Florence City Manager Moving On…
He had already announced he would be leaving sometime in the next year. Florence City Manager Bob Willoughby moved that up a little this week when he said we will be leaving December 31st to take the job as Silverton City Manager.
Bob Willoughby– “December 8th I will have been here five years, it’s been the highlight of my professional career. And this is by far the best group of elected officials and the best staff that I’ve ever worked with and it’s in a community that really steps up and does what it needs to do in every instance that I can recall.”
Florence has had five city managers over the past 25 years and Willoughby will be the first of those to leave on his own terms since Craig McMicken retired in 1990. With the City Council’s concurrence earlier this fall Willoughby laid out a succession plan calling for the elevation of Assistant City Manager Jacque Betz to the top position. They’ll discuss the matter during their December 5th council meeting.
Annexation Policy Hearing Extended
A final resolution to the matter of Lane County signing off on amendments to Florence’s Comprehensive plan will have to wait until after the first of the year. The Board of County Commissioners conducted a hearing yesterday afternoon on a proposal that would make it easier for owners of undeveloped land in the Urban Growth Boundary to ask for annexation. Opponents of annexation in the U-G-B say they’re concerned about Florence forcing other property owners to annex against their will. Dan Stotter is an attorney who represents more than 100 residents in the Heceta Beach and Rhododendron Drive area. He suggested changes to the new rules. The Board agreed to delay a final decision. They’ve scheduled another hearing on the matter January 31s in Florence.
Florence Gas Prices Above State Average
For the first time in at least four years the statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded is lower than the average posted prices in Florence. Triple-A reports Oregon’s average fell by seven cents this past week to $3.64. The average in Florence held steady at $3.69. Marie Dodds with Triple-A says retail gas prices are falling in time for the heavily travelled Thanksgiving weekend but are still at record levels for the time of year. The national average price felly by 7 cents in the past week as well… it’s at $3.34 a gallon.
Community Dinner Set
The Florence Kiwanis Club will be hosting their second annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow afternoon. The dinner was started many years ago by members of the Presbyterian Church of the Siuslaw who asked the Kiwanis to take it over last year. With the assistance of the Florence Elks Lodge a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings will be served from noon until 2:30 at the lodge on 12th Street. Organizers say the objective is to give as many people as possible a place to come and enjoy company while sharing the holiday meal. River Cities Taxi will be providing free transportation within Florence to and from the Elks Lodge during the dinner. It’s free and open to all… last year they served more than 400 dinners.
Taking a look at Coast Radio Sports…
The Oregon Ducks are on the road tonight for non-conference basketball against unbeaten Nebraska in Lincoln. Airtime on KCST is set for 5:30 with the opening tip at six.
The unbeaten Siuslaw Vikings will be on the turf in Cottage Grove Saturday morning against the Central Panthers in one semi-final game of the OSAA 4A Football playoffs. Kickoff is set for 11 AM… no advance tickets are available… gates open at ten AM. Coast Radio Sports will air the game with a special extended pre-game show beginning at 10:30.
