Police Training; Council Meeting; Runway Work

Police Training

The Florence Police Department will undergo training exercises at Siuslaw Elementary School this Friday.  There will be signs clearly marking the training that will take place from 8 am until 4 pm that day.  The training is to ensure that Florence Police Officers are prepared in the case of any threat that may exist at the schools.  This is the first of training exercises to be held.  The Florence police intend on conducting similar trainings at the middle school and the high school in the future although the timeline has not yet been released.  the training will focus on how to identify, locate, and eliminate any threat, how to secure a  scene and how to assist any victims.  The majority of the training will be solo officer response to a certain type of call, how to self-deploy and implementing other officers as the scenario moves forward.  More information on the exercise can be found on the city’s website ci.florence.or.us

Council Meeting

This evening’s City Council meeting will include a request from the Rods n Rhodies to close Bay Street  through Nopal street at the intersection of 1st Street. For the annual Rods N Rhodies car show in September.  They will also consider approving the OLCC application for a liquor license for Los Compadres Taqueria.  The restaurant is preparing for a move to a new location and the license will need to reflect the information of the new address.  The council will also consider approving the contract for audit services provided by SingerLewak.  The total of the contract for a five year period is $265,080.  The council will also consider approving a pre grant submittal for a multi use path that will run from 35th street to Heceta Beach Road on Rhododendron Drive in the amount of $675,000.  There is currently no safe bicycle or pedestrian access along that corridor.  The city recognized this as a priority in 2012.  Lane county concurred with the city’s findings in 2022 and recommended a shared use plan for that section of roadway.  If funding is secured the city of Florence and the County will partner in the project.  The city council will meet in person this evening at 5:30.

Runway Work

This week the Florence municipal Airport will close its runway from 10 am until 7pm beginning today and running through Wednesday.  The closure is necessary to begin crack sealing on the runway and taxiway surfaces.  Next week the areas between the hangers and taxiway will receive the same treatment.  That work will take place the following week.  The project is funded through aviation fuel taxes collected by the state.