Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

Does S.A.V.E's annexation measure control growth? No!

This type of annexation measure only works in stopping growth when the city has something of value to a developer that he can't get outside the city -- specifically water, sewer and fire protection.

In many communities water is difficult to impossible to get unless you hook up to a city's water system. A developer can find water at 22 feet in the Sisters area (HGE 7/94). I believe with the existing System Development Charges it is less expensive for a developer to drill a well and build a community water system than to pay the SDCs.

If a developer cannot get water without being in the city then a city could control development with an annexation policy. This does not work in Sisters because water is easy to get and in ample supply.

A city with a sewer can have small lots. If you wish to develop a subdivision, this will let a developer get up to eight lots to an acre. If a developer wants to develop land that is outside the city and has no sewer, he can only get two lots per acre with expensive sand filter systems. This creates a financial incentive to develop inside the city with small lots.

Sisters has no sewer. A developer can develop the same number of lots inside Sisters or outside Sisters. S.A.V.E's annexation measure will not control growth, only burden the city with more people outside the city using city services.

It you live outside Sisters you have fire protection from the Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD. It you live inside Sisters you have fire protection from the SCSRFPD.

S.A.V.E.'s annexation measure still not control growth only burden the city tax payers With high taxes.

The voters of Sisters have been misled by S.A.V.E and should vote for annexation of property to spread the burden of providing governmental services to this area.

Sincerely,

Theodore L. Eady

To the Editor:

I was not surprised about Eric Dolson's comments regarding my letter in the January 1 Nugget. After all, his newspaper thrives on real estate advertising. If Forest Service land exchanges result in new housing developments that's money in his pocket. Like the old saying, "don't bite the hand that feeds you. "

Taking public land and turning it into private developments is clearly wrong and unnecessary. According to Deschutes County, in the non- UGB area around Sisters there is currently undeveloped private land that has been platted or zoned to accommodate 1,049 new homes. At the county's present population growth rate of 4.1 percent, those undeveloped lots will serve the area needs for 20 years.

Why encroach on USFS land when infill of private land should take place first? (Contrary to what Mr. Dolson may think, I have always been a staunch advocate of infill).

The primary purpose of my letter was to provide some public awareness regarding land swaps in the Sisters area. I'm sure many people are unaware that USFS lands earmarked for exchange border subdivisions at: Squawback Woods, Sage Meadow, Indian Ford Meadow, Buck Run, McKinney Butte, and Tollgate. Also available is land on both sides of U.S. Highway 20 north and west of the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge.

Sisters is unique in that it has public-owned forests bordering the town, creating a "green belt" of open space. Let's keep it that way. Voice your concern now about these exchanges, don't wait until you hear the chain saws and bulldozers.

As Governor Tom McCall said, "Oregon should not be a haven to the buffalo hunter mentality.... We must stop those so interested in money they rape the land and worship the dollar."

Howard Paine

To the Editor:

In the early '70s, my wife and I lived in Cooperstown, New York, a lovely "tourist town" (Baseball Hall of Fame among other attractions), far larger than Sisters.

In spite of this size difference, great attention was paid to the beauty of the downtown -- hanging flower baskets on every lamppost all summer, geranium trees at doors of most public businesses.

In the late '70s, we were living in Houston, Texas. Just north of there was Kingwood; a joint venture of Exxon and the King Ranch. Even then, it was a city of 80,000 -- a planned city. Each area -- modest homes, businesses, apartments and condos, higher- priced homes -- was separated from the others by extensive green belts, with bicycle paths for easy access.

If Sisters is destined to grow (and real estate interests and developers are trying their best to see that it does) how about having it grow with some similar planning? The new Sokol development doesn't have to compete with "old town Sisters," but can compliment it.

How about a green belt to keep the Industrial Park from spilling over into what can be lovely apartment complexes -- yes, I refer to Adams Street.

Think how many seniors are moving to Redmond or to the Valley for lack of nice apartments, especially just walking distance from vital services -- groceries, medical etc. Do you want the hodgepodge of crammed houses like some areas of Redmond?

With some broad planning, neither Tollgate, Crossroads or Indian Ford areas would fear growth. But for lack of this planning, lack of "safety or transition zones," too rapid approval of development plans, loss of National Forest plots to mass development, property values will never reach their full potential, and Sisters will drown in a sea of development clutter! (And developers may drown in a sea of lawsuits)!

How about a massive contest, including our high school students, for the best, most comprehensive plan for the entire area? Wouldn't downtown businesses go for that? Wouldn't developers welcome it? Wouldn't homeowners? How about some vision before it's too late! Lets turn a beast into a beauty!

Russell B. Williams

The state of Georgia uses its lottery funds exclusively for education. The money is not used as a substitute for lost tax revenues. It is used for specific programs.

Georgia created two programs, preschool for all four year olds, and a free college education for all B students.

Think about it. Don't we want this for our young people? Burdening 18 to 22 year olds with enormous debts they cannot really understand is a crime.

At present our lottery is used for economic development. I cannot think of better economic development than the education of our brightest young minds.

I have heard horror stories of the misuse of lottery funds to enrich some of our local shysters. Are they true? Who knows? Have we seen any detailed reports of how all the money is spent? Are we likely to?

I do not play the lottery, but if I knew that every dollar was going to the education of a deserving person, I would.

Write your congressperson and the govenor and tell them we want what Georgia has.

Sincerely,

Suzon Schulz

The Kiwanis Club of Sisters would like to thank all who contributed food, gifts, or money to the Spirit of Christmas/Christmas Food Share Program this year. We would also like to thank the 40 businesses that permitted us to place collection receptacles in their establishments.

This was indeed a community project. Canned food was collected by the scouts, the schools, local churches, businesses, organizations, and public employees. It is estimated that over 4,500 pounds of canned food was donated for distribution. These contributions were instrumental in helping to provide Christmas food baskets for 73 families this year. Many of these families would not have been able to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings had it not been for those food baskets.

The Spirit of Christmas Tree was located at Ray's Food Place and provided the community with the opportunity to select requests and to buy gifts for needy children. The response was great. The Rotary Club of Sisters provided winter jackets for some of the children. The Sisters /Camp Sherman RFPD coordinated gift purchases and saw to it that all children were provided with Christmas gifts. Even the pets were included as TheNugget again conducted the Furry Friends Food Drive.

Food and funds remaining after the Christmas Food Share Program will provide much needed assistance to those people of our community that need help in the months ahead. Throughout the past year, the Kiwanis Food Bank has helped to feed an average of over 20 families a month.

Again, to all who helped in any way, we express our sincere thanks.

Bob Walter

Christmas Food Share Chairman