Bob Spangler, 1924-2008
The word "legend" is overused these days, but I am confident it's appropriate when I say Newport and Lincoln County lost a legend today. Bob Spangler, the voice of KNPT radio for half a century, died at age 84.
I had the privlige of working alongside Bob on the KNPT morning program for 14 years, from 1991 to 2004. I was his longest-running partner in a career that will never be matched and never be forgotten.
Bob came to KNPT in 1952, and except for a few years spent in Eugene in the early 1960s, and a brief move to KTDO in the mid-80s, stayed for the rest of his life.
In this era of corporate, satellite programmed radio, the Internet, 24-hour cable, cell phones, text messages, instant messaging, bringing us a steady flood of information and entertainment, it may be difficult to appreciate what Bob and KNPT once meant to this community. Although KNPT is still a vital information source, and Bob was behind the mike right up until the end, there was a time in the 50s, 60s and early 70s when he was truly the hub of the community.
At least half of Newport knew Bob personally, but those who didn't would sometimes ask me what he was like. I always told them, "What you hear is what you get." The man behind the mike was the same man off-mike, upbeat, warm and optimistic. Of course, a big part of the Spang legend was his identifcation with his beloved Newport Cubs. He covered three-plus generations of Newport High athletes, and I think that had a lot to do with keeping him forever young in spirit.
When I left KNPT to take my present job, I told Bob that sharing the morning program with him had made it worthwhile to get up so early. He thanked me and told me to "be good to my kid." (In case you didn't know, Bob's son Matt has been director of the county's Planning Department since 1986.)
Godspeed Bob, and thanks for the memories.--Posted 8/25/08
I'm Running Again
Last week, I filed to run for a second term as commissioner. The following is the text of the release I sent to local media:
Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall has filed to run for re-election. Hall, who was elected in 2004, is seeking renomination in the May primary election.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to talk with voters about the past four years—and the next four,” Hall said. “Four years ago I was running on what I hoped to accomplish. Today, I feel I’ve got a solid record of performance, but there’s still a lot to do.”
Hall chaired the work group that established the Lincoln County Drug Court, which provides court-supervised treatment to selected offenders. The county has received almost $400,000 in state and federal funds for the program, and recently applied for an additional $200,000 in federal dollars. If that grant request is successful, the capacity of the court would grow from 25 to 40 people.
“Drug Courts are proven to break the cycle of addiction,” Hall said. “They reduce crime, save the system money, and transform lives.”
Lincoln County’s long-range plan to address homelessness and affordable housing, “At Home in Lincoln County,” was the product of an effort spearheaded by Hall, who also co-wrote the plan. “We have a number of projects in the works as the result of the plan,” he said. “It’s vital that we address the issues of workforce housing and homelessness if we want to maintain diverse, economically healthy communities.”
During his first year in office, Hall worked with the cities of Newport, Lincoln City and Toledo to expand the county’s successful ordinance which requires repeat drunk drivers to forfeit their vehicles. He also spearheaded the reintroduction of electronic home monitoring for people on parole or awaiting trial, which he said has saved the county money and freed up jail space.
As Lincoln County’s representative on the Cascades West Council of Governments board, Hall successfully fought a plan that would have led to closure of senior meal sites in Waldport, Toledo and Siletz and served on an ad-hoc committee that worked to build new community supports for the program.
Hall also oversaw expansion of the county’s Veterans Service office to two full-time staffers and is the commissioners’ liaison to the Lincoln Commission on Children and Families, which was recently restored to independent status after having been part of the Health and Human Services Department.
Commissioner Hall has been active at the state level in many areas. He is vice-chair of the Oregon Ending Homelessness Advisory Council and the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Programs, and chairs the Human Services Steering Committee of the Association of Oregon Counties. He is active in the Oregon Housing Alliance.
“It’s important for our county to be well-represented in Salem,” Hall said. “Decisions made there have a direct impact on the services we deliver to the people of Lincoln County.”
Hall said he’s proud of the strong working relationship he’s forged with fellow commissioners Don Lindly and Terry Thompson. “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to manage our tax dollars and other resources wisely,” Hall said. “We’ve been able to maintain and improve services while also increasing our reserves.”
Hall said goals for his second term include establishment of a Mental Health Court and a Relief Nursery. “Mental Health Courts operate on the Drug Court model,” Hall said. “Our jails and prisons are the largest providers of mental health services in the country. That’s a role they aren’t equipped for. Relief Nurseries bring together wraparound services for our most vulnerable families.”
Hall said he’s also concerned about planning for the coming age wave—the aging of the county’s population. “This will have tremendous impacts on health care, housing, transportation, recreation and other aspects of life. We’re starting to have this conversation, but it needs to happen at every level of government and in the larger community.”
Hall said he’s worked hard to be accessible to residents of every part of the county through attendance at and participation in a variety of community events. He serves on the board of directors for several non-profit agencies dealing with the impacts of poverty, abuse and addictions. “I said I would be a commissioner for all of Lincoln County, and I’ve kept that promise.”
Hall, 48, lives in Newport with his wife and two children.
A New Year
I sometimes find it hard to believe I'm already halfway through my term as commissioner. This year, I will be chair of the board. Here, as in many counties, that job is rotated on an annual basis. For the most part, it's a ceremonial position, but I'm appreciative of the honor nevertheless.
