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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2022 | theworldlink.com |

County commissioner urges voters to pass jail tax levy By BREEANA LAUGHLIN The World

John Sweet said an upcoming ballot measure addresses one of the most important issues he has faced during the decade he has served as Coos County commissioner. “We have done a lot of good things while I have been in office here but I think this is one of the most important things that we have been confronted with,” said Commissioner Sweet. “We have been confronted with a real public safety crisis.” Right now, the commissioner said unless someone commits a serious crime – such as a violent crime – it’s very unlikely that they will do any jail time because the jail does not have the resources to house them. According to an entry in the Coos Bay Police Department log for Sept. 22 a man facing a total of 16

charges including criminal trespass, theft, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and contempt of court was not taken into custody, but given a criminal citation and released. “There’s no consequences,” Sweet said. “It’s frustrating to our patrol deputies. It’s frustrating to the people in the district attorney’s office. It’s frustrating to our parole and probation officers.” Sweet was on a public safety committee chaired by Coos Bay City Manager Roger Craddock, Coos County Sheriff Craig Zanni, as well as community corrections officers, the district attorney and other local officials. They voted unanimously in July to put a five-year levy on the ballot to increase jail funding and capacity. The levy would increase the jail’s current capacity of about 50

beds to 150 beds. The increased jail capacity will reportedly improve the sheriff’s ability to hold those accused or convicted of crimes until their cases are resolved or their time has been served. Right now, the county jail’s limited capacity has turned into a twisted game of musical chairs. “People get picked up and taken to the jail and there is no room, so they are released. Or if they have committed a crime that is more serious than someone in the jail, then someone else in jail is released before they served their time,” Sweet said. “But basically, if you commit a property crime, you won’t serve any time whatsoever in jail. And the criminals know this. So they aren’t bashful about doing things,” he said. The public safety levy being proposed is 45 cents per $1,000 of

assessed value property tax which, if passed, would be enacted in July, 2023. For a home worth $200,000, the levy would equate to an extra $90 in property taxes per year. If passed, the first time the jail levy will show up on a property tax bill will be November 2023. It will be partially offset by the expiration of the county’s gas pipeline bond levy which will have been paid in full by that time. Two years later, the county’s emergency radio communications system will have been paid in full, serving as an additional offset to the jail tax, Sweet said. The commissioner recently gave a presentation at a Bandon City Council meeting, outlining the upcoming ballot measure. After the presentation, Bandon Mayor Mary Schamehorn voiced support for the levy. Schamehorn said she was

concerned about a string of home invasions that had occurred in the area – including one where a man was reportedly held at gunpoint. “I’ve lived here all my life and I have never heard of three home invasions at any time,” Schamehorn said. “I think we all need to get behind this absolutely. We need to get this passed.” Commissioner Sweet said county officials pride themselves on running efficiently, and hesitate to impose taxes unless they absolutely need to. “We know no one wants to pay more taxes and we don’t want to charge more taxes, so we know there has to be a need and the need has grown to the point where we have to take care of it. We can’t ignore it anymore,” Sweet said. “In the end it’s up to the people to approve a tax levy,” he said.

Volunteers clean up Coos Bay Boardwalk Bandon

allowing food trucks in designated zones

By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

Volunteers with Oregon Bay Area Beautification came to the Coos Bay Boardwalk on Saturday in an effort to make the entry into the city shine. More than a dozen volunteers walked around the boardwalk, up and down the train tracks picking up trash. They found a plethora of cigarette butts along with things like napkins, plastic lids and straws along with the occasional larger items. Julie Weaver was concentrating on removing cigarette butts near the boardwalk entrance. She said she joined to help the community. "I just moved back after being gong 40 years, and I want to connect with the community," Weaver said. "It's my community and I want to be a part of it. I want to be part of something positive." A little further down the tracks, Faith Davis was quickly filling up a bag she was carrying. "I'm just helping in the community, picking up trash," Davis said. "I was to just be a part of the community, get to know people and help the area look better when they're driving through." North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke and Sarah Leahy were working together to help with the clean-up effort. Engelke said having the entrance to Coos Bay clean was important for all who visit the area.

By BREEANA LAUGHLIN The World

Photos by David Rupkalvis/The World

Above: North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke and Sarah Leahy clean up micro-trash while joining in the effort to clean the Coos Bay Boardwalk. Right: Julie Weaver picks up trash while volunteering with Oregon Bay Area Beautification to clean up the Coos Bay Boardwalk.

Please see CLEAN UP, Page A2

Animal Shelter Partners continues to support county shelter By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World

Animal shelters nationwide have one big issues they all face - a serious lack of funding. Nonprofit shelters rely heavily on fundraising as a means of keeping the doors open and finding families to adopt abandoned dogs, cats and other pets. Government run shelters, like the Coos County Animal Shelter, also face steep shortcomings and rely on groups like Animal Shelter Partners to meet the needs of the animals that call the shelter home. Last weekend, Animal Shelter Partners hosted its sixth Barktoberfest as a fundraiser to continue the work it is doing at the shelter. "Animal Shelter Partners is the 501c3 nonprofit that raises money to help above the county budget," said Julie Kremers, a board member of ASP. At Barktoberfest, Kremers manned the ASP booth while watching over the event that drew more than a dozen vendors along with many people visiting with their pets. The shelter also hosted a booth, where four cats were adopted in just the first two hours of the event.

Photos by David Rupkalvis/The World

Please see SHELTER, Page A2

Visitors to Barktoberfest had the opportunity to shop at more than a dozen booth set up by local vendors.

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The city of Bandon recently amended its policies on food trucks. The new policy allows food trucks in commercial and light industrial zones as long as they are not located in the waterfront or old town areas. “There was a public hearing before the council where a number of business owners in the old town and waterfront area noted the potential impact that mobile food units might have on their business,” Bandon City Manager Dan Chandler said at city council meeting earlier this month. The food truck operators must get approval from the planning department before operating, and must have proper permits from local and state agencies. The mobile food units can only operate on private property with owner approval. The city indicated that special events permits, such as food truck operations at the farmers market, could still be obtained. Chandler reported that the city has been working on the topic of food trucks for about a year and a half, and there has been several public hearings and workshops regarding their operation in Bandon. A resident survey found that more than 80 percent of residents were in support of mobile food units, he said. A letter of concern from Bandon resident Joseph Bain was read at the city council meeting prior to the council’s adoption of the food truck ordinance. “I understand people like the food trucks but they contribute absolutely nothing to our community and basically are takers. Established storefront business owners pay property taxes with the city and all taxing districts in the area which food trucks do not,” Bain wrote. Food truck operators will be subject to an annual license fee to cover the cost of staff time to ensure ongoing compliance with the rules. Mobile food units and mobile food pods will also be subject to a planning permit fee.

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