Public sentiment regarding Coos County improving W Beaver Hill Road to industrial grade to accommodate ORC is getting mired within legislative issues surrounding proportional use. The County may not charge more for damage or maintenance than the proportional use of any entity causing wear and tear or damage upon our roads. Therefore, the County has attempted to determine how existing traffic will impact the section of road without mining relating loads to determine the County’s fair share. The problem is that the road is adequately engineered for its historic purpose (occasional timber cutting and residential traffic) but the proposed mining activities have converted the road to industrial use requiring an ‘industrial grade’ road.

Honestly, I don’t see why the County should have any proportional share of an entirely new use or requirement for a private enterprise.

Meanwhile, I know that others are very interested in discussing similar issues regarding the airport so I will open this topic up for discussion on that and other taxpayer subsidies.