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Oakridge City Council Meeting March16, 2023

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Oakridge City Hall Herald photo

By PAUL SCOTT/for The Herald  —  During Public Comment, Oakridge/Westfir Chamber of Commerce President Michele Emmons read a statement proposing that two persons living outside the city limits be allowed to serve on the Oakridge Economic Development Advisory Committee (OEDAC). In her statement, she listed several supporting arguments. In previous years, two persons living outside the city limits had been encouraged to join OEDAC.

Trudy Hammonds put forward the idea of refurbishing a city shed on Beech Street, commonly called the ‘cattery’, be used for the purpose of housing and treating cats of the community when needed. Ms. Hammonds inquired into the disposition of the cattery that had been initiated several years ago. The building that supposedly housed a cattery is on the surplus property list. The mayor asked the City Administrator to research the history of the cattery and its state.

During Mayor Comments, Mayor Cutchen addressed a question from Councilor Kinyon from the previous regular session. Her question centered around Councilors desire to respond to the public during public comment. The mayor referred to three separate documents, including Robert’s Rules of Order, that stated to the contrary.

St. Vinney rehab loan program comes again to Oakridge

Andy Clay, representing St. Vincent’s housing loans program, addressed the Council.   The program is used to renovate dilapidated housing in need of upgrade. There are specific requirements and limitations to the program  Mr. Clay hopes to provide the same service program in Oakridge.*

The council wanted to address the concerns of Damian and Kelly Brewer, for a turn around spur at the dead end of Hills street.  A turnaround would direct traffic away from the Brewer’s driveway, improving privacy and security for their home.

The challenge is the need to access property held by the City of Oakridge in Salmon Creek Park.  Both the Brewers and City officials spoke of safety concerns and alternatives to putting a ‘turn-around’ that would encroach on city property, putting a city well stem at risk of catastrophic damage if broken.

It was determined by the City’s engineer, City Planner and Public Works Director that concern for safety from a high-pressure break in the pump/stem outweighed the benefits of changes proposed by the Brewers at this time.

The bigger picture of a city infrastructure need

The Brewer’s request was beneficial in the long run. It highlighted that Oakridge has over 50 dead end streets that can create problems for emergency services.  The city council voted unanimously to direct the City Administrator to search for grant funding that would support a larger corrective project benefitting the entire community.

A liquor license was unanimously approved for the Middle Fork Bistro.

Council unanimously agreed the city might find some opportunities by accounting for surplus property, which could be repurposed or sold.

Council members and appropriate staff went into executive session with city union representatives. This meeting was to discuss proposed changes to compensation in the next upcoming contract.

Appointments:

Marty Scott:  Public Safety Committee

Gryffin Allen Dill:  Library Board

Lynda Kramerrer:  Budget committee.

* The Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program has been popular in the past in Oakridge. The Herald will assist St. Vincent de Paul in making this program’s details available to the public when it becomes available.

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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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