Commissioner Bob Main perfectly demonstrates some of the difficulties contained within a representative democracy. Main, as reported in The World report “Ballot tactics target LNG plan” says he will not defend, if necessary, a democratically enacted local ordinance, namely Measure 6-162. The Coos County Right to a Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance “doesn’t appear like it […]
Ever a glutton for punishment I have been reading a lot about failed economies and fragile states , (formerly known as failed states). From the mouths of our own commissioners, Coos County is kind of mini-version of a failed local economy and is facing a $2.5 million shortfall. The next couple of years are going […]
In case you missed it, the race for treasurer has gotten a bit strange. The office has recently been gutted by the commissioners diverting several duties to a new finance director/administrator and the salary slashed in half. Yet we now have three vying for the position. Heather Fox, a Coos County deputy tax collector and […]
Time for a little mea culpa. Eight years ago, of the two choices available, I considered Bob Main the most likely candidate to represent the populist view. The county’s assessor at the time, I even felt Main might be slightly more reasonable when it came to exploitation of the environment. Of course, he was running against […]
Commissioner John Sweet bristles whenever anyone dares to note the similarities between the newly created position of finance director and a county administrator. The latter, as everyone will remember, was brought before the voters in 2012 asking whether the county should transition to an administrator model of government and soundly defeated. Nevertheless, the local oligarchy […]
Coos County’s progressive community has absolutely no representation on the county commission. Discussing the merits of participating in a class action lawsuit proposed by Linn County against the State of Oregon, the commissioners made it clear that nature only has value when it has been extracted and converted into a smartphone or a two-by-four. After […]
The League of Women Voters held a discussion yesterday at the Coos Bay Fire Hall about the CEP (Community Enhancement Plan). It was more a promotion than a discussion, actually, because the only people presenting or taking questions were proponents of the plan. Commissioner John Sweet and Coos Bay City Councilwoman Jennifer Groth offered a […]
The BOC has been entertaining the possibility of awarding a $15,000 a year or 25% pay raise to the Coos County HR Director Shari Jackson. One of the reasons given for this salary increase is that Jackson is doing work above and beyond what she expected when she replaced Mike Lehman. During a work session […]
This morning’s commission meeting was full of subtle and not so subtle confrontations. For starters, the potty mouthed “reporter” for the Coquille paper photographed me as I was walking to my seat, even after being warned by the local PD that continuing to photograph me or my daughters henceforth would be considered harassment. This time […]
“I have said all along,” declared Melissa Cribbins while discussing the SCCF during a May 20, 2014 board meeting. “I want all three commissioners to vote on this.” Cribbins was referring to an earlier claim she made that a May 2 work session vote approving the county joining the SCCF (South Coast Community Foundation), its […]