Letters to the Editor 06/04/2014

To the Editor:

I liked the traffic light, and think the roundabout is over-kill. I voiced my concerns to Representative Huffman. He noted a common theme of community support; 95 percent of 2011 survey participants favored a roundabout.

My research for roundabouts on state highways revealed the following relevant issues:

• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, February 2014: Intersections with highly unbalanced traffic flows (very heavy traffic volumes on the main street and light on side street) are often not ideal candidates for roundabouts. Highway 20 is much busier than Barclay.

• Indiana DOT Joint Study, July 2013, Conditions Considered Unfavorable for Roundabouts:

1. High pedestrian or bicycle traffic (wasn't our goal to be pedestrian/bicycle friendly?)

2. High truck volume (US20 is a freight route)

3. Nearby intersection will generate queues and spill into the roundabout (a 2012 ODOT study mentions this condition on Highway 20).

• ODOT issued a roundabout moratorium for state highway freight routes (May, 2011 through November 2012) triggered by citizen concerns for a Klamath Falls roundabout that stalled in 2010 and SB580. Safety concerns included large horse trailers and farm equipment. Were the survey participants told this in 2011?

• SB580 (tabled) proposed reducing speed to 35 mph a half-mile before the roundabout. Is this the plan for east-bound traffic? Wouldn't speed reductions, including down to 15 mph as required by roundabouts, make the light safer, too?

• Multi-lane roundabouts present challenges. Confusion persisted for over a year per a Bellingham, WA study and increased non- injury crashes. Is a multi-lane a future option?

• Consensus per the Indiana study: Roundabouts should be lighted. Who maintains the lights and pays the electric bill? ODOT or Sisters?

To voice your concerns, please contact Representative Huffman and ask him to represent your interests. My single letter won't make a difference, but adding yours might. Huffman represents you, not ODOT. [email protected]

Nancy Buffinton-Kelm

•••

To the Editor:

If anyone really cares, we totally support the letters to the editor in the May 21, 2014 Nugget written by Donna Holland and Brenda Hartford.

The recent decisions by ODOT and the decision-makers of Sisters government to suggest that the roundabout at Barclay is our only choice for traffic control is ludicrous. Is this another "stellar" decision by the ones who gave us "back-in" parking? Or is it all ODOT's doing with the poor, hypocritical rationale offered?

We think that the residents of Sisters and the surrounding areas need to be consulted before making these supposedly "stellar" decisions. The temporary stoplight at Highway 20 and Barclay was amazingly helpful in terms of safety. The same would be true for one at Locust and Highway 20.

It would really be nice if we thought that these roundabout-opposing letters to the Editor would do any good. It didn't help for the back-in parking. So what can we do to fight back this stupid decision for a roundabout?

Don and Pat Collins

•••

To the Editor:

Since I drive in Bend a lot I am used to roundabouts.

The two reasons I prefer them to a traffic light is that the wait to move through traffic is much quicker even if there is a large buildup in line such as Old Mill District in the late afternoon, and secondly, they are much safer because one doesn't have to worry about someone trying to race the change in the traffic light and going through the light on a red.

That happens so often I never start through an intersection on my green without looking each way just as if it were a regular stop sign.

B. Graham

•••

To the Editor:

Amen to all the comments supporting the traffic light at Barclay Drive and Highway 20.

A roundabout at that location smacks of the same logic as the back-end parking on Main Avenue. Can we try a common-sense approach to solve the problem for a change?

Sylvia Reinhardt

•••

To the Editor:

I write this letter with zero political agenda; I don't like nor pay that much attention to politics. I write this letter as a mom to young children trying to walk the talk: "Be nice to people, don't judge a book by its cover," etc.

I write this letter simply to state my own experiences. Most importantly I write this letter to own up to my mistake. I'm a weekly Nugget reader, and because of that I thought poorly of Andrew Gorayeb, who was, until a few months ago, a man I had never even been in the same room with.

In March I interviewed for the School District Budget Committee. As a school board member, Mr. Gorayeb was part of the interviewing committee. My opinion of him literally changed the second after he spoke.

Fast forward a few months... I was selected to be on the SSD budget committee so I've been in a few more meetings with Mr. Gorayeb. I've also read a few more weeks' worth of appalling letters to the editor. Letters that seem flat-out cruel and don't describe at all the person I have interacted with.

The Mr. Gorayeb I've spoken with is intelligent, compassionate, efficient, and dedicated. I'm embarrassed that I based my judgment solely on what I read in this paper and, therefore, felt compelled to explain my change of heart.

I ask anyone reading this to practice common sense and courtesy: Treat others as you wish to be treated, remember there are two sides to every story, and make your opinions based on your own observations.

Mr. Gorayeb, I'm sorry. I appreciate all that you are doing for Sisters.

Regan Roberts

•••

To the Editor:

We know this to be true: A rising tide lifts all ships.

In 2005 when I contracted to buy my property in downtown Sisters, the tide was high. Residents had strong equity in their homes, owing to the desirability of Sisters as a quality environment to live and raise families, and businesses of all types in Sisters were busy. The tide subsided in 2009. Homeowners all over the county lost their jobs, their incomes and lost their homes to foreclosure. As a result, travel suffered, residents of Sisters suffered and we have seen many commercial vacancies open up in Downtown.

Celia Hung is ready to experiment with ideas that will help bring travelers back to Sisters. As any business owner knows, starting a business is very expensive and very risky. Ms. Hung has a successful record attracting travelers to her RV park. She is ready to test her skills in attracting travelers to downtown Sisters. What business owner would not want another business owner marketing and promoting downtown Sisters? Wisely, she has asked for a temporary permit to test her ideas. For the good of all the businesses in the City of Sisters, let's hope that she is wildly successful. If she is, the tide will rise, travel to Sisters will increase, and all businesses will benefit.

Please grant Celia Hung her temporary permit and let's find out what she can do for downtown.

Nick Veroske

•••

To the Editor:

Cheat Grass: Last June I rushed my little 10-pound poodle to the veterinarian at 11:30 p.m. one night because her ear was very painful. She was crying. Our veterinarian at Broken Top Vet removed a dry cheat grass seed from near her ear drum. She informed me that if she had not removed the cheat grass it would have penetrated her eardrum by morning ... and on through to her brain.

We once owned an Irish Setter who had cheat grass go in between his toes, run up inside his leg and festered as it erupted on his upper leg.

We live on Trapper Point Road off of Camp Polk Road and just north of the Sisters city limits.

I am writing this letter to alert dog owners not to walk their dogs on the property just west of the Sisters Post Office, (I believe this is the area an outdoor arena was proposed) and the undeveloped properties north of Barclay Road as they are full of cheat grass.

I have seen many dogs in these areas as it is a fun area to run and explore. This is the time of year to attack bad weeds, so be forewarned that cheat grass is dreadful on your dogs. While cheat grass is not now listed as a noxious weed, it is very dangerous - not to mention a costly veterinarian bill.

Marian Lee