Proceeds would fund new high school and other projects
A nearly $37-million capital levy request will be on the ballot May 17th for local voters to decide. If approved, construction on a new high school would likely begin about 13-months later, and property owners would see the tax bill on a $200-thousand home go up by about $100 a year.
The district would also get $4-million from the State of Oregon to put towards the construction.
Superintendent Ethel Angal said last night, immediately prior to a vote by the school board to go forward with the project, that this was the “culmination of a process that began months ago”.
She also said a building assessment of the high school late last year showed that the building, completed in 1970, has a “high probability of collapse” with just a moderate earthquake. That assessment also showed that the electrical and plumbing systems at the school are “maxed out” and that the costs of remodeling would be nearly the same as building new.
Angal said two “listening sessions” to hear from district residents about the matter are planned for next week at Siuslaw Public Library. The first will be one week from tonight at six pm; the second on Friday, March 4th at 11:30.
A glimpse of the future
About 100 people turned out Tuesday night at the Florence Events Center to get a sneak preview of possible improvements to the Highway 101 corridor between the Bridge and 126. The Oregon Department of Transportation has a major resurfacing project planned for that stretch beginning next year and the thought is to install what designers call “streetscape”: sidewalks, landscaping and other features; that would encourage private development and promote economic growth.
On one side of the room were aerial photos of four specific areas within the Florence Urban Renewal District that would be targeted and encouraged to redevelop.
On the other side was a ten-foot long drawing of the proposed streetscape extending from the bridge to the eastern city limits on Highway 126.
The forum was presented by Leland Consulting Group in conjunction with the Florence Urban Renewal Agency.
Gas prices may be bottoming out
Retail prices at the gas pump are hovering at prices not seen since the Great Recession because of abundant supplies and low crude oil costs. The average national price for a gallon of regular gasoline according to Triple-A increased a penny this past week; it’s at $1.71. Meanwhile the statewide average in Oregon went down a penny and is at $1.90.
Locally… the average cash price for a gallon of gas went up a nickel this week and is at $1.67.
Marie Dodds with Triple-A says she expects gas prices to move higher in the coming weeks as refineries shut down for regular maintenance and they shift to higher cost summer-blend fuels. Increase demand as more people head out on the highway will also help to drive up costs.
Land a lunker at area lakes
Approximately 25-thousand rainbow trout have been planted in 15 area lakes this month. Another 35-thousand will be stocked in March.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife traditionally plants lakes with hatchery trout every spring. The intention is to bolster local trout populations; and in some cases create new populations in order to give more anglers a chance to catch fish.
About 80 percent of the fish are legal size… at least 8-inches long. But more than one-thousand of the fish planted this month in the area are considered to be “trophy” sized… at least 16 inches long.
The “planters” go into mostly medium size bodies of water like Cleawox, Carter and Munsel lakes. But many smaller lakes like Siltcoos Lagoon, Alder and Dune Lakes and Buck Lake also get fish.
90 by 30 to assess local support for families
An effort to help reduce child abuse and neglect in Lane County by 90-percent over the next 14 years is continuing.
The 90-by-30 project is holding a “community asset mapping forum” next week at Siuslaw Public Library.
Coordinator Rose Wilde (WILL-dee) says that means they are trying to understand how families find support. That may come through schools and non-profit agencies; but also from community events; faith-based initiatives; and business supports.
By identifying and listing existing family support systems, Wilde says they can then build on the strengths of the community.
The forum is next Wednesday from four to six pm at Siuslaw Public Library.