31 January 2013
Interviews coming for superintendent hopefuls:
The Siuslaw School Board held a private Executive Session last night to screen the 14 applicants for superintendent. The first round of interviews will be scheduled for some time next week in Florence. A second round, if necessary, will come later. School Board Chair Paul Burns said they’ve set a goal of February 28th to find a replacement for Jeff Davis who will be retiring at the end of this school year.
In other business last night, the board spent time discussing the possibility of asking voters for a Local Option Tax Levy to help fund operations. The current 5-year levy approved by voters in 2008 expires next year. Burns said they have the option of simply asking for an extension of the current 75-cents-per-thousand levy or seeking a different amount.
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Jail Tax Levy Ballot to be Prepared
Lane County Commissioners will conduct another hearing next Tuesday… this one on a specific ballot title that would be referred to voters seeking a special tax levy to support jail operations. West Lane Commissioner Jay Bozievich said the board voted 5-nothing to make the move, calling the unanimous decision “great”. He also pointed out that the purported 50.5% approval rating from a recent survey of 600 Lane County Voters was being portrayed incorrectly. He said that number was referred to by the polling consultant as the “go or no-go” point in deciding whether or not to seek voter approval. Bozievich said the actual approval rating was higher… and went up another six-points if the money is put into a dedicated fund with an annual audit report from the Sheriff. If the next step is approved by the commission, voters should see the request on the May 21st ballot.
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Budget Committee Openings
Officials are seeking volunteers to fill a pair of openings on the City of Florence Budget Committee. The panel is comprised of the full Council, including the Mayor, plus five other members. All must be residents of the city. The application process is simple says City Recorder Kelli Weese. Blank forms are available at city hall… or they can be downloaded from the city’s website. Weese said the deadline to apply is March 8th.
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Interim Forest Supervisor
The District Ranger for the Hebo Ranger District on the northern Oregon Coast will fill in as interim supervisor of the Siuslaw National Forest. The current supervisor, Jerry Ingersoll, is on a temporary assignment until May. George Buckingham will fill the role for the 630-thousand acre national forest until Ingersoll’s return.
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