As we move into 2007, I find myself focusing on the same issues I've been working on over the past couple of years. Some exciting things are happening, espeically in the housing and addictions areas.
The development of our 10-year housing and homeless plan for the county continues. We will have two public meetings this month (Jan. 17, 1:30 p.m., Lincoln City City Hall and Jan. 24, 10 a.m., Waldport City Hall) and I would encourage everyone with an interest in this subject to attend.
I continue as Co-Chair of Oregon's Ending Homelessness Advisory Committee, which is working to better define the problem of homelessness, improve coordination of services offered by state agencies, and provide advocacy at the state level.
The county has also joined the Oregon Housing Alliance, which is lobbying for $100 million in new money in the state budget for housing and homelessness. Most of this would come from a $15 increase in the current $25 fee charged for recording real estate transaction documents in the office of the county clerk.
As I've discussed here before, addictions treatment, prevention and recovery in this state is badly underfunded. The consequences in broken lives and familes, increased crime and greater health care costs is clear. But it looks like daylight is ahead. The governor's budget calls for $17 million in new money. And while it's looking like an uphill fight, we have a chance at winning the first increase in the beer tax in 30 years. That would generate an additional $50 million a year. Even that wouldn't get us back to where we were before the steep cuts of the past few years, but at least it would put us back on track.
Although these issues are among the closest to my heart, I still put a lot of time and energy into a number of other areas. I will discuss some of those here in future posts.--Posted 1/12/07
An Overdue Update
I'm sorry I haven't written in some time. It seems that the pace of this job is quickening all the time. Fortunately, several things I'm involved in are moving forward in a positive way.
DRUG COURT--Staff and contracts are in place and the first cases are being referred. This will make a huge difference in the lives of people who participate.
STATE POLICY ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE--I'm working with other members of the Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Programs to build support for a plan to rebuild our treatment and prevention capacities in this state. We can't afford to let lives be destroyed and families be broken apart any longer. We can't afford the impacts on the health and legal systems of this neglect. I hope the governor and legislature will see the wisdom of this; I believe awareness is steadily growing.
HOMELESSNESS/HOUSING--I've been selected vice chair of the state homeless council, which will give me an opportunity to play an important role in making people aware of the human and economic impacts of homelessness. We had a great kick-off event for our local plan in September, which featured an inspiring talk by Philip Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. We've had great support from all over the county in developing a long-term plan to address not only homelessness but our housing affordability crisis.
EQUALITY TASK FORCE--I was honored to be invited by Lincoln City City Councilor Rick Brisette to testify before the Governor's Equality Task Force when it came to the county in September. I joined several other community leaders in supporting the concepts of an antidiscrimition law that includes gay and transgender people and a civil unions law. I believe if we are truly committed to the worth and dignity of every person, we must take these steps.
WAVE ACTION POWER--Commissioner Terry Thompson is the leader on this one, but I'm an enthusiastic supporter of this one. I think we have an opportunity to devleop a clean energy source that will have less environmental impact that current sources. We can also become a leader in development and manufacturing of these devices, which could develop into a major source of family-wage jobs.
MEETINGS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS--Congresswoman Darlene Hooley was in the county last month; so was the Governor's Economic Revitalization team, which includes the leaders of several major state agencies. I joined other county and city officials in meetings with this officials. I think it's important for local officials to be advocates for our needs at the state and federal levels. Many of the decisions made in Washington, D.C. and Salem directly impact our ability to provide services and meet needs locally.--Posted 10/23/06
Great News
Last week, we received official word that our application for grant funds to establish a drug court have been approved. We will receive almost $195,000 in federal and state funds, which will provide desparately needed resources to help people in our communities recovering from addicition, especially pregnant women and mothers.
The drug court model is a classic "carrot and stick" approach--strong incentives to encourage good behavior, and immediate sanctions for not staying with the program. And it works: close to 60 percent of people convicted of drug crimes who don't go through drug court end up reoffending. For participants in Oregon drug courts over a three-year period, that rate was 10 percent. The results are similar in other states.
Another piece of good news was Judge Robert Huckleberry's agreement to be the drug court judge. We have several fine judges in our county, but everyone involved in putting this program together agreed that he has the right skills, experience and personality for the job.--Posted 7/3/06
Housing and Homelessness
I spent a lot of time last month addressing housing and homelessness issues. I testified in Salem before a joint interim committee looking at the shortage of affordable housing in the state. I had been told that some legislators thought this was only an urban problem; I wanted to assure them that wasn't the case.
I talked about the rise in demand for housing in our county, especially with the growing market in second homes, and the steady spiral in home prices. We saw 1,000 new housing starts in the county last year, but only 100 new full-time residents. I pointed out that a couple of years ago, we were hearing about service industry businesses having trouble attracting workers because of the cost to buy or rent a home; now it's happening even with jobs that pay family wages.
I urged the committee to look seriously at the agenda of the Oregon Housing Alliance, which wants to boost the state's housing trust fund from $13 million a year to $100 million. They would accomplish this with a few reasonable steps, including a $15 increase in the fee for recording real estate documents.
I was back in Salem later in the month for a statewide leadership conference sponsored by the U-S Interagency Council on Homelessness. Several county commissioners, mayors and city council members were on hand to learn more about the strategy being promoted by the federal government to develop 10-year-plans to end homelessness.
