Letters to the Editor 08/06/2014

To the Editor:

Tony DeBone is running for re-election as Deschutes County Commissioner. Tony has worked hard to become a learned public servant. He has a high-tech background and considers economic vitality through renewable energy, biomass, tourism and manufacturing his top priorities.

Tony was a major supporter in the annexation of our Sisters Airport. He is a member of the EDCO board and holds Sisters in high regard. He visits here frequently.

Please consider him when you cast your vote.

David A. Asson

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To the Editor:

A meeting with city planner Eric Porter has satisfied me that the City has fulfilled all of its legal obligations regarding the planned Adams Avenue "commons" (seems a coincidence that the developer managed to submit his plans requiring onsite parking just two months before an Adams Avenue plan was to take effect - somewhat like Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense under President Bush and Obama found with large industries prior to government actions!).

But planning may be one thing - reality something different! Fire and ambulance access to the foster homes has been addressed properly according to fire department representative Gary Marshall. These foster homes engender weekend traffic, which may conflict with Lutheran church access on Saturdays and Sundays. Moving the access drive to Adams Avenue might prevent that. If - and I hope that I am wrong - the vehicle count exceeds what the developer is obligated to provide, the onus will be upon the city to finish the sidewalks and street paving on the balance of Fir Street.

I feel that the church will need to install "No Parking-Tow Away" signs.

My final concern is whether or not Sisters is going to have full-time work for all those 25 apartment users so that it does not wind up subsidized housing and a detriment to adjoining developments.

Russell B. Williams

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To the Editor:

A 2012 U.S. Forest Service document describing the proposed paved trails in the Sisters area indicates 753 scoping letters were sent to Tollgate, Warm Springs Federation, and Buck Run. In September 2013 the Sisters District Ranger acknowledged mistakes were made in the public scoping and outreach process. As a result, the comment period was reopened in November 2013 and resulted in the District Ranger's decision to rescind the Crossroads to Sisters High School portion of this project in July 2014.

The additional comment period in 2013 was perceived by most to be directed to the Crossroads to Sisters High School paved trail. This is because there was a USFS trail-walk on November 19, 2013, which focused exclusively on this Crossroads section of trail, not the paved trail to Black Butte Ranch.

Prior to the USFS letter to rescind the Crossroads to SHS paved trail, Crossroads property owners had not received a proposal, scoping, or any letter from the USFS since 2003, which described a 1.63-mile single-track trail, compact gravel on an existing forest road along Highway 242 connecting Crossroads to the Sisters High School. My questions to Black Butte Ranch owners are: Have similar mistakes been made regarding the Sister-to-Black Butte Ranch paved trail? Have you received an official scoping letter from the USFS?

Tollgate residents have continued to request this trail be moved closer to Highway 20; approximately 300 Tollgate signatures were on letters and petitions submitted to the USFS during the official comment period.

Don't you think the USFS needs to do a better job getting, and responding to, input from the people that will be most affected by the Sisters-to-Tollgate-to-Black Butte Ranch Trail? It would be a good-faith gesture to have a forest trail-walk along the Black Butte paved trail. Mark the 250 trees that will be removed and the 20-foot area where the 10-foot paved path will be constructed. It would be clear, transparent, courteous and considerate to include all current and future trail-project information at the same time.

Joanne Anttila