Stan Sugarman of Lampa Lane is contesting a DSL order to restore a fish bearing stream and pay a $10,000 civil penalty for rerouting the stream without a permit more than a year ago. A two day hearing has been rescheduled for December and Sugarman has already lost his water rights for five years after failing to appear at a hearing in September. Moving the stream may have been done to spite downstream neighbors who were forced to drill new wells.
The reason this story is of interest is because the contractor who rerouted the stream is Jason Messerle of Messerle and Sons and reported to be the son of our appointed commissioner, Fred Messerle. The violation was reported to DSL, DEQ and the local sheriff as it was occurring and photographs were taken of Messerle equipment operating and filling in the original stream bed but the Oregon Department of Justice attorney handling the case for DSL confirms that Messerle is not named in the proposed order.
The order calls for an elaborate system to protect fish from silt and sediment during restoration of the stream. Most responsible contractors know better than to make radical alterations to fish bearing streams without a permit.
Actually, Sugarman lost his water rights forever. It was due to the rights not being used for a 5 successive year period.
You don’t have to be a contractor, nor do you have to be responsible to KNOW full well you do not divert streams. Any idiiot knows that. But you DO have to feel you are above the law to do so. The reason people like this want to be in government is because they think they are still cowboys. It’s how they live their life. Rules are for THEM not US mentality. Gee, why am I not surprised. But the Messerles got their fingers in every pocket in this county remember. Like a feudal lord type of thing. Perhaps that is why Fred hardly speaks on the board, too many secrets to keep, better send the little lady to do his doing. Control the message, you control the county. Perhaps Al is their red headed step son? Or wants to be. Excuse us for speaking up about your “plan” Al, but we still have a voice here in Coos County, and all the voices of Coos County DON”T belong to the Chamber of Consorts, we do our own business.
Some people may feel they are above the law and some people will do anything for money. Violating public meetings law must seem tame if you can get away with something like this unscathed. (DSL isn’t doing anything about the contractor but other agencies may be)
The landowner in this case knew full well what the limitations were when it came to proposed stream work. An experienced contractor such as this should have some inkling about what is and is not allowed. Perhaps if people feel there are too many regulations in place they should try living within them. One sure way to stay out of trouble with enforcement agencies is simple……stop breaking the law.