Group Wants to See Showers Reopened
A group calling themselves “A Place to Belong” has offered its services to the port of Siuslaw with the hopes of having their showers reopened to the public. The port had closed it showers to the general public after several instances of vandalism caused significant damage. Phil Bellner of the group says they would like to see the facilities opened at least once a week and they would be willing to monitor and take care of the facilities in order for people to get a fresh shower.
“We wanna(sic) see if there is something we can do to help to reopen that to some degree so that people that need showers that are responsible can have showers.”
According to Bellner there are a lot of people who could benefit from the showers reopening and he would like to see the good people benefit instead of getting punished by the few who would destroy the facilities. The port agreed to put it on their agenda for the next meeting to discuss and perhaps come up with some answers for the group.
Firefighters Return
A team of firefighters that were sent to California to help out with the fires in the south have returned. Kyle Orosco was with the team that helped to preserve homes and other structures in the path of the fire.
“It was quite a life experience, very devastating, very large fire, largest in California state history as far as I know.”
Orosco said it was quite a feat to see how Cal Fire was able to organize thousands of firefighters into a very productive team and was also amazed that the people who were devastated the most by the fire, were some of the most generous and kind individuals.
Road Improvements Continue on 101
The sewer improvement project along highway 101 is moving along with construction happening in the overnight hours along the stretch between Rhododendron and ninth street. Public Works Director Mike Miller says businesses will soon be connected to the new system. That portion of the project is expected to take place during the remainder of this week. In addition the city will be installing a new 12 inch water line along the same section of roadway. This project was scheduled ahead of the Revision Florence project that is slated to begin this summer. Miller was also happy to report that the new public works building has been completed and the use of green technology has been incorporated throughout the new facility including the use of LED lighting, skylights, solar panels and a green roof.
City Agrees to Take on Campground
The city of Florence and Lane County have entered into an intergovernmental agreement to provide sewer services to Harbor Vista Campground. This will allow the city to install an new gravity fed sewer system to the park and adding some existing homes in the area to city sewer. The county will help foot the bill by providing $200,000 in cash and deeding the 40.15 acre Ocean Woods to the city. That property is valued at $240,000. Annexation of the Harbor Vista campground into the city will take up to 90 days to complete.