Group trying to find answers on
Highway 97/Cooley Road
A city of Bend-led group that
includes other government
agencies and private parties is
meeting for the next three days
to begin untying the knot of how
to make improvements to Highway
97 and Cooley Road. The city’s
main interest is to ensure the
first development at Juniper
Ridge, scheduled to begin late
this year or early next year,
doesn’t put unacceptable
stresses on the intersection,
which already has been
designated as failing by state
officials. Private parties such
as nearby stores, restaurants
and small businesses, as well as
nearby neighborhoods, also are
at the table to see that their
interests are protected. A big
goal of the group is to make
recommendations on how to
proceed to a technical advisory
group that will meet next week.
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Get ready for increased
recycling opportunities
At the end of a three-hour Bend
City Council meeting last night,
councilors agreed to changes in
recycling that Bend Garbage and
Recycling will institute in the
coming weeks. First, Bend
Garbage is immediately
instituting curbside yard waste
collection to as many residences
as it can given a limited supply
of rolling containers much like
the current garbage cans. Anyone
interested can call the company
at 382-2263. Bend Garbage will
add more residences who request
the service as soon as it can
acquire containers. Beginning
approximately September 1, the
company also will replace the
existing recycling containers
with large rolling containers
that will be picked up twice a
month. Glass will be picked up
once a month. City officials
believe the changes will
increase recycling rates, which
the state Legislature has
identified as a statewide goal.
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Space still available for Park
and Recreation Forecast
Breakfast
Join other Chamber members in
hearing Bend Metro Park and
Recreation District Board Chair
Suzanne Johannsen and Executive
Director Don Horton from 7:30 to
9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 24 at
Bend Golf & Country Club. Some
of the topics they’ll discuss
include how the district impacts
Bend’s economic vitality, what
the district is doing to
continue to provide parks and
trails as land becomes scarce
and prices rise, and how the
district manages community
assets and resources. Cost is
$25 for members, which includes
breakfast. Register online
HERE or
call 382-3221.
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Responses mixed on school
construction tax
Last week’s survey question was,
“Should a tax be imposed on new
construction in Oregon to help
pay for schools? “Yes” and “no”
replies were about evenly split.
Some responses:
“Yes. Such taxes are going to have to be part of the
funding mix to pay for schools
if we want to provide quality
education for our children and
ensure a well-educated workforce
to support a vibrant economy
here in Bend and across our
state.”
“No. Only taxing new construction is not a fair
distribution for the costs of
growth. New people and
businesses moving to Bend do not
only buy new homes or build new
commercial/industrial buildings.
A real estate transaction fee
would be much more equitable.”
“Taxes on new construction are just going to be passed
onto the homeowner. The builder
is just going to include it in
the price. Yes, I do think new
commercial buildings should be
taxed.”
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Businesses invited to
transportation conference in
June
The first Central Oregon
Regional Transit Forum will be
held from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday,
June 18 at the Eagle Crest
Conference Center in Redmond.
This interactive forum will
address public transportation
and transit issues that are
affecting local businesses, the
workforce and the region’s
economy. This is a great
opportunity for area businesses
to voice their opinion to
community leaders and
transportation planners about
regional transportation needs,
priorities and how the region
should address public
transportation issues. The forum
will feature nationally
recognized speaker Dale Marisco,
director of the Community
Transit Association of America,
who will discuss the influences
local transportation systems
have on a community. The free
forum is being sponsored by the
Central Oregon Area Commission
on Transportation; Crook,
Deschutes and Jefferson County
and the Oregon Department of
Transportation. Information:
504-3306 or
aspreadborough@coic.org.
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Help other Chamber members with
their marketing
The Chamber’s monthly Business
Journal is beginning a new
feature titled “Marketplace,”
giving members an opportunity to
submit educational articles
designed to help other
businesses strengthen their
marketing plans. This is open to
all Chamber members on a
first-come, first-served basis.
If you would like to submit an
article, or for more
information, contact Tim Casey
at the Chamber, 382-3221 or
tim@bendchamber.org.
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