County Eyes Building for Clinic
Lane county is currently searching for a site to put a medicated assisted treatment facility clinic here in Florence. Jason Davis with Lane County says the focus is currently on a property located at 4480 Highway 101 the site of a former medical facility. Though Davis says the public outreach has just started and even if the building is purchased, it may not be the location of the clinic. Davis says there is a lot of discussion that needs to happen with the community before the plan becomes a reality. The county has received some pushback from the community about the location of the facility being across from the Montessori school. The county will need to receive a waiver in order to be able to use that property for their intended purpose.
“The waiver will not be pushed forward until we feel as though we have done adequate community outreach, we I don’t believe we have done yet.”
Davis says they want the community to buy into the center. He says they currently treat about 60 patients from Florence in the Eugene clinic, but the county believes that there are more that could benefit from one being in Florence. The County wants this to be a positive partnership and he says they have agreements that they stand by.
“We have something called a good neighbor agreement. its effectively a contract with the community on what we do and how we do it and what they can expect. And withing that there are some asks that we are held accountable to.”
Davis says even if the property does not pan out for the facility, the county is interested in purchasing properties in florence for the potential of other projects in the future.
New Pump Station Considered
Beginning in January 2022, heavy rainfall triggered movement on a steep slope along the east bank of the Siuslaw River near Coast Guard Road, creating erosion and damaging stormwater infrastructure. Since then, Public Works staff have implemented temporary mitigation measures to slow the slide while long-term solutions are evaluated. In March 2025, geological and engineering studies determined a multi-part approach is needed, including construction of a stormwater pump station and a secant pile wall to stabilize the slope. City Council will discuss advancing the pump station portion of the project during this evening’s meeting, including the proposed use of more than six-hundred-thousand dollars in available ARPA funds ahead of the 2026 deadline.
Fund Raiser for Food Share
A holiday fundraiser benefiting Florence Food Share is scheduled for December twentieth at the Florence Elks Lodge. The event, titled Tis the Season, will feature an evening of traditional and contemporary Christmas music and dance presented by Vintage Sass and It’s About Time Productions. Doors open at six p.m., and the event is open to the public. Organizers say guests are encouraged to bring canned or non-perishable food items or make a cash donation to support local families during the winter season. Tickets are fifteen dollars.