City Council considers increasing business license fees
Business license fees for waste haulers in Florence will likely go up by 500-percent under a proposal being considered next month by the City Council. That increase, though, will only result in a one-percent rate hike for residential and commercial customers… that’s about 25-cents per month for most residents.
The city’s Environmental Management Advisory Committee recently completed a review of the city’s rate structure. It showed that the current business license fees for waste haulers do not reflect the actual costs incurred by the city. Most of those costs, according to the report, come from wear and tear on city streets by the trucks of County Transfer and Recycling and Central Coast Disposal.
Under the new proposal, the fee would be 3-percent of the companies’ revenue which would increase it from about $9,400 this year to more than $50-thousand. Companies are also looking at possible higher costs for equipment. The new rules also require the engines in all “front-line” garbage trucks to be no more than 12-years old.
A public hearing on the new rates and fees will be April 4th at City Hall. If approved, they would go into effect July 1st.
Local Emergency Nurse Earns National Recognition
A Florence man will be recognized as one of ten outstanding young leaders from across the country when the Catholic Health Association meets in June. William “Chip” Scott was nominated by his boss in the Peace Harbor Medical Center Emergency Department. Jan Finley said he is a “natural leader” and an outstanding health care professional.
Jan Finley – “Chip is an excellent nurse. He is a rising leader, he runs the ED Council and the House Council for the hospital and he’s involved in a lot of projects in town with the backpack program, helping the homeless. He himself has even bought tents, he’s raised money to help people that are on the street.”
Finley said Scott has an “ability to remain calm and focused during an emergency” and has a passion for providing care not only to his patients, but to the community at large.
The Catholic Health Association is made up of members of faith-based health care providers from across the county. They meet in Orlando, Florida.
Bridge railings to be repurposed
The ongoing restoration of the Siuslaw River Bridge includes removing the old railings and replacing them with new reinforced concrete replicas that meet modern safety standards.
So far, just under half of the railing has been removed and the rest is expected to be replaced over the next 18 months.
But… where is it going? The City of Florence is taking almost 800 lineal feet of the railing according to spokesperson Megan Messmer (MEZZ-murr).
Megan Messmer – “We have a couple plans in the works for where we want to utilize that railing. One of them is in Old Town Park, or Gazebo Park as most people call it, to replace some of the rotten timbers that are in there, dress up some of the planter beds, replace some old fencing.”
The rest will be salvaged by BRING Recycling, the Eugene based non-profit organization.
Each piece is 24-feet long and weighs between eight-and-ten-thousand pounds. That means you’ll need more than just a pickup and a couple of buddies to haul them. Messmer says if you’re interested in any of it, you can check directly with BRING Recycling.
Sentencing next week for resisting arrest
A 40-year old man will be sentenced next week in Douglas County following his conviction Wednesday on nearly a dozen charges stemming from his resisting arrest last fall.
Two law enforcement officers were attempting to take Robert Lee Stoddard into custody at Tahkenitch Trailhead North of Gardiner September 12th. Stoddard had been sleeping in a 2003 Jeep that had been reported stolen out of Oklahoma.
As he was being handcuffed and assisted out of the vehicle, he struck a Reedsport Police Officer in the throat. He then swung his arm, with the cuffs attached at one end, and struck Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Sam Lillie in the mouth, breaking two teeth.
Stoddard then attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly subdued with a Taser.
He was convicted on six assault charges, resisting arrest, possession and use of a stolen vehicle, escape and unlawful possession of a firearm. He will be sentenced in Douglas County next week.
Easter Weekend
There is a lot going on this Easter weekend in the Florence area… of course tomorrow morning at Miller Park is the annual Community Easter Egg Hunt… that’s at ten o’clock sharp. Don’t be late.
Also at ten tomorrow morning… the annual Spring Beach Cleanup organized by SOLVE. Volunteers will meet at beaches up and down the coast to pick up trash and debris that has accumulated since last fall. A special emphasis this year, according to spokesperson Kayleen Boyle, will be plastic… especially “microplastics”. Volunteers are urged to dress appropriately and be prepared for changing weather. Bring your own gloves, but bags will be provided at several locations.
Studded tire deadline nearing
Drivers with studded tires on their cars are being reminded by the Oregon Department of Transportation that they have until next Thursday to remove them.
Studded Tire season in Oregon and Washington ends March 31st and officials say it will definitely not be extended this year.
Luci Moore with ODOT urges motorists to not wait until the last minute to remove studded tires, especially if you’re not driving in or near mountain passes.
She said a study completed in 2014 showed that studded tires cause about $8.5-million in damage to state highways.
If you have studded tires on after March 31st, you can be cited with a “class C” traffic violation.