The Umpqua Post
Weekly news from the Heart of the Dunes AN EDITION OF
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | Serving the Reedsport area since 1996 | theworldlink.com/reedsport | $1.00
Commissioner candidates tackle top county issues
By Gail Elber, The Umpqua Post
Reedsport Community Charter School shop instructor Guy Marchione, right, looks on as State Rep. Caddy McKeown, center, addresses an audience of about 20 at a town hall on workforce readiness at North Bend High School on Sept. 29. Also speaking were (from left) Diana Schab, dean of career technical education at Southwestern Oregon Community College; Ross Tomlin, vice president of instruction and student services at SWOCC; and Brad Avakian, commissioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.
RCCS shop program is model for state BY GAIL ELBER The Umpqua Post
Reedsport Community Charter School instructor Guy Marchione was the center of attention at a North Bend town hall hosted by State Rep. Caddy McKeown on Sept. 29. McKeown and Brad Avakian, commissioner of the state’s Bureau of Labor and Industries, were in North Bend to talk about the state’s current initiatives in support of workforce readiness — preparing workers for opportunities that are available to them locally. One of these initiatives is the Career Tech Revitalization Grant that is breathing new life into shop programs all over the state. For the 2013-15 biennium, the
Oregon Legislature appropriated $2.5 million to reinstate or broaden shop programs in the state’s middle and high schools. This winter, the program funded about half the grant applications it received, and Reedsport Community Charter School was one of the recipients. The $250,000 grant Marchione obtained has modernized the shop’s equipment and created a junior apprenticeship program at the school. The program gives students points toward entry to an adult apprenticeship program, Marchione said. They can also earn credit toward college programs such as Clatsop Community College’s marine engineering program. Students can take workplaceoriented math and English class-
es to ensure that they fulfill graduation requirements. If kids fall behind, a paid student tutor funded by the grant helps them catch up. Marchione has partnered with local businesses and labor unions to offer his students hands-on experience in areas such as marine welding, a highpaying field. He said his partners welcome the opportunity to fill their employment pipeline with skilled workers. “One of my partners here gave up a $500,000 job because he didn’t have the skilled workers,” Marchione told the audience of about 20 people at North Bend High School’s Hall of Champions.
SEE PROGRAM, PAGE A6
State Land Board to meet in Coos Bay COOS BAY — The State Land Board will come to Coos Bay this week to talk about alternatives for managing the Elliott State Forest. The board will meet in special session 3-6 p.m. Oct. 8, at the Hales Performing Arts Center on the Southwestern Oregon Community College Coos Bay campus. The public will be able to comment on ownership and management of the forest. The board directed the Department of State Lands to develop a range of ownership and management scenarios for the forest. DSL has worked on this report since June. The land board won't make any decision at the Oct. 8 meeting; a final report will be presented to the board at its regular meeting Dec. 9 in Salem. In recent years, revenues from the Elliott State Forest, a land asset of the Common School Fund, have been significantly curtailed because of Endangered Species Act litigation. As a result, the forest in fiscal year 2013 cost the Common School Fund about $3 million instead of generating revenue for the fund. Comments may be presented to the board at the
Coos Bay meeting orally or in writing. All speakers will need to sign in when they arrive. Written comments must have author information included. A maximum of three minutes will be given to each speaker. It is possible that a shorter time will be allotted in order to accommodate more speakers. People are encouraged to bring written copies of their comments in case time constraints prevent everyone from speaking. All oral and written comments will be made part of the official record. Those who are unable to attend the Oct. 8 meeting may submit written comments to elliottproject@state.or.us or the Oregon Department of State Lands Elliott State Forest Project, 775 Summer St. NE, Suite 100, Salem, OR 97301-1279. The deadline to receive public comments is Oct. 10. Additional information about the Elliott State Forest Alternatives Project is on the DSL website. The State Land Board consists of Gov. John Kitzhaber, Secretary of State Kate Brown and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler.
Council votes on possible marijuana tax The Reedsport City Council, Monday, decided to join with other cities in the state in enacting a tax on marijuana, should Measure 91 pass on November 4. That measure will legalize the recreational use of marijuana. The state already allows medical marijuana. The council enacted a five percent tax on medicinal marijuana and 10 percent tax on recreational pot. Other Oregon cities, including Coquille, Ashland, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Springfield, Oregon City and Troutdale have also approved similar taxes. Medford has proposed taxes of six percent and 18 percent. Fairview, in Multnomah County, has enacted 15 and 40 percent taxes.
Some councilors questioned whether the city could amend the rates. “Let’s say, tonight, we do a five percent/10 percent tax on this stuff,” Councilor Frank Barth said. “Is that set in stone or can we regulate that at a later date?” “I think that we could, certainly, choose at a later date to raise or lower it,” Mayor Keith Tymchuk said. “However it would still have to go to the voters.” Reedsport’s Measure 10-119 requires a public vote whenever council wants to consider raising fees or taxes. City Manager Jonathan Wright said, like other cities, the council’s decision is just a place keeper vote in
case Measure 91 passes. The city is already under a moratorium on marijuana dispensaries until May of next year. Councilor Kathi Wall-Meyer said she was very concerned about taxing medical marijuana. “The way I look at is we’re not taxing prescription medications,” she said. “And that’s the same prescription, written by the same doctor that’s going to write the medical marijuana (prescription).” She was concerned that making the tax too high would just promote the black market on pot. “If we’re going to tax it,” she said, “I think that we should leave the medical part alone.”
