Dear CHOICES Subscribers, Matt Cooper reported that John Musumeci said: "You have Mayor Yordy give me a call -- you can print that. They ought to change the name of [Springfield] to PeaceHealthville." Cooper wrote: "Musumeci said the city is ignoring a contract that entitles him to develop 12 acres in the Gateway area with commercial aspects. Meanwhile, Musumeci said, the city is letting competitor PeaceHealth, by far the biggest landowner in that area, move forward with plans for commercial development. Springfield City Attorney Joe Leahy has said the agreement with Musumeci doesn't guarantee commercial use for that property. But Musumeci is convinced that the city has eyes only for PeaceHealth and its CEO, Alan Yordy." All of which supports what we have believed all along: Good community planning is necessary to protect the interests and property values of existing residents and property owners. Developers have a right to know what they can do with land before they purchase it. Residents have a right to know what sorts of nearby development they can expect. The public has a right to control how much it must spend on infrastructure to support development. The existing Gateway Refinement plan was designed to do just this. In amending (gutting and stuffing?) the Gateway Refinement Plan for the benefit of PeaceHealth, the City of Springfield has done away with predictability in development in the Gateway area. Instead, it is deferring the key decisions to the master planning stage. The inevitable result is that some property owners, such as Musumeci, are angered that the rules keep changing or are unclear. Perhaps it is time to have a second look at Eugene, a community that is open for business? Meanwhile, the lawyers are working to clean up all the messes. In other news, there is a statewide push to open up more land for "shovel-ready" industrial development. The theory is that if only Oregon had vacant land sitting around, big companies with jobs would relocate here. But a more careful analysis reveals that many industrial sites have been sitting vacant for years, even decades -- so much so that some are being redesignated for residential and commercial uses. Indeed, the real shortage locally may be for residential lands. For example, PeaceHealth's 160 acres in the Gateway area is zoned for residential uses but is now planned for mostly commercial and hospital uses. While PeaceHealth says it plans to build residential units, we wonder if doing so will really replace the lost residential land. Summertime is here... and so are the highway construction projects. The work on the Willamette River bridge between Springfield and Glenwood should give us a taste of future work on the I-5 bridges over the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers and the I-5/Beltline interchange. For better or worse, our leaders are seeing to it that both hospitals will be located on the same (Springfield) side of the construction. We wonder about ambulances and traffic jams. To enjoy the summer weather and to get a different perspective on things, consider rafting down one of the two lovely rivers that define our community. Rob Zako, Editor 343-5201 rzako@efn.org ================================================================================ Health Options Digest June 8, 2003 Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR Monday, 6/9 - Springfield City Council Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield, 726-3700. 5:30 p.m. -- Work session, Jesse Maine Room. Agenda for TEAM Springfield Mid-Year Update Meeting July 16, 2003 (10 min.) [Mike Kelly] Springfield Utility Board Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement (10 min.) [Len Goodwin] 5:45 p.m. -- Executive (non-public) session, Jesse Maine Room. Negotiations for Property (20 min.) [John Tamalonis] http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/CMO/2003Council/060903%20agenda.pdf Wednesday, 6/11 - Lane County Board of Commissioners Commissioners' Conference Room, Public Service Bldg., 125 East 8th Ave., Eugene, 682-4203. Consent Calendar: In the Matter of Ratifying Counsel's Filing of a Motion to Intervene at LUBA in Jaqua et. al. v. Springfield. (Vorhes) Friday, 6/13 - The Jefferson Exchange KRVM Radio, AM 1280. 8:00 a.m. (and rebroadcast at 8:00 p.m.) -- "Getting from here to there; transportation, land-use, and other issues in planning and dealing with growth." The guests are Jim Croteau, a retired planner with the city of Eugene, and Steve Gordon, a retired planner with the Lane Council of Governments. Today's program is live from KRVM-AM 1280 in Eugene. The call in lines are (541) 687-5786 and (800) 285-2895. http://www.jeffnet.org/exchange/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PEACEHEALTH County joins landowners in hospital plan appeal The Register-Guard, 6/3/03, Page D3 The final lineup appears to be in place in the appeal of PeaceHealth's bid to build a $350 million hospital complex on residential land in the Gateway area of Springfield. On Friday, Lane County's office of legal counsel filed a motion to intervene in the appeal, joining John and Robin Jaqua, landowners near the proposed site, in their attempt to undo the city of Springfield's approval of the project. On May 15, PeaceHealth filed in support of Springfield to press for the hospital plan to go ahead. Besides the county, two land use watchdog groups have thrown their support behind the Jaquas' contention that the proposed hospital violates several statewide land use goals. They include the Coalition for Health Options in Central Eugene-Springfield, or CHOICES, and 1000 Friends of Oregon. