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North Bend officially cancels IGA with airport district By DAVID RUPKALVIS For The World

The clock is now ticking on a 90-day deadline to create a new law enforcement agreement between the city of North Bend and the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport. After the North Bend City Council voted unanimously to cancel an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the airport district, City Administrator David Milliron sent a letter to the district informing them of the news. The city council made its decision after Police Chief Gary McCullough told council members that due to staffing levels he

could not guarantee a response to any call at the airport within 15 minutes. The IGA between the city and the airport mandated a 15-minute response time, which is a requirement the TSA and Homeland Security have for all airports. In the letter Milliron sent to Theresa Cook, executive director of the airport district, he said police and fire would always respond to actual emergencies at the airport as they always have. “The city of North Bend and its governing body recognize the importance of quality commercial air service to the local and regional economy through improved access for visitors and, most importantly, to support area

businesses, organizations, and institutions in promoting and fostering economic development opportunities on Oregon’s South Coast. Therefore, the city remains committed to helping CCAD’s effort to expand aviation travel and services in North Bend and beyond,” the letter read. “However, the North Bend City Council voted 7-0 at its business meeting on January 24, 2023, to cancel an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) signed by the Coos County Airport District (CCAD) on November 15, 2012, and the North Bend City Administrator on January 30, 2013. The City Council provided 90 days for CCAD to renegotiate a new agreement in

good faith with the city or to secure other services to meet its TSA/ Homeland Security obligations. “Police Chief Gary McCullough nor City Administrator David Milliron was aware of the IGA until TSA/Homeland Security brought it to the chief’s attention in April 2022. Chief McCullough has since proactively and consistently informed the TSA/Homeland Security and CCAD personnel that his department lacks the necessary staffing and resources to abide by the agreement, which requires a fifteen-minute response to a TSA request. The city is otherwise obligated to respond to 9-1-1 emergencies, per Oregon Law. North Bend Police and Fire will

continue to respond to emergencies at the airport in the same manner and service level provided to others within our community.” The letter was dated January 31 and was sent via certified mail. The airport district has not made a public comment about the issue since the city council voted to cancel the IGA. The 15-minute requirement is a federal mandate, but it does not require the airport to have an agreement with the city it is in. Therefore, the district could look to other law enforcement agencies such as the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Coos Bay police or even Tribal police to meet the requirement.

Marshfield Junior High opens its doors to community By DAVID RUPKALVIS For The World

Coos Bay School District celebrated its newest campus Wednesday with an open house at Marshfield Junior High School. More than 50 community members attended the open house where they heard from Superintendent Charis McGaughy, Board Chair Kim Brick, Principal Floyd Montiel and Nancy Giggy, who runs Integrity Management Solutions. The general theme for the night was one of gratitude and success. The gratitude was to the voters in Coos Bay, who approved the 2017 bond that paid for two new schools – Eastside and Marshfield Junior High. The bond also paid for a full rebuild at Madison and improvements to Sunset and Millicoma. Gratitude was also expressed for the school board and the volunteer bond committee that helped get the bond to voters as well as the district staff and contractors who did all the work during COVID and supply chain delays on time and under budget. Giggy, who led the construction effort with her company, said the junior high presented a unique challenge because of its three-story design and because supply issues forced the district to adjust quickly as construction was ongoing. But despite the challenges, the junior high was ready for the first day of school in 2021, and now houses more than 400 seventh and eighth graders. Montiel, who has led the school since it opened in 2021, told the audience the new campus is making

Photos by David Rupkalvis

Coos Bay School Board Chair Kim Brick talks about Marshfield Junior High during an open house at the school. Below, Marshfield Junior High Principal Floyd Montiel discusses the new schools with a guest during the open house Wednesday. a difference for junior high students and will help students in their educational journey in Coos Bay School District. After listening to the district leaders, those in attendance were welcome to walk around the threestory school, with teachers and staff showing off classrooms on all three floors, the gym and girls’ locker room and the office space. Coos Bay School District will be hosting an open house for Madison School in the coming months, likely in March. An open house at Eastside School was held in September.

Merkley discusses port, more during stop in Coos Bay U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, standing front, listens to a question from a commercial fisherman who was concerned that plans to bring offshore wind to the Oregon Coast could impact not only the fishing industry but the quality of life of those who live here. Merkley said he agreed with many of the concerns, adding he and his staff are working with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to come up with a solution that expands renewable energy while protecting commercial fishermen, the climate and those who live and recreate at the coast. Merkley discussed that issue and many more during a town hall at Heritage Hall on the campus of Marshfield High School. For a full recap, see the Friday edition of The World.

Photo by David Rupkalvis

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