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Siuslaw NewsWednesday, February 12, 2025 Florence, Oregon

Number 7 • 134 years

City finds and cleans up encampment

TONY REED PHOTOS

Workers spent two days removing trash and debris from several clearings east of Munsel Creek. By TONY REED The Siuslaw News

A contracted crew from Eugene spent two days cleaning up two days cleaning up trash left in a network of homeless campsites off Highway 126. The area is essentially out of sight to residents, as it runs along the east side of Munsel Creek. Hidden in the trees from public view were about eight total clearings, strewn with everything from food packaging and clothes, to dilapidated tent materials and camping supplies. Greg Coakley, Director of Operations with Hazmat One LLC., said the city contracted

the company to clean up the camp Feb. 3 and 4. Noting that the company regularly cleans camps in the Eugene area and others, he said cleanup was completed in about a day anda-half. Asked what types of materials warranted a hazmat operation over a public works project, Coakley said “Oh, needles, poop buckets, pee buckets, and of course, all the trash.” At the cleanup site, a small crew carefully bagged and moved trash to an area where it was loaded into a dump truck by excavator. At the end of the project, Coakley said crews found very few “sharps” (used syringes).

It should be noted that while most associate syringes with illicit drug use, they are also needed to administer medications including insulin, blood thinners and pain medications. Coakley said Feb. 4 that 2.5 dump truck loads of garbage were removed from the area. SEPARATE ISSUES Public Works Director Mike Miller said the cleanup was unrelated to the completion of the Estuary Trail, as the two are on different sides of Munsel Creek. He said from the trail, one would not have been able to see the debris left in the other sites. See CLEAN UP, Page A7

City of Florence Accepting Applications to Fill Council Vacancy The City of Florence is seeking interested parties to fill a vacancy on the City Council for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2026. Applicants need to have resided within the Florence City limits for at least one year prior to appointment and be a registered voter. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Applications will be reviewed by the Florence City Council and applicants may be invited to interview with the Council

on Feb. 27, 2025. If you are interested in serving on the Florence City Council, please download an application at www.ci.florence.or.us. Members of the Florence City Council are the policy and decision-making leaders for the City of Florence. The Florence City Council provides oversight to the City Manager and the Municipal Court Judge. The City Council provides decision making through official actions and direction at public City Council meetings to the City

Manager. The City Manager serves as the administrative head of the government of the City and oversees implementation of City Council policy decisions and direction. Service on the City Council is a voluntary position and offers an opportunity for residents to become involved in their City government. The Florence City Council meets regularly on the first and third Mondays at See VACANCY, Page A6

City to apply for police camera grant By TONY REED The Siuslaw News

Hispanic Heritage Night was a heartwarming success By TONY REED The Siuslaw News

Siuslaw Middle School Principal Andy Marohl was

INSIDE

Obituaries — A2 Sports & Lifestyle — B1

JIM HOBERG Broker/Owner

beaming at the close of the Hispanic Heritage Night celebration Feb. 6, when he was See HERITAGE, Page A6

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B6-7

After little discussion, the Florence City Council unanimously approved an application for a grant from the Three Rivers Foundation in the amount of $33,250.00 for the purchase of five Flock cameras to be used by local and regional law enforcement agencies. In March 2024, the Florence Police Department presented the Florence City Council announcing the acquisition of one automated license plate reading (ALPR) camera to

solve and reduce crime. The ALRP camera was installed on April 2, 2024, near the Highway 101 and Highway 126 intersection. The camera is built by Flock Safety, and it was explained that the camera sends realtime alerts to law enforcement when a stolen vehicle or known wanted suspect from a State or National crime database is detected. “They also send alerts if a vehicle associated with a missing person in an AMBER or Silver Alert is detected,” a city release said at the time. “The Flock system is utilized

by jurisdictions throughout the country, allowing information to be shared when law enforcement is in search of a suspect.” At the Feb. 3 meeting Police Chief John Pitcher told councilors that the solar-powered camera has been in place about a year and has been a valuable tool, especially when working with other law enforcement agencies. Pitcher said that while the camera has many uses, he wanted the public to be aware of what the camera doesn’t do. See GRANT, Page A6

1870 Hwy. 126, Suite A • PO Box 3040, Florence, OR