Letters to the Editor 02/25/2015

To the Editor"

Commissioner Unger -

Thank you for your interest to unite the communities along the highway corridor leading into Sisters from the west.

One option is the STA desire to build a 10-mile bike and hiking path connecting everyone to the Tollgate development, Black Butte Ranch, a Suttle Lake unimproved bike path and Camp Sherman.

When you support the plan, please be certain that this is a wise use of government monies, which are funded by citizen taxes.

Your studies, if responsible, need to include impact statements affecting all involved citizens and, where applicable, their private properties. Safety and security, as well as creation of recreational opportunities serving the greatest good for the greatest number of people, should be assured within your domain of responsibility. Maintenance funding and added public safety resources for municipal and state agencies must be adequately funded for the added burdens created by non-motorized citizen use of facilities built very near our high-speed highways.

You must also be prepared to help provide additional resources needed to deal with the effect of problems created by increasing public access to privately owned residential property.

I understand that some people favoring this trail accuse some private property owners of being selfish. Be aware that many of those being unjustly accused are fervent supporters of the Sisters community businesses and social needs (examples include Habitat for Humanity involvement, public schools involvement, and church memberships whose missions specifically include support for community needs). Perhaps those citizens are the ones most intent upon preserving the environment we all enjoy in Sisters Country. I suspect that there are many people who very significantly support Sisters, both financially and through service, but do not crow about it.

William Peterson

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To the Editor:

I am not one to publicly express my opinion, however, Mr. Ken Serkownek, you evidently don't know Mrs. Anttila, and have confused her with someone else.

She has never written an editorial in The Nugget, has never said she is against trail projects, nor is she vitriolic or disrespectful. Quite the contrary, she is a woman of integrity, practices what she preaches, is principled, open-minded, thorough and brave. She has expressed one request since 2012, to allow Crossroads, and the Sisters community, an opportunity to comment on the proposed paved trail project.

Leaders of the paved trail project described community input as "premature" in 2012, and "too late" in 2013. After recognizing process mistakes, the SHS-to-Crossroads project was dropped in June 2014.

In September 2014, during the USFS paved trail "Open Objection Period" Mrs. Anttila commented; to allow everyone opportunity to give input, not just one person or one group, to start the process over. She has never wavered from this same request. In October 2014, the Sisters District Ranger withdrew the Tollgate-to-BBR paved trail decision, the objection reviewing officer concurred, stating, a broader community-led process to identify desired trails would help the Forest Service proceed, with a clearer path to successful implementation of new non-motorized trails.

I don't believe that name-calling is a proactive way to start a new trail process. Our public schools have a zero-tolerance on bullying and so should this community. I suggest those who continue to bully be recused from participating in the new community-led trail process.

Rather than portray Mrs. Anttila as "vitriolic," disrespect Mr. Wertz, Mr. Fisher, and others who speak out, we should be thankful and acknowledge these courageous people who still defend our basic Constitutional rights, private property and due process, even when it's not popular.

While my mom enjoys hikes, is an advocate for a healthy forest environment and has always been fond of Smoky the Bear, she is an even greater supporter of honesty, responsibility, and respect. My mom is a leader, realistic and someone to look up to.

I personally believe that "if you don't have something nice (or constructive) to say, don't say anything at all."

Chelsea Anttila

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To the Editor:

Re: "Don't fall for the grandparents scam," The Nugget, February 18, page 7:

Jim Cornelius' article was spot-on for us, as we also had that experience last week ourselves.

He's right: the caller is very, very smooth and convincing. Ours too came from a grandson surprisingly (but believably) in Mexico at "the consulate" but with jail an imminent prospect for drug possession. It went on for a few minutes, which gave us time to analyze the voice and consider what we were hearing.

But before we got to the demand to wire money we both thought to ask some questions. Jan asked to name his brother, for which the caller gave a name, but of course failed.

It's a very easy con, but one to also easily dismiss if you're really aware.

Frank Baldwin

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To the Editor:

Sisters City Council re: Food carts: Please provide an opportunity for the community to speak to you about this important issue. Please place it on the council agenda as a public hearing event so that the community will clearly know you WANT to hear from them. If improving public outreach is truly a goal of the council, this is one way of achieving it.

By now you have had an opportunity to review the signatures on the petition presented at the February 12 council meeting. You have also had an opportunity to review a legal opinion authored by Bend attorney Michael Peterkin. Even a casual reading of this document should make it clear that it greatly diverges from the opinion offered by City Attorney Bryant.

