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CINDY WEELDREYER Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cottage Grove city leaders are looking to the future to stabilize long-term police and other public services funding. At its regular meeting Monday night, Sept. 22, the Cottage Grove City Council devoted most of its time to discussing a proposed Urban Renewal District. The staff presentationJEREMY includedC.materials RUARKfrom ElaineCottage HowardGrove of Elaine Howard Sentinel Consulting, LLC, a firm specializing Public works crews are in the in urban renewal and tax increment process of establishing a new financing (TIF) across Oregon and smaller homeless camp site at the Washington. vacant lot on 12th Street in Cottage URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT Grove. Cottage Grove established an Cottage Grove City Manager Urban Renewal District in 1986 Mike Sauerwein said the city is to revitalize the downtown core. behind its original Oct. 1 timeline It was officially retired in 2011, is establishing the camp, following having funded streetscape improvethe Aug. 22 closure and cleanup ments, historic preservation and of the 12th Street and Douglas infrastructure upgrades. The newly Street homeless camps. During the proposed district is significantly transition, the adjacent Lulu Dog larger—243.71 acres—and includes Park at 12th Street has been used more diverse project goals, such as a homeless camp site with hours as emergency preparedness and from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. improvements to the North Gateway “None of us have ever managed corridor to enhance traffic safety. a homeless camp before, so we The boundaries incorporate all of knew that date was a bit aspiraEast Main Street from River Road tional,” Sauerwein said. “We are to Thornton Lane, Highway 99 from hoping that this week we will be Woodson Bridge to South 4th Street, able to make the transition. Our goal was to provide folks with a safe and secure place to spend the night and that’s what we are doing.” Sauerwein said city staff was cleaning up the Lulu Dog Park to reestablish it as a dog park. Specific costs of that cleanup and establishing theCINDY smallerWEELDREYER homeless camp at Cottage Sentinel 12th Street wereGrove not immediately available. For one local entrepreneur, the
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Councilor Darrell Wilson said, “This is just a draft and not a done deal. I see some benefits to it. We need to work with the impacted taxing districts and find a solution. Moving forward is the best step, understanding that at any point it can come to a screeching halt—and may have to.” Staff emphasized the process does not impose new taxes, but redirects future tax growth away from overlapping taxing districts—such as schools and counties—until the district is retired, typically in 25 to 30 years. Oregon law requires cities to consult with affected districts, though formal approval is not required. The impacted taxing districts would include South Lane County Fire & Rescue and Lane County. The approved timeline includes presentations to the Lane County Commission and the local fire board. Fire Chief John Wooten expressed concern about the long-term financial impact on fire and safety services. Councilors acknowledged the need for new revenue to address infrastructure and attract private development to blighted areas, but
homeless camp at 12th Street facing Oregon’s STAFF REPORT Cottage Grove Sentinel
The Cottage Grove Sentinel newspaper has moved out of the office it had been leasing in Crews began developing the smaller homeless the Safeway Shopping Center camp site this week on the vacant lot at 12th Street. in Cottage Grove, allowing its employees to work remotely. Metro Creative Connection The newspaper will continue JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove city leaders are reviewing long-term funding to be published each Sentinel Wednesday, Cottage Grove options for police and other city services. although beginning Sept. 22, Oregon’s wildfire is its employees beganseason working and extend north of Main on North for financing capital projects the expected to continue through this remotely from home offices or 16th Street and North Gateway city cannot fund through traditional month, but the mental scares and from other Country newsimpact of the season Media on the fireBoulevard. property tax revenues. He said those paper locations. Country Media fighters who battle blazes in Lane Public Works Director Faye investments could spur new develisCounty the parent company of the and across the state, and Stewart told the council the current opment over the next 30 years and Cottage Grovemay Sentinel. their families, last a lifetime, Main Street reconstruction grant increase the city’s tax base for other “Far fewer