One of the first speakers was Portland Mayor Tom Potter. Portland has done it's own 10-year plan, and is about a year and a half into implementation. I was honored to be asked to follow Mayor Potter to the podium. As I've discussed earlier on this site, we're moving ahead with our own 10-year plan in the county. My talk noted that almost eight percent of the children in our schools are homeless. So are six percent of those booked into the Lincoln County Jail. I emphasized the point that others did: taking real steps to end homelessness is both cost-effective and humane.
I concluded my talk by acknowledging that some people have been skeptical about the value of doing a plan, but explained why we decided to move ahead:
A couple of ideas persuaded us this would be the right step. We decided that if we had a plan that clearly defined our needs, and presented specific solutions, we would be in a stronger position to utilize existing resources and leverage new ones.
We also saw some encouraging developments at the state level, especially the Governor’s recent move to appoint a state Interagency Council to End Homelessness. Your attendance today is further evidence that this is a statewide problem, and there’s a lot of interest in working together toward solutions.
Once we had the will, we needed the means. We didn’t have the resources within our planning departments; nor could we spare funds to hire consultants. We decided to approach our regional Community Action Agency, the Community Services Consortium. The CSC’s leadership accepted this challenge. Their existing housing staff, bolstered by an Americorps volunteer, will coordinate development of the Lincoln County plan. We are now in the process of expanding our Housing Network Steering Committee to bring even more stakeholders to the table. We will kick off a series of public forums in September, and hope to have a completed plan about a year later.
Then the real work will begin. It will take imagination…creativity…commitment of resources…and most important of all, sustained political will.
The solutions to our shelter problems won’t be simple, quick, or cheap. But as John Kennedy said so memorably, “Let us begin.” For the sake of our collective economic well-being, let us begin. For the sake of our children, let us begin. For the sake of our future, let us begin.--Posted 7/3/06
Checking In
My apologies to all who visit this site about my negligence in keeping my journal up-to-date. I do regularly update the "appearances" page, but have not been writing much about the many projects I've been involved in. A few quick highlights:
BUDGET: As you may have read in the News-Times, we recently completed our public budget hearings. I'm extremely pleased that we find ourselves in excellent financial shape. Many factors go into this, but some are: conservative budgeting and spending practices; higher-than-expected revenues from state forests; and additional revenues generated by all the new development. This has allowed us to maintain current staffing and programs, as well as taking other important steps. Chief among these are reopening the jail pod we closed last year and dealing with several years of accumulated building maintenance projects. The jail pod is vital to improving public safety, but investing in our facilities is important to protect the public's very large stake in these properties.
DRUG COURT GRANT: Recently. we submitted two applications for state dollars that would provide major support for establishing a Drug Court in the county. Drug Courts direct certain offenders into closely-supervised treatment. There are about 1,700 of them in operation around the country, including 20 of the 36 Oregon counties, and they have shown a remarkable record of success in slowing the revolving door of jails and prisons.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION: I continue working with the Governor's Council on A+D Programs. I have joined the board of the Trueman Recovery Center, and expect to soon join the board of Thugz Off Drugz, a transitional program for recovering addicts as well. The theme I'm continuing to stress is the importance of a comprehensive approach. We need effective enforcement, treatment, recovery and prevention programs. We can't neglect any of these if we expect to make real headway in this area.
HOUSING PLAN: My colleagues have agreed to move forward with development of a 10-year plan to address affordable housing and homelessness in the county. Work on the plan will be coordinated by the Community Services Consortium. More than 220 of these plans have been done nationally, and they show real promise in effectively channelling new resources and generating new dollars to address this important issue.--Posted May 1, 2006
Domestic Violence and Meth
The Governor's Council on Domestic Violence came to Lincoln City today. At the request of Theresa Wisner of My Sister's Place, I offered testimony on the link between methamphetamine use and domestic violence. My remarks were as follows:
As you know, the methamphetamine epidemic has been uniquely costly to Oregon, both in terms of wasted resources and shattered lives. We can be proud that our leaders have taken the initiative to virtually shut down the dangerous manufacturing of this drug in our neighborhoods. But the meth is still here. It’s coming in from beyond our borders, and until Congress can muster the same kind of courage our state leaders have, it will continue its reign of destruction.
How pervasive is this problem? Last year, the National Association of Counties, NACO, conducted a survey of 500 law enforcement agencies in 45 states. Fifty-eight percent cited meth as their biggest drug problem. The highest meth percentages were on the West Coast and in the Upper Midwest. In that same survey, 62 percent of the law enforcement agencies reported increases in domestic violence because of meth use.
The NACO survey may be the most comprehensive snapshot of the problem to date, but there are many other sources that report similar findings. For instance, police in Contra Costa County, California, report that meth is involved in almost 90 percent of the domestic dispute cases they investigate.
The professionals in the domestic violence field I’ve spoken with tell me that in most cases, alcohol and drug use does not cause domestic violence, though it can serve as a trigger. That’s apparently not the case with meth, however. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency in the U.S. Department of Justice, the extreme agitation and paranoia associated with use of the stimulant often leads to situations where violence is more likely to occur. The DEA says chronic use of meth can cause delusions and auditory hallucinations that precipitate violent behavior or response. Another disturbing point to note is that methamphetamine, like PCP, shuts off the part of the brain that tells you to stop kicking someone when they’re down. All mammals have this—you see it in action when a dog involved in a fight rolls over on its back in a gesture of surrender. The other dog immediately stops the attack. But meth short-circuits the response to this. This can elevate an already violent situation into a tragedy of much greater magnitude.
