Letters to the Editor 12/06/2017

I have a suggestion/challenge: School district officials should arrange to have the site and footprint of the proposed bus barn flagged, and then invite the community (taxpayers) to come out and see for themselves what is being considered.

Patrick Eckford

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To the Editor:

Bonnie Malone's letter on November 29 could have been written by a number of people in Sisters who frequent the library and always looked forward to finding Charlotte Nichter present.

What a loss to the library and the community. Having an employee loyal for over two decades to a job she carried out well is hard to come by and should be celebrated instead of dismissed. Even if her limitations kept her from doing 100 percent of what she used to do, continuing her on as an employee would have been the right thing to do.

Edie Jones

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To the Editor:

I totally agree with Bonnie Malone's letter regarding Charlotte Nitcher and am very disappointed in the Deschutes Library Board in their unanimous vote to "fire" Charlotte. Am especially disappointed in the Board member who is also on the Friends of Sisters Library and my neighbor.

Sue Edgerton

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To the Editor:

I did not realize that Charlotte Nitcher had been in an accident, let alone been "fired" from our library.

I thank Bonnie Malone for her letter to the editor. I, too, am disappointed to hear this! It does not even sound legal! Aren't there laws to protect injured workers from just this type of thing?!

As Bonnie said, "This action does not reflect the community spirit of which we in Sisters are so proud."

Will they be replacing her position with an all-volunteer staff? Was she still the current volunteer coordinator? I would like to hear WHY this took place, the "other side" of the story.

Who is to blame for such an "awkward" decision?

I read on the Oregon State site regarding returning to work needing accommodations, "As long as you employ six or more persons, you have an obligation to reemploy the worker to the most suitable vacant position available."

"NOTE: Under state and federal discrimination statutes, you may also have an obligation to reasonably accommodate a worker if disabled."

I do hope if she is up to fighting this, she can. Maybe Deschutes County has an overriding law?

Kerry Zenich

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To the Editor:

Sisters Habitat for Humanity would like to ask the community to be on the lookout for its utility trailer which was stolen from the Village Meadows job site (between Brooks Camp Rd. and McKinney Butte Rd.) sometime during the Thanksgiving weekend. It is a small, five-by-eight-foot, white, basic, wood-box trailer used to store and haul trash from the job site. If anyone has information about the trailer please contact the Habitat office at 541-549-1193 or return it to the job site, no questions asked.

Angela Lund

Sisters Habitat for Humanity

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To the Editor:

Is your home/property zoned Multiple Use Agricultural (MUA-10)? Deschutes County is choosing to ignore literal meaning and criteria regarding zoning, easements and variances on property currently zoned MUA-10, single-family residential: 10050 NE Crooked River Dr., Terrebonne.

The commercial nonprofit that purchased property is now seeking to eliminate existing zoning, easements and rules to build high density bed and breakfast, camp ground and parking lot "up to 30 guests a night" on two and a half acres in a long-established residential neighborhood.

This is a precedent that could affect everyone who is MUA-10 zoning. Property that is directly across from Smith Rock State Park and will open up more commercial development in our already over-used, beautiful state park.

December 18, 10 a.m., Barnes & Sawyer Rooms • Deschutes Services Center 100 NW Wall St. Bend, OR: Public Hearing to Appeal Zoning Change. Interested persons may appear to be heard or send written, signed testimony at Box 6005, NW Lafayette Ave., Bend OR 97708-6005 Attn: Anthony Raguine.

Info related to this issue can be viewed at dial.deschutes.org. Research property: 10050 NW Crooked River Dr. Terrebonne, OR 97760. Go to documents to view submitted letters, appeals, permits and info.

Criteria for condition use on this case should be viewed by all MUA-10 property owners. A change like this will affect the whole of Deschutes County!

Shirley McBride