Deschutes County faces challenges, but good things also are happening

     Did you know that Deschutes County has 900 hundred miles of roads to maintain, and should be spending 30 to 35 percent more money than it is able to, to maintain those roads? That was one message delivered by County Commissioner Mike Daly and County Administrator Dave Kanner at the Bend Chamber’s annual County Forecast Breakfast at Bend Golf & Country Club on Tuesday. The county is exploring the idea of instituting system development charges (SDCs) in the future to raise money for road maintenance, since county officials expect to eventually lose the $3 million received annually from the federal government under the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act. On a positive note, two major motor coach rallies will be held in Redmond this summer, bringing thousands of motor coaches to Central Oregon and making a positive economic impact to the area of approximately $38 million.

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Council: Think hard before changing visitor comment time

     This comment from Bend Chamber President and CEO Mike Schmidt on the Bend City Council considering a move to change how citizens can speak at council meetings: “Clearly members of the city council are frustrated by some public comments and the number of people wishing to speak on the same topic during the “receive visitors” portion of the council meetings.  Limiting the number of people who may speak on one issue or the number of times a single individual may address the council each month is surely reasonable.  But I caution the council to not “throw the baby out with the bath water.”  Public comment and public access to the council, even from those they don’t like to hear from, is critical to our democracy.  Like a free press, citizens’ ability to speak at a council meeting is vital to public discussion and information.  I strongly recommend the council think long and hard on this issue and not do anything that will discourage community members to bring issues they are concerned about before the Bend City Council.”

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What should legislature focus money on? The usual subjects

     Last week’s survey question was, “As the Legislature prepares to finalize the state budget for the next two years, what should the priorities be?” Responses were much like testimony at last week’s legislative Joint Ways and Means Committee hearing in Bend: Education, public safety and transportation. Some comments:
     “State funding priorities should include education at all levels and energy sustainability practices.”
     “The legislature needs to put more state police back on the roads. It’s not their fault with funding cuts over the years, but you hardly ever see police on state highways any more. This lack of enforcement has led to some horrendous driving behaviors on rural roads, especially on the mountain passes and on Highway 97. Compare that to our neighbor to the north – there seems to be Washington state troopers everywhere!”
     “Oregon needs to quit fiddling around and fix the state’s roads. They’re in bad shape and getting worse.”

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FireFree Spring Clean Up starts this weekend

     This weekend marks the start of the FireFree Clean Up Days in Central Oregon. Residents of Deschutes and Jefferson counties can recycle yard waste and debris free of charge at area landfills, and at the same time making their homes safer from wildfire. Wood piles and leftover building materials also can be recycled. The free event runs from April 21 through April 29 at Knott Landfill in Bend, and will be held at other landfill locations at different times. For more information about sites other than Knott Landfill, visit  www.firefree.org.

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Safer cigarettes coming to Oregon

     Among one of the more positive bills just signed by Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski: After July 1, only cigarettes that go out on their own if not being smoked will be allowed to be sold in the state. In signing the bill, the governor noted that fires started by cigarettes totaled nearly 9,000 from 1999 to 2005, causing 37 deaths and 185 injuries. State fire officials are pleased about the new law. Nine states in the U.S. limit cigarette sales to self-extinguishing types.

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