By Christy Solo and Wayne Lee – Editor and Sports Editor
Eagle Point
The month began with the Neighborhood Enhancement Commission receiving a briefing via Zoom on the initial stage of the master plan for the future Highlands Park. The commission focused on the wetlands at the west end of the park and discussed other amenities they would like to see. Commission Chair Doug Deitling suggested that the two major projects of a skate park and a parkour course should be split between Nova Park and Highlands Park adding, “otherwise we’re just wasting our time and money.”
May also saw the old covered bridge receive new concrete sidewalks and other landscaping improvements. It also saw the first steps to expand the city’s Urban Growth Boundary thanks to a state bill allowing a one-time expansion of up to 50 acres for the construction of more affordable housing to ease the state’s current housing crisis.
The month concluded with Chief Hamilton being named the state’s Police Chief of the Year. It was the first time the award went to a chief of police not from a major metropolitan area. Hamilton was so convinced he wouldn’t win, he almost missed the event.
“I wasn’t going to go to the banquet,” said Hamilton. “I had just been through a lot of training and was tired. However, a friend called urging him to attend. “So I said alright, I’ll go. It took an hour to hand out the awards. I looked over at Talent Chief of Police Jennifer Snook and said I was going to leave and that’s when she told me, ‘You need to get up there, they just called your name.'” Council President Kevin Walruff added, “In 30 years of law enforcement, I can’t recall this award ever being given to a chief in southern Oregon.”
The month ended with the first public hearing on the proposed UGB expansion. An overflow crowd of about 65 people spilled over into the Ashpole Center to watch the proceedings on closed-circuit television with nearly two dozen speaking out about the project. As with most development projects, the main concerns were traffic impacts and the impact on city schools and infrastructure. There were also those who simply oppose growth in general in their neighborhood.
After much discussion and hand-wringing the council voted 6-1 to proceed with the Skycrest Development proposal to develop 49.5 acres of land in the UGB area near the intersection of Alta Vista and Bingham-Brown roads. Lena Beach was the lone no vote.
The Eagle Point softball team finished third in league play to secure a spot in the state playoffs. Unfortunately, their first-round opponent was rival Crater, a team ranked third in the state and had won all three previous games against the Lady Eagles. It was an extremely close game and although the Comets were held to just one hit, they managed to escape with a 2-1 win to end Eagle Point’s season. The baseball team, on the other hand, ended their year 6-12 in league and 8-18 overall.
Shady Cove
In a follow up article on the city’s planned URA council explained their initial goal is to focus on all of Hwy. 62 and Rogue River Dr. (within city limits) with an emphasis on getting a citywide water system to improve infrastructure.
The May 15 council meeting focused on the Emergency Management Commission with an agenda item on reducing their duties.
During public comment EMC members voiced their disagreement regarding the reduction.
Following multiple workshops with EMC, council and Jackson County Emergency Services Administrator Michel Parry and Mayor Jon Ball wrote the proposed changes for EMC. The proposal cut their duties from eight down to four. The remaining four were focused on outreach and education.
Council again stated that the EMC’s current plan was “beyond the city’s budget and capabilities.” However, EMC members asked council to table the topic and not to make any “hasty decisions.”
Councilor Paige Winfrey suggested a “blended” compromise which would require further discussion.
In the end there was a motion to “freeze all EMC activities” until their duties could be “adequately defined.” The motion carried 3/0 (Mitchell was absent)
Two members of the EMC resigned following the meeting.
The May 22 council special meeting was special indeed. The meeting was part of the Mayor for a Day project which began with an essay contest held by Shady Cove School and organized by R&T. Council chose the essay winners during their May 7 meeting.
The school-aged Mayor for a Day and councilors were as follows: Mayor Ember Thompson, Council President Jemma Stapp and Councilors Bailey Bourgeois, Landon Davis, Magda Gutierrez and Kaizlee Mitchell.
The young council held a discussion on what after school and summer activities the city’s youth might want. Suggestions included a youth center with karaoke and dancing and for the Summer Bash they felt a face painting booth should be added.
Next Mayor Thompson led a discussion on water in the city. Council felt one step they could take would be to purchase a system to filter out metals and bacteria. Thompson instructed staff to look into the cost for such a filter.
The final motion – to make Mayor for a Day an annual event – carried 6/0.
During council comments Thomson said it was “nice to have discussion without confrontation or interruption. It was nice to get ideas out about Shady Cove.”
There was one May obituary: Charles “Chuck” E. Lawson
Other May news: A rash of bird flu deaths ran through the coastal brown pelican population. Eagle Point resident Patty Jensen was elected to the Jackson County Library Services Board, beating out a well-known Medford resident. Fire District 4’s bond proposal also won in May with 59% of the vote.