These are bleak facts. But there are encouraging steps being taken. On a local level, the board of My Sisters’ Place has chosen meth and DV as a focus area this year; the agency is beginning to look at ways to address cross-training and services that overlap both issues. At a state level, the Children, Adults and Families Unit in the Department of Human Services is sponsoring a one-day forum on the subject March 23rd in Salem; this will set the stage for a series of regional forums later this year.
Identifying the problem and developing strategies to fight it are important steps. But we also need more resources. One of my roles is membership on the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Programs. Over the past four years, this state has seen a major erosion of its treatment capacity. We now rank 46th overall in access to treatment, and 49th for young adults. I would suggest that your council consider partnering with our council and other groups who are committed to rebuilding our treatment system. This would be a major positive step toward curtailing domestic violence.--Posted Feb. 3, 2006
A First-Year Commissioner Reflects
As I begin my second year as a Lincoln County Commissioner, I want to take this opportunity to look back, look ahead, and offer thanks. Perhaps the best way to start is by answering some of the questions I hear most frequently. A lot of people want to know if I like the job…. I love it! Serving the people of Lincoln County is an honor and a privilege. I enjoy the variety of issues we deal with, the challenges, and the opportunity to work with people from every walk of life and every part of the county.
Are there any frustrations that go with the job? Of course. First and foremost would be our inability to do all the things we would like to accomplish. The needs and opportunities are unlimited, but our resources are not. That makes it all the more important that we continue to spend the dollars that are available to us wisely.
I’ve also learned that the demands on our time are great. It’s tough, if not impossible, to be in two—or three—places at once. There’s always a big stack of paperwork waiting in the office. We can’t always get to it right away, because as commissioners, we serve on a number of boards and committees, and we’re invited to attend a very long list of meetings and community events. Like my colleagues, I say yes whenever I can, but I see this will be an increasing challenge in the years ahead. And we aren’t just involved at the local level…. it’s important that we work with state and federal officials to advocate for our local needs and interests. This frequently takes us out of the county, but it’s an absolutely essential part of the job.
I’ve worked on a number of issues this year, and would like to share thoughts on a few of them. I’m very pleased that we, as a county, were able to reach an agreement with the Siletz Tribal Council for an annual donation to help cover property tax revenues that are lost when tribal properties are taken into federal trust. As Commissioner Thompson has stated, this is a step toward making sure all citizens of the county are treated equally, while recognizing the tribe’s sovereign status. This agreement should be only the first step in what I hope will be a stronger two-way channel of communication and cooperation between the county and the tribe.
I was a member of the steering committee that put together the 2005 Housing Summit, and served as facilitator of that event. I believe we succeeded in our first two goals: increasing community awareness of shelter issues and building stronger bridges between the groups addressing this problem. This was a good start, but the real hard work--making sure every resident of this county has access to decent, safe, affordable housing--lies ahead. People are beginning to see that affordable housing is tied to eradicating poverty, improving education, and maintaining our economic health. Dealing with the housing issue may be the single most important thing we can do to maintain and improve our quality of life.
A commissioner serves every resident of Lincoln County, but I believe there’s an extra obligation to serve as a voice for those who lack the most basic needs. That’s why I have joined others to address the housing issue; that’s why I took an active role in this year’s hunger awareness week, and am serving on a regional committee looking at the future of the senior meals program. There was a lot of justifiable public concern about potential cuts to the meals program, but that’s really just one sign of the many ways in which our safety net for the poor, disabled and elderly is being eroded.
Illegal drugs and alcohol abuse have taken a terrible toll on our communities. I was honored to be appointed to the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Programs this summer. I am also pleased that an effort to expand our DUII forfeiture program to the cities of Lincoln City, Newport and Toledo has succeeded. Under this program, someone convicted of drunk driving three times in ten years will lose his or her vehicle. By taking away the chronic drunk driver’s weapon—a vehicle—we’re making our roads safer. Addressing the alcohol and drug problem successfully requires a three-legged approach: prevention, treatment and enforcement are all vital. I’m going to be working at both the local and state levels to find ways to do more in all areas, and do it better. It’s not going to be easy, but it needs to be done.
I’ve only been able to address a few issues in this report. There are many others, the larger question of public safety foremost among them. We made some positive steps, like adding two patrol deputies to the sheriff’s office, expanding the work crew program, and bringing back electronic home detention. But we still haven’t found an answer to a challenge that the county’s faced for more than a decade—finding a way to adequately fund the operation of our county jail.
We also know that the public is much more aware of the need to be prepared for natural disasters. We have taken positive steps in this area. More needs to be done, and more will be done. It’s much like the alcohol and drug problem—the answers aren’t simple or cheap. Money is part of the answer, but creativity and teamwork are just as important.