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/03/d3.cr.digest.0603.html Decision made behind closed doors may have broken state law By Diane Dietz The Register-Guard, 6/5/03, Page D1 Lane County commissioners may have violated Oregon's open government law last week when deciding in private to put the county in the fight against PeaceHealth's RiverBend hospital plan. Commissioner Bill Dwyer said Wednesday that the board should have taken a public vote to follow up a decision it made about PeaceHealth during a May 27 executive session. Oregon law prohibits government bodies from taking final action or making final decisions during executive sessions, which are conducted outside the public eye. "I thought it would be easy to go into a public session and give direction," Dwyer said. So, without a public vote, the county joined an appeal of the hospital plan brought by two citizen groups. County officials contend that siting the hospital should be a regional decision, not just Springfield's alone. PeaceHealth wants to build its new $350 million hospital along the McKenzie River in the Gateway area. The state Land Use Board of Appeals is expected to review the case in the fall. The county's legal staff say the board didn't break open government laws because the board months ago signaled its intention to be involved in the PeaceHealth issue by sending a letter stating its concerns to the Springfield City Council. And last week's decision to join the appeal wasn't a change in directions, the staff said. Stephen Vorhes, assistant county counsel, said he decided to file intervention papers last Friday after listening to individual commissioners express their opinions. "There wasn't any formal direction or decision by the board. There was just conversation and each of the commissioners certainly weighed in," he said. "There have been situations where we've done things in executive session -- or talked about options in executive session -- and probably gone ahead and done things without necessarily coming out of the session and taking formal action," Vorhes said. "Probably that's more the norm than having the board come out and in public session take a formal vote on everything that's been discussed in executive session." Portland media lawyer Jack Orchard said when lawmakers give their opinions -- one after the next -- in executive session it's the same as a secret vote and it's prohibited by law. That also applies to other indications of support, such as head nods or other expressions of concurrence or consensus. "You either make a decision or you don't make a decision," Orchard said. "If a decision is made and an action directed, that has to be done within the formalities of a public session. The statute couldn't be clearer." (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/05/d1.cr.peacehealth.0605.html Slant PeaceHealth's hospital plans have been appealed by both CHOICES and the Jaqua family and it appears Lane County is intervening on behalf of the Jaquas. We hear 1000 Friends of Oregon is also joining in supporting both appeals. Oddly enough, DLCD, the state agency that was so strongly opposed to the project earlier on, has bowed out citing budget and people-power issues. But we suspect DLCD's on-the-record criticisms of the project will carry a lot of weight in the arguments. Meanwhile, PeaceHealth has agreed to pick up the tab on Springfield's side of the appeals. But we all know who pays eventually. (end) http://www.eugeneweekly.com/news.html#shorts1 http://www.eugeneweekly.com/archive/06_05_03/news.htm Hospital true to mission By Virginia Nafus, Eugene Letter to The Register-Guard, 6/5/03 Many people do not realize how supportive Sacred Heart Medical Center/PeaceHealth is of other organizations throughout our community and region. This support is given in many forms including financial contributions, free medical supplies, free technical assistance and free medical care for the needy. Organizations that regularly receive support from Sacred Heart include United Way, Centro LatinoAmericano, Birth To Three, Looking Glass, HIV Alliance, Whitebird, Volunteers in Medicine, school-based health centers and the Lane County Council on Domestic Violence, just to name a few. Sacred Heart is providing an increasing amount of free charity care at the hospital for the needy, totaling several million dollars each year. Sacred Heart has also provided free prenatal care to low-income women for many years, the only hospital I know of in the Northwest to do so. Why does Sacred Heart provide this care for the poor and contribute to other community organizations and groups? Because it is part of Sacred Heart's mission, and because Sacred Heart is committed to our community. Sacred Heart Medical Center has been a part of our community, a good neighbor, and a great hospital for almost 70 years. We are very fortunate indeed. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/05/ed.letters.0605.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COST OF HEALTH CARE (Eugene) City fees rise along with summer temperatures Ah, yes. 