the Port, with the assistance of the local paper, has sold the non-competitive bidding process employed under a declared state of emergency to make the repairs as a quick way to create thousands of jobs. In a form of economic blackmail, a job hungry public are held hostage to economic development schemes believing there is no alternative but to pay up.
Read MoreOregon government ethics law prohibits all public officials from using or attempting to use their official position to obtain a financial gain or avoid a financial cost for themselves, a relative or member of their household, or business with which they or their relative or household member is associated, if that financial benefit is only available to them because of the official position they hold. [ORS 244.040(1)]
Read MoreAt the last Port commission it became apparent the commissioners who vote on the critical issues probably don’t read the data either begging the question, just what do they base their decisions on? The Port filed as an intervenor on behalf of the Jordan Cove FERC application. An intervenor is a a party who does not have a substantial and direct interest but has clearly ascertainable interests and perspectives essential to a judicial determination.
Read Morethe public has witnessed the Port enter into a highly unorthodox land option secured by $25 million in loans signed by the Port only to terminate it without explanation five years later. The Port borrowed another $5 million, in advance of receiving State lottery funds allocated for dredging knowing they didn’t have a railroad or valid terminal operator… the Port has declared a recently acquired railroad line an emergency in order to facilitate repairs so that an unnamed private wood products company can deliver product from Reedsport to Veneta at the blazing speed of 10MPH no later than June.
Read MoreIn yet another desperate plea the Port has paid for advertisement, the eighth in an occasional series and elaborated on his authorship by labeling people who disagree with the Port’s positions NIMBYS in a power point presentation. Bishop’s salary is paid for by port district residents and calling your benefactors names is both impolitic and extremely unprofessional so naturally the commissioners went right along with it.
Read MoreThe Port of Coos Bay is seeking to exempt Coos Bay Rail Line repairs from the competitive bidding process normally required of public agencies at the April 21, 2011 regular public meeting by declaring CBRL an emergency. According to the agenda packet, the Port will first adopt public contracting rules contained in ORS 279A.015 (1) through (6). Within these rules “The Chief Executive Officer, or his/her designee”, is given leave to “solicit written quotes, oral quotes, written requests for proposals or make direct appointments without competition… in responding to the emergency”.
Read Moreletters dating from March 2009 to January 2011 to the commissioners, the staff and the attorney general and spoken out at public meetings, to put their concerns on the record. To date, not one commissioner or staff member has ever even acknowledged receipt of the letters much less bothered to address the concerns expressed.
Read MoreOne of the many complaints about the Port’s option to buy land on the North Spit from Weyco is the perceived lack of public process possibly denying input from concerned citizens. Several letters have been written to the State attorney general regarding the legality of two appraisals
Read MoreThe public learned about the Port’s intent to purchase 1,300 acres on the North Spit in an October 2005 article in the local paper. Prior to that, the project had been kept a secret and even had a secret code name “Project Phoenix” and presumably a secret handshake was required before members of the secret club were allowed to discuss it, in secret.
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