My experience this year has brought home one other very valuable lesson: no elected official can accomplish much on his or her own. It takes building trust, cooperation and partnerships among diverse and often competing interests. That’s why I’d like to close by extending my thanks to everyone I’ve worked with this year who shares my interest in making Lincoln County a better place to live. That includes a large number of individuals and groups, our partners in government at other levels, and especially the hundreds of dedicated men and women who serve the public as employees of Lincoln County. Finally, I want to offer a special thanks to Commissioners Thompson and Lindly. They’ve been generous with their time, advice and patience; they’ve been great mentors, colleagues and friends. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that 2006 will bring.--Posted 1/4/06
Housing Summit
Today, more than 100 people gathered at the Embarcadero in Newport for "2005 Housing Solutions for Lincoln County," a summit on the entire spectrum of housing issues facing our communities, from emergency shelter to affordable, permanent housing. In addition to the impressive turnout, it was great to see so many different groups represented: employees of government, non-profit agencies, the faith community, volunteers, bankers, real estate professionals, and several people who have been or are now homeless. We had energizing keynote speeches from Bob Repine, head of Oregon's Housing and Community Developemnt department and Marian Hammond, a policy advisor to Governor Kulongoski. At lunch, we heard from a man who has been in the trenches and is now working at the federal level, Paul Carlson of HUD, who is part of the ten-year national effort to end homelessness.
As the name of the event implies, the focus was on solutions to the problem. We talked about community education, political action, greater partnerships between the agencies, and more. At the closing session, one woman stated the case well when she said today should not be an end, but a beginning. The summit steering commitee will be meeting soon to assess the event and start planning the next steps. My thanks to everyone for their hard work and active participation that made this day a success.--Posted 10/6/05
Agreement With Siletz Tribe
Earlier this month, the Board of Comimssioners and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz signed an agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz which will see the tribe make an annual contribution of $85,000 to the county for services. This is in recognition of property tax revenues that are lost when properties the tribe purchases are taken into federal trust. The amount of the contribution will be adjusted annually to account for inflation and the agreement will be reviewed once every four years and adjusted to take into account new properties taken into trust.
I was very pleased with the tone and progress of the talks. I believe tribal leaders gained a greater understanding of county government, which county officials gained a greater understanding of the tribal government. This added revenue will be very helpful at a time when the county finds it increaisngly difficult to maintain vital services, due to tax limitation measures, the state of the economy, rising costs and other factors.
This agreement also opens the doors to an an ongoing dialogue between the county and the tribe which I believe will be of increasing value as the years pass. The tribe is working very hard to gain increasing economic independence for its people, and will only play a greater role in the economy and life of the county as the years pass. My kudos to Tribal Chairman Dee Pigsley and County Commission Chair Terry Thompson for the tone they set for these talks.--Posted 9/26/05
Highway 20, At Last
After a series of speeches and the ceremonial turning of earth with golden shovels, work is finally under way on the last great piece of rebuilding Highway 20 The Pioneer Mountain to Eddyville segment is due to be complete by October, 2009.
History was one of the themes in today's speeches. The present alignment of the highway dates to 1917, and efforts to straighten it date as far back as the 1950s. Several organizations who have spearheaded this effort, including the old Highway 20 Association and the Cascades West Council of Goverments, were acknowledged. So were the many, many individuals who have labored for this cause.
Economics were also front and center today. Not only will this construction project support dozens of jobs, it will have lasting financial benefit for the region, allowing goods and people to move from the valley to the coast with far greater efficiency. This will truly be the gateway to a new era of coastal prosperity.
As important as these things are, the most important message today was about safety...about lives lost and lives saved. My colleague, Commissioner Don Lindly, has labored tirelessly for more than 15 years to this cause. I think he struck an appropriate note when he dedicated this project to Jamie Osborn, a 17-year-old Lincoln City resident killed in a 1994 accident on the corner just east of the Chitwood Bridge. The car he was riding in collided head-on with an empty fuel tanker.
This project may have come too late for Jamie Osborn and the others who have lost their lives on those treacherous curves, but we can be thankful, as Commissioner Lindly pointed out, for the future lives saved.--Posted 8/3/05
Senior Meals Committee
Today I participated in the first meeting of an ad hoc committee exploring the future of the Senior Meals program in Lincoln, Linn and Benton counties. This committee was established by the board of the Cascades West Council of Governments (COG), sponsor agency for the meals program in the three-county region.
The impetus for establishing the committee was the funding challenges the program has faced in the past couple of years. Costs are rising and federal and state dollars to support the program are not keeping pace. Scott Bond, director of senior and disability services for the COG, says we need to explore new resources and new models for providing these services. The panel includes COG board members and staff and volunteers involved with the meals program.
There was a wide-ranging discussion of ideas for resource development, marketing, and service delivery. Some of the ideas put on the table included working with service clubs; contracting with assisted living facilities to serve as meal sites; restaurant vouchers; and high-visibility community fund-raising and awareness activities. The COG staff was asked to develop data in a number of areas including cost trends for the program and rates of senior participation. There will be contacts with meal programs around the state and with the national senior meals organization to seek information on innovative programs.
At least two field trips are planned. One will be to Loaves and Fishes, the non-profit agency that serves as senior meals contractor in Portland; another will be to the meal site in the Benton County community of Monroe. The COG dropped its sponsorship of the Monroe meal site several years ago, but the community stepped forward to keep it going.
The committee will be meeting for several months. The plan is to develop specific proposals that can be tested in communities. The ultimate goal is a sustainable program that can meet the social and nutritional needs of our seniors.--Posted July 7, 2005
Governor's A+D Council
I'm pleased to report that Governor Ted Kulongoski has appointed me to a four-year term on his Council on Alcohol and Drug Programs. I'm excited about this opportunity to help in this critical area. As I've stated before, I think we're making significant headway in the fight against methamphetamine, but this is only one battle, not the war. Even if we significantly reduce access to this drug, those in the throes of addicition will find others to take its place. For this reason, it's vitally important that we strengthen our resources in the areas of prevention and treatment.
