Mr Rowe,
At the July 1, 2014 Coos County BOC meeting agenda there was an item under “Department Heads” item “G” titled: “Coquille Indian Tribe would like to add portions of the Coos County roadway to their Tribal Transportation Program Roadway inventory” also known as “(TTP)”.
The background and description of need or problem was stated: “The Coquille Indian Tribe would like to add portions of our County roads to the Tribe’s TTP Roadway inventory for additional funding consideration for future roadway improvements.” What future improvements are being considered?
The requested action was: “Approve and authorize chair to sign (“memorandum of understanding (MOU)”) Coquille Tribe’s Acknowledgement of Public Responsibility, Statement of Inability to Provide Funds and Verification of Federal Aid Category”. Has the County stated it is financially unable to fund some project? If so, what project?
The MOU states “these roads are used by Tribal members for school, mail routes, and routes to employment locations and are crucial to the Tribe’s access to goods and services and potential economic development.” To this, I would like to state that these roads are open to use by all citizens of Coos County for the same uses and acknowledged as such by the Tribe. The statement “potential economic development” raises the question, what “economic development” is planned for these areas?
The MOU states that the County is currently responsible for the maintenance of the roads, and has sufficient funds to meet its maintenance responsibilities. The Tribe “simply wants the ability to provide funding for future roadway improvements projects”, which when completed the County would have the responsibility to maintain. To that end, how can the County authorize the potential of future expense when the County has no idea of what the future roadway improvements will be?
All roads in the County are important to all citizens of the County. I consider all members of the Coquille Tribe to be citizens of the County. Is that correct? The Tribe claims “the County is unable to provide funding for upgrades to these roads.” What upgrades are they planning? Will the County be able to fund the maintenance of these upgrades? The Tribe is asking for the County to acknowledge its responsibility to maintain any future upgrades without identifying the upgrade! That is like getting a cart before the horse.
The Tribe is agreeing “that no roadway improvements will be made without obtaining prior approval from the County.” How about identifying the project and then looking for the approval and funds? How does the Tribe know how much “Federal Aid” to secure? How will this “Federal Aid” impact the County? Will there be Federal restrictions placed on the County?
The Tribe has identified 84.3 miles of “S-County” owned roads which they wish to include in the TTP. Does this require State of Oregon approval also?
I respectfully request that maps be made available on the County web site showing the general and specific locations of each segment listed on the TTP with a description of the potential economic development and/or upgrade. Furthermore, I request that the appropriate time be scheduled for public input at least five (5) days prior to any authorization for approval of chair to sign.
The agenda item cover sheet shows that Counsel, Treasurer and Road Department have signed off on this. Would the planning department be involved? Does anyone really know what they are signing off on?
Any future upgrades may affect the rights of private property owners. Have these landowners been made aware of “potential economic development” and “upgrades to these roads”.
Respectfully, Theo Stanley
At the July 1, 2014 Coos County BOC meeting agenda there was an item under “Department Heads” item “G” titled: “Coquille Indian Tribe would like to add portions of the Coos County roadway to their Tribal Transportation Program Roadway inventory” also known as “(TTP)”.
The background and description of need or problem was stated: “The Coquille Indian Tribe would like to add portions of our County roads to the Tribe’s TTP Roadway inventory for additional funding consideration for future roadway improvements.” What future improvements are being considered?
The requested action was: “Approve and authorize chair to sign (“memorandum of understanding (MOU)”) Coquille Tribe’s Acknowledgement of Public Responsibility, Statement of Inability to Provide Funds and Verification of Federal Aid Category”. Has the County stated it is financially unable to fund some project? If so, what project?
The MOU states “these roads are used by Tribal members for school, mail routes, and routes to employment locations and are crucial to the Tribe’s access to goods and services and potential economic development.” To this, I would like to state that these roads are open to use by all citizens of Coos County for the same uses and acknowledged as such by the Tribe. The statement “potential economic development” raises the question, what “economic development” is planned for these areas?
The MOU states that the County is currently responsible for the maintenance of the roads, and has sufficient funds to meet its maintenance responsibilities. The Tribe “simply wants the ability to provide funding for future roadway improvements projects”, which when completed the County would have the responsibility to maintain. To that end, how can the County authorize the potential of future expense when the County has no idea of what the future roadway improvements will be?
All roads in the County are important to all citizens of the County. I consider all members of the Coquille Tribe to be citizens of the County. Is that correct? The Tribe claims “the County is unable to provide funding for upgrades to these roads.” What upgrades are they planning? Will the County be able to fund the maintenance of these upgrades? The Tribe is asking for the County to acknowledge its responsibility to maintain any future upgrades without identifying the upgrade! That is like getting a cart before the horse.
