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Siuslaw NewsWednesday, June 5, 2024 Florence, Oregon

Number 23 • 133 years

Council approves waste fees By TONY REED Siuslaw News

PHOTOS BY TONY REED

Veteran Community Holds Memorial Day Ceremony

our nation honors and remembers those in our military service who Mild temperatures and sunny skies gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom. greeted well over one hundred area The ceremony is supported each residents as they observed the annual year by the community’s Veteran Memorial Day Ceremony held at service organizations and their assothe Veterans Memorial Park on Bay ciated auxiliaries including Disabled Street in historic Old Town Florence American Veterans Chapter 23 on May, 27th. Memorial Day is the and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post National Day of Remembrance when CAL APPLEBEE Guest Writer

3232. This year’s ceremony was coordinated by American Legion Post 59. US Navy Veteran and Post Commander Mike Nielsen served as Emcee for the day’s event. Elements of the day’s ceremony included opening and closing prayers, presentation of colors, performance of both the national anthem and America the Beautiful,

Pledge of Allegiance, reading of the traditional ‘In Flanders Fields’, presentation of memorial wreaths, Memorial Day Address and a rifle salute. The ceremonies concluded with the laying of eleven wreaths, sponsored by numerous area groups and individuals, placed on the waters See VETERAN, Page A2

Riverside landslide project funding requested By TONY REED Siuslaw News

A last-moment cancellation by Congresswoman Val Hoyle postponed a site visit to a slipping riverside area in Florence that threatens public, private and federal Coast Guard properties. Hoyle was scheduled to visit Florence May 29, but canceled, due to a “minor medical emergency” the night before.

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The city is requesting $800,000 for the construction of a pile wall in a landslide area that was damaged by heavy rains in 2022, as well as needed repairs to public facilities in the area. According to the funding request, the damaged area threatens City property, as well as private property and the federally-owned Cost Guard station there. “After a period of heavy rain in January 2022, a steep section of the

Opinion — A3 Classifieds — B5-B6

bank of the Siuslaw River adjacent to Coast Guard Road began to fail, resulting in cracking of the Coast Guard Station parking lot, disconnection of a City stormwater main, and deformation of a private wooden deck,” the City’s request stated. According to the City of Florence website, the wall would “temporarily halt the the slipping so we can engineer a more long-term solution.”

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“With recent storms and significant rain events from January 12, 2024 to present, the slippage has become more acute, slipping more than 25 inches in less than four weeks,”according to the City. “From the City’s evaluation the slope movement resulted in the formation of a scarp, a long steep slope or cliff at See RIVERSIDE, Page A2

Questions? Stop by at: 2625 Hwy. 101, Florence, OR Monday thru Friday 8 am-5 pm or call: 541-997-9614 WLFEA.org

At its May 20 meeting, the Florence City Council unanimously approved a resolution governing rates for solid waste services. Planning Director Wendy Farley Campbell said the council considers rate increases yearly, based on waste tonnage and Consumer Price Index information. She said the hauler agreed, in advance, to agree to any changes made by the council. “The fee this year is increasing much more than in past years,” she said, “So what they’re doing is establishing a total 11 percent increase. This consists of a 3.1 percent CPI increase and an 8 percent increase to prepare for the construction of an IMERF.” Farley Campbell explained that IMERF, [Integrated Material and Energy Recovery Facility], is a machine that separates waste from recyclables. “This has been a big Lane County process to have a new site,” City Manager Erin Reynolds added. “[County] Commissioners voted to approve this late last year, to build the IMERF. It’s costly and that is why there is that surcharge, essentially.” “What this results in is a $10.46 increase per ton from the current tipping fees of $95.16 [to $105.62.] This would take effect July 1.” Farley-Campbell explained that the amount is not an 11 percent increase to current solid waste fees. “If you pay $35, it’s not increasing that by 11 percent,” she said. “What it’s doing is that there is a certain amount that’s associated with your fee that relates to the tipping fee.” Asked what that would mean to the average residential rate, a table showed that most users would pay an additional $2, based on several factors. “If you have a 60-gallon cart, which is what most people have, and you have it picked up weekly, you’re looking at a $2 increase,” she said. She said some residents, such as those living in Florentine, share a bill for disposal services, and their fee would increase $1.85. “There’s a cost savings associated with not having to mail out 485 bills and do all of that processing,” she said. With little discussion, the council unanimously approved the resolution governing rates.