Due in large part to the dismantling of the Oregon Health Plan, our state now ranks 45th among the 50 states in access to treatment. Among young adults, one of the must vulnerable populations, we rank 49th. This must change. Addicition causes a huge economic toll, and a huge human toll. There's abundant evidence to show that treatment works, and it's cost-effective.
I was asked to apply for this council position by Sharron Kelley, a former Multnomah County Commissioner who now lives in Lincoln County. She's a council member, along with a couple of members of the legislature. There are also several council members who work in the field of prevention and treatment, both in the public and private sectors. However, there was no one currently serving in local government on the council, and Sharron thought it important to have that perspective. The tasks ahead are huge, but be can--indeed, we must--face them.--Posted 7/5/05
Tsunami Alert
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occured at 7:51 last night in the Pacific Ocean, northwest of Eureka, California. Because the quake was located about 95 miles offshore, the West Coast Tsunami Center issued a tsunami alert. That alert was cancelled at about 9:09 p.m. after additional data was received from offshore buoys which indicated no tsunami had been generated.
How effective was our official response? I think we did well overall. Local dispatchers begam immediate notification of fire, police and ambulance services. The fire services in Yachats, Waldport, Seal Rock, Newport, Depoe Bay and Lincoln City all began precautionary evacuations from the beaches and low-lying areas. It appears that several hundred people were moved quickly, and with a mimimum of confusion.
Lincoln County Emergency Services was in touch with local and regional broadcast media to provide the most current information available, which was also quickly posted on the county's website.
Some people don't think the response was extensive enough. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) was not activated, as there were not indications of an actual tsunami developing. If the EAS had been needed, it would have been used. Many people are also wondering about sirens. Some communities have chosen to have sirens, while others have not. Some of those that are in place were not in working condition. There are a lot of limitations to sirens along the coast, including the effects of the coastal environment and the spread-out nature of our populations. Direct notice to those in greatest nature, with the EAS used for wider-scale notifications, seems to be the best approach.
This isn't to say we can't learn to do things better. Commissioner Terry Thompson commented at today's board meeting that until last night, he had never thought about surfers, and the need to make contact with them if a tsunami develops. Emergency Services Director Jim Hawley said he will look into that.--Posted 6/15/05
A Great Monday
Today has brought two pieces of very good news for Lincoln County. The state Community and Economic Development Department confirmed that My Sister's Place has received an $800,000 Community Development Block grant toward construction of their new domestic violence shelter in the Lincoln City area. Added to $330,000 in grant funds that have already been commited, this puts the project just $30,000 from its goal. The existing shelter is a two-bedroom home in the north county. It houses as many as 17 women and children per night, and is inadequate in many ways, such as meeting the needs of older women, or those with disabilities.
Just last week, I was appointed to the board of My Sister's Place. I am honored to have the opportunity to help this organization in its very important mission of serving victims of domestic violence, as well as educating the public about the scope of this problem, and working to prevent its spread. One important task has been accomplished, but as always, there's still much to be done!
The other great news comes from the U.S. Forest Service, which announced today the majority of employees and business functions for its district office will be returning to Waldport. This will bring about 55 jobs back to South Lincoln County that were shifted to Florence several years ago as part of a Forest Service consolidation and reorganization effort.
To those of us in Lincoln County, this was the obvious move all along. The Forest Service still owns the building in Waldport--the space it now occupies in Florence is leased! But the wheels sometimes turn slowly at the federal level. In fact, the official announcement today says that implementation will take place over a two to three year period in order to reduce the impacts to current employees and the public. Nevertheless, the right decision has been made, and it's great news for Waldport and all of Lincoln County.--Posted 6/13/05
On The Mend
As you may have heard, I developed a condition which required surgery and a three-night, four-day hospital stay last week. My thanks to my surgeon, Dr. Michael Egan, and all the staff at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, for excellent care. I'm recuperating, but the recovery may be a bit slow. I'm going to do my best to return to duty as soon as possible!--Posted 6/3/05
A Visit From Ron Wyden
Oregon's Senior Senator, Ron Wyden, was in the county Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon, I joined several other local leaders for a visit by Sen. Wyden to the Newport High School health clinic. The clinic is one of six locations for the new Lincoln Community Health Center, funded by a three-year federal grant. Sen. Wyden spoke about his firm belief in the value of the Federally Qualified Health Center program as the best means to provide care to provide health care to our neediest citizens.
On Thursday morning, the senator met with the Board of Commissioners and the mayors of local communities. He again spoke of his commitment to the cause of affordable medical care for all, noting that he and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) are sponsoring a bipartisan bill aimed at containing the steadily rising cost of care.
Sen. Wyden said he's confident that Congress will reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination act, which is vital to both our county roads and our public schools. This is the program that provides payments to counties that would otherwise see sharp reductions in their income due to the curtailment of logging on federal lands.
