Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

On November 5, three seats on the Sisters City Council are up for election. This seems like a very good time to "clean house" and elect new people.

If the present council was doing its job, the city would not have its current budget problems. Who is monitoring city affairs? In the August 14 Nugget Council President Jean Cooper stated: "I am pleased to report that the city is given very high marks for our budgeting and fiscal management."

From this statement you would think everything is fine with city finances. This is far from the truth.

In the October 16 Nugget Council President Cooper stated why she should be re-elected:

"I think the Council needs some leadership and that's what I bring most."

If so, why are the city finances in bad shape? Why does the police force feel the need to unionize? Why is there no direction toward our new city hall?

But the biggest problem is attitude. The present council does not approve of, and is actively negative toward, citizen participation in government. They have forgotten that it is our government.

We need some real leadership. Let's elect Gordon Petrie, Tim Clasen, and Steve Wilson. It's time for new blood. Read page 9-19 in your voters' pamphlet, volume 2.

A "yes" vote on Sisters City Measure 9-40 will let citizens participate by requiring voter approvals of all annexations. When voters approve a proposed annexation, it is a solid plus for developers to go ahead with backing from the residents. Voter approval makes a stronger project. Check out your voters' pamphlet, volume 2, page 9-5.

Exercise your right and privilege as an American by voting on November 5.

Sincerely,

Committee to Save Sisters

Dorothy V. Groom, Convener

I hope the residents of Sisters will vote thoughtfully on our upcoming city council candidates.

Dave Moyer has a lot of experience on the city council and as a long-time resident of the city and one who is familiar with the ins and outs of our town, I would like to see him retained. I think Mary Jean Cooper has done a good job for us as well. Steve Wilson as well would be a good choice. I know these people, they are not anti-growth but approach it cautiously and I think they together will do a good job for us on the council.

We have to start thinking about a sewer system. I've seen and smelled effluent seeping out of the ground in the city limits and I have to wonder how much more saturation the ground can take around here.

I also find myself viewing with a jaundiced eye those who come here and then proclaim themselves "no growth" and want to see the status quo remain as it is. I don't believe that this is in the City of Sisters' best interests.

Lets face it, Sisters isn't a mill town anymore like it used to be, full of funky little houses with outhouses out back. We can't go back to that, or put a freeze on how we currently are.

I, for one, am getting really tired of the opposition to the PMR development under the guise of "ruining our quality of life and causing congestion."

Fine, then let those who oppose it buy it and pay the taxes on it. You should be thankful instead that it's being developed in a careful and well-thought-out manner. Personally I think the rights of the Sokol family far outweigh the "rights" of those who oppose it, and while I'm on the subject I'll go ahead and say that I think there is a definite conflict of interest by some who maintain that they have no ax to grind while the fact of the matter is they really do.

Let's vote for those council members who take an open and yet prudent approach to growth in the times ahead.

Steve Allely

Election year 1996 is finally winding its way down. There are many national and state positions to fill and an overwhelming amount of statewide issues. However, let's not overlook what is going on in our own backyard.

The citizens of Sisters are selecting three individuals for city council positions. Five individuals are running for those positions. I commend each of them for their desire to serve.

I must admit that I am one of many who does not know the qualifications or reasons why each of the candidates is running. I do know one.

Dave Moyer has served this city for over 20 years as a member of the council. During those 20 years, he has acquired a superb working knowledge of this city and its needs.

Whereas my opinions and ideas have not always coincided with Dave's, I have always found him receptive to my comments and concerns. I believe that he is not single-issue oriented but carries with him the concerns of the entire community and its needs.

I don't know what to tell you about the other two choices you need to make concerning filling these three positions, but the oval next to Dave Moyer's name needs to be the first one you blacken as you vote.

Vote for experience. Vote for proven leadership. Vote for Dave Moyer.

Wayne Rowe

If you are like me, you are concerned with some of the letters to the Editor lately. It seems that out of a sense of frustration, divisions are growing within our community.

The residents of Sisters have a number of challenges to work through. The issues of handling growth, need for a sewer system, the city budget deficit, and what to do with the new city hall building can all seem somewhat overwhelming.

But I am convinced that if we all take a deep breath and remind ourselves that we are all neighbors within the same community, we can develop positive solutions. If I did not truly believe this, I would not be offering to commit my time to serve on the city council. Each resident's voice is important. Join me in voting for Sisters' future on November 5.

