Interim Newsletter: June
May Legislative Days have come and gone, and so too will Spring! Last month's Legislative Days were decidedly quieter than usual, with still over seven months remaining before the next Legislative Session kicks off in January 2025.
Rep. Cate returned to Salem to meet with our communities, several constituents, and members of the lobby over this three-day period. One of her responsibilities was attending informational hearings in two of her committees, including the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, which has a new Chair, Rep. Pam Marsh (D-Ashland). Rep. Cate had a meeting with Rep. Marsh to advocate for the priorities of House District 11, and to better gauge Rep. Marsh's priorities heading into the 2025 Legislative Session.
If we had to pick a highlight of May's Legislative Days, attending the ceremonial bill signing of Senator Girod's (R-Silverton) SB 1545 has to take the cake! Rep. Cate was honored to be able to partner up with the Senator on this bill (now law), which allows counties to gradually increase tax bills for wildfire victims based on the pre-fire valuations of properties before homes were lost, and avoid the devastating sticker shock victims have when they receive their adjusted tax bill after a rebuild. Also in attendance for Governor Kotek's signing was Marion County Commissioner Colm Willis, who has been a tireless advocate for wildfire victims across the state.
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The best part was yet to come. Little did Senator Girod know, we had arranged a little surprise: a framed copy of the bill using reclaimed wood from the 2020 Labor Day fires, which was presented by fellow wildfire victim (and friend) Wayne Miley. A special thank you to the others who helped make it happen, including Daren Goin, Meredeth (Goin) Johnson, and Mellissa (Miley) Barnard. We had initially thought the frame might reside in Senator Girod's Capitol office, but him and his wife Lori liked it so much that it is going back to Silverton with them instead—which also served as a humbling reminder for us of how few keepsakes our wildfire victims have in their new homes, and made us all the more glad we could celebrate all the Girods’ hard work for wildfire recovery.
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Stand Up for Family Farms in Linn County
Linn County Commissioners have reopened the public hearing for the restrictions to CAFO farm siting that was passed back in December, and will accept written comment until Monday, June 17th, at 5:00. Comments can be hand delivered to the Planning & Building Department or submitted via email at: aboles@co.linn.or.us or planoffice@co.linn.or.us.
These restrictions are a result of the passage of SB 85 back in the 2023 Legislative session, which includes an allowance for counties to put added restrictions around the siting of new CAFO (confined animal feeding operation) farms on EFU (exclusive farm use) ground. Linn County passed a restriction of a 1-mile setback from any property lines, effectively eliminating any future CAFO farms in the county.
Commissioners felt only one side of the CAFO debate, namely from residents opposing chicken farms, was presented at that time. They have reopened public comment so other CAFO farm types can be heard from as well.
Oregon’s CAFO farms are family farms, and are under attack with false information propagated by the same organizations wanting to ban all meat production, as well as claims they are “industrial” or “factory” farms. The truth is, our CAFO farms have existed in our communities for generations, and have gone largely unnoticed due the utter lack of problems they’ve caused. Putting even more restrictions on these farms will only force even more to close their doors, and further hurt Oregon’s ability to grow our own food.
This month, we would like to honor Bob Dalton of Sweet Home, who has been described as a mover and shaker at Sunshine Industries Unlimited, a non-profit in Sweet Home that does incredible work for people with disabilities. His philanthropic ventures do not stop there, as he has spent much of his adult life volunteering in our community. Here is a link to a 2010 article in The New Era if you would like to read more on Bob’s incredible body of work.
Lastly, a special thank you to Mary Brendle for nominating Bob and for reading our newsletters!
Do you know of anyone in House District 11 who deserves to be acknowledged? Send us your nominations at Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov
Lebanon Fire District 31 Open House
Tomorrow, the Lebanon Fire District is proud to be opening the doors of the new Station 31 for the first time! In the Fall of 2019, Lebanon voters passed a $16 million general obligation bond to support the construction of the new fire station and the purchase of firefighting apparatus. This is a chance to see your taxpayer dollars hard at work, so don't miss out on an opportunity to visit this new state of the art facility.
