User fee remains option for Mount Pisgah.
Byline: County Beat by Randi Bjornstad The Register-GuardAfter a blitz of public opposition the last time county staff suggested charging a fee to use Mount Pisgah, commissioners will try again next week to come up with a plan to raise more money for parks maintenance.
One option still includes a charge at Mount Pisgah in the Howard Buford Recreation Area: It would maintain the current $3 admission to many county parks areas, but add the popular hiking spot to the list.
Now, however, the staff proposal includes three alternatives that would keep entry to Mount Pisgah free.
Two of them would increase admission to several county parks - Armitage, Baker Bay, Hendricks Bridge, Orchard Point, Richardson and Perkins Peninsula - from $3 to $4 per vehicle.
The third would raise the per-vehicle fee at the same parks to only $3.50 - but staff members oppose that because fee collectors would have the increased burden of handling too many coins to make change.
All four scenarios would increase user fees for picnic reservation areas by an average of 131 percent.
Lane County's parks receive no money from the county's general fund, relying heavily on user fees for maintenance and construction.
The board will consider the latest round of alternatives Wednesday in the Commissioners' Conference Room in the Public Service Building at 125 E. Eighth Ave. in downtown Eugene. The session starts at 9 a.m.
Lucky's still lucky,
after all
A happy Mike Wellington, manager of the Lane County Animal Regulation Authority, said Thursday that Lucky has gotten yet another lucky break.
You may remember Lucky's story: The young pit bull female was found shot in a pet carrier and left to die on the side of Willow Creek Road on Feb. 20.
The rambunctious pup, largely recovered from the injuries, will be leaving the pound today for a local training and boarding facility.
Animal regulation officials had feared they might have to euthanize the dog because she was aggressive toward other dogs and therefore might be a potential danger to children or other animals. But the local trainers who will take Lucky believe she can be socialized successfully, Wellington said.
They'll work with Lucky for two months after which - if all goes well - she'll go into foster care with a pit bull rescue network. At that point, if a suitable adoptive home can be found for her, Wellington and his staff will put the seal of approval on the match and turn Lucky over to her new owners.
"All of this is being funded by the community," Wellington said.
"She's been spayed, she has all her shots. A person who does physical therapy for injured animals has offered to work with her as she continues her recovery from the gunshot wounds. The phone calls and donations we have received from the public has been so uplifting to our entire staff."
Randi Bjornstad can be reached at 338-2321 or rbjornstad@guardnet.com.
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| Title Annotation: | General News |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) |
| Date: | Mar 28, 2003 |
| Words: | 490 |
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