Letters to the Editor 11/13/2013

To The Editor:

I would like to alert the people of Sisters Country that state Rep. John Huffman has scheduled the next, and probably the last, meeting of his Metolius TDO workgroup for Monday, November 18, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Madras City Council Chambers in Madras City Hall.

The purpose of this workgroup is to pursue placement of the former Metolius resort development in Deschutes County. Specifically, the only location which has been proposed to date for this resort is on Aspen Lakes designated open space property outside of Sisters. This meeting will be the last chance for the public to ask questions and express concerns before Rep. Huffman presents a bill to the legislature to allow this development in our county.

Why has Rep. Huffman chosen to move this final meeting to Madras? His initial meetings were planned to be closed to the public. Only after extensive outcry from Sisters residents were members of the public allowed to attend and briefly comment. This sudden change of venue, which moves the discussion away from the area of concern, leaves us to assume that Rep. Huffman doesn't welcome more input from Sisters residents. In fact, only 1 of the 4 meetings he has held has been advertised or promoted as an open public forum. It appears that Rep. Huffman would prefer to have the workgroup operate with limited, if any, public involvement or transparency.

Despite the inconvenience of the location, I would encourage Sisters residents to attend this meeting to demonstrate their concern and involvement. The stakes are high. Our attention is needed.

Donna Lipscomb

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To the Editor:

I think the amphitheater is a great idea to explore.

Yet, as a former professional sound engineer who worked hundreds of outdoor concert events with attendance of up to 50,000, the first thing that struck me is the very limited number of dedicated parking spaces of the amphitheater's proposed parking lot. Do the math here: 450 parking stalls times 2 people per car equals 900 people. Where do the remaining 2,600 people, or 1,300 vehicles park?

Sisters already has parking and traffic-flow problems through town for it's many events in the summer. But none of the current annual events try to bring 3,500 people into one specific location for just a few hours in an afternoon or evening. Unless the city intends to keep the light industrial district at it's current ghost-town status where the vacant lots can serve as auxiliary parking, they need to study up on plans for music venues of similar design and most important, pair the size of the hosting community and highway infrastructure, to learn about traffic and parking solutions.

An outdoor music venue that can host events throughout the summer will introduce thousands of new visitors to the community each year. Yet without the proper infrastructure in place, it can turn into a nightmare for our residents and visitors alike.

Ky Karnecki

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To the Editor:

Getting 3,500 people in and out of the proposed amphitheater at the same time with limited parking is DOA at ODOT. Traffic on summer weekends is already bad. Sisters is not Jacksonville with its Britt Amphitheater. Sisters sits on the most important and busy east/west corridor in Oregon. Jacksonville is serviced by five access roads from multiple on/off ramps of I-5; it's easy in and out.

For a sold-out concert, Route 20 will be backed up to the east and west. Parking at the high school will not help. It takes many busses and many crossings of Route 20 to get 2,500 or so people to and from the venue that could not get into the Barclay parking lot. People living off Locust, Larch, Camp Polk Road, and to the east and west of town will be severely impacted. Imagine dropping the Rodeo next to the post office; that's about how bad it will be.

There must be traffic control coming into town from both directions. When the Barclay lot is full, flaggers would have to redirect traffic at the intersection of Route 20 with Locust and Barclay. In total, the traffic control resources would be similar to that of the quilt show. Parking violations, blocked driveways, and trespassing are probable.

A venue this big run by the city will consume resources better spent on more productive economic development. It might bring a little more money and profit to shop owners (summer only) but likely not reduce poverty. It would compete with other events during summer but not help the rest of the year. The additional employment would be mostly minimum wage with no benefits. We need full-time living-wage jobs, not more seasonal jobs that force people to live hand to mouth and on unemployment or welfare most of the year.

Mike Morgan

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To the Editor:

As I read the enthusiastic article about a proposed amphitheater for Sisters, on which $25,000 (Ed. note: A refundable deposit) has already been spent -versus an enclosed theatre which could turn Sisters in to the cultural center of the East Cascades; I refer to my earlier articles re: using the USFS property - I find more questions than answers.