of our according to Jeff Dill,customers the founder covers about one-third of the capital services. of Firefighter Behavioral are coming into our localHealth offices improvements needed in the downCouncilor Greg Ervin said, “This (FBHA).said Country toAlliance do business,” town area. Urban renewal financing is a huge issue. With inflation Dill established the FBHA Media’s chief executive, Joein could potentially fund the remaining outpacing the city’s three-percent 2010 following Hurricane Katrina. Warren. “Classified advertising improvements, including sidewalks annual growth in property taxes, we He was a Battalion Chief and and legalthan notices, obituaries and utility upgrades that encourage have two choices: Find new revenue for a fire department in northwest subscriptions increasingly are redevelopment. or cut spending. We need to do Chicago. being placed online.” and sisters “I saw our brothers Councilor Dana Merryday something, or things will just get Country Media owns ninethat comstruggle from the devastation described urban renewal as a tool worse.” munity newspapers in Oregon. See COUNCIL, Page 4 they saw, so I went back and got company based ainlicensed Salem. PHOTO JEREMY C. RUARK / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL The my degree andisbecame “Within our group of newspacounselor,” he said. “We started Sauerwein and other city officials currently doing, which is providing The new mini homeless camp tracking EMS and firefighter suipers, we’re beginning to create a location for folks to spend the will include the same restrictions as have told the Sentinel, that there cides across America.” a small number of hub locations are no additional plans to offer any night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.” the former larger camps. where we can produce multiple other long-term sheltering for the Read previous coverage about “The same rules will apply,” Behavioral Impact publications,” Warren said. “In homeless. the homelessness challenges in Sauwrwein said. “The camp will According to Dill, firefighters Tillamook, example, we “Cottage Grove will follow Cottage Grove and follow new be available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. often don’t for recognize the behavioral oversee news reporting and ad state law as we understand it,” developments at cgsemtinel.com impact of their work. and the rules will be enforced sales not only for the Headlight “We become cultural brainSauerwein said. “That is what we and in the Wednesday print editions through our contracting company, Herald, also for“Whether our newswashed,”but Dill said. it’s are doing. To change that is up to of The Sentinel. One Security of Eugene to help us papers in Cannon Beach and structural or wildland fires. So, we the legislature. The city of Cottage during this transition period. They are meant to believe we are supManzanita.” Grove has no plans to do any kind are a very experienced homeless journey from Medicare specialist to posed to act strong, brave, be help, Meantime, allowing certain of of a shelter beyond what we are camp management company.” don’t ask for help, and we don’t caramel artisan began with a dream, its employees to work remotely want make to lookitweak ask for a loss, and a neighbor named Ms. “will easierand fornotCountry help.” Delphine. Media to recruit new workers and Dill added that while firefighters Though she grew up in also to share resources within are on the front lines battling the California, Amber Henline—founder the company,” “It’s wildfires, one ofsaid the Warren. biggest chalof Cottage Caramel Co.—spent increasingly difficult to recruit lenges they face is the unknown. childhood summers visiting family new“It’s employees andtheses independent how rapidly fires can in South Lane and North Douglas contractors to the smallistowns move, and the unknown where counties. where we’re hewill said. is it going to located,” end? Where this “I’ve always loved Oregon,” she fire go of to and how long willtoit last? “Many them now want said. “The trees, the agricultural And that is a struggle,” he said. work remotely from home. “As it “So, are fighting that abundance and the cozy way of is, allwhen of theyou company’s accountfire,circulation you’re trying to human do your best life.” ing, and to stop it, and yet the wind kicks After relocating to Eugene in resources functions already are up at 60 miles an hour and it drags 1999 and building a career in margoing through our central office it further and further behind them. keting and sales, Henline found inThat Salem, willisbe of aspectsoofthis the move unknown very CINDY WEELDREYER / COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL herself at a crossroads following the little disruption to our readers and difficult in wildland fires. The fireMatchbooks from Village Green Resort in Cottage