In other areas--Medicaid, the Community Development Block Grant Program, funds to help coastal communities relocate vital facilities located in tsunami innundation zones--Sen. Wyden was less encouraging. He said he still believes in such vital investments, and will do all he can, but noted that the federal budget proposed by President Bush and approved by the Republican-controlled Congress contains $70 billion in tax cuts. He summed it up by saying; "Elections have consequences." I hope that's a lesson everyone will remember the next time we choose our national leaders.--Posted 5/7/05
Our Budget Moves Forward
Last night, the county budget committee approved the proposed 2005-2006 budget. The committee includes the three commissioners and three citizen members. The commissioners will officially adopt the budget, with any needed final adjustments, in late June.
The item I'm expecting to generate the most attention is the reduction of staffinng in our jail. The sheriff decided to close a pod, which will eliminate five positions, and necessitate a reduction from the current 129 bed capacity to 101 beds. This reduction, the second in less than a year, is a response to several long-term issues, the principal one being an inability to maintain adequate staffing levels. The demand for corrections workers far exceeds the supply all over Oregon. This means that those who are working in the jail are being asked to work tremendous amounts of overtime. That sends costs soaring, it's bad for worker morale, and most seriously of all, it compromises worker safety.
Happening at the same time, but not connected to the staffing cut, is a reorganization of the sheriff's office. The net result will be to add two deputies to the patrol force. I see this as a plus for public safety. We're also pursuing alternative sanctions that are less costly, but still effective in holding lawbreakers accountable for their actions.
The first of these is the addition of a third work crew. Both people on parole and those currently serving time in the jail are eligible to be assigned to these crews. I hear from a lot of people who like the idea of people working productively instead of sitting in the jail all day. The second step we're taking in this area is to reintroduce home detention. We approved a pilot project for electronic monitoring. This has the potential to be used with people who are released awaiting trial, as well as those convicted of non-violent offences. We will lease the equipment and hire a part-time person to handle the monitoring. The estimated cost to supervise someone this way is about $12 a day, versus about $100 a day to keep them in jail.
I'm pleased we were able to increase the allocation for non-profit social service agencies from $70,000 to $110,000. The amount was at $140,000 two years ago, but was cut in half last year due to the tight budget situation. Groups like Food Share, the Council on Aging, Centro de Ayuda and Samaritan House do vital work in our communities, and they're struggling to stay afloat.--Posted 4/19/05
Pfizer's Change of Heart
This hasn't generated much media attention yet, but it could turn out to be a key victory in the war on methamphetamine. This week, Pfizer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies, announced its support for tough restrictions on the sale of psudeoephedrine products, the key ingredient in the manufacture of meth. Earlier, the company had opposed Oklahoma- and Oregon-style restrictions; more recently, they had taken a neutral stance.
The decision was reported in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week. Interestingly, the report suggested that money may have been the motivating factor in the move. Pfizer has already introduced a new version of Sudafed, Sudafed PE, which does not contain psuedoephedrine. The story indicated the firm plans to reformulate all of its products by the end of the year to eliminate the ingredient. They're apparently far ahead of the other makers of cold and sinus products in this regard. The article's conclusion? Pfizer products will be able to hold, or gain, valuable space on store shelves, while the other manufacturers scramble to play catch up.
Whether the motivation is conscience, or greed, or a combination of the two, this is good news indeed. Pfizer has been one of the major forces blocking the regulation efforts. And while almost everyone I've heard from has been fully supportive of the step, there are dissenters. I recently came across an on-line opinion piece decrying these laws as unecessary government regulation. The writer painted the sad picture of a mom being unable to buy Dimetapp at 3 a.m. to help her sick child.
I wish that writer could be made aware of the story of the Oklahama law enforcement officer who was shot to death by a meth addict. His murder, including his helpless pleas for his life, were captured on his police radio. Public outrage over this (and other) meth-related deaths helped spur Oklahoma into being the first state to restrict psuedoephedrine sales.
I wonder if the writer of that commentary would be willing to tell the officer's widow, "I'm sorry your husband died, but at least I can still buy Dimetapp at 3.a.m."--Posted 4/15/05
Congratulations, Edna!
I was pleased to join those in attendance yesterday at the annual luncheon honoring our many volunteers who work on behalf of victims of crime. The event is the local centerpiece of Crime Victim's Rights Week. Many people involved with CASA, the Children's Advoacy Center, My Sister's Place and the District Attorney's Victims Program were recognized. Each year, all of these groups select a "Crime Victim Advocate of the Year." I was pleased to see the honor go to my friend, Edna Abbott of Toledo. Edna has been tireless in her work as a "fraud fighter," trained by the AARP. Seniors are among the most vulnerable targets for scammers. Thanks to Edna, many of our local seniors are better-preparted to protect themselves.--Posted April 15, 2005
Helping OCCC
Although education is outside the county's direct realm of responsibility, all three of us are very aware of the importance of a strong educational system to our economic health and overall quality of life in Lincoln County. That's why I accepted an invitation from Pat O'Connor, president of Oregon Coast Community College, to come to Salem this morning to testify on behalf of a bill to provide construction funds for the colleges. Senate Bill 5514 was being considered by the Education Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.
I reviewed the evolution and growth of OCCC since its founding in 1987, and said its achievements are all the more remarkable when you take into account its inadequate facilities. I pointed out that community leaders in the county have recognized the college's importance in a number of ways, and more importantly, the voters have done so as well, approving $23.5 million in bonds last year to build new campuses in Waldport, Newport and Lincoln City. If approved, this bill would give the college even greater resources to meet its long-term needs.