Respectfully,

Steve Wilson

Is this an appropriate time for the city council to unanimously vote in favor of spending $10,000 on another phase of a sewer study? City budget problems should suggest not.

The budget shortfall of $86,297 this year plus a potential loss of $42,582 next year could quickly cut in half our $274,112 budget surplus. Another year like 1996 and our budget surplus will be gone. The city should be doing everything it can to avoid garbage and water rate hikes. Voting to save $10,000 on another sewer phase at this time, would have been a strong message to townspeople and good for the morale of the city.

I believe the $10,000 vote shows the interests of businesses and developers but not the people who live here. They have the most to gain financially from a sewer. If most townspeople are against a sewer, then that should be reflected in the council voting, especially during these difficult budget times. As a council candidate, I will always welcome and encourage your views as a city resident. My first priority will be what's best for the folks that live here.

Sincerely,

Tim Clasen

I couldn't attend the candidates for city council forum because of my work schedule and after reading the statements of candidates in voter pamphlets, I am left with many questions. Some claim to have no axes to grind but their records show they have been grinding them. No business, no playground equipment, no special events in town (i.e.. quilt show and jazz festival) and no economy equals a bedroom community without cultural events. So unless we're retired, we must commute for work and when home, our cultural events happen on TV.

Many lots to develop? Growth is slow in Sisters? You are not asking the right questions. Sisters has grown. Not in the voting body or those paying for services, but about 5,000 call Sisters "home." Only 700 can vote on the decisions.

The county has been and will be developed. I believe firmly in democracy, but I am worried about many issues being controlled by vote because so many operate by just saying "no."

Why don't those other city lots develop? Who wants to pay huge system development fees to the city and pay three times for septic installation what's required in the larger out-of-town lots? In town you get to landscape with your own sand-filtered elephant burial ground.

Finally, even with the limited growth of the city and even on weekdays without special events, I am still be embarrassed when a pregnant, elderly, handicapped friend or potty training child comes to visit and as we're out around town, I tell them, "just run down a block, maybe two, and look for the outhouse. It fits our western theme." It's time for a sewer.

Carolyn Platt

There have been cougar/bear sightings/incidents in virtually every rural area in Oregon. There are so many they are showing up in Portland and other urban areas.

If you are missing a pet, the possibility exists that it was a meal for a predator. The danger is real. Ask the families of the three women who have been killed in the past two years.

I called Walt Paul to see how long he has lived at his Squaw Creek home. Answer: 22 years. He has found five deer kills on his place in the past two years -- none prior to that. So while the article in the Nugget implied that we are encroaching into lion country, it certainly does not apply in this case.

We have bears in the dumpsters at the high school, and downtown and getting hit on the highway. Hello?

The animal rights fanatics are behind all of this mess. Measure 18 was the first step in their master plan to end the use of animals by humans. Any animal for any reason. They will use the initiative process to take away your right to own a pet or raise livestock or to enjoy your favorite cut of meat. They don't even want you to fish.

Measure 34 will restore intelligent wildlife management to the experts. Don't believe the animal rights activists' lies. Please vote yes on Measure 34.

Sincerely,

Greg Thomas

An open letter to Bob Pickard:

I, like many thousands of voters in Deschutes County, had planned to vote for you on November 5. However, the recent sleazy attack on Ben Westlund by the OEA, coupled with the announcement that you had elected to accept their $47,000 in campaign funds, caused me to abruptly change my mind.

I decided to vote for Ben Westlund, not because I knew anything about the man, but simply because I was so disgusted with both the method of the OEA in its questioning of him and your acceptance of their money.

The second sleazy attack pamphlet came a few days later in the mail and was extremely disconcerting. As I read the long litany of problems that Mr. Westlund had with the law, it forced me into a predicament. Did I really want to vote for a man with this apparent disregard for the law up to as recently as two years ago? Since then I have gone over and over this issue in my mind.

Bob, you had the respect and the support of a great many people in Deschutes County until you accepted this OEA money after having said you would never accept PAC gifts.

I think I have a solution to your dilemma, and also to mine. If you will send back the OEA money, and announce this publicly, there is no hesitation -- I will vote for you.

Would you give this some thought?

Dick Wilson

If you've got the idea to vote for Bob Smith, stop and think it over.

A vote for Smith will undoubtedly give the West more of what Wes Cooley tried to shove down our throats: excessive natural resource plunder and doubtful statements about how to keep Oregon healthy, wealthy and wise.

