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Published By Your City Hall |
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CBPD Meets Increasing Challenges with Tireless Effort and True Dedication
 At this week's City Council meeting, Chief Chris Chapanar provided an update on the function and activities of the Coos Bay Police Department (CBPD), including stats for 2023. As you can imagine, calls for service are up, with over 90,000 calls received by dispatchers in the North Coos 911 Dispatch Center and nearly 36,000 calls for police service. With 24 sworn officers, 16 of which are assigned to patrol, that makes for busy shifts. The Dispatch Center is operated by a team of 14, who provide emergency dispatch service for not only Coos Bay but North Bend Police and Fire, Coquille Ambulance, Police and Fire, Coquille Indian Tribal Police Department and Confederated Tribes Police Department.
Calls for service are up 5% from 2022 (and up 17% from 2020), stretching the capacity of the Department. To achieve balance, the Department has undergone some big changes, including working through some long-term employee retirements and adding new members. These staffing changes bring many eager new recruits, both as police officers and dispatchers, creating the right mix of responsive support for the community for many years to come.
The efforts of the CBPD to meet the increased call load is certainly commendable. CBPD has shown true dedication, even while facing limitations related to statewide legislation, continued funding deficits with the County jail, and a justice system that reduces the number of individuals being held accountable for behaviors and actions that impact our community.
We are proud of their work and tireless efforts to maintain safety within our community.
-Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay
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Library is Drop Spot for Worn Down Flags
 Coos Bay Public Library is partnering with the local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution and American Legion to collect worn out flags. If your U.S. flag is tattered and torn, you can drop it off at the Library during the month of February. The Legion will collect the flags at the end of the month and conduct a proper disposal ceremony.
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Broken Boiler Keeps Mingus Pool Closed
 On behalf of the Pool Board, the City has set up an account to accept tax deductible donations for those who would like to help with the cost of replacing the Mingus Park Pool’s Boiler. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, they can be submitted to the Finance Department either in person or via mail at 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay.
As many of you know, on December 15, 2023, the boiler that heats the Mingus Park Pool failed. With no way to heat the pool, there was no choice but to close the pool until a repair could be implemented. The City is seeking quotes for the replacement but the budget is anticipated to be approximately $115,000 which far exceeds the pool’s current allowable budget. The City, in a joint effort with the Pool Board, is actively seeking grants to help fund the boiler replacement. However, it takes time to write and receive grants and often a match is required which can be up to 50% of the total request.
In the meantime, the City, on behalf of the Pool Board, has set up an account to accept tax deductible donations to replace the boiler. The Pool Board is excited to announce that to date there has been a total of $5,100 donated by the local community. If you are interested in donating, you can submit your donation either in person at 500 Central Avenue or via mail. Since this pool serves such a large population of this community, there is an urgency to quickly address this issue so the pool can be reopened to the public.
The Mingus Park Pool is used for approximately 65,000 swims a year as well as provides a facility for Coast Guard testing, Marshfield High School Track Rehab/Training, Coos Bay Library End of Summer Program, Lifeguard Training for our pool and surrounding pools and the Medford area. Summer Youth Program from Bandon for lessons, pool safety trainings, and many more groups and team activities.
There will be more to follow on how, and most importantly when, this replacement will take place. If you have any questions, please contact the City’s Operations Administrator Greg Hamblet at ghamblet@coosbayor.gov or 541-269-8916.
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 The Coos Bay Police Department (CBPD) is seeking community support and assistance with addressing abandoned shopping carts within our community. Near the end of 2023, our Coos Bay City Council passed an ordinance aimed at addressing abandoned shopping carts within our community. This ordinance intends to build a bridge between government, businesses, and the community, to work together to report these carts in the City of Coos Bay and get them returned to the appropriate business.
Over the last few months, local businesses have worked to get their shopping cart fleets marked with contact information for their respective retrieval services. This allows members of the public who find shopping carts abandoned in their neighborhoods, parks, and sidewalks the ability to contact that retrieval service to report the location of the abandoned cart. The local business will then retrieve these carts through their retrieval program.
