City Council Back in Session
After a short recess in the second half of July the Florence city council will hold their first meeting in August on Monday evening. On the agenda will be the results of the bid process on the 1.1 million dollar light and runway maintenance at the Florence Municipal Airport. The council will review the results and then consider accepting a qualifying bid. The project is mainly funded by Federal Aviation Administration grant money and will require a commitment of about 10 to 12 thousand dollars from the city. Also on the docket is a request for a change of ownership for the Homegrown Pub liquor license. The city has to approve the recommendation to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission in order for the change to occur. The meeting will be at 5:30 pm Monday at the Florence Event Center.
Council Work Session
The Florence City Council will be having a work session on Wednesday, August 8th. the council will tour the Water treatment plant on Rhododendron and then visit the proposed Rhododendron Drive Beach Access Park at 650 Rhododendron Drive. They will also look at the potential need for amending more city codes to address transitional housing needs in Florence.
Merkley and Wyden Seek Federal Relief
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley yesterday asked the U.S. Agriculture Department to designate Sherman, Wasco and Jefferson counties as agricultural disaster areas in the wake of recent wildfires. The Oregon senators’ request came in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in support of the same request by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. In addition to yesterday’s letter, Wyden and Merkley also requested that some of the $12 billion promised American farmers in trade war relief also be available to Oregon farmers devastated by recent wildfires. And that emergency assistance also be provided to Oregon farmers whose crops have been decimated by this summer’s wildland fires.
Sidewalk Work Continues
Lane closures will be occurring over the next several days along highway 101 and highway 126 as ODOT crews make progress on the three crosswalks. Yesterday was the first day of lane reduction causing some slight traffic delays. Summer traffic season is at it’s peak this time of year and the extra vehicles on the road is already cause for more congestion. Drivers are complaining about the amount of time it takes to get onto highway 101 from side streets. The lane reductions will likely increase those times.