Public Safety Fee
To support essential police, dispatch, corrections, and municipal court operations, the City of Florence has introduced a new Public Safety Fee that began appearing on monthly utility bills in July 2025. City Manager Erin Reynolds explains,
“If you live within the city limits and you pay a monthly city services bill, you will now see a $5.00 public safety fee.”
The fee applies to all developed residential and commercial properties and will increase gradually—$15 in January 2026 and $18 by July 2026. To ease the transition, the City is pausing utility rate hikes during the first year. Unlike utilities, public safety services don’t have a direct funding stream, and with state-imposed limits on property tax revenue and rising service costs, officials say the fee is necessary to preserve vital public safety resources.
Tsunami Advisory Reminder
Following the Distant Tsunami Advisory issued on July 29th, officials are reminding coastal residents about tsunami preparedness. Oregon may face two types of tsunamis: distant, which originate from far-off quakes and take hours to arrive, and local, which are caused by nearby earthquakes along the Cascadia Subduction Zone and can strike within minutes. Distant tsunami alerts come from the National Tsunami Warning Center and allow time for warning systems. For local quakes, ground shaking is your warning—evacuate immediately. To receive alerts, sign up for LaneAlerts at www.LaneAlerts.org or visit oralert.gov.
Fines for Understaffing Start
Oregon hospitals now face fines of up to $5,000 a day for failing to meet minimum nurse-to-patient ratios under a new state law. But some nurses say hospitals are skirting the spirit of the law. Fred Katz, a nurse and Oregon Nurses Association board member, says some facilities meet nurse quotas by cutting support staff like CNAs, leaving care teams stretched thin. He warns this puts both nurses and patients at risk. The Oregon Health Authority is expected to begin issuing fines this month to hospitals that haven’t submitted compliant staffing plans.
Reedsport System Flushing
Through the rest of this week, the Reedsport Fire Department will continue flushing fire hydrants and the water system on all streets south of Highway 101, from the west end of Longwood Drive to South 18th Street. The process began Monday and is expected to wrap up by Friday, August 8th. Residents may notice a temporary drop in water pressure and, after flushing, a milky appearance or light sediment in the water. These effects are temporary. For more information, contact Public Works Director Kim Clardy or Fire Chief Charlie Dukovich.