Parents Night Out in Sweet Home Next Friday
Parents deserve a night out, and the increasing cost of childcare can put that luxury out of reach for many couples, but Hope Church is changing that next Friday, June 21st from 6:00pm-8:00pm! Leave the kids with them for a FREE, fun-filled evening of music, games, stories, snacks, and more while you enjoy a well-deserved break. Pre-registration is required, and you can register your kids today at www.hope.church/nightout. The first 20 kids to register will be entered to win a $20 gift card (must be present to win).
Scio Seeking New City Councilor
Are you interested in being more involved in your community? The City of Scio is seeking applicants for a vacancy on their city council! This opportunity is such a good avenue to enter public service, and the city will be accepting applicants until 12:00pm next Friday, June 21st.
Linn County Pioneer Picnic Next Weekend
The Linn County Pioneer Association is proud to present this year’s Pioneer Picnic, a Brownsville tradition dating back to 1887! The weekend of the picnic is full of activities, contests, great food, and wonderful company, and nothing is more anticipated than the parade at 9:00am on Saturday morning!
See pioneerpicnic.com for more information on this amazing event that kicks off next Friday!
Jefferson Heroes Day Reminder
We already mentioned this event in a previous newsletter, but wanted to remind you that it's now right around the corner!
Building on the success of last year, the City of Jefferson invites you to join them at their second annual Heroes' Day next Saturday, June 22nd! It will be a day full of festivities including a parade, a pancake feed, local vendors, food trucks, a car cruise-in, games, and more!
For more information, see the flyer below or visit the event's Facebook page here: Jefferson Heroes Day Oregon.
Scio Fire District Offers Free Surveys
As we draw nearer to fire season here in the greater Santiam region, the Scio Fire District is offering free defensible space surveys to the public. Creating defensible spaces, or "firescaping" is essential to best protect your property against impending wildfires. We encourage you to follow along as more information gets released at sciofire.com, or at their Facebook page
4th of July Celebration in Lebanon
Lebanon's annual 4th of July celebration just keeps getting bigger and bigger! Come to Cheadle Lake Park for a family friendly evening of music, fireworks, food, and drinks, and a celebration of the freedoms we enjoy.
For more information see the flyer below or visit lebanonfourth.com
Vendors Wanted at Harrisburg's 4th of July Celebration
The City of Harrisburg is still seeking vendors for their 4th of July Celebration In addition to fireworks, this event will feature food trucks, crafters, artisans, makers, and more!
To apply, visit www.ci.harrisburg.or.us/community/page/4th-july-vendor or pick up an application form at Harrisburg City Hall or the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce in Junction City.
Sweet Home Sportsman's Holiday Four Weeks Away
A weekend of festivities you will not want to miss is Sweet Home's annual Sportsman's Holiday! This year's event will have Chips-N-Splinters, the Queen's Coronation, Cut the Gut Car Cruise, Elk's Lodge Breakfast, and of course the highly anticipated parade, which this year will have a "Diamonds & Decades" theme.
Many of these events require registration if you are interested in participating, so be sure to sign up at sweethomechamber.com/sportsmans-holiday.
Public Utility Commission Possibly Raising Rates
The Public Utility Commission has proposed a rate increase for Portland General Electric customers, and you have a chance to weigh in. PGE's rates were already increased 18% this year while wages remained mostly flat, and many Oregonians simply cannot afford a similar increase going into effect next year.
It's worth pointing out the fact that these increases follow troubling policy decisions, including 2021's HB 2021 which placed a 10% renewable energy requirement on utilities.
Visit this link to submit comments to the Public Utility Commission and make your voice heard! Comments must be submitted by 5:00pm today.
Santiam Overflow Bridge Construction
ODOT will begin repairing, repaving, and installing new bridge rails on the Santiam Overflow Bridge's northbound lanes in the coming days. This $1.2 million project will cause single lane closures between 9:00pm and 5:00am just before exit 242 on I-5 North.
For more information on the project, click here.
Blackout Ends, Monthly Newsletters Are Back!
Signing Off for the Spring!
2024 Short Session Wrap Up
One Week Left in 2024 Legislative Session
2024 Session Reaches Halfway Point
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