Officials have plan of attack in meth fight.

Byline: Matt Cooper The Register-Guard

Officials on Tuesday unveiled a countywide plan to attack methamphetamine abuse, but acknowledged that they won't be able to take many of the steps unless voters approve an income tax for public safety in November.

Backed by top law enforcement and elected officials from the county, Eugene and Springfield, Lane County Commissioner Faye Stewart outlined the plan to battle meth through public awareness, prevention, treatment, supervision, law enforcement and the courts.

"Meth has been draining our community of safety and health for some time, and it's time we had a change," Stewart said, speaking in a hall at the county Public Service Building.

Lane County long has been one of the top meth-producing areas in the nation, fueling crime, abuse and neglect, officials said. Starting early in 2005, county departments began identifying strategies based on federal and state efforts to battle meth.

Meanwhile, the commissioners will ask voters in November to approve a $23 million income tax to fight meth and expand patrol, incarceration, treatment, prevention and more.

Regardless of the outcome of the income tax proposal, officials will begin to incorporate as many aspects of the comprehensive meth plan as possible, Stewart said.

There are 37 steps in the comprehensive meth plan. But the vast majority of them hinge on four crucial words: "As funding becomes avail- able."

"Very few of these can take place without more funding," Stewart said, noting that grants and the income tax are two sources for the money. "We're asking citizens to step up and help fund these programs."

Steps that would begin as money becomes available include:

Enlisting other agencies and nonprofits in public awareness.

Increasing money to prevention groups such as the Family Resource Center Network and Crisis Nurseries.

Increasing treatment and supervision to provide additional services for meth addicts.

Tougher enforcement of laws to hold drug producers, dealers, users and property criminals accountable.

Restoration of six peer courts and increasing the ability of adult drug court to intervene in the lives of addicted offenders.

Work with city councils to expand public-nuisance ordinances and record meth labs in order to disclose information to new tenants and owners.

Partner with schools and community groups to reduce the risk to youth.

The board of commissioners wants staff to determine the cost for the plan, Stewart said.

But Lane County Circuit Court Judge Darryl Larson, a member of Gov. Kulongoski's meth task force, said not all aspects are dependent on funding.

"We need to take whatever actions can be taken without money," Larson said.

Others who spoke in support of the plan included Craig Opperman, executive director of Looking Glass social services, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, Lane County Sheriff Russ Burger and Lane County Commissioner Bobby Green.

INSIDE: Outlook for county tax vote disputed: A pollster and commissioners disagree on the prediction of success for an income tax / A1