'Tis the season for garage sales, high pollen counts and last-minute garden-planting. And city fees. Own a home or business? A second citizen-based attempt to block a city fee to pay for street maintenance has been aborted, with current plans for the charges to be collected from all property owners beginning sometime in the fall. Got a curbside gutter? Starting next month, the city's treatment of the water flowing into it is going to cost you more. A ride to the hospital? Inflation is behind that one -- an annual cost adjustment for all ambulance services is set to go into effect, also next month. "Our intent is to do an annual adjustment so we capture the true cost of providing the service," Deputy Fire Chief Matt Shuler said. "And it's so we don't thump along and thump along (for several years), and then hit people with a 12 percent increase from one year to the next." For the ambulance fees, costs will rise by 2.7 percent -- the base rate for a one-way, emergency trip to the hospital goes to $750, with the per-mile rate going to $13.75. All other fees charged for emergency medical service -- from non-emergency transports to extra attendants on emergency calls -- will rise by the same percentage, which was based on Portland's consumer price index and a separate medical-industry price index. Only standby fees -- charged when ambulances are stationed at athletic or other special events -- will deviate from the percentage. They will instead go up by the same amount as the annual increase in salaries of ambulance crews. Shuler says the annual adjustments -- this will be the third year of the practice -- are keeping Eugene in the ballpark of other ambulance providers in a region that ranges from northern California to southern Washington. "We match ourselves up around the region, and I think we're in about the 70th percentile," Shuler says. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/08/c1.cr.citybeat.0608.html Shuttering crisis center will leave gap By Susan Ban Commentary in The Register-Guard, 6/5/03, Page A11 When ShelterCare announced the imminent closure of the Royal Avenue Crisis Respite Program for people with acute mental illness, people asked, "What is crisis respite?" and "Why do we need a crisis program?" For many, it was easier to identify with the tragedy of lost jobs and layoffs than to grasp the significance of lost services. To better understand the gravity of the Royal Avenue Program closure, it is important to answer those questions. Crisis respite is out-of-hospital care provided to people who are experiencing acute mental health issues, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Crisis programs allow residents to remain in the community during times of mental health crisis. ShelterCare's Royal Avenue Program alone serves approximately 550 people per year. These programs avert hospitalization and encourage a successful return to community living. Lane County's multiple crisis programs have been operating for decades. When things are working well, this system keeps crises from disrupting the community. When the current system unravels because of funding cuts, the need for crisis intervention may become more apparent. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/05/a11.ed.col.susanban.0605.html Local firms' grants total $55 million Lane County companies and agencies pulled in just over $55 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health in the latest federal fiscal year, a sign of the vibrancy of the county's medical research, education and bioscience industries, officials said Friday. Lane County ventures comprised nine of the top 25 Oregon recipients of NIH funding for the 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2002, said Jack Roberts, executive director of the Lane Metro Partnership, a business advocacy group. The $55 million constitutes just under a quarter of the $233.5 million that Oregon ventures received in total in NIH grants in that period, the group said. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/07/a15.bz.grants.0607.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEARBY DEVELOPMENTS Fireworks idea doesn't get off the ground with land developer City Manager Mike Kelly recently asked developer John Musumeci to kick in for a Fourth of July fireworks display. Kelly got the fireworks, all right, but not so much as a sparkler from Musumeci. Kelly was acting in his role as president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. He said Musumeci initially liked the idea of helping to make the show the biggest around; Musumeci said he only told Kelly to have the chamber staff talk to his people. At any rate, Musumeci's answer was ultimately no. That's "no" as in, "No, we won't work with a city that won't work with us." Musumeci said the city is ignoring a contract that entitles him to develop 12 acres in the Gateway area with commercial aspects. Meanwhile, Musumeci said, the city is letting competitor PeaceHealth, by far the biggest landowner in that area, move forward with plans for commercial development. City Attorney Joe Leahy has said the agreement with Musumeci doesn't guarantee commercial use for that property. But Musumeci is convinced that the city has eyes only for PeaceHealth and its CEO, Alan Yordy. "You have Mayor Yordy give me a call -- you can print that," Musumeci said this week. "They ought to change the name of the city to PeaceHealthville." Wait a second -- are we still talking about fireworks? "We are not going to make donations to cities who breach their contractual obligations with our company," Musumeci said. "We love Eugene and we love Springfield -- they're our cities. But we're not going to address requests from cities who look to hurt us." (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/07/b1.cr.spcitybeat.0607.html Factory flap: Call for more shovel-ready industrial sites sparks disagreement By Christian Wihtol The Register-Guard, 6/7/03, Page F1 To dig itself out of its economic slump, Oregon needs more big "shovel-ready" industrial sites for business expansions, Gov. Ted Kulongoski declared earlier this year. Some Lane County business advocates are eagerly taking up that cry, saying the industrial land shortage is acute in the Eugene-Springfield area. "Do we have enough