Challenging candidate statements

Sisters' voters will soon receive their Deschutes County voter's pamphlets for next month's election. Three statements by council candidate Brad Boyd seriously misrepresent key community issues.

The most egregious statement relates to the recycle center. Deschutes County was initially a financial partner in the center's operation but is decreasing their financial contribution in light of the struggling economy. The county's long-term intent is to eventually eliminate all support. That means Sisters taxpayers, with some help from High Country Disposal, will be on the hook for the majority of future operating costs. These are dollars Sisters does not have nor wish to levy on citizens. Not to mention that Sisters would be subsidizing county residents who use the city's recycle center.

Many of you may remember that in 2008 the city council, under Brad Boyd as mayor, voted to virtually give away the city's garbage service. I was the only councilor to vote "NO" on this shortsighted action. Sisters had collected its own garbage for decades in an extremely profitable operation. In the last two years - 2007 and 2008 - the city's garbage service had revenue of slightly more than $425,000 per year. There is money in garbage collection, my friends!

After direct operating expenses - labor, materials and services - Sisters earned an average profit of $150,000 per year. This is a stunning number! Had we not sold the garbage service, we would still be receiving more than enough to fund the recycle center plus financing any needed equipment upgrades.

Secondly, candidate Boyd states that "...Sisters is spending $127,000 a year to attract economic development with no measureable results." Of that sum, over $90,000 represents room-tax revenue that is passed through to the chamber of commerce. This goes primarily to promote tourism, an essential and very successful marketing activity for our community. To label this as "no measureable results" is an insult.

Sisters is in the third year of paying our economic development manager $30,000 annually, an amount approved by the 10-member budget committee and the five council members. By definition, economic development is a slow process but we have had bright spots: Rescue Response Gear stayed in town and now sells nationwide from specially designed quarters in the Multnomah building. Energyneering moved into the airport complex and is seeking to have 34.3-plus acres annexed into the city. Three Creeks Brewing is planning an expansion in the industrial park. Each means many new jobs. This in contrast to Mr. Boyd's 2008 discouragement of Sistech locating here. They are now expanding in Bend.

Finally, Sisters has been planning Cascade Avenue improvements for four years. After required public hearings, citizen participation and untold meetings with staff, ODOT and business owners, we are about to start contract negotiations. Candidate Boyd says "This is crazy!" At the eleventh hour he jumps in and says he can find solutions to the street closure construction period.

As you might expect, there is concern on the part of some downtown merchants on their ability to "weather" the construction period and the impact it might have on their businesses. Your city council, Sisters staff and ODOT personnel share these concerns. We are working with this group to address them and to offer solutions to be discussed at a community meeting on October 17.

It is interesting to note that Redmond has completed two similar projects and is working on a third. The city of Jacksonville is currently involved in a project of similar size and scope to ours. Comments from citizens and business owners in these cities have been very favorable. Difficulties were encountered but the consequences were not as dire as predicted. Their results are now highly praised. The long-term benefit for Sisters will receive similar accolades.