Mapleton School Board
This evening the Mapleton School Board will review proposed revisions to school policies regarding the administration of medications to students by school staff. The changes are in response to recent changes in state law and other recommendations by the Oregon School Boards Association. Other topics up for discussion during the six pm meeting will be the Mapleton Pool Building, Community Engagement, State Testing, Equity and the board goals for this school year. The board meeting is open to the public and is held at Mapleton High School.
Tax Statements
Lane County property owners will get their tax statements this week. They were mailed out Monday by the Assessor’s Office. Most property owners in Western Lane County could see a slight increase in their bill due to the statutory limit of three percent growth in the maximum assessed valuation. If you own property inside Florence city limits, your tax bill could hold steady or even go down. That’s because a General Obligation Bond that paid for improvements at the city’s water plant has run its course. Last year that bond cost the owner of a $200-thousand home in Florence a little more than $200. The first tax payment is due no later than November 18th and if paid in full you can take a 3-percent discount.
Gas Prices Drop
Oregon is one of the states that is seeing the biggest weekly gas price reductions. According to Marie Dodds with AAA Oregon the state has seen a 22 cent drop in the past week. It is the second largest weekly drop in the nation. Average price for a gallon of regular gas is $5.30. here on the coast the prices are a little better with the average price of $5.13 but some stations are as low as $5.09 a gallon. Dodds says falling crude prices combined with resolving refinery issues are the biggest contributor to the decrease.
PeaceHealth Receives Accolades
The PeaceHealth network of hospitals, which includes Peace Harbor Medical Center in Florence has been named one of the 100 healthiest places to work in America. This is the 5th year in a row that they have been recognized. Executive Vice-president Sarah Ness says the caregivers give so much in providing quality, caring health care that they should receive nothing less than “whole-person care and proactive solutions that meet their needs.” PeaceHealth ranks 31st in the latest release and was ranked the number one healthiest place to work in Oregon by the Portland Business Journal in July of this year.
Air Quality
Air quality has moved to the moderate level in Florence as the state continues to have an air quality alert. Wildfire smoke is affecting the areas west of the cascades but is expected to improve as wet weather comes in to the forecast for Friday.