SEE TAX, PAGE A6
The Umpqua Post sent out a questionnaire to the six candidates for Douglas County Commissioner. An election is being held to fill the unexpired term of Doug Robertson, who resigned earlier this year after 33 years on the commission. Candidates were asked three questions. Their answers appear in the order they were received at The Umpqua Post. Their answers were edited for spelling and punctuation errors.
Mark Garcia 1. How should commissioners a p p r o ac h t h e n e x t t w o b u d g e t y e ar s ? Sh ou l d t h e y c u t ? Sh o u l d they selectively trim? The county’s budget is currently running in the red and has for many years. We have been relying upon our reserves and safety-net funding to balance our budget, but our reserves cannot continue to be used on indefinite basis, and the safety net funding cannot be relied on, as it is currently being approved by Congress on an annual basis. So we have to reduce our expenses or increase our revenue. Long term, I have a plan to increase our revenue. I’ve developed a 15 page Economic Development Strategic Plan which will recruit mid-sized businesses to the county, thereby increasing our employment base and our county's tax base. Short term though, we need to reduce our expenses. We can best do that by being smart about the cuts and/or trimming that we make to county services. In January, when two new county commissioners take their seats, what we'll need to do is hold some public task force meetings to both brain storm and make decisions on how best to balance the budget. I have already proposed that we privatize our waste and landfill system out to our existing franchises. This has the potential of removing three to four million in expenses from the budget, and potentially, even generating some revenue. We'll need to continue finding innovative solutions to some of the other services which the county provides. Which likely means that we will have to partner with federal, state and nonprofits to shift existing county services over to thier agencies and/or organizations. The most important point to bear in mind is this: We need to make sure that these deliberations are conducted in public meetings, with public input, and sound planning and decisions are made before the situation reaches a crisis point. 2. What are the main issues you see facing Reedsport, Winchester Bay and Gardiner? How can commissioners help? The primary issue facing Reedsport, Winchester Bay and Gardiner is the same issue facing the rest of Douglas County; We do not currently have an Economic Development Plan in place at the county level, and this oversight negatively impacts every other issue which we face, either locally or at the county level. We must become empowered by the resources which come with familywage employers in order to effectively tackle the many other issues which are of concern to us. Last week, while I was visiting an Economic Development committee in Oakland, it was brought to my attention that my plan, Six Percent or Bust, does not address some of the economic issues that are of concern to them in Oakland. Since my visit, it has been suggested that the Sutherlin and Oakland areas will probably develop their own separate plan — customized to
For news tips, subscriptions, classified advertising or display advertising, call 541-271-7474 or email umpquapost@theworldlink.com
LEADING the way in REAL ESTATE MARKETING and SALES on the beautiful OREGON COAST!
FOR THE BEST CALL 271-WEST 541-271-9378 or toll free 1-800-923-1031
1780 Winchester Ave., Reedsport
Marlene Smith Broker/Owner
Linda Courtney Broker/Owner
Norm Lacey Principal Broker
www.pacificwestrealty.net
Jeff Admire
Chris Boice
Mark Garcia
Gary Leif
their own needs, and will be in addition to the county plan which I have developed, and intend for the county to adopt. What I would Dale Rogers like to see as a candidate is an invitation to speak to a similar effort within the Reedsport, Winchester Bay and Gardiner areas. And if elected as a county commissioner, I would push to support that effort with funding, just as the county does with the Roseburg-centric partnership. 3. Should commissioners (comm is s i on m e e t in g s ) g e t o u t o f Roseburg to connect with other communities in the county? Yes. First off I would like to say that I have already proposed turning the cameras back on during the commissioner's meetings, and also broadcasting the meetings live over Youtube, or a similar service. Perhaps we should also take a look at the possibility of a call-in during the audience participation portion of the meetings. Much like our counts do with citizens living out of the area. Furthermore, at the very least, I would be in favor of holding quarterly town hall meetings with remote communities, including the coast.
Dale Rogers 1. How should commissioners a p p r oa c h t h e n e x t t w o b u d g e t y e a r s? Sh o u l d t h e y c u t ? S h o u l d they selectively trim? We should trim and cut waste anywhere possible. I don't see any way to balance our budget using current county funds without major cuts over the next two years, as we can't continue spending more than we bring in or it will greatly effect our economy. The residents of Douglas County will have to decide what are essential/nonessential services, as it's their money? We do have to continue providing adequate public safety, fire/police, veterans services, building/planning, assessment and other basic services. It will require major public input and many meetings with Department Heads to decide. I will personally speak to residents and ask for their input, as they know where they need help the most. 2. What are the main issues you
SEE CANDIDATES, PAGE A4