Grove. See more photos with this story at cgsentinel.com. death of her mother. Shethe realized advertising fighters havecustomers.” that stress and anxiety, she wanted a career that allowed her Forthat questions subscripand struggle about to protect is a very to serve and connect with others. tions, or challenge to place an difficult forobituary, the wildland That realization led her to become firefighters.” marriage announcement, or licensed in life and health insurIt isad,often very our difficult legal contact teamforatfamily Salem members of the firefighters ance, specializing in Medicare. But the corporate office, atto CINDY WEELDREYER Cindy / Cottage Grove Sentinel 503-444-7924. understand what emotions there are, the Weeldreyer way” during the construction Nearly 50 people attended the between enrollment seasons, another helped us meet many of our future For The Cottage Sentinel that many firefighters don’t in Ambercustomers,” Henline’sBirdy store is filledCottage with aGrove mix of food and specialtyproject. gift items and decorated to and bookstore said. Historical Society’s dream began to takeGrove shape—a small Those who need assistance express their emotions, according compliment its historic He said he was given an import- placing She shared a humorous mem- building. “Farewell to the Village Green” at shop caraIn filled 1975, with whenhandcrafted Birdy Hoelzle a business advertisement, to Dill. ant job of opening the boxes ory they made in the formal Iron the Community Center, Saturday, mels andsister specialty and her Gail goods. openedWith The her contact Sales “We ask theRepresentative family membersGary delivered to the guest andSt., Winterholler Maidenappreciation Dining Room drewpasSept. 21.to crocheted scarves to wreaths historic storefront at 16rooms S. Fifth forthat turning daughter sonwere nearing the end Bookmineand they familiar withof deeper at 541-902-3529 to try to understand the cultural,”or recalled felt driving laughter the crowd. The internationally resort where caramel, that early lovefamous of creating herhow shopcool nowheresides. sion into from something to share. their studies Green. at North Eugene High The Village 509-216-1658. he said. “Be direct. Challenge theShe orange golfwas cart impressed around theby “Myshop’s sister and I were was gathering created byaround Walterfood A. Woodard carried said she The origin storybudding is steeped and School, timetraveled felt right to and open a Their the father a lot Forcompassion editorial content and queswith when something propertyGrove’s for assigned feminists theatime (W.A.) and his son, Carlton. Some Cottage strongerrands. sense ofYears tions, in memory.at As child,and shewere oncequite forward.” new oftenchapter. brought its matchboxes home contact Editor Jeremysound C. doesn’t look right or doesn’t later, anotherrich special memory was shocked by practiced members the family attended and community, HAPPYofANNIVERSARY history and creative lamented to the her sexism neighbor that herin BYhisZUCHINNI as INSPIRED keepsakes for girls. The sisright, and do an internal size up, Ruark at 503-510-1450, or email seeing the famousthat football player, the dining she zucchini. said. “TheMs. shared personal Henline creditsmemories. Kimberley energy—qualities led her to garden onlyroom,” produced caramel was tersHenline’s were in love their of 20’s when they we ask the firefighters toTo towhich jruark@countrymedia.net. O.J. Simpson, one on of the reach menu given to a woman had no her Westwang for introducing her to open her dreamrunning businessonhere responded by teaching do as Reporter well,” he said.” size long-standing, butStreet it wasn’t until she Delphine opened the Main bookstore CindyInternal Weeldreyer, THROUGH LENS up means asking why am I acting resort’s prices it and foot pillows were the town through a THE vintage event Sept. 27,paths. 2024. to bakeonzucchini bread. met confectioner that she and,another to enhance their income, call 541-915-0113. Kris Woodard’s introductory this and why amMedia I feeling this To the delight of those gathered, provided so ladies’ uncomfortable at Bohemia Park, and Danny and “That moment taught me to see saw the potential for aatbusiness. As worked as waitresses the resort. Toway, reach County Chief remarks included mem-the way? The best thing we can do is Kris’ brother, Casey Woodard, shoes could removedinwhile Candace Solesbee personal for restoring potential andbe creativity every-dinshe“Itlearned craft, she gained was a the wonderful place to a Executive Joe Warren, email ories he made through the lens of ing. It was a very different era.” thing,” Henline recalled. “From work and, being new in town, it jwarren@countrymedia.net. a 12-year-old who was often “in See Page See HEALTH, Page 6 SeeLEGACY, SPOT Page 6 6
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