City Still Moving
Despite concern over travelers coming to the coast, the city of Florence has been doing pretty well in operating over the past several months according to Mayor Joe Henry. Henry said that Florence seems to have good practices in place for the most part. There has been a constant influx of visitors over the past month and the pace does not seem to be slowing. He says best practices will help keep the community safe.
“But I actually believe we can enjoy our community and stay safe if we follow the guidelines.”
Mayor Henry was asked about the city’s responsibilities during the pandemic. He said the most important work the city does, is not try to enact new policies over and above what the direction of the state and local authorities provides, but to keep things moving.
“90% at least of the mission of the City of Florence is to provide essential services.”
He says despite the pandemic, the city has done a great job moving forward.
West Lane Fire and EMS Review
Thursday evening the boards of Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue and Western Lane Ambulance District will meet virtually to review the strategic initiatives, goals and objectives of the 2015 and 2016 SVFR and WLAD strategic plans respectively. the workshop will begin via Zoom conferencing at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Chamber Promotion
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has launched its latest promotion bringing back Sami the Sea Lion. Executive Director Bettina Hannigan says about 30 chamber businesses are participating in promotion. Shoppers will have until Labor Day to find Sami and get their passport stamped. Completed passports will be eligible for gift certificates. Winners will be drawn at random from completed passports. There is one prize of 100 dollars, two 50 dollar prizes and four 25 dollar prizes. Shoppers have until September 9th to turn in passports.
Revision Florence Update
The date for completion of the revision Florence project has been moved until later this month. According to project manager, Megan Messmer, the monuments that will adorn the entry to Old Town on Maple Street are still being completed.
“As they put them together they realized they wanted to adjust and add additional lighting to that wording on the monuments and then with covid of course some of those components are delayed.”
Messmer says they have not gotten an install date yet, but believe that word will come down soon and the project should be completed by the end of August.
COVID-19 tests statewide are getting close to the ½ million mark as numbers of positive cases continues to be steady. To date there are currently 19,366 confirmed or presumptive cases across the state and the virus has claimed two more lives as of yesterday. A 71 year old man from Marion County and a 50 year old man from Multnomah County are the latest to be added to the toll. Lane County has added 5 more cases and no new cases for the Florence area.
