One of the more interesting items on the BOC agenda today, a public discussion of the structure committee, was deleted after a lengthy debate about Bandon’s urban renewal district pushed up against time constraints. The commissioners scheduled a real property negotiation on the same day as a board meeting so those hoping to speak during the public comment period will have to wait until the board meets again on December 7. Interim commissioner Cam Parry was not in attendance and is said to be home caring for his wife and there was no satisfaction for either the opponents or proponents of a plan to effectively extend an urban renewal district’s debt period another twenty years.

All taxing districts have to agree to dedicate tax dollars for urban renewal that would otherwise go elsewhere and Main, to his credit, wants to wait to determine the county’s fiscal future before making a decision. Urban renewal districts historically do not show a good return on investment to taxpayers and I believe Main knows this, however, he says he is willing to reconsider the matter next spring. Interim commissioner Fred Messerle wanted to proceed and barring that wanted to put the matter back before the board at the next meeting, evidently assuming that Parry might vote with him if he is in attendance.

Dismissing the discussion of the structure committee was disappointing for those of us intending to speak but neither of the committee co-chairs, Al Pettit or Jon Barton were in attendance. Instead members Timm Slater and Daniela Kellum arrived but both left when the matter was canceled.

So, in a nutshell, nothing significant happened today within the public view despite a full house and plenty of contention.