Gwen Barringer
IVN contributing writer
The Cave Junction City Council came together July 14, for the first of two meetings scheduled to take place this month. During this meeting, the public comment section brought to light an issue that will likely be addressed by a different city board in the future, and the council heard a presentation given by members of Main Street Cave Junction regarding the city’s future participation in the Dark Skies Initiative.
Councilor Ethan Lane was present via ZOOM video call, while council members Tina Casey Jones, Jean Ann Miles, and Jason Peters, were in attendance alongside Mayor Jesse Dugas and City Recorder Rebecca Patton.
Community member Angela Graves spoke up via ZOOM during the public comment portion of the meeting. Graves, a longtime advocate for others and resident of the Illinois Valley, has recently begun to struggle with physical disabilities. Her struggle has brought her to the realization that there are not that many river locations in the area that are accessible to the disabled residents of Cave Junction, and she desires to help change this in whatever way she can. The council directed Graves to the next Parks and Recreation meeting, explaining to her that she should voice her concerns to the Parks and Rec board in order for them to devise a solution for this problem.
After this, Amy Lusson spoke to the council on behalf of the IV Chamber of Commerce about the possibility of Cave Junction becoming an International Dark Skies Community, a part of a Travel Oregon project known as Gateway To the Stars. If Cave Junction were to apply to join the Dark Skies initiative, this would push the city to upgrade outdoor lighting in both business and residential areas so that lights are point downward and not up, thus ensuring that the night skies are more visible within the community and that they become a factor that increases tourism in the area.
Christopher Hall, a member of the Chamber of Commerce board, also spoke to the council via ZOOM, stating that if the city were to apply with Travel Oregon for this opportunity, it would simply be under an agreement of good faith and the city would not be legally obligated to move forward with changing the lighting in the area if they found themselves unable to.
If approved, the city would receive a $49k grant meant to fund design and planning costs for this endeavor, with 30% of the grant going towards a consultant who would provide numerous services to help estimate the cost and scope of the project, and if it is even feasible. If it turns out that it is not, the city would still be able to keep the money.
Since the deadline to apply for phase two of the initiative is September 2, the Chamber has requested that the city consider approving moving forward with their application during one of their next meetings, either in late July or sometime in August.