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(Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact are strictly those of the letter writers.)
Price increases
I am writing to inform folks of yet another price increase in our daily lives. As a person living on a fixed-income I feel quite overwhelmed by these changes and have made adjustments to offset some of these new expenses. However, I am concerned about the effects of Southern Oregon Sanitation’s rate increase at the Kerby Transfer Station. While the personnel at the station had to deal with triple the amount of waste due to Marijuana growing over the last couple of years ( I am sure they are very pleased to see a decrease in this due to 40% less growing this year) I suspect there will be a rise in illegal dumping due to an almost 100% rise in disposal costs. The people who use the transfer station use it because of lower costs.
Lets do a comparison. A 65 gallon garbage can which can hold 5, 13 gallon bags, is $43.80 a month for two pick-ups. I recently paid $17.50 for 4, 65 gallon cans but I used to pay $2.50 per can or $10.00 before the new July 2022 price hike. Last month an 8 foot bed of yard waste in 11 cans with garbage bags on the side cost 18.50. The next week it cost 35.90. In fact, I used to be able to recycle 75% of my garbage before China decided our recyclables were too contaminated (the wrong items recycled) to process. Why is it that American companies do not recycle on a scale that matters? There is profit to be made.
I began burning paper to reduce my garbage load- not good for the air. Some of my yard waste, those items with seeds, used to go to the Kerby Transfer Station. Burning these items did not work. I just ended up seeding my yard waste burn pile. Composting attracts critters. What is a gal to do? More precisely what will other folks do when they encounter the new pricing? Perhaps unsightly farm garbage will not be disposed of. Perhaps people will have to figure out a budget for cleaning up messes left by others. Southern Oregon Sanitation’s Kerby Transfer Station has a handy-dandy take-home pricing card of the new rates to help you make decisions! You have been forewarned.
Elizabeth Morris,
Cave Junction
To the Editor:
I’d like to thank ODOT for visiting our valley Tues Jul 26th at the Belt Building. ODOT presented their study to engage us, the Public, about the safety of Hwy 199. The staff gave us an excellent presentation with displays, showing us some of the complexities of the transportation planning process.
I’m glad to learn that ODOT has now become a “multi-modal transportation agency”. A Senior Transportation Engineer explained to me that this means ODOT now has a policy to provide for non-motorized transportation. Bicycles and pedestrians are important to our local economy, and also to the State economy.
Perhaps now we can begin to envision being able safely to get around the I.V. on foot or by bicycle, instead of risking our lives, as we do today? Our roads were designed to serve only motor vehicles, not people walking or cycling without an engine.
In 2015, ODOT created for the City of Cave Junction the ‘Transportation Master Plan Update’, which was adopted by the City Council. In 2022, the City has yet to implement the Bike/ Pedestrian trail map that is already approved by ODOT, since they mapped it for us. Now would be an excellent time for the City to revive plans to build the complete Bike/ Ped trail system inside the City.
Perhaps the escalating price of fuel has brought the time when our road system can now make room for people walking and cycling?
Did you know that Hwy 199 is the 13th most dangerous highway in the USA, according to the crash severity/ fatality data? Every solution to our lethal road system must find new ways to slow down the existing traffic patterns. Sorry, roadsters.
Thanks ODOT, for making our lethal highway your priority. Thank you ODOT, for including public opinion in the process. Let’s make sure that our County Commissioners hear from us about supporting this ODOT process, as it cannot compete for funding without their support.
There is still time to learn about this study, which is not yet complete. The comment period extends until Aug 31. Know that your opinion does matter, so I hope you’ll tap into this process, and share your views about the details presented on the website.
Their web site for your comments is:
https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-details.aspx?project=R3-P006
Christine Perala Gardiner, PhD
Cave Junction