Warren H. Daugherty
Aquatic Center, which is also schedules for renovations. Voters
heavily supported the measure which passed on May 18, 2016.
The design of the school is to encompass elements of the region.
Covered Bridges will have a strong motif within the design even if
the name wasn’t selected, and more tributes to things such as the
lumber industry will be included.
The school will begin construction in March of 2017 and should
be ready for the start of the school year in September of 2018.
Family owned and operated for over 47 years.
LANDSCAPE AND
BUILDING MATERIALS
Open 7 days a week!
79149 N. River Road
541-942-4664
Grab a BITE of
Cottage Grove
Resident Bobby Krasneski is requesting a loading zone
from the city for his special needs foster care home.
Homeless Continued from A1
or camping grounds. Children in emergency and transitional
housing or awaiting foster parents are also counted. If a child's pri-
mary nighttime residence that is not designed for ordinary use as a
sleeping facility, they are also counted as homeless.
Community Sharing has a handful of programs to assist with
housing but the overall housing market in Cottage Grove has slim
options.
The organization’s Home Tenant Based Assistance, or HTBA,
Program works with individuals on a short-term basis. Community
Sharing’s Mary Ellen Gonzalez said the program has never seen a
decrease in interested parties; only an increase.
To qualify for the program, applicants have to meet certain
requirements including income. The housing list opens the fi rst
working day of the month and according to Gonzalez, the organi-
zation does its best to make it through the list and help the people
it can. Individuals selected for the program are given a year with
the expectation that they create certain goals towards self-suffi -
ciency. There are quarterly inspections and while the stay can be
extended, it is never beyond two years.
“I wish I had the magic answer,” Gonzalez said. “But we can give
people hope and when they have a good self-suffi ciency plan, I
have seen success.”
State Senator coming to town
The Blackberry Pie Society
will be hosting Senator Prozans-
ki in Cottage Grove. The fol-
lowing is an offering from the
senator on the event:
Thank you to everyone who
attended Rep Paul Holvey's
and my town hall in Veneta last
night! We enjoyed a thoughtful
discussion about how Oregon
can move forward.
As the second in a series of
town halls that I'm holding in
Senate District 4 this month,
please join state Representative
Cedric Hayden and me next
Thursday, January 26, at 6:30
p.m. for a town hall meeting
in Cottage Grove. As the 2017
Legislative Session approaches,
our state faces urgent budgetary
challenges. We will discuss Or-
egon's anticipated shortfall of
$1.7 billion for the 2017-19 bi-
ennium, the need for a statewide
transportation package, and oth-
er issues that may come before
the Legislature this session.
Thank you to the Blackber-
ry Pie Society for hosting this
event!
R
estaurant
Senator Town Hall
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What: Joint Town Hall with Sen
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When: Thursday, January 26,
6:30 p.m.
Daily Speicals
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Tuesday Night is Senior Night 4-8 pm.
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Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
6am-10pm Sun-Th ur
6am-10pm Fri & Sat.
Where: Cottage Grove Commu-
nity Center, Reception Room
1590 Gateway Blvd. • Cottage Grove
541-942-7144
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Cottage Village Coalition holds monthly Q & A session for the public
The Cottage Village Coalition, a group of local citizens attempting to create an affordable home
village made up of tiny houses, holds its monthly public meeting on Thursday, February 2, at 6 pm.
The meeting takes place at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 South Adams in Cottage Grove. CVC
members will answer questions and review the current project status with the public. All are invited.
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