 CBPD has deployed a new program to augment the efforts of this ordinance with the Shopping Cart Watch Program. Similar to the Property Watch Program, the CBPD worked with participating businesses to remove some barriers that were creating challenges when it came to holding those accountable who were using shopping carts for personal use around town. This new program has streamlined the ability for the CBPD to take criminal action against shopping cart theft on behalf of participating businesses.
To date, we have four local businesses who are participating in this program. We hope through community engagement we can get the abandoned carts reported to the respective businesses for retrieval and work to deter these thefts through enforcement by our police department.
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Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Trainer Lualhati Anderson, MSW CSWA QMHP-C with Older Adult Behavioral Health Specialist, Coos & Curry Counties and her Co-Trainer Betty Sledge from Polk County will be providing a free training to the community on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Southwestern Oregon Community College, Umpqua Hall, Rm 184,1988 Newmark Ave, Coos Bay. Resource tables will be available at 9:30 and following the training. Our Master of Ceremonies will be William Wagner, M.A. LPC, Community Engagement & Partnership Coordinator (CEPC), Eugene HCC/Roseburg VAMC.
About the Event
Build your confidence and capability to help someone in crisis with this three-step, evidence-based program. You will learn how to: recognize the warning signs of suicide, talk with someone at risk of suicide, and refer at risk individuals to resources. This community training is in partnership with the VA Suicide Prevention Program, Southwestern Oregon Community College, and the Oregon Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative.
Registration is required, name and email are only needed to provide certificates. Please e-mail krystal.hopper@socc.edu to register.
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 Back in Charleston for 2024 on Saturday, February 10 for a feast of delicious Dungeness Crab! This event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, 63466 Boat Basin Road in Charleston - across from the Charleston Marine Life Center in the Marina Complex.
More than 900 pounds of Fresh Dungeness Crab will be served. Dinners - whole or half crabs at market price - include side dishes and a roll. Add a dessert for the perfect Oregon Coast meal. Area businesses provide items for raffle drawings. For those who want to attend but don’t want to eat crab, a gourmet hot dog lunch with sides will also be available.
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 Coos Bay and North Bend are coming together for another opportunity to Walk with the Mayors. Mayor Benetti and Mayor Engelke are encouraging community members from both cities to join them on their next session for conversation in the fresh air:
Monday, February 12 at noon
North Bend City Hall
Come join both Mayors on a short walk, followed by a respite at Coos Bay City Hall to allow for further discussion.
For further questions, contact Coos Bay administration at 541-269-8912 or email North Bend administration at jengelke@northbendcity.org.
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 As the Executive Assistant/Human Resources Specialist you will be an important member of the largest water utility on the Oregon Coast. While directly assisting the General Manager and Board of Directors with day-to-day clerical and administrative duties, this hybrid role takes on responsibility of assisting employees with Human Resources functions such as on-boarding, benefits, training, and more.
In this position you will have the opportunity to:
- Provide support to the General Manager with day-to-day administrative duties, contracts, social media, and reports.
- Support preparation efforts for bi-weekly Board of Directors meetings.
- Preserve and maintain employee personnel files, legal files, and other general files.
- Assist in preparing contracts and other legal documents in support of Water Board business.
- Maintain and update Water Board policies and regulations as needed.
- Assist in the recruitment, hiring processes, on-boarding, and orientation for new employees.
- Interact with and serve all customers, team members, and members of your
The minimum requirements of the position are:
- High School diploma or
- Must possess a valid Oregon driver's license and acceptable driving
- Five years experience in administrative assistant/secretarial, and/or human resources duties and support. Ability to create, review and correct grammar to internal reports and documents.
The Executive Assistant/Human Resources Specialist wage range is $54,873 - $70,033 (annually, dependent on qualifications), and includes a generous benefits package (92% employer paid health/vision/dental, 9% to 13% retirement annually, plus additional benefits).
Download an employment application and job description from our website at:
Applications should be emailed to Karen Parker at karen_parker@cbnbh2o.com.
For additional information, please contact Karen Parker at karen_parker@cbnbh2o.com or Ivan Thomas at ivan_thomas@cbnbh2o.com
First consideration of applications: February 29, 2024 - Position is open until filled.
Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board is an EOE. Veterans Preference is applicable, pursuant to ORS 408.225 to 408.237.
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