Letters to the Editor 08/14/2013

To the Editor:

It has come to Cycle Oregon's attention that we were mentioned in a letter to the editor in your July 31 edition. The letter was submitted by Brenda Hartford and in that letter Brenda stated that our organization does not support shared-use paved trails.

This is a false statement and does not reflect Cycle Oregon's position. The mission of Cycle Oregon is economic development in rural communities and bicycle education. Cycle Oregon supports trail development and our support is backed up by national research that shows that trails result in:

• Higher property values in communities and neighborhoods that support trails.

• Crime is reduced when trails are established and maintained because criminals do not like to be in areas that are used by the local community.

• Trails are high on the list for businesses that are looking to relocate to new areas, especially trails that connect to schools and local neighborhoods.

• Trails that are off-highway provide a safe environment for many people that do not like to ride on state highways and county roads.

• Trials are a bellwether in healthy communities that allow people to choose transportation options that can lead to healthier outcomes.

Travel Oregon completed their economic research on bicycling in April, and that research shows that the tourism and recreation benefits of bicycling contributes $400 million to our state's economy. We support trail development in Sisters and around the state, they are good for the economy and for the health of rural communities.

Jerry Norquist

Cycle Oregon

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To the Editor:

I wanted to commend and congratulate Deb Cavanaugh and her husband on riding to Sisters via the forest paths from Tollgate several times a week. My original letter just pointed out how sandy those trails get this time of year and that it becomes difficult, at least on the trails I was riding on. I will be in complete awe of both of you, bow down and chant "I'm not worthy" if you respond that you do these trail rides on road bikes with skinny tires though!

I too manage to ride my mountain bike into town via the back trails from Tollgate on the way to trails in Peterson Ridge; but I'm often looking to ride up to McKenzie Pass or somewhere equally spectacular, and my road bike is not the tool of choice for those trails.

As to paving the forest - no one has suggested that, only paving a narrow trail through the forest, a lot like the trails that already exist next to the paved roads throughout the forest in Tollgate. No one will make you ride a paved trail that makes this loop easier - you are still free to blast through the sand bogs. But for those of use riding road bikes, the only alternative then becomes an occasionally terrifying trip down Highway 20!

Keep on trucking, and keep the rubber-side down!

Randy McCall

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To the Editor:

I just read The Nugget article about last week's town hall meeting and was very much surprised and disturbed to read about the discussion and comments by City Manager Gorayeb regarding my letter to the editor about the recurring problem of people blocking a fire hydrant on S. Locust Street and the cities request that Deschutes Sheriff's Department use discretion in enforcing parking regulations during special event weekends. In that letter, I told how Deschutes Deputy Flory explained to me the city asked his department "to use discretion" when parking violations are observed during special event weekends in Sisters.

City Manager Gorayeb's statement alleging my description of events as being completely false, is in fact, untrue. Recordings of Mayor Boyd's statements to the visiting DSCO during city council meetings of January 10 and again on February 14, 2013 are public record and available for review, and there is a witness to my conversation with Deputy Flory and his statements to me regarding the cities request of "discretionary

enforcement."

Further, prior to my letter to the editor I sent letters [including photos of the problem] to both City Manager Gorayeb and Mayor Boyd, and two letters over the course of a month to Public Works Director Paul Bertagna, and never received the courtesy of a reply from any of them while the problem continued to be ignored. A reply from any of these officials is something most reasonable people would expect over a matter of public safety.

I have never met City Manager Gorayeb, and held no prior opinion about him pro or con, personally or professionally. Yet for our new city manager to speak out and declare "there was no truth to the allegation whatsoever" my statements about a city policy and a public safety issue, bolstering his position in saying he talked with the officials involved while simultaneously ignoring my letter to him about the problem, is hardly an example of responsible leadership. Rather, Manager Gorayeb's statement is both irresponsible and defamatory.

Ky Karnecki

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To the Editor:

I had the opportunity to attend an SPRD board meeting August 6, along with a dozen residents of Sisters Country. The partnership between SPRD and the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) concerning the proposed 10-foot-wide, 21-mile "paved" forest trail was one agenda item discussed.

Apparently SPRD has committed itself to provide 2 percent of the funding to help secure all the project grants and get the project moving forward. Two dollars per hundred doesn't seem like much to commit to; however, it was mentioned during the meeting the final total figure hasn't been secured yet, and it may reach $2.5 million dollars in costs.

STA has stated they will maintain the trail once it is built. I personally do not see how a volunteer organization that is not maintaining its own membership can maintain such a large paved trail. Perhaps they haven't looked at the middle school or high school parking lots lately that have huge separation cracks. Perhaps the STA hasn't lived long in this area known for frost heave and root lift. There is a 3/10-of-a-mile stretch of four-foot wide sidewalks on N. Larch Street between E. Adams and Barclay that is fairly new, and has two dozen cracks, some with two-inch separation. There are no trees along that lightly traveled walk. Damage is only from frost heave/separation.

We periodically have cracks repaired on the roads where I live, and the cost is substantial. A conservative estimate cost for the proposed trail repair would be $12,000/year, without considering downed trees, rocks, vandalism, etc. Who will maintain the planned 25-car parking lot and restroom? I don't think STA can handle that cost.

I also regret SPRD putting their funds into such a bogus project as the trail and not into, for example, a skating rink (like Redmond) or a small public pool, that all residents, including handicapped, could utilize.

Bill Anttila

Crossroads Resident

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To the Editor:

As we move far away from our home of more than 20 years, we can't help but reflect on how significant this community has been in the lives of our family.

Raising kids, running a business, participating in numerous community events, and personally benefitting from a rich panorama of friends, has enriched our lives in immeasurable ways.

Sisters, we love you and we will miss you!

David & Cindy Uttley