The Tribe is agreeing “that no roadway improvements will be made without obtaining prior approval from the County.” How about identifying the project and then looking for the approval and funds? How does the Tribe know how much “Federal Aid” to secure? How will this “Federal Aid” impact the County? Will there be Federal restrictions placed on the County?
The Tribe has identified 84.3 miles of “S-County” owned roads which they wish to include in the TTP. Does this require State of Oregon approval also?
I respectfully request that maps be made available on the County web site showing the general and specific locations of each segment listed on the TTP with a description of the potential economic development and/or upgrade. Furthermore, I request that the appropriate time be scheduled for public input at least five (5) days prior to any authorization for approval of chair to sign.
The agenda item cover sheet shows that Counsel, Treasurer and Road Department have signed off on this. Would the planning department be involved? Does anyone really know what they are signing off on?
Any future upgrades may affect the rights of private property owners. Have these landowners been made aware of “potential economic development” and “upgrades to these roads”.
Respectfully, Theo Stanley
Related Posts:
BOC Meeting Bandon mosquitoes, Coquille Indian Tribe Road Proposal July 15, 2014
Letter to Editor---Shocked at Vote By Coos BOC in Support of AmeriCorps
Letter to Editor---Open Question to Commission Sweet About SCCF
BOC---County Meeting to Hire AmreiCorp, Discuss SCCF Tuesday July 1, 2014
City of #coosbay Hiding Documents on the South Coast Community Foundation
BOC---Enterprise Zone Agreement for Jordan Cove Energy Project LP in a Resolution
BOC---Cowardly, Commissioners Cribbins & Sweet Betray the Voters of Coos County
Unanswered Questions about the South Coast Community Foundation
MGX---CEP/SCCF will Impact ALL of Oregon
AFP---Information on the CEP/SCCF Presentation at the Red Lion on May 1, 2014
Letter to Editor---SCCF Should pay for Coos Bay Sewer Upgrades
Letter to Editor---Promises in the Dark with the Jordan Cove Project
BOC---Public Meetings Coos County Planning Changing Land Use Laws
Letter to Editor---County Politicians Keeping Public in the Dark on SCCF
RPCC---Republican Monthly Meeting "Candidate Forum" April 24, 2014
Critique of the BOC Town Hall in Bandon---"PUT IT ON THE BALLOT"
BOC---Public Meetings on South Coast Community Foundation "Put it on the Ballot"
BOC---Public Meeting for Vote on South Coast Community Foundation April 1, 2014
Letter to Editor---South Coast Community Foundation Scam will Top All Past
MGX---Geddry Slams Koch over Forced Cooperation & Jordon Cove Funding
League of Oregon Cities Class of Slanted View on History of Urban Renewal in OR
BOC Meeting Bandon mosquitoes, Coquille Indian Tribe Road Proposal July 15, 2014
Letter to Editor---Shocked at Vote By Coos BOC in Support of AmeriCorps
Letter to Editor---Open Question to Commission Sweet About SCCF
BOC---County Meeting to Hire AmreiCorp, Discuss SCCF Tuesday July 1, 2014
City of #coosbay Hiding Documents on the South Coast Community Foundation
BOC---Enterprise Zone Agreement for Jordan Cove Energy Project LP in a Resolution
BOC---Cowardly, Commissioners Cribbins & Sweet Betray the Voters of Coos County
Unanswered Questions about the South Coast Community Foundation
MGX---CEP/SCCF will Impact ALL of Oregon
AFP---Information on the CEP/SCCF Presentation at the Red Lion on May 1, 2014
Letter to Editor---SCCF Should pay for Coos Bay Sewer Upgrades
Letter to Editor---Promises in the Dark with the Jordan Cove Project
BOC---Public Meetings Coos County Planning Changing Land Use Laws
Letter to Editor---County Politicians Keeping Public in the Dark on SCCF
RPCC---Republican Monthly Meeting "Candidate Forum" April 24, 2014
Critique of the BOC Town Hall in Bandon---"PUT IT ON THE BALLOT"
BOC---Public Meetings on South Coast Community Foundation "Put it on the Ballot"
BOC---Public Meeting for Vote on South Coast Community Foundation April 1, 2014
Letter to Editor---South Coast Community Foundation Scam will Top All Past
MGX---Geddry Slams Koch over Forced Cooperation & Jordon Cove Funding
League of Oregon Cities Class of Slanted View on History of Urban Renewal in OR
RSS Feed
