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March 21 City Council meeting discusses RARE grant, postpones TRT funding discussion

by George Custer | Mar 25, 2024 | Front Page

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Oakridge City Hall and library

 

By ANDREW GRIFFIN/for The Herald  —  On March 21, the Oakridge City Council held a meeting that mainly covered the upcoming awarding of grant funds for local businesses, the approval to apply for grants and work programs and a look at a draft opposition letter for the Old Hazeldell Quarry

A large portion of the meeting was taken up with public comment and discussion relating to the Rural Tourism Marketing Program (RTMP) and Transient Room Tax (TRT) Block Grant Program. These programs are designed to help assist businesses financially in achieving projects and to generally help promote tourism in Oakridge by assisting businesses. 

Allocation of tourism and room tax funds postponed due to unknown account balances

Early in the meeting the Council decided to postpone all discussion on the agenda relating to RTMP and TRT funding, moving it instead to an upcoming special work session. This included funding requests from 7 different businesses and organizations in the Oakridge area, including the Chamber of Commerce, Concerts in the Park and the Uptown Business and Revitalization Association (UBRA). 

According to a revised Agenda Bill from City Administrator James Cleavenger, it is not known exactly how much RTMP and TRT funding remains for the city to use. The RTMP balance is estimated to be between $18,869 to $28,869, with the minimum being what is listed on the most current finance report. As for the TRT Program, its balance is estimated to be between $25,000 to $34,272.

Public comment during the meeting, which lasted for nearly 40 minutes, mostly consisted of comments from citizens and representatives showing support for the potential recipients of the RTMP and TRT funding.

City to apply for U of O RARE students

Another major point of discussion in the meeting was the approval for Cleavenger to apply for the Resource Assistance for Rural Environment (RARE) program. According to Mayor Bryan Cutchen, this program would allow Oakridge to hire a graduate-level member of AmeriCorps from University of Oregon to work in Oakridge. According to the program’s webpage, the program’s mission “is to increase the capacity of rural communities to improve their economic, social and environmental conditions….” 

The RARE program costs a total of $26,000. To fund the program, the council voted to use OIP funds to pay one half of the cost, then approval was given for Cleavenger to apply for a grant from the DEQ to fund the Total Daily Maximum Load (TMDL) program, which would be used to meet environmental goals concerning the Middle Fork of the Willamette River, as well as pay the remaining cost of the RARE member. “For Oakridge, much of the work would be focused on controlling stormwater runoff and reducing water temps by planting native trees along the banks in previously agreed upon locations,” wrote Cutchen. “If awarded it would be pay $13,000 towards the cost of the RARE participant.” 

Oakridge to send a letter of opposition to proposed rock quarry

Additionally, the Council also moved to approve a draft letter of opposition to a proposed rock quarry operation planned just to the east of town.  According to Cutchen, the letter primarily concerns a potential issue with how mining operations at the quarry could risk releasing toxic runoff from a nearby closed landfill, potentially endangering the city’s aquifer. “In general, the city is also concerned, given the location of the quarry, about degrading the quality of life with higher noise and light levels, increased traffic on the highway as well the impact on nearby residences,” said Cutchen. When finalized, the letter will be sent to the Lane County Planning Commission. 

Andrew Griffin is a fourth-year student at the U of O School of Journalism and Communications. Andrew has experience as a freelance writer, having published work for the Clackamas Print, Daily Emerald, and Pamplin Media. Andrew also has experience in graphic design/web design.

 

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George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.

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Written by George Custer

March 25, 2024

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