I feel that it would only change the venue of our current programs from the Village Green and some large tents, to an expensive white elephant called Sisters Amphitheater! I would like to think that the Mayor and/or Council have done some homework - like a survey of the Les Schwab amphitheater in Bend. What type and how many programs has it accommodated from December 1 to Easter? A survey of the nearby businesses, restaurants, etc., as to what economic effect has it had? What is its maintenance cost in that same period, and is it paid from taxes? The only comment we have heard from some Bend residents is that many events are not well supported because they are "too spendy."

Next, there should be - if it has not already been done - a survey of Sisters businesses as to their support for such an endeavor: would it enable them to stay open all winter, rather than shortening employees' hours for "winter hours"?

As I observe the still-empty Chevron lot on Cascade, the disgraceful (in my opinion) unfinished state of the Conklin property, the number of "For Lease" signs in downtown Sisters, it seems that Sisters has more uses for the $25,000 than someone's impractical pipe dream!

Russell B. Williams

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To the Editor:

Let us thank, remember, respect and honor our Veterans who, with personal sacrifice, fought for all of us, to enjoy and keep the privileges of freedom, providing right, liberty and justice for all US citizens.

Kudos to the Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Directors for hosting the Community Trails meeting on Tuesday, November 5, thanks to the facilitator, and to everyone for their time and energy. Also, thanks to the Sisters fire department for providing a central meeting location.

The Deschutes National Forest (NF) offers thousands of acres and an abundance of outdoor recreation; hunting, fly fishing, river rafting, mountain biking, mountain climbing, and camping under the stars, fun for everyone. Trails in the Deschutes NF are used by hikers, mountain bikers, walkers, runners, horseback riders, and off-highway vehicle users. Everyone using the forest must think of their safety, the safety of others and act with

courtesy.

Knowing what the Deschutes NF has to offer is precisely why we chose to live in and around Sisters. With mindful, consideration and respect to the forest and to one another, there is space and existing trails for everyone in the Deschutes NF. Help preserve the solitude, pure pleasure, peacefulness, beauty, and serenity, which contribute to why Sisters residents, including Tollgate and Crossroad folks, chose to live here.

Deschutes NF rangers and interested public, please, remember that some of the proposed trails (dirt, gravel or paved), encroach on residential communities and your neighbors' properties. Please think through projects that benefit the needs of all, and not just some. Our lives are affected year round by seasonal interests of others. As Sisters grows, would you please consider the apprehensiveness of your neighbors and their best interest, to please respect the right of private property?

Joanne Anttila

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To the Editor:

I attended the November 5 meeting regarding the building of paved trails in our forest. Afterwards, I was asked why I didn't speak. Burnout is probably good a reason as any.

I spent my summer fighting something that never should have gotten this far; instead of having a fundraiser carnival to benefit SHS athletic transportation costs.

There is a saying "you can't fight City Hall." It is that kind of mentality that has allowed elected officials to overstep their bounds by pushing their own agenda for the "good" of the people. Mayor Boyd is one example of that. Crossroads, Tollgate and BBR are outside limits. Since we are not allowed to vote for city officials or anything within city limits, how is it that the mayor was allowed to put his stamp of approval on a project outside city limits?

Mr. Golden, school superintendent, is another. This trail is not promoted as a Safe Trails to School project. It is a multi-modal trail. I understand he might be thinking of the school kids in Crossroads, but when he gave his stamp of approval, I wish he would have looked at the whole picture and the infringement on private property rights.

A letter was read from the CEO of BBR. He is not a full-time resident I am assuming, so he should not have been given a voice. Same goes for Mr. Norquist and anyone else who attended or spoke who does not live in Sisters.

This is a Sisters resident problem! We are the ones affected year-round.

Lynn Johnston spoke and brought up a great point. The U.S. is $18 trillion in debt, we should not be spending one dime - let alone $2.8 million - on a paved "trail." Susie Werts asked that this issue be put on a ballot. Great idea! But until we can accomplish that, I urge all Sisters residents, who are tired of the intrusion by government and special-interest groups to fundamentally transform our beautiful and unique town, to write in to The Nugget letting your voice be heard.

Brenda Hartford