industrial land? The short answer is no, we don't," said Jack Roberts, executive director of the Lane Metro Partnership, the county's main business recruitment agency. Eugene, Springfield and the county need to quickly launch a formal study of the industrial land supply and take steps to bulk up the inventory of ready-to-use sites, so that out-of-area manufacturers who want plenty of land will have a range of options to choose from if they want to come here, Roberts said. Eugene-based land dealer John Musumeci has been beating the land-supply drum on local television and radio shows. Recently on a KEZI-TV show, Musumeci pleaded for government officials to expand the urban growth boundary -- the development line around the two cities -- in order to create more industrial land. "We are not going to get anything, including new jobs, unless we expand the urban growth boundary," Musumeci asserted. Industrial land currently available in Eugene and Springfield is "the dregs," and "the bottom of the barrel," Musumeci said. But is Lane County's economy truly being hobbled by a lack of industrial land? Many industrial landowners, citizen activists and elected officials don't think so. Even a cursory look within the urban growth boundary shows there are hundreds of acres of industrial land, much of it already serviced with roads and utilities. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/08/f1.bz.industrial.0608.html LTD files suit over land for Springfield station SPRINGFIELD -- Lane Transit District has filed suit seeking court approval to claim property for a new bus station downtown. Les Swaggart, owner of land that includes Les' Service and Canopy Sales at the southwest corner of South A and Fifth streets, has rejected LTD's offer of $346,200 for land necessary for the new station, LTD marketing representative Cosette Rees said Tuesday. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/04/d3.cr.digest.0604.html Springfield theater in spotlight SPRINGFIELD -- The ability to improvise is crucial in theater, and Tom Draggoo got his chance to shine Wednesday. Draggoo, head of a group that is restoring the former McKenzie Theater at 630 Main St., was detailing the building's merits to a small crowd, when suddenly he lost power and the microphone in his hand went dead. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/05/d1.cr.theater.0605.html Wildish Theater raises the curtain It doesn't look like much now, but that could soon change. Members of the media and various arts groups got a peek Wednesday of the Richard E. Wildish Community Theater as Phase 2 of the building campaign gets under way. To date some $1.5 million has been raised toward the $2.3 million project. Phase 2, using the slogan "Raise the Curtain," is designed to bring in the remaining $800,000 for interior work. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/06/local/news03.txt Office construction projects in the works McKay Investment Co. will continue its seven-year renovation of the Oakway Center this summer, with the construction of a 9,300-square-foot office building at 2260 Oakmont Way. The $464,000 single-story building will be constructed at the site where an old 8,000-square-foot office building was demolished late last year. That building housed Columbia River Log Scaling & Grading Bureau, which moved to a smaller office at Oakway Center, said Steve Korth, project manager for McKay Investment. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/03/b1.bz.develop.0603.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Decision on road fees looms SPRINGFIELD -- The City Council will decide June 30 whether to kill its new road fee, and that means that the staff and Lane County have three weeks to find a better way to fund city streets. The Springfield and Eugene councils approved the fees in December for road budgets depleted by less funding from Lane County, which has received decreased federal reimbursements for former timber sales. The cities could start collecting the fee this fall. Both also have passed a 3-cent gas tax to begin in July or August. But due to a petition by Lane County Commissioner Bill Dwyer, Springfield must decide by July 2 whether to repeal the road fee or put it before voters Sept. 16. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/03/d1.cr.roadfees.0603.html City Council puts off road fee repeal until June 30 City councilors agreed Monday evening to postpone a decision on repealing the city's transportation system maintenance fee until late June and to move forward in "good faith" with Lane County commissioners to find an equitable way of sharing county road funds. "I would hope we can find a way to work this out," Councilor Stu Burge said. The City Council claims the county should share more of its road fund resources to help the city maintain its under-funded streets, and the county counters that it gives plenty of money for capital improvement projects within the city limits. But in the midst of their differences, city and county officials have met -- and will continue to meet -- to find a temporary funding solution that pleases both agencies, Mayor Sid Leiken said. The councilors agreed to meet again on June 30 to evaluate the progress of continued negotiations with the county and to decide whether the city should repeal its road fee, which was passed in December to raise $1 million annually for the city's ailing street fund. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/04/local/news1.txt Petitions won't be turned in against road fee increase Eugene's transportation system maintenance fee is an issue that just won't go away. Opponents of the fee tried to refer the matter to voters shortly after the City Council approved the fee early this year but failed to gather enough signatures. Then they went the initiative petition route, but recently notified the city that petitions would not be turned in when the deadline rolls around on Monday. But perhaps not for a lack of signatures, this time around. City officials got word in recent weeks that some petitions may have been left unattended at area businesses -- a violation of state law, which requires signature-gatherers to keep all initiative petitions in their possession. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/08/c1.cr.citybeat.0608.html Jasper Road extension a work in progress For many years residents of South 58th street have been concerned about traffic cutting through their neighborhood. South 57th Street cannot be accessed directly south of Main Street and people generally use South 58th Street to access South 57th Street. This summer work is expected to begin to remedy the situation. In what is being called the Jasper Extension, Phase I will redesign the intersection where Interstate 126 meets Main Street south to access South 57th Street. The four-lane intersection will include curbs, gutters and sidewalks and some redesign of the ramp configuration for easier southern access. The county project is estimated to cost $1.8 million in what is part of its Capital Improvement Projects program. Phase I bids will be let this summer and work is expected through spring of 2004, according to Ollie Snowden, Lane County Public Works director. Phase II will include about two miles of new two-lane road from Phase I south to Brand S Road. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/04/local/news7.txt Detours in place on Springfield bridges SPRINGFIELD -- Traffic on the Willamette River bridges that connect Franklin Boulevard to Main and South A streets was rerouted earlier today as a $2 million repair job on the spans got under way. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/04/d3.cr.bridge.0604.html Willamette River bridge closure scheduled through June 19 The eastbound bridge across the Willamette River on Highway 126, which connects Springfield and Glenwood, will be closed until June 19 while the bridge deck is replaced. Both east and westbound traffic will use the existing westbound bridge during the closure. http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/04/local/news6.txt Eastbound bridge under repair construction Drivers who get tangled up in traffic as they maneuver through the bridge project across the Willamette River to and from Glenwood might want to stop and consider a little history. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/06/local/news01.txt Slow down for bridge work A Springfield News Editorial Drivers who come into Springfield from Franklin Boulevard got a wake-up call Wednesday when the eastbound bridge crossing the Willamette River was closed and the westbound bridge began carrying two-way traffic. People who have been around for some 50 years remember when the westbound bridge was the only bridge and so carried two-way traffic. (A drive-in restaurant was located on the corner now occupied by U-Haul.) (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/06/opinion/news1.txt Detour bridge plan moving ahead The Springfield, Eugene and Lane County planning commissions voted Tuesday evening to recommend a discretionary use approval of Oregon Department of Transportation's plans to build a detour bridge over the Willamette River along Interstate 5. ODOT plans to construct a temporary bridge while it obtains funding and designs for a permanent bridge. A detour bridge is necessary because cracks have developed on the reinforced concrete beams that support the bridge deck, according to ODOT project leaders. During the joint meeting Tuesday, the appointed officials agreed to send ODOT's request to the elected officials on June 18 for a final decision. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/06/local/news02.txt A needless amendment: Proposal could derail bridge-road package A Register-Guard Editorial Oregon needs House Bill 2041, which would raise a variety of transportation-related fees to provide $2.5 billion over 10 years to repair cracked bridges in the state and to pay for other highway projects. House Speaker Karen Minnis, however, might allow a local dispute over how road funds are allocated to derail a measure that is essential to the entire state. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/07/ed.edit.roads.0607.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER NEWS City manager celebrates 35 years of service SPRINGFIELD -- City Hall reserves a good-natured roasting for its own, and it was City Manager Mike Kelly's turn Monday. Kelly was recognized for 35 years of service. In addition to a number of zingers about his (lack of) hunting and fishing expertise, two enlarged newspaper clippings hung on a wall to show Kelly circa 1970s, in full beard and with -- gasp! -- long hair. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/03/d3.cr.digest.0603.html City chooses Pappas as assistant manager position Cynthia Pappas, a long-time city of Springfield employee, has been named the next assistant city manager. She will officially take the helm after the City Council ratifies the decision on June 16. Pappas, who has worked for the city of Springfield for 15 years, has served in the interim position since Gino Grimaldi left in February to become city manager of Ashland. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/04/local/news2.txt Springfield official in line for new city job SPRINGFIELD -- Development Services Director Cynthia Pappas is likely to be the city's next assistant city manager, giving her the inside track to becoming city manager in two to three years. Pappas, 44, will be promoted if the City Council approves it June 16, City Manager Mike Kelly said Tuesday. Her salary would range from $80,000 to $96,000. Kelly, who turns 60 on Monday, may retire in two to three years. In his 14th year as city manager, he makes $135,000. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/04/d3.cr.digest.0604.html (Springfield) Community development There are five vacancies on the city's Community Development Advisory Committee, which advises the City Council on housing and community development. The positions opened because of the term expirations of Roxie Cuellar, Jeffrey Horowitz, Bonnie Peterson, Gayle Decker and Dan Egan. They are all eligible to re-apply. Two of the new terms will continue through Dec. 31, 2005. The other three will continue through March 31, 2007. Applicants must be residents. Low-income earners, residents of lower-income neighborhoods, racial and ethnic minorities, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and female heads of household are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. June 20. Applications are available at the City Manager's Office, City Hall, 225 Fifth St. For more information, call Kevin Ko at 726-2302. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/07/b1.cr.spcitybeat.0607.html East Lane commissioner submits resignation East Lane County Commissioner Tom Lininger submitted a letter of resignation to the Lane County Board of Commissioners May 27 so that he can begin teaching law school at the University of Oregon. In a brief notice to Board Chairman Peter Sorenson, Lininger stated his resignation will be effective Aug. 15. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/04/local/news4.txt Questions welcome The East Lane position on the board of county commissioners will be vacant on Aug. 15, following the resignation of Commissioner Tom Lininger, and the rest of the board wants to know what they should ask candidates who want to replace him. People with questions for potential commissioner candidates may forward them to the county by June 16. The questions should relate to issues important to east county residents. To submit questions, mail them to Ethel Mashaw, County Administration, Public Service Building, 125 E. Eighth Ave., Eugene, OR 97401 or e-mail them to her at ethel.c.mashaw@co.lane.or.us. For more information, call 682-4203. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/06/d1.cr.countybeat.0606.html Commissioners gather questions for East Lane appointee application The Lane County Board of Commissioners has begun preparing questions for the application process that will be a part of appointing a new county commissioner for the East Lane District. Commissioner Tom Lininger, who has served in the position since January, resigned from his four-year term effective Aug. 15 so that he can teach law at the University of Oregon. Commissioners discussed how to approach choosing a new member Wednesday afternoon, deciding it would be an open process to the public that will include an application and interview process by commissioners. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/06/local/news04.txt Towery chosen as Land Management Division manager Jeff Towery, who has been acting manager of the Lane County Land Management Division since last August, has been named manager of that division. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/06/local/news09.txt Fund-raising likely to increase greatly A Springfield News Editorial Last weekend saw two successful and entertaining fund-raisers in the community. A celebrity roast that skewered Mayors Jim Torrey of Eugene and Sid Leiken of Springfield took place Friday night at the DoubleTree and Vineyards & Violins occurred Saturday evening at the Willamalane Adult Activity Center. The celebrity roast was a fund-raiser for Direction Service, a nonprofit agency that says its mission is to "assist people with disabilities and special needs to live the fullest lives possible." It works with various other agencies in the area as well as providing programs of its own. Unfortunately, many people haven't heard of Direction Service, even though it started in 1977. The event drew between 150 and 200 people. It was a good-natured evening with Torrey being roasted by Gene Manley of Manley Administrative Services/Pacific Source, Lane County Commissioner Bobby Green and Dave Hauser of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. Those roasting Leiken were PeaceHealth CEO Alan Yordy, City Manager Mike Kelly and younger brother Brad Leiken. (One of the best zingers of the night came from Hauser, who talked about various slogans Torrey had considered for his city. One of them was "Eugene, Oregon: Gateway to Gateway.") (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/04/opinion/news1.txt Public Relations: One has a passion for advocacy, the other for marketing Jenny Ulum hung her shingle for the first time in late 1995 after colleagues gave her the push she needed to open her own public relations firm. (snip) The Ulum Group doesn't typically release the names of its clients; however, its legislative clients include Girl Scouts, Willamette Dental Group and PeaceHealth Oregon Region. (snip) Liz Cawood moved to Eugene in 1974 at a time when public relations was obscure and nobody seemed to understand what she had to offer. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/06/04/business/news1.txt --------------------------------------------------------------------------------