[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6659120,"mediaKeyId","2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76","parentId",2473463,"title","Council removes retiring finance director as bank signatory, adds city manager","audioSeconds",7369,"startMs",67000,"endMs",7436000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76&start=67&end=7436","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76/thumbnail_67000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6659120/Cottage-Grove/Lane-County/Oregon/Council-removes-retiring-finance-director-as-bank-signatory-adds-city-manager","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659120-7aac23aabe1891642553da900aabff31/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=FZJTMC~kQg88-9Rgb5~skM-z9nKB~nKwBHjMUk4SH6z9cThYCouDikz2tpViN6i0PG7~rV9zF1EB4mvjQZwqW91nET3hC78xM2tmVQhdq07L-Ttr89UTnqqCbhX9cmkZv4ZbgwmmHX-QOqCyidAMa2cAZNuLV3F3eMRDAqNUax4k3t6mjDHSQpT0rtJVdjgb0SrPWYa0bKsD7zTNcoXBOGBOetT--Aa2XOaA9qn87DbbFhxXPIp0~3aNmHE-lCF~KUAXDNDiM83ivGsKeiR8PY-G0roHLrh0zif--TjIyV7XUgchxz8ELw5HJwRbdcCc5fivS8wXmhRGq-Aj1CCLDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Cottage Grove, OR","date","2025-03-03T20:32:30.023Z","article","The Cottage Grove City Council voted on Feb. 24 to remove retiring Finance Director Bert Likens as a signatory on the city’s bank accounts and add the city manager as a signatory to preserve internal financial controls while the city arranges interim accounting coverage.

City Manager Michael Sowerwine told the council that Likens, who announced retirement after more than four decades in public service and two decades with Cottage Grove, had agreed to assist with a brief transition and outstanding work. Sowerwine said the city will hire two external CPA consultants with municipal finance experience to act as interim finance director functions and to complete the 2022 and 2023 audits and the current budget process.

Banner Bank had recommended that the city add the city manager as a signatory so that two authorized signatories remain on the accounts while the city fills the finance director role. Councilor Lammerman moved to remove Likens from the bank signatory list and replace her with the city manager; council approved the motion unanimously.

Action: Council approved a motion to remove Bert Likens as a bank signatory and add the city manager. Staff said they will proceed with interim CPA contracts and continue recruitment for a permanent finance director.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 24, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Following the announced retirement of longtime Finance Director Bert Likens, the council voted to remove Likens as a city bank signatory and add the city manager to maintain internal controls; the city is hiring interim CPA consultants to complete budget and audit work.","taxTitle","Cottage Grove, Lane County, Oregon","taxId",56931,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6659124,"Cottage Grove Garbage Service seeks 6.5% rate increase; council asks staff to return resolution",2431,3627000,6058000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76&start=3627&end=6058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76/thumbnail_3627000.jpg","/articles/6659124/Cottage-Grove/Lane-County/Oregon/Cottage-Grove-Garbage-Service-seeks-65-rate-increase-council-asks-staff-to-return-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659124-7561767f1823c4c248116aa6c10d5c6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=K-yoA-QZMQfR3I5HbKu8BKmN7P9hcZ6PrvIhYIl7fD~bqSK18iKoYyNHt-yoQuwg~ZAANImpciCqI5ZUIMepnjxFpTPzoIsEX4chP9w9rVXa-wWhKx3h6UuL-CrzgtbjzJk1h847K8XY5dA4zbTu8BFw44Md0KTrwp5GKwVKIf6MipOLJU2xwLCuVlEGdsmqFQ9rkxxbX1qk0qm0yq-a7yvxiF8mZfJLQpeuLhZUkECkZF437NLNvEUGty6RZyvVs~CE8N8fpICNjEnyHUQjOBPj3pG8bnmixcOEzz3YrffBMb2f6hdndenNMTguuJdw-iXrqIzvOAbh8YCZDvTFng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cottage Grove Garbage Service requested a 6.5% rate increase at the Feb. 24 City Council meeting, citing rising personnel costs, equipment expenses and disposal fees.

Tim Alverson, representing Cottage Grove Garbage Service, told council the company has been the city’s franchise hauler for more than 42 years and that the requested increase would help restore an operating margin the company and prior councils have previously standardized at roughly 11 percent. “Costs are just outpacing revenue,” Alverson said, noting increases in labor costs, benefits and maintenance.

Alverson said the hauler reduced its tipping costs by contracting with EcoSort in Eugene, which saved local ratepayers an estimated $113,000 in 2024 and is expected to save approximately $192,000 in 2025 versus prior county tipping fees.

Councilors asked comparative questions about market structure and whether a competitive two‑hauler model would be viable for a small market; staff and the speaker discussed Florence as a similar case where two haulers were not sustainable. Rather than take a rate decision that evening, the council provided staff with direction to prepare a formal rate resolution and supporting documentation and return the resolution for council consideration at a later meeting.

