Politics & Government

Lane County may throw a wrench in the City of Eugene's efforts to pass a sick leave ordinance.

The Board of County Commissioners Tuesday  moved forward on their own ordinance that exempts Lane County from the city's sick leave. It may also exempt any business outside Eugene and restrict the ability of other cities in Lane County from passing similar sick leave rules. Board Chair Pat Farr says there are a lot of unanswered questions about how the city's ordinance would affect county government and private businesses outside Eugene.

Garry Weber will step down on July 31 after serving on the Springfield public schools board for 15 years. Weber says he feels it’s time to step down from the position and open it to a parent of a current student in the school system.

The Springfield board of education is now seeking someone to fill the position. Applicants do not need to live in a certain area of Springfield to qualify. The board will appoint a new member to serve out the remainder of the current term which expires June 2015.

U.S Representative Peter DeFazio of Oregon blasted republicans in congress today (Thursday) for passing legislation that will mandate drilling off U.S. coasts and public lands.

As a Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, DeFazio criticized the party line vote to approve H.R. 4899, saying it is the same proposal that passed last year and the year before that and the year before that.

Faye Stewart and Jay Bozievich will not face run-off elections this fall. The Lane County Elections office finished re-counting votes in the West and East Lane County Commissioner races from May.

Elections officials in Lane County are re-tallying votes from the May primary. Both East Lane and West Lane County Commissioner races were so close that the Secretary of State said recounts are necessary.

No more browsing at the Eugene Public Library on Sunday mornings.

Beginning July 6th, the library is cutting Sunday hours. It will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. It currently opens at 10:00 a.m.

This is one of the ways the City of Eugene is trying to save money and have a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Under the new budget, the Bethel Branch will remain open, Sheldon will stay open for one year while options for funding are explored, and the downtown library will be open three fewer hours on Sundays.

Douglas county commissioner Doug Robertson announced his resignation Wednesday, June 11th.

KQEN reports Robertson has had the job since January 1981. He spent years focused on timber management issues and their effects on counties in Oregon. He was the president of the association of O&C Counties and said he felt the time spent visiting Washington took away from his regular work as a county commissioner.

Robertson also acknowledged the timber issue is not yet solved and knows the timing is not perfect for making an exit.

copyright, 2014 KLCC

Lane County Elections will have to conduct a recount in *two commissioner races. That's the latest from the Oregon Secretary of State who Tuesday said the East Lane County seat race was close enough to trigger an automatic recount. Now, it's been found the West Lane race also requires one.
Lane County spokeswoman Anne Marie Levis:

The Lane County Elections Office announced Tuesday that the East Lane County Commissioner's race will require a recount.  

Incumbent Commissioner Faye Stewart faced three challengers in the May Primary.  Fifty-percent plus one vote is required to be elected.  But under Oregon law, an automatic recount is triggered if election results are too close.  

Lane County Spokeswoman Anne Marie Levis said it was initially unclear if Stewart's margin of 50-percent plus eight was enough to avoid an automatic recount.  The county sought clarification.  

Monroe will begin the planning stages of a new stormwater master plan thanks to a loan from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

Monroe's sewer system overflows periodically after heavy rains. Sometimes this sends untreated sewage into the Long Tom River that flows into the Willamette. A new planning loan from the Oregon DEQ allows Monroe officials to begin investigating ways to improve the system and solve the problem.