Gingrich promised Smith the chairman's seat in the Department of Agriculture if he'd run after Cooley quit. If that isn't a flagrant example of the way the Good Old Boys play politics, I'll eat my hat. What are Smith's qualifications to be the chair? He's a rancher, and he thinks forests are tree farms.

A vote to put Bob Smith back to Washington will be like sending the fox to watch the chickens, when it comes to old-growth trees in our National Forests. If you don't believe it, look how he coached Cooley when it came to forest management. Cut! Cut! Cut!

On the other hand, we've got Mike Dugan, who hasn't been corrupted by the Good-Old-Boy syndrome. If I read him correctly, he's not beholden to any special interest groups.

Mike's a conservationist, with a balanced point of view when it comes to use of our natural resources -- a perspective we really need in Washington these days.

And guess what... Mike's a Democrat who's been endorsed by a Republican. How about that! State Senator, Neil Bryant said, "Dugan is honest and hard working."

In case you've forgotten it was Bob Smith who endorsed Wes Cooley, and told us what a great job he was going to do. If that's an example of Smith's leadership abilities we should all vote for Mike Dugan.

Jim Anderson

Have you had a chance to look over your 1996 property tax statements? I have, and I am irritated about what I see.

An ad appeared in The Nugget on May 15 titled "Information about your fire district tax base." The ad asked the voters to consider an increase in the tax base from $550,000 to $850,000. The ad further stated, "it is estimated to increase the tax rate 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value the first year and decrease each year thereafter. District residents currently pay $1.52 per $1,000, one of he lowest rates stateside for districts that provide fire and medical services."

According to my tax statement I paid $1.5313 per thousand of assessed value last year, not $1.52. This year I am being assessed $2.3589 per $1,000. This is considerably more than 50 cents per $1,000 that we were told the rate would increase.

Small wonder why taxpayers vote against tax and bond measures when public officials ask us to support a 50 cent increase that becomes an 83 cent per thousand increase when we receive our tax statements. With the increase in assessments, my tax bill for fire protection will be 63 percent higher than last year.

With the increase in assessments throughout the area, it would appear to me that the Sisters/Camp Sherman RFPD will realize for more than the $850,000 they requested to increase the tax base.

I am in no way demeaning our local fire department. They provide a vital service to all of us and should be provided the necessary financial support to give us the best service possible. That support will be forthcoming if those who are responsible for assessing the department's needs do a better job of communicating those needs to the public.

William H. Beck

Is the Grinch stealing Christmas from Sisters?

No, but it seems the Chamber of Commerce is!

From information I had to search and dig for, the Christmas Parade has been canceled. No reason given, just canceled.

I've been here over 11 years and have never missed watching the parade. Sure it's small and not glitzy, but it's our parade. Yes, the weather can be cold and miserable, but it's still a parade. No there may not be thousands of people lining the sidewalks, throngs in our stores or bumper-to-bumper traffic, but it's our parade.

A celebration of the season. A most wonderful way for the entire community to stand together shoulder to shoulder to share the joy and delight of the season.

It's part of the holidays in Sisters; the town of tiny lights which gives its friends and neighbors a parade.

Well, so much for giving and sharing this year in Sisters. At least by those who think Sisters doesn't deserve a parade. Who made the decision? Was it put to a general vote of all chamber members? I find it hard to believe the majority of the membership would opt to cancel it.

Surely the reason for canceling the parade cannot be the lack of funds in the budget. With the inflated charge for vendor participation, the Harvest Faire alone could pay for a thousand parades and enough hot chocolate for all of Central Oregon.

We as a community could just do it -- give ourselves a parade.

Barbara Hinkey

There is a man named Brad, who is almost like my dad.

He jokes around when I'm happy, and cheers me up when I am sad.

When it comes to volleyball, he's the greatest, but seems to be not quite that famous.

When he goes to practice, he's always on time, if not, he'll drop and do a line.

Brad is the type of guy who likes to crack jokes to both young and old folks.

I just want to say, "Brad, you're the best,"

You've given us success, nothing less, and you stand out from all the rest!

Shelly Greene

The Sisters MS/HS Volleyball program would like to thank Brad Bulloch for all of his time, dedication and commitment to our program. You touch many lives in positive ways and we are glad you are a part of our team! Thank you!

From coaches, players and parents