Finally, I told the committee that as a local elected official, I'm painfully aware that the demands for our dollars far exceed the available supply. But I urged them to make a smart investment in our future. I hope they will.--Posted 4/12/05
Marine Reserves
The debate over marine reserves continues. A marine reserve is something like a wilderness area on land--a special area of the ocean set aside where no fishing, mining, drilling and the like is allowed. Although there are dozens of marine reserves around the world, Oregon has none. About three years ago, the state's Ocean Policy Council broke down due to this controversy.
Supporters of marine reserves say they can be one tool to help protect the oceans and help some our severely depleted groundfish stocks recover. Fishermen and others in coastal communities fear more heavy-handed government regulation.
The debate has been reigninted by a bill now in the legislature that mandates creation of marine reserves and marine parks (these would be in the waters adjacent to some of our state parks). On Friday, I attended the meeitng in Salem of the Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association, which includes representatives of counties, cities, ports and soil and water districts along the coast. The film "Common Ground," which makes the case for reserves was shown, and representatives of environmental groups were on hand.
Governor Kulongoski has proposed a new slate of members for the Ocean Policy Council, and the message from most of the OCZMA members was clear--they want to give the council process a chance to work. The environmentalists pointed out there's been no progress on the issue in three years. During that time, two significant reports detailing the threats to our oceans' health have appeared, and the ban on mining and drilling in Oregon's offshore waters has expired.
Both the Eugene Register-Guard and the Salem Statesman Journal published editorials this week supporting marine reserves. I believe that we need to take this step, but it must be done with care. Coastal residents must have input in the process; the goals of the reserves must be clear, and there needs to be a monitoring and enforcement mechanism.
Although the discussion was intense Friday, I found it a hopeful sign. When people of differening viewpoints are willing to sit down together and listen to each other, there's hope for progress.--Posted 4/10/05
Turning the Corner on Meth
I am very proud of the leadership role our local law enforcement community has taken in the fight against methamphetamine. Rob Bovett, our deputy county counsel, presented a report at our board meeting this week. As you may know, Rob is a member of the governor's meth task force, has drafted most of the anti-meth legislation passed or considered in the state in recent years, and also drew up the rules adopted by the Board of Pharmacy to restrict sales of psuedo-ephedrine products--the key ingredient in the manufacture of meth.
Since the temporary rule was adopted six months ago, the number of labs uncovered by police has dropped 50 percent--from an average of 40 a month to 20 a month. The reduction has been even more dramatic here in Lincoln County--100 percent. That's right. Not one meth lab found in six months. This is conclusive proof the rule has worked. The stronger permanent rule adopted by the Pharmacy Board this week closes some loopholes and should reduce the incident of meth labs even further.
That's why it's distressing to me that some drug company and retailer interests and still fighting the rule. There has been some minor inconvenience to the public, but everyone I've heard from says it's more than balanced by the reduction of this drug and the toll it takes on the lives of its users and countless innocent victims.
It seems to me that pure greed is at work here. Wholesale sales of psuedoephedrine products has dropped significantly in the past six months; apparently the majority of sales were to meth cooks, not cold and sinus sufferers. To defend this is, to put it directly, reprehensible.--Posted 4/9/05
Tribute to Don Davis
On Saturday night, I had the pleasure of attending the fifth annual "Community Legends" Awards Dinner, sponsored by the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts. This year's honoree was Don Davis, who was named Newport's first city manager in 1962, and held that job until his retirement in 1991. People who have come to this area since his retirement may not fully appreciate the role Don Davis played in building Newport and Lincoln County.
The list of projects completed during his tenure as city manager is certainly impressive. It includes the city's original wastewater treatment plant, a new line to deliver raw water from the Siletz River, the Senior Center, the Library, the Abbey Street Pier, and many others. In "retirement" he's continued to be active in building a better commuinity, volunteering for the boards of the Newport Public Library, the Lincoln County Historical Society, Thundering Seas and the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
The program for the evening put it aptly: "Don...has a way with people. He is direct and factual, maybe because of his engineering background, but at the same time he is caring and warm to the people he encounters. He never lets the authority vested in his positions let him feel any larger than the people he serves in the community."
As a reporter, I covered Newport city government during the final years of Mr. Davis' tenure. I have tried to learn from his example. He's always taken the long view, and sought to build consensus and partnerships. He places long-term good above short-term gain. His life and career is a shining example for anyone involved in public service. Posted 3/22/05
Senior Meals--Good News
A couple of developments this week have brightened the outlook for the Senior Meals program. At the COG board meeting this week, Executive Director Bill Wagner announced he's "95 percent" sure that the state will approve an increase in the per-meal reimbursement rate for Medicaid clients. (He and I had a chance to discuss this with Gary Weeks, the head of the state Department of Human Services, earlier this month). If that happens, he will recommend keeping the paid site managers at Toledo, Siletz, Waldport and Philomath. However, this won't make up all of the deficit, so some reductions in staff, work hours, or both may still be needed. The final budget will be presented to the COG board in May.
The effort to tighten the screws on Medicaid dollars also took a big hit Thursday when the U.S. Senate passed Oregon Senator Gordon Smith's amendment to delay any cuts for at least a year and create a commission to study the issue. The vote was 52-48. Senator Smith is a Republican, and he was joined by just six other members of his party in supporting this move. Earlier, th
