County gets into fray over federal courthouse.Byline: Randi Bjornstad The Register-Guard Not mincing any words, the Lane County commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to let the federal government know that residents of Lane County want both a new federal courthouse in Eugene and unfettered access to it for the disabled among them. That wasn't the only letter fired off by an elected official on the subject of the courthouse. Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken sent a letter of his own to Sen. Gordon Smith
Gordon Harold Smith (born May 25, 1952) is Oregon's junior United States Senator, currently serving his second term. He is a member of the Republican Party. , R-Ore., stating his support for building the new courthouse in Eugene and asking for his backing in bringing it about. The commissioners' letter urged the General Services Administration The General Services Administration (GSA) was established by section 101 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C.A. § 751). The GSA sets policy for and manages government property and records. not to "misconstrue mis·con·strue tr.v. mis·con·strued, mis·con·stru·ing, mis·con·strues To mistake the meaning of; misinterpret. misconstrue Verb [-struing, -strued our displeasure of a ramp-less design of the proposed Wayne Morse Wayne Lyman Morse (October 20, 1900 – July 22, 1974) was a United States Senator from Oregon from 1945 until 1969. In 1953, he made a filibuster for 22 hours and 26 minutes protesting the Tidelands Oil legislation, which at the time was the longest one-person filibuster in Federal Courthouse in Eugene as a lack of `community support' for the project." The county has committed "significant transportation funds" to help make the project happen, and the commissioners want the new courthouse, "but we believe that any design must provide access for all of our citizens," the letter states. So far, the county has pledged $325,000 in road funds for the first phase of a new street system to support the courthouse development. It also has pledged its support as part of the Lane County Metro Partnership "to assist with the business development that will surround the courthouse." The commissioners issued the GSA (1) (Global mobile Suppliers Association, Sawbridgeworth, U.K., www.gsacom.com) A membership organization of suppliers of GSM products and services. Its goal is to promote GSM as the worldwide mobile communications standard. See GSM Association and GSM. an invitation to talk about the courthouse. "When can you come down to our board meeting to discuss this significant project?" they asked, adding a plea that the federal government "not punish the citizens of our community for insisting on high accessibility standards accessibility standards (akses´abil´itē), n.pl the requirements designed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), by which public places must provide disabled individuals with barrier-free access to ." "It's important to let (the federal government) understand that the entire county is in favor of this," board Chairman Peter Sorenson said. Afterward af·ter·ward also af·ter·wards adv. At a later time; subsequently. Adv. 1. afterward - happening at a time subsequent to a reference time; "he apologized subsequently"; "he's going to the store but he'll be back here , Commissioner Bill Dwyer offered a blunter response to the GSA's backpedaling on the project. "I hope they take note that their decision that they might not move forward fails the smell test," Dwyer said. |
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