Mr. Peterkin makes the case that there is a lawful remedy the city can follow that will provide a solution to the problems created SP 14-07, the Brad Boyd food cart application. I would hope there is a willingness on the part of the Sisters City Council to see the potential offered in this document, and either follow the advice it provides, or at a minimum, consider obtaining a third opinion from a disinterested legal council experienced in

land-use law.

This is the way out of the box you have been put into by others, and there are many in the community watching to see if you will take it. Please, do not disappoint.

A number of citizens have spent their own money to provide you with an exit strategy. We are showing up, we are being involved, and we are putting a solution on the table. We are asking that you not disregard our effort.

Ed Protas

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To the Editor:

Those who oppose a paved trail from Sisters to Black Butte have cited many considered and well-articulated reasons for their stand, including fiscal, environmental, safety, administrative and property-valuation concerns. To dismiss people with these legitimate and compound concerns as merely being "selfish" is simplistic and childish and shows a poor understanding and intolerance of how democracy works.

A reminder: the Forest Service cancelled the proposed project because our community was strongly divided over its desirability and questioned its financial solvency. It was broad-based and cogent protest, not the actions of a few supposedly inconsiderate individuals, that led to the project's demise.

This is how a healthy democracy works. If this is unacceptable to them, perhaps the people slinging the "selfish" barbs should consider moving to Iran or China. I hear there's a lot less dissent there.

Michael Cooper

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To the Editor:

Another letter about the food cart fiasco.

The City of Sisters' slam-dunk approval of Mr. Boyd's food cart permit failed to give the issue a proper and thorough consideration. It did not allow enough time to fully evaluate and address many of the ancillary issues associated with food carts.

How big is a food cart? Four feet by four feet or 6 feet and moved by a human being or is it 8 by 10 feet and moved by a car or truck or is it 10 by 30 feet and is self-propelled or is it all of the above? According to the city staff it is all of the above.

How many food carts are allowed or permitted on a property? One, three, five or more? According to city staff it is as many as can fit on a piece of property.

How many food carts are allowed in the city of Sisters? One food cart every 300 feet similar to formula food regulations or 100 food carts total? According to city staff there are no restrictions or limits.

How many food carts does it take to make a food cart "pod"? What are food cart hours of operation? Sun up to sun down or mid-night? Beer or wine?

Are food carts required to have permanent wheels for travel and movement? Are food carts required to be removed from public view at the end of each day?

Are food carts charged a daily, weekly or monthly business license fee by the City of Sisters?

Since Mr. Boyd's permit has already been approved, his permit is exempt from any new regulations or restrictions.

Nothing I have read in The Nugget says anything about cancelling or voiding Mr. Boyd's permit, so I am puzzled, why is Mr. Boyd so adamant about suing the City of Sisters? I wonder if Mr. Boyd is feeling guilty and resents the public process.

In my opinion, when the city administration and staff are dealing with members of the city council on matters related to the various business activities of the council members, extra steps should be taken by all parties involved to ensure that the public trust and confidence is maintained, which includes reviewing codes or making sure codes are in place before moving forward. Right now there seems to be a lack of commitment to do the extra steps for the good of the people and City of Sisters.

Dave Marlow

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To the Editor,

There is a great event coming up this Saturday and I would like to invite all my Sisters Country neighbors!

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District in cooperation with the Cloverdale Fire District will be hosting an open house from 9-11 on Saturday, February 28, at the main fire station located at 301 S. Elm St. This is a fundraising effort to support the teams of firefighters who will be climbing 69 floors in full firefighting gear as part of the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb.

Come meet the team, tour the fire apparatus, and contribute money by giving a donation or buying some raffle tickets. A host of prizes have been donated from local businesses (for a full list check out the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Facebook page) and all proceeds will benefit the Leukemia Lymphoma Society in its mission to cure cancer and provide patient services.

I have personally participated in the Stairclimb several times, but this year means more. In 2014, my brother, DeRew, was diagnosed with T-Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. It's one of those things I recognized was a potential for me in my profession as a firefighter, but never expected my brother to have it. He has been undergoing treatment ever since and is hopeful of a good outcome, but it is still too early to determine how successful the treatment has been. This year, we are climbing to honor and support DeRew in his fight for life.

One of the many things I love about our community is how we band together to support those in need. Please come down and show your support of the team and our efforts to honor my brother. If you can't make it on Saturday, you can also donate online at http://www.llswa.org/goto/cloverdalefire.

Damon Frutos

Cloverdale Team Captain