Turns down proposal to require updated equipment
The Florence City Council approved a recommendation by staff Monday night to change the way business license fees for garbage haulers are calculated. The two companies… Central Coast Disposal and County Transfer and Recycling… combined to pay just over $9,400 to the city in fees this year. Next year, the fee will be 3-percent of their gross sales inside city limits.
That’s estimated to be in excess of $50-thousand.
Despite the five-fold increase in fees, individual customers will see only a one-percent rate hike… in many cases amounting to only 25 or 30 cents per month.
One other component of the garbage rules was turned down by the council. The proposal had included a provision requiring the companies to operate trucks with engines less than 12 years old and with fewer than 300-thousand miles. Instead, according to Mayor Joe Henry, the council opted to include language requiring them to keep the vehicles well maintained and in good operating condition.
The new rates take effect July 1st.
Tahkenitch Landing
One of the oldest known inhabited sites on the Central Oregon Coast is just a few miles south of Florence. Tahkenitch Landing has produced archeological finds dating back 8-thousand years.
One reason the location has provided such intriguing insights into the early period coastal occupation has been because it is protected against the erosional nature of the Pacific Ocean. Oregon State University Graduate student Molly Kirkpatrick and her colleagues are using minimally invasive technologies to investigate the prehistoric occupation at the site and surrounding areas.
Kirkpatrick will share her findings during the final Winter Discovery Series presentation Saturday afternoon at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center.
That series normally runs between November and March. The final presentation will be this Saturday, two p.m., at the center, three miles south of Yachats.
Saturday is Marine Science Day
Oregon State’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport will throw open its doors Saturday for the annual “Marine Science Day”. Visitors will be able to get “behind the scenes” in labs; connect with scientists; and learn more about oceanographic technologies and current marine research.
The free event, from ten to four Saturday, will also feature several “hands on” exhibits.
Some of the technologies and scientific studies that will be on display include recently deployed underwater robots, whale research, and the newly developed variety of seaweed that, when cooked, tastes like bacon.
The Hatfield Marine Science Center hosts the program every spring. It includes a 2:30 PM presentation by oceanographers who will present a talk on the past, present and future technologies of ocean observing.
The center is near the Oregon Coast Aquarium, east of Highway 101 just south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge.
Lowest springtime gas in seven years
Despite a sharp increase in retail gas prices since early March, drivers in Oregon… and in Florence… are paying far less for fuel this month than they have in April over the past several years.
The local average cash price for a gallon of regular remains just below the two dollar mark… $1.99.
The statewide average price as measured by Triple-A went up a penny to $2.18 while the national average price edged up by the same amount. It’s still lower than the Oregon average at $2.05 a gallon.
Prices this week are about 65-cents per gallon on average less than last year at this time… and $1.65 less than two years ago.
April prices have not been at the current level since 2009.
Sheriff’s office reporting another scam
Callers identifying themselves as Lane County Sheriff’s deputies are once again telling people they have outstanding warrants for their arrest… and demanding money to clear them.
That’s not how law enforcement officers operate.
Sgt. Carrie Carver with the Sheriff’s Office says the calls are a scam and community members should hang up immediately.
Some clear tipoffs… callers who are unprofessional, pushy, use scare tactics… like threatening arrest if payment is not made immediately.
Carver says callers asking for payment through wire transfer, cash cards like “Green Dot”, or other non-trackable methods are clear signs of a scam.
She adds that if you are concerned the caller may be legitimate, hang up, but then call the particular agency back at their published phone number to verify.
Potential fraud calls should be reported to the Oregon Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at 877-877-9392.
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