Action: Council gave consensus for staff to return a resolution reflecting the hauler’s proposed rate adjustment with supporting data; no rates were adopted that night.","Cottage Grove Garbage Service requested a 6.5% rate increase citing rising personnel, equipment and disposal costs. Council did not act on rates that night but gave consensus to have staff bring a formal resolution reflecting the hauler’s proposal to a future meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6659129,"Council approves phased sale of 15.21 acres to Hayden Homes at $9,500 per lot",1418,4835000,6253000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76&start=4835&end=6253","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76/thumbnail_4835000.jpg","/articles/6659129/Cottage-Grove/Lane-County/Oregon/Council-approves-phased-sale-of-1521-acres-to-Hayden-Homes-at-9500-per-lot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659129-9e8277eafa50c6ef8c1b5240842a55d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=JIZcS3ABAHZiZi9ETmgcseVPLVAVyuNflWk7HWaWqv6iKzfcWqZMXBFL3bNXFjkQqBZxPuJJEKqa5F5OG9sZvC18IrV8RpFAqmbd02-AeaFlrV~bHiJfbySekJvpy5iaiRO4oE-8QS2B~vRGpUtOGLXxXOV2sGuIuzw8x-nfsHmoYLzAd3AHX3IfoKMJSZ~6mnGhTiNg2DezqCMpsBS9pzvKCUWB6jjNEUtcHdLxJXTT1rTvqNI6I6yvLaoWQovcuMtyysf2c7Ug0lcf4VQyWRuN3v~IplZNrJU3kHk1-ljbp-S-uD-M~NE6GQXVHeIlb3lHaGHFoVDYLshCDR7fcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cottage Grove City Council on Feb. 24 approved a phased purchase and sale of Parcel Number 3 of Land Partition 2024‑P‑3226 to Hayden Homes LLC at a price of $9,500 per lot.

Public Works Director Michael Stewart described the parcel as roughly 15.21 acres and said city staff and Hayden Homes expect 136 to 153 buildable lots after required partition and lot verification work with Lane County. Hayden Homes offered to purchase the property on a per‑lot basis and proposed a three‑phase acquisition: an initial tranche of roughly 48 to 49 lots (pink on the submitted map), a second tranche (green) and a final tranche (tan/orange) that requires additional lot reconfiguration.

Stewart said the purchase is tied to infrastructure funding the city received from the state — roughly $3 million — and that under the state agreement about 30% of the resulting lots must meet an affordable threshold (Hayden Homes intends to produce a mix including units at or below 120% of area median income to satisfy that requirement).

Councilor Merideth moved and a colleague seconded a motion authorizing the city manager to sign a purchase and sale agreement reflecting the phased approach and a per‑lot price. The council approved the motion unanimously.

Action: Council authorized the city manager to execute the purchase and sale agreement, subject to city attorney review.","Council authorized the city manager to sign a phased purchase and sale agreement selling Parcel 3 (15.21 acres) to Hayden Homes LLC at $9,500 per lot; staff estimates 136–153 potential lots once partitioning is completed and the purchaser will provide a mix of market and income‑restricted units to meet funding conditions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6659134,"Council approves sale of 4.01‑acre parcel to Hemlock Springs LLC for multifamily development",1234,4585000,5819000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76&start=4585&end=5819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76/thumbnail_4585000.jpg","/articles/6659134/Cottage-Grove/Lane-County/Oregon/Council-approves-sale-of-401acre-parcel-to-Hemlock-Springs-LLC-for-multifamily-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659134-9142682d29095620d2601da9882628e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=Um5xvzQirpg-G5kTnAAbEkrckazypGjD9WI-IOYCkLRd6waKBQkdoEleZV8E5i~5GbDS6Zzbn-JlOP1FpZLGyr~DNPSBD90Y7sx58fySBOva7wB3bjjYfMmxIqedTu2ADw02~9s2fOUxoVInOXCCES~wUn8RG~v2s3nAMGb-ERrjMMqX1CTH0-Vehv~D-JqBagBwOL68t9Kcyl73JGNrH62PA1vR9g52EFVvrUehYJQPe6GR68mS373vddCe5R5tAqIBhwB5j22wUZ5q-UhzGUflOcu0wJWDi7lJ9huhEhgbpqw7tp4cce0ExT9fkfUWYtxfwyCjc-3ugn6Q424l0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cottage Grove City Council on Feb. 24 authorized the city manager to sign documents to sell Parcel Number 2 of Land Partition 2024‑P‑3226 — a 4.01‑acre, R‑2 zoned lot — to Hemlock Springs LLC for $560,000.

Public Works Director Michael Stewart presented the staff report and said the council had held a public hearing on the proposed sale. The parcel is designated for multifamily housing under the purchaser’s proposal. The hearing was advertised in the Cottage Grove Chronicle on Feb. 20.

Lynn Blackstone, a local property owner and developer, addressed the council in support of the sale, telling the council local government must play a role in enabling development and investment. “If we as a community need it done, there’s nobody else to do it,” she said.

After brief discussion the council voted to approve the sale and authorized the city manager to execute the purchase and sale agreement. The motion passed unanimously.

Action: The council approved the sale to Hemlock Springs LLC and directed the city manager to execute the related documents.","After a public hearing, the council authorized the city manager to sign a purchase and sale agreement selling Lot 2 (4.01 acres, R‑2) to Hemlock Springs LLC for $560,000; the purchaser intends to build multifamily housing.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6659139,"Cottage Grove council refuses donation of 13 pallet shelters to Community Sharing",6287,115000,6402000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76&start=115&end=6402","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473463-a95224340e2844112adf8bb833b32c76/thumbnail_115000.jpg","/articles/6659139/Cottage-Grove/Lane-County/Oregon/Cottage-Grove-council-refuses-donation-of-13-pallet-shelters-to-Community-Sharing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659139-95990dfd05ea3414b6dc8de0255364d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170725&Signature=aQBKTDJ-3ViE7pK3KO5Bg~ChQijgGzVZCP27IZYRGRYuzXNT5VEVZg9UV3WbBISl0JRPVFRcx~pNn6dC-fjjzMSfgBfX4awZcbvZAsprJhNTnKWqur2jcxS6zZFsZlxblaFZ1ATFxf6XDJJJt-1CR6~NFAw0iHO~AtqONsSeIMUuiku54qs714kM~MV-mp~3Gj8yV1gZP56IuU~K-PpeibrTSGpskdDSOaNyJAIR-phVVx~jAyNhNcbeDdQ1Jn-sM2l~HawuPJEOqSEXNsOtOaS~douVsn1oTcyvVbuLhszd5jxNAU54hrbfWjnkABLpWMkeCfms3oTsPjoNVtfFVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cottage Grove City Council voted 5–2 on Feb. 24 to deny Community Sharing’s request that the city transfer 12 small pallet shelters and one large pallet shelter for use as emergency warming shelters at the nonprofit’s site on Birch Avenue.

Community Sharing Executive Director Mike Fleck told the council his organization intends to operate warming shelters on extreme‑cold nights and asked the city to transfer the units so the nonprofit could install them on its property. “We believe this is a critical service needed in our community to prevent our unhoused neighbors suffering, extremely cold nights outside,” Fleck said during his presentation.

Councilors and dozens of residents questioned whether Community Sharing had consulted neighbors, how the site would be operated and whether the program could expand beyond temporary warming nights. Councilors repeatedly raised concerns about outreach, public safety and the limits of the nonprofit’s capacity to operate a more permanent shelter program.

The council took public comment for more than an hour. Speakers were sharply divided: some residents near the proposed site described repeated nuisance and safety issues they attribute to nearby illegal camping, while volunteers and former shelter workers urged keeping the long‑standing community practice of operating emergency warming beds for very cold nights. Several speakers described shelter operations they had previously participated in as orderly and life‑saving.

Fleck described the nonprofit’s recent experience: volunteers ran warming operations nine nights this winter, serving 28 unduplicated individuals for a total of 95 shelter stays, and he said Community Sharing has about 35 volunteers signed up to help. He also said the organization lacks dedicated funding and plans to rely on volunteer labor and reserves to operate only in extreme weather. Fleck told councilors the agency plans to operate under state shelter provisions and noted the program’s activation threshold is 29 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.

Opponents pressed for neighborhood outreach and said previous sheltering efforts near residential areas had contributed to litter, theft and other problems. The police chief told the council of a recent uptick in illegal camping, littering, theft, burglary and vandalism in the area adjacent to Community Sharing and the nearby hospital. Several residents from Sunrise Estates and surrounding blocks said they had experienced property impacts they attributed to nearby camping.

Council debate focused on two central issues: (1) whether it was appropriate to transfer city‑owned pallet shelters to a private nonprofit for use on private property, and (2) whether the proposed use could be reliably limited to short‑term warming nights. Councilors who supported denying the transfer cited the applicant’s inability to commit to enforceable limits that would prevent expansion beyond emergency warming. Councilors who opposed denial urged more time for council review and community discussion at the council’s March retreat.

Action: Councilor Lammerman moved to deny Community Sharing’s request to transfer the pallet shelters; the motion passed 5–2.

The council majority voted to keep the pallet shelters in city possession and to defer further policy work on warming shelters to the council’s upcoming goal‑setting session and retreat, where members said they will consider ordinances and other safeguards for neighborhoods and businesses.

Community Sharing said it will continue to operate ad hoc warming shelter activations regardless of the council’s decision and invited councilors to tour its site. The council majority asked staff to include the subject on the council retreat agenda for broader policy discussion and potential ordinance drafting.","Council voted 5–2 to deny Community Sharing’s request that the city transfer 12 small and one large pallet shelter for use as seasonal warming shelters at the nonprofit’s Birch Avenue property following weeks of public comment and council concerns about neighborhood impacts, outreach and long‑term plans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council removes retiring finance director as bank signatory, adds city manager

Cottage Grove Garbage Service seeks 6.5% rate increase; council asks staff to return resolution

Council approves phased sale of 15.21 acres to Hayden Homes at $9,500 per lot

Council approves sale of 4.01‑acre parcel to Hemlock Springs LLC for multifamily development

Cottage Grove council refuses donation